Page 7 of One More Time

Tessa happened to hear the entire exchange. “You know, that’s not the first time that rumor has circulated.”

“That I cheated? On him? For fuck’s sake, we’re talking about high school.” My voice rose several octaves.

Jack was right there. He glanced curiously from me to Tessa.

My jaw tightened. I didn’t owe anyone any explanation, much less a man I barely knew.

Blake caught my eyes. “It’s bullshit. He’s just milking the situation because of his podcast.”

OMG with the drama. I could not deal and felt tired all of a sudden. “I’m going to the office.” Right then, Phyllis slid my coffee toward me.

I glanced at Jack. “Welcome to Fireweed Harbor.” I lifted my coffee and hurried outside.

Chapter Four

Jack

“What the hell was that about?” I asked Blake as McKenna left the café.

Her hair caught the cold wind as she walked through the doorway and spun in a little swirl around her shoulders.

Blake rolled his eyes when I glanced toward him. “A bunch of bullshit. McKenna’s ex.” His tone was low and laced with anger. “He has a podcast where he talks about local Alaska stories. Because Fireweed Industries is big enough to matter, he did a piece when our grandfather got convicted for embezzlement. He tried to spin it that he knew the family well because he dated her in high school. In high school, McKenna dumped him. She didn’t cheat on him,” he added pointedly.

I didn’t need Blake to make that point. Maybe I didn’t know her all that well yet, but I knew McKenna would never do anything like that. My eyes followed McKenna through the windows. I could see her turning off the pathway into the café and onto the sidewalk. I wanted to know so many things about her. I dragged my eyes away, catching Blake studying me.

“I can’t imagine she would,” I belatedly replied.

His gaze lingered on me for another moment. Just then, the door to the café opened, a blast of cold air coming through as a pretty woman walked in with a small child holding her hand. I thought I recognized her, most likely from the wedding on the ferry. When Blake glanced her way, anything he might’ve been thinking about me was clearly forgotten.

The little girl released the woman’s hand, skipping through the café with a wide smile stretching across her face.

“Hey, Lia,” Blake said, leaning down to lift her in his arms and give her a spin.

She giggled. “Hey! Mom said you would be here, and you are!”

Just as the woman stopped beside me, I recalled her name. “Hi, Fiona.”

“Jack! Nice to see you.” Her smile was warm.

Blake lowered the little girl to the floor, and she studied me curiously as he leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss on Fiona’s cheek.

“I know you!” Lia announced.

Fiona and Blake looked down at her. “You met him on the ferry at Kenan’s wedding,” Blake pointed out.

Lia angled her head to the side as she examined me. “Oh. You’re Jack.”

I grinned. “I am.” I reached down to shake the small hand she thrust toward me. “You remembered my name.”

She shook my hand vigorously before releasing it with a flourish. “I’m Lia,” she announced.

“Do you want something to eat?” Fiona asked her.

“Hot chocolate and an orange cranberry muffin,” Lia replied instantly.

Fiona glanced at the register. Phyllis served the last person in line before them, then looked up. “I heard. Coming right up.”

Blake slipped to the register to pay while Fiona turned her attention to me. “You’re starting a firefighter position here, right?”