“I’m so glad you’re here.”
Jake chuckled, releasing her. “Well, if I wasn’t here, Bonnie wouldn’t have chased Gateau up the tree, so . . .”
“Fair point,” she conceded, her teeth chattering.
Jake took off his hoodie and handed it to her. “Here. You’re freezing.” As she zipped up the garment, she caught a mild whiff of something unfamiliar . . . Was it smoke?
“I know, it smells like a campfire. I started a fire for Gran before I left.”
She sniffed deeply. Yes, it was mild, but it was there. Smoke. The relief at realizing her sense of smell was returning nearly overwhelmed her, but she fought to keep it hidden. She put the hood up and grinned at Jake. “Thank you,” she said, her teeth already chattering less.
“You’re welcome.” He smiled and tugged gently on the strings on either side of the hood, cinching it closer to her head. She probably looked ridiculous, but she didn’t even care.
“So,” Jake added, looking around the yard. “We should do this before we lose the last bit of light. Is there a ladder somewhere?”
“Leaning against the side of the bakery,” Charlie replied, hoping that was still where her dad kept it.
“I can’t believe this happened. I’m such an idiot,” she said once Jake returned with the bulky aluminum ladder. It was ancient and unwieldy, though he handled it like it was nothing more than a plastic garden chair.
“Are you kidding me? It’s my dog who’s the idiot. Listen to her in there, still barking like a fool.” As if on cue, Bonnie let out another series of high-pitched barks. They both laughed. “I love her, but . . .”
“Hey, she’s a work in progress, right?” Charlie moved out of the way so Jake could place the extendable ladder against the tree’s sturdy trunk. “Maybe we’re all just works in progress.”
Jake settled the ladder, testing it to make sure it was secure before glancing back at her. “Feeling philosophical today, are we, Cass?”
She shrugged. “Panic over possibly losing your pet will do that to you, I guess.”
Jake held the ladder with one hand and reached for her with his other. His green eyes held hers as his fingers wrapped around her hand, giving a gentle squeeze. “You’re not going to lose Gateau, Cass. I promise. I’ll have her down in a few minutes. You don’t have anything to worry about. Okay?”
Then he let go of her hand and started climbing the ladder. Charlie held the rails against the tree, keeping it secure as he climbed. Her head was spinning as she watched Jake go higher, one rung at a time. But this time she knew the slight dizziness had nothing to do with her concussion and more to do with the handsome and kind-hearted firefighter climbing the ladder in front of her.
Soon, Jake was face-to-face with Gateau. “Is she okay?” Charlie asked, raising her voice so Jake could hear her over Bonnie’s barking.
“She’s fine,” Jake said, then Charlie heard him speaking softly to the cat, obviously keeping her calm as he reached for her. A moment later, Gateau tucked under one arm, he made his way back down the ladder, murmuring to the feline the entire time.
“I don’t blame you one bit,” Charlie heard him saying once he got closer to the ground. “Bonnie’s sweet, but not as smart as you. She didn’t mean it.” Charlie was not an animal person, not like her sister, but the sight of Jake talking so seriously to Gateau was an image she never wanted to forget.
Jake hopped off the ladder’s last rung, Gateau cradled in his arms. The little cat was purring as she snuggled into his well-muscled chest, which Charlie couldn’t help but notice through his T-shirt. He handed her Gateau, and Charlie lingered close for a moment, their hands touching. Then the cat, tired of being manhandled, let out a plaintive mew and broke the spell.
Jake reached out to scratch Gateau under the chin. “I’m sorry Bonnie chased you up a tree, girl.”
Charlie smiled down at Cass’s cat. “Thank you,” she said to Jake.
She didn’t know what else to say, but knew she didn’t want the moment to end. And with the way he was looking at her right now, as intensely as he had earlier—it was no use. Charlie had reached the point of no return. Neither of them moved, and even Gateau stayed still in Charlie’s arms. There was so much she wanted to share, but couldn’t: this whole caper with Cass was proving to be harder than she imagined, but not for the reasons she’d expected. Charlie hadn’t planned to come home and develop feelings for someone who had been a complete stranger only days before.