Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter - Cami Checketts
Prologue
Mavyn Vance walked through the smokejumper base camp near Muir Woods north of San Francisco. It was a warm, early August evening. The air in the forest was thick with smoke and sadness. Every charred tree told a story. Her stomach churned thinking of her beloved woods going up in flames. She would include the desperation and sorrow she sensed here in her article, but she had to remember her main focus—an inside look at smokejumpers. Several whistled as she walked past. She glanced their way with a flirtatious smile. She teased and flirted with many handsome men, but she was fiercely determined to never let one into her heart. When she was eighteen, she’d lost her innocence and her desire to ever trust a man. She couldn’t revive the former and didn’t plan on reinstating the latter.
She stopped in her tracks as a man in the tan suit of a smokejumper walked toward her with determined strides, helmet in hand. The power and confidence he radiated screamed, This one’s worth paying attention to.
“Excuse me,” he said, stopping a foot away and glancing over her. There was interest in that gaze but also frustration. He didn’t want her here. His blue eyes were piercing and his handsome face and strong build should’ve been on posters for Hot Smokejumpers Are Us. “What are you doing here?”
She laughed to ease the tension. She knew she was out of her element and looked it in a flirtatious sundress and heels. Her black curls were wild and big as ever, her makeup done to perfection to highlight her smooth brown skin, full lips, and unique green eyes.
She’d been in sticky situations many times, and always turned the situation to her favor. “I’m out of my element, aren’t I?”
He relaxed and actually grinned. A slight dimple appeared in his left cheek. “We’re definitely not used to seeing beauty like yours pop up on the trail to the helipad.”
She smiled. “And I wasn’t expecting a smokejumper who looks more like a male model.”
He shook his head as if her compliment didn’t matter to him. “The pretty boy face is a farce. I’m tougher than I look.”
“You definitely look tough as well as pretty,” she admitted.
His eyebrows arched. “Thank you. Now can you tell me what you’re doing here and how I can get you to go back to your safe and happy home?”
Mavyn’s happy home had exploded during her teenage years. Supposedly at the worst time, if you believed in developmental psychology. Her dad had tried to stay involved in Mavyn’s life, but he’d failed as he plowed through different wives and had so many other children to keep up with. Many of those children were close to Mavyn’s own age, a testament that he’d cheated on her mom for years before dumping his first family. Her mom had also tried to be a parent, but sunk into a lifelong battle with depression and a marriage to alcohol after the man she’d adored ditched her for a younger model. Mavyn’s happy home now was with her best friend, Cora. She loved her friend and their small apartment.
“Well, hot smokejumper man, if you’ll give me an exclusive interview for my article, I’ll be on my merry way.”
“A reporter?” His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“A writer,” she countered. “I write lifestyle pieces for various magazines and I want to feature the inside story of a smokejumper.”
His blue eyes studied her as if trying to determine if her motives were pure.
“I know the media is not to be trusted—” most mainstream media twisted and lied so seamlessly she had to constantly fight against those stigmas of her career— “but I promise I wouldn’t print anything unless I have your permission. I’ll make you look good, not that you need any help in that aspect.” She winked. “You can trust me, cowboy.”
“Hmm.” His gaze was warm and leery at the same time. He liked her openness, but he wasn’t sure if her intentions were pure. “Maybe I can. I’ll make you a deal. If you climb back in whatever fancy car brought you here and get somewhere safe, I’ll meet you for dinner tonight at Avatar’s. I’m craving some good Indian food.”
“Is that all you’re craving, Mr. Smokejumper Stud?” She’d never again give a man anything beyond a kiss, but this man would definitely be worth a drawn-out one.
He gave a surprised chortle. “We’ll see.”
“Why do you want me out of here so badly?”
“Look around.” He gestured with his head. “You’re distracting my