Only Her Smokejumper Firefighter - Cami Checketts Page 0,6

could possibly top the first but knowing any time spent with Mavyn would be heaven on earth. Instead of making his dreams come true, she’d crushed him, showing up on the arm of another man. Her cold words still reverberated through his skull. He’d worked himself to exhaustion every day since, but he still couldn’t get those words or her beautiful face out of his mind.

Ren had always been a believer, even in high school when friends teased him for being a “prude” while quietly telling him how much they respected his path and choices. His faith had gotten him through his mother dying, his father ditching their family, training to be a wildland firefighter amidst rough and tough men, and then a smokejumper, working his way into supervisor, and more near-death experiences than he wanted to count.

The gorgeous Mavyn Vance was the first challenge to his deeply-held faith that he could remember. He’d felt the rightness of their union, almost a benediction from heaven as they connected that night four months ago. Mavyn had seemed as smitten with him as he was with her. Then it had all exploded and she’d wounded him. He’d felt darkness, lack of faith, and despondency that he hadn’t thought possible after she gouged his heart out.

He was doing better now. The Lord was good and had proven once again that He would walk by Ren’s side and carry him when necessary. People raved about how strong and brave he was, but he was nothing without his faith and his trust in the Lord. He’d also never been able to push Mavyn fully out of his heart or mind. He thought about her far too often, found himself smiling thinking about something she’d said that evening they spent together. He’d heat up from the inside out, hot as any hotspot he’d been dropped in, remembering their kisses. It took more prayer and patience to not dwell on the good memories than the bad.

This Christmas week, spending time with his family had been a healing balm. He’d almost thought he was over Mavyn, but apparently it was time for testing and trial again. Mavyn was coming—her friend Cora had announced that at dinner. He could hear the Jaws theme playing in his head. Mavyn was coming to wound him, and what man could fight against a great white shark disguised in the most beautiful womanly form Ren had ever seen? Could he possibly resist her? Would he fall for her again and have to go through four more months of anguish and frustration? The good Lord either had an incredible sense of humor or liked to put Ren through unimaginable pain.

His gaze darted around the room, watching, waiting. Part of him could hardly wait to see her again. Most of him knew it wouldn’t end well. He prayed he wouldn’t lash out, but natural man that he was, he only hoped he wouldn’t ruin the marriage celebrations with the anger and longing for her that had simmered, stewed, and battled inside of him for four long months.

Mavyn was nervous. She couldn’t lie to herself and say she wasn’t. Her palms were sweating. Her heart raced. Her eyes darted around the room. It was a foreign feeling for her, but she knew the classic symptoms.

She’d just sent Cora off to chase after her love Quill Chadwick. It felt good to know her best friend was going to find her happily ever after. Mavyn would be truly alone now, but she didn’t deserve anything else. Now to get through what she’d promised Quill’s Grams, an apology and a dance with one Ren Chadwick. Why had she been so stupid to agree to either? Ren was her weakness and had been in her thoughts far too often since she ditched him four months ago. She looked at the few snapshots she had on her phone of him in his smokejumper gear so often they were burned into her brain, along with a hundred other snapshots in her memory from their one evening together—his smile, his deep laugh, his blue eyes, the way he made her feel so important and treasured with a single word or glance.

Her gaze landed on the man creating these uncomfortable feelings in her. Suddenly the nerves were replaced with warmth, longing, and the sad certainty that Ren Chadwick would never forgive her for loving him and ditching him. She’d only spent one glorious evening in his perfect presence, but it had been enough to