Chapter 1

ChapterOne

MINA

“Do you think this is enough?”

“I think you made more than enough cookies for the whole town,” my dad laughs, placing the last basket of cookies I made into the back of my car. “There a reason you made so many?” He shuts the car door and leans up against the side of it. Everyone knows when I get upset I bake. “I know you’re not nervous about your new job.”

“I’m not, I’m excited. I love Brightberry.”

This town is the only home I remember. In fact, my first memory that I can recall is the night my dad found my mom and me. We likely would have become frozen popsicles if he hadn’t spotted us on the side of the road. Technically Nyah is my sister but she was always more of a mother to me. But she and Fraser made it official when they adopted me, and Brightberry has been our home ever since.

After Mom and Dad had three boys that I utterly adore, our family has been my world. Sticking close to home has been my plan and that’s what I’m doing now. I’m not sure if my past plays a part in that since I had shitty birth parents. Thankfully I don’t remember them.

With the exception of the two months I spent in the city getting trained as a dispatch and 911 operator, I’ve spent my whole life in Brightberry. Even when I was in the city I still came home every week but now that it’s over I’m home permanently. I’ve started the next chapter of my life and my new job isn’t going to be the only adventure I’m embarking on. I have other plans and no one is going to stand in the way of them.

“Then what’s with all the cookies?” Dad taps the top of my car to get my attention.

“I didn’t see you complaining about how many I made when you were eating them last night.”

“I had four,” He says, and I lift a brow. We both know he’s full of it. “Okay, eight.” he admits sheepishly, making me smile.

“I should get going,” I tell him so he can’t keep trying to get more information out of me. He pulls me in for a hug, telling me this conversation isn’t over but he’s letting me pretend it is.

The last thing I want to talk to my dad about is Aspen. He’s the boy who has owned my heart since he let me destroy him with snowballs as a little girl and never threw one back. When we were kids he shared all his toys with me. Then when we got older I tried to share my first kiss with him. It’s too bad that it went terribly wrong because it’s been horrible ever since.

Now I’m starting to wonder if maybe he was right about turning me down. Since I tried to kiss him, things have been awkward and it’s not as though I can avoid Aspen. He’s my adopted father’s nephew and our family is always together. Even though we grew up in the same family, I never thought of him that way. Since I can remember I always had a giant crush on Aspen. I might also love him. Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I’m head over heels in love with him, but it’s never going to happen.

The one time I tried to kiss him already made things messy and awkward. I never thought that he and I being together could be bad, but maybe it could destroy our family. Another part of me thinks that ship has sailed. It would kill me if Aspen ever brought a girl home. Since our town is so small I’ll likely know her. Everyone knows everyone and it will be awful.

Trying to put all those thoughts out of my head, I drive into town and focus on my first day. It doesn’t take me long and when I pull into the police station, I see all the firemen outside playing basketball. That’s when I see Becs is leaning up against her ambulance watching the show. It might be cold out but that doesn’t stop a few of the firemen from going without shirts.

“Can a girl get a hand?” I call when I step out of my car and all their heads swing my way. “I’ve got cookies.”

“Why are you ruining my show?” Becs huffs with a laugh.

“You can have some cookies too.” Becs is a few years older than me and was in the same grade as Aspen.

“Your first day on the job and you’re already spoiling us?” Ryan says when he makes it over to me first.

“I had some time on my hands,” I tell him and then open my back door. “At least take two inside for me. Everyone can fight over the rest.” Then I stand back and let them clear everything out for me.

“Not sure why you got so much time on your hands. I could help you with that,” Ryan suggests, and I’m not sure if he’s teasing or not. He’s always been a giant flirt.

“Heads up,” one of the other firemen mutters. Out of the corner of my eye I see the sheriff’s black SUV pull in. We only have two of these vehicles in town and one belongs to Angela who is about to retire. Hers, however, is white, while the black one belongs to Aspen.

I knew when I got this job that not only would we be running into each other but we’d have to spend a lot of our days in communication. Which is something we haven’t done in a while. Since the failed kiss, I avoid Aspen the best I can, but he always manages to pop up. Even when I was training in the city. I’m sure it’s him trying to watch out for me and not because of why I wish he wanted to be around me.

A few years ago I thought him chasing the opposite sex away from me and showing up out of nowhere was kind of hot. I thought maybe he was jealous and wanted to show everyone that I was his. Oh, how wrong I’d been. He might as well be one of my brothers. Gross. There is nothing brotherly about the way I see Aspen.

“Why heads up?” I raise my chin and stare up at Ryan while pretending I don’t know Aspen is headed right towards me. “You scared of the sheriff?”

“You really want to play with fire?” He smirks down at me, and I shrug.

“I guess if anyone could teach me how it would be you.”

“That’s enough,” Aspen’s voice booms across the parking lot.

“Oh, I think I like this new show better,” I hear Becs snicker.

“What’s enough?” I ask innocently as I turn my gaze to Aspen. I wish I didn’t have a thing for men in uniform, but then again, I’ve only ever had a thing for him. Which is what I’m currently trying to get over.

“Get inside, Betty is waiting for you,” Aspen orders as his hand goes to my hip to push me towards the police station.

I’ve had enough of his interruptions so I smack his hand away.

“I’ll see you all later,” I call to the firemen. I’m done caring if I get burned. I’m not a little girl anymore and it’s time Aspen learns to understand that.