Rescued Hearts (Hero Series) by Gina Austin Read Free Book Online Page A

of her beer on her blouse and grabbing some napkins from the dispenser, she answered “Yes. Nice ninja move sneaking up on me.”
     
    “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Nick gestured to the booth seat, “May I?”
     
    “Yes please. It’s so good to meet you now that I’m conscious.” Susan said jokingly. Getting over the slight embarrassment of spilling some of her beer on herself.
     
    “Nice to meet you too. So do you enjoy playing volleyball?”
     
    “Oh yes, very much!”
     
    “In that case, you should sign up with Chicago’s beach volleyball meetup group on the web. They play often and they’re a great group of people.
     
    “So you play as well?”
     
    “Not anymore.” He tried to play a few games but it reminded him of Amy too much.
     
    “Why not?” Susan asked.
     
    “Just doesn’t interest me anymore.”
     
    Susan slid a beer mug across the table, “Oh and I took the liberty of ordering this for you and dinners on me.”
     
    Surprised, Nick said, “Ok, remind me to save your life more often.”
     
    Susan smiled, “It’s the least I can do for someone who put his life on the line for me.” It wasn’t every day that Nick had dinner with someone he’s rescued and appreciated her kind words and generosity.
     
    “You’re welcome.”
     
    “If you don’t mind me asking you, how did you come across the fire? When I first met your brother at the fire station he mentioned you were on leave?”
     
    “I like to take evening walks and I never went down your street before. When I realized how long of a road it was, I was about to turn around and retrace my steps to head back home. That’s when I heard you calling for help.”
     
    “Thank God you didn’t turn back earlier because we wouldn’t be sitting here right now sharing a beer.”
     
    Susan raised her beer mug for a toast and said, “Here’s to being alive!” Once their beer mugs connected for the toast, she felt like crawling under the table. She noticed his wedding ring and realized that it was the stupidest thing to say knowing that Nick was still grieving for his wife.
     
    “Oh my God, I am so sorry. When I met your brother at the fire station he said you were taking some time off to work to grieve for your wife. I’m truly sorry for your loss.”
     
    Seeing the sincerity in her face, Nick said, “It’s OK. Mike said I should get out of the house more often, see friends meet new people, it’s OK, don’t worry.”
     
    Feeling relieved Susan said, “Your brother just wants you to be happy again. But what’s happy? Especially after what you’ve been through.”
     
    Sensing Susan had lost someone close to her as well, he became curious, “Sounds like you know from experience.”
     
    Nodding her head, “My dad. He was there for me every day of my life until I was fourteen and then one day his heart just stopped. That’s when everything changed.”
     
    “I’m sorry. What about your mom?”
     
    “She died giving birth to me.”
     
    Now it was Nick’s turn to feel awkward, feeling regret for having asked the question. He just stared at Susan with compassion and feeling a tremendous amount of respect for her. Here’s a gorgeous woman who never got to know her mother and then loses her father during her pivotal teenage years, Nick could only imagine how so much loss could have affected her life.
     
    “After dad died, I went to live with my aunt and uncle from my mother’s side. We always had a close relationship so it wasn’t too awkward when I moved in with them.”
     
    Wanting to end the topic of loved ones gone, Nick was ready to change this conversation to a happier topic and he felt like she read his mind that very moment.
     
    “Is it me or are you hungry too?” Susan asked with the most beautiful smile Nick had ever seen.
     
    “Oh yeah, I could go for one of their famous cheeseburgers”
     
    “I love their burgers! I don’t eat anyone else’s burgers but theirs! Susan