Her Only Hero

Her nerves tightened in a way that had become too familiar lately. Time was running out, and she had to finish the job. If she didn’t—

Well, if didn’t bear thinking about.

So the sooner she got rid of Ryan Flanagan the better. She waved a hand toward the staircase. “We might as well begin at the top. That’s where I’ve been working today.”

She started up the wooden stairwell, not touching the gritty railing. The wood was mahogany under all that dirt, and eventually it would shine. The whole place would.

His footsteps sounded behind her. “You’re actually rehabbing this place yourself?”

“What’s wrong with that?” She sounded tart, she supposed, but she’d heard that incredulous tone from enough people since she’d started this job.

“Nothing, I guess. But this place has been deteriorating for so long I figured eventually it would be torn down. Or fall down.”

Laura touched the intricate molding she’d uncovered when she’d renovated the second-floor landing. She loved the smooth, aged feel of it under her fingers, loved knowing she’d uncovered its beauty.

“You’d be surprised. The place has been standing since 1810, and they built to last then.”

The three-story brick townhouse on the edge of Suffolk’s historic district might look decrepit, but she wasn’t giving up on it. It had the potential to be a showpiece. Besides, it was all she and her daughter had between them and an uncertain future.

She glanced toward the apartment door as they passed it. She’d fixed the apartment up first, so she and Mandy would have a decent place to live. Mandy was occupied right now with a new coloring book, and she wouldn’t hear them.

Her heart cramped. No, Mandy wouldn’t hear them.

They emerged into the open space at the top of the stairs. Ryan looked around doubtfully, and she understood what he was seeing.

The top floor looked like a barren, dusty wreck. Shreds of faded floral wallpaper clung to old horsehair plaster, which had crumbled away to the underlying lath in places. The May sunshine filtering through high, cracked windows, lit up every flaw.

Ryan touched a dangling strip of wallpaper. “You think you can actually make something livable of this?”

She wasn’t used to explaining herself to people, but Ryan, with his uniform and that report sheet on his clipboard, wasn’t just anyone. That insignia he wore gave him the right to probe. Tension skittered along her nerves. He could shut her down.

“Yes, I do. Believe it or not, I have a degree in interior design.”

His dark eyebrows lifted. “This isn’t interior design. It’s construction. Or maybe demolition.”

“My father was a contractor,” she said quickly. “I learned from the best.”

He nodded, still looking doubtful, and started around the third floor. Holding her breath, she followed him. She ran a clean work site—her father had always insisted on that. He wouldn’t find any junk around to complain about.

Ryan’s attention to his inspection gave her ample time to take a look at the man he’d become. The seriousness with which he seemed to take his job was new. The Ryan she remembered had never taken anything seriously, but he’d always seemed able to charm his way out of the trouble his recklessness had gotten him into.

She wasn’t surprised by the neat blue uniform with the Suffolk Fire Department patch that fit his tall figure so well. All the Flanagans had been wedded to the fire department. There’d never been much doubt as to what Ryan would do with his life.

He turned toward her as they reached the stairwell again, smiling. She had to fight not to respond too warmly to that smile. Ryan had added some breadth and height since high school, and the sense of maturity combined with his uniform made a powerful package.

“Looks like you’ve got everything under control up here. Shall we check out the rest?”

She could breathe again. She nodded and started down the stairs, feeling him behind her.

“My apartment on the second floor is completely finished and we’re moved in. It’s not necessary for you to go through that, is it?” She paused, looking up at him.

“I don’t think—” His gaze fixed on something over her shoulder, interrupting the words.

She turned. Mandy stood there, hand on the door-knob, looking at them with a grave, questioning expression in her dark-brown eyes.

Laura reached her in a few steps and touched her daughter’s curly brown hair. “It’s okay,” she said, signing as she did so. “I’m showing the fireman around. There’s nothing to worry about.”

She looked toward Ryan. If she saw pity in his eyes, she’d let him know what she thought about that.

But Ryan was squatting to a five-year-old’s level, and she read only friendliness in his face.

“Hi. My name’s Ryan.” He finger-spelled the name carefully. “What’s yours?”

He spoke naturally, apparently copying what she’d done, and she appreciated that. With her two hearing aids, Mandy might be picking up something.

“My daughter’s name is Mandy.” She continued to sign as she spoke. Mandy should never feel left out.

“You know sign language.”

“You don’t need to sound quite so surprised.” He grinned. “Firefighters need to be able to communicate with people we run into on the job. Unfortunately you’ve seen almost my whole vocabulary.”

Ryan seemed to have turned into a responsible member of society. Maybe she should stop thinking of him as the reckless, laughing kid he’d been in high school.

She gave Mandy a little push toward the apartment. “You finish your picture. We’ll probably be done by then.”

Ryan waved to her. “Bye, Mandy.”

When the door closed behind her, the smile slid from his lips. “She’s a beautiful little girl. Has she been deaf since birth?”

“Yes.” She started down the steps, hoping he’d take the hint. Her personal life was off limits.

“Her father?”

Apparently Ryan wasn’t good at taking hints.

“My husband died a year ago.”

“I’m sorry.” He stopped next to her at the bottom of the stairs, and she was aware of how tall and solid he was. “It must be rough, trying to handle everything on your own.”

Her smile felt frozen. “Not at all. At least, not if we can finish this up so I can get back to work.”

He should have taken offense at that, but he just studied her for a moment, his deep-blue eyes intent but friendly. Then he nodded.

“Okay. Let’s take a quick look around the downstairs.”

“Fine.”

She followed him through the downstairs living room, mentally chastising herself. He’d just been expressing sympathy. She had to stop being so sensitive about her independence.