Sophie knew that Jack and Nate would reach into their own pockets to help. They were among the most generous people she knew.
“Hawke is a hero,” Marc said. “He fought like hell for his town.”
Sophie shared a conspiratorial smile with Tessa and Megan. “What did the two of you do today? You were up there for most of the day.”
She didn’t miss the quick glance Marc shot Julian.
Julian avoided eye contact the way a person does when they’re about to lie. “We helped with the early evacuations and then hung out with the members of the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue Team, waiting for the green light to go search for Rossiter and the others.”
Marc nodded. “We also caught the idiots who were flying the drone that made the helicopter crash.”
“So, you were never in any danger up there?” Tessa asked sweetly.
They shook their heads.
“Nah, man,” Julian said.
“It was pretty chill day for us.” Marc took a drink of his beer.
Megan shook her head, poked a finger at her brother. “You aresucha liar.”
Sophie turned to Marc. “Sheriff Pella called and talked to Megan this evening before you got here. He told a different story. He said the two of you are heroes. He said you evacuated a street that was already in flames to save a cat and a dog and how someone in town told him that Julian had gotten second-degree burns in the process.”
“Crank is a cool dog,” Julian protested.
“Hey, I got scratched by the cat.” Marc held up his hands. “Don’t forget that. I rescued the guys’ wedding photo, too. They were very grateful.”
Megan took it from there. “Pella says he’s amazed the two of you made it out alive. But, yeah, it was a chill day.”
Tessa looked Julian square in the face. “You and I are going to have a conversation when we get home.”
Julian gave Tessa a slow, sexy smile. “Aren’t you going to take care of me? Iamwounded.”
Tessa narrowed her eyes at him. “Oh, I’ll take care of you all right.”
Sophie noticed Marc watching her, as if trying to gauge how she was feeling about it all. “To tell you the truth, hon, I wasn’t even surprised.”
Marc frowned. “You weren’t?”
When the laughter died down, Jack got to his feet. “Who wants coffee and a slice of my cherry pie?”
“Is that even a question?” Natalie asked.
It was close to midnight when Sophie and Marc loaded sleeping kids into the car and headed back to Denver.
Sophie looked over at the man she loved. “You can’t help it, can you?”
He glanced over at her. “What do you mean?”
“You just can’t sit on the sidelines. When there’s trouble, when someone needs help, when lives are on the line, you have to be in the thick of it.”
His brow furrowed. “Ican’tdo nothing.”
Sophie laughed. “No, you really can’t, can you?”
He took his right hand off the wheel, threaded his fingers through hers. “I didn’t tell you all of it because I didn’t want to upset or worry you.”
“I know.” Sophie raised his hand to her lips, kissed it. “It’s one of the reasons I fell in love with you, but it scares the hell out of me sometimes.