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Not a hero? How could he even think that? Blair sat on her front porch, watching the police complete their report with Ethan. Even from this distance, she could hear the officers and her neighbors thanking him for rescuing Melanie. Everyone agreed he’d been terrific.
Everyone except Ethan.
Which was crazy. And wrong. He’d climbed that ladder without a second thought. Not once had he turned back. He did what needed to be done.
When it came right down to it, Prince Charming could learn a thing or two from Ethan. Whether he thought so or not, he was a kind, thoughtful man, a man who had a strong heart and an even stronger code of ethics. Why else would he be playing the part of Prince Charming in the first place? He’d done it for Justin, because they were friends, and Ethan was loyal to his friends.
“He’s something else,” Ella said, coming to sit next to Blair. “A great guy.”
Blair glanced at her friend. “Did you put Clementine back in the bedroom?”
Ella nodded. “Yes. I gave her a good talking to, but I don’t think it had any effect.”
“Probably not. What are you going to do about her?” Blair looked at her friend. “She can’t keep going up on the roof and crying like she’s in pain. Eventually, she comes down, but not before she’s upset half the neighborhood. And this time, her cries made Melanie try to rescue her.”
“I’ll have to develop a plan to keep her safe,” Ella admitted.
After a few more minutes, Ethan shook the hands of the police officers and started walking their way.
“I’ll leave you alone with Prince Charming,” Ella teased before she disappeared back inside.
“Hi there,” she said, standing and walking over to Ethan.
“Hi there, yourself.”
Taking his hand, Blair headed toward the house, but Ethan stopped her. “Clementine?”
“Safe in the house,” Blair assured him. “Why don’t you come in? I’ll make you something to eat.”
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry. Walk me to the garage,” he said. “We’ve both had a long day, and I think it’s best if we call it a night.”
Blair was surprised, but he seemed lost in his own thoughts. Maybe he didn’t want to talk, but she couldn’t just let him go to the apartment without knowing how wonderful she thought he was.
“You know, you really were amazing,” she said as they walked. Before he could disagree, she continued. “You were. You went up the ladder and saved that child.”
“Maybe.”
“You saved Melanie.”
They had reached the outside stairs leading to the garage apartment, and Ethan sat. “I just did what anyone would do.”
Blair sat on the narrow step next to him. The porch light at the back of her house gave them a little light, but she couldn’t quite see his face clearly. She wished she could because she wanted to know what was going on in his mind.
“That’s not true,” Blair said. “Lots of people wouldn’t have gone up the ladder to rescue her.”
He sighed. “Maybe. But what if she’d fallen?”
Blair leaned toward him, bumping his arm. “Melanie didn’t fall because you saved her. Plain and simple. You saved that child.”
“I guess.”
Hoping to cheer him up, she said, “There’s a rumor going around that you’re a pretty terrific guy.”
He smiled but remained silent for a long time. Finally, Blair asked the question preying on her mind. “What happened with Shelley?”
“I’m not sure—”
“You don’t have to tell me. I realize it’s private.”
Ethan studied her for a second. “I proposed to Shelley when I got out of the Army. I think I did it because everyone expected us to get married. To tell you the truth, I’d come home to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Shelley was still single, and everyone in town expected us to pick up where we’d left off—the high school football star and the cheerleader. So we sort of fell into an engagement. We were young.”
“What happened?” Blair asked softly.
“After I proposed, our families were thrilled. The whole town seemed to get caught up in the wedding plans. Everyone was happy.”
Her heart felt for the young man he’d been. “But you weren’t happy.”
“Don’t get me wrong, in a way I was excited. Sure, I had some doubts, and Shelley did, too. But we’d been together most of our lives, so I guess we both figured it would work out.”
“But it didn’t.”
“As the wedding grew closer, we started to fight a lot,” he said. “Shelley wanted me to work at her father’s construction company, and I wanted to work with horses. After a while, I started picking up work on local ranches. Shelley was really upset, but I felt I could provide us with a better future if did something I loved.”
Blair’s heart went out to him. She knew how hard it was to do what you felt you had to when the people around you didn’t support your dreams. “What ended up happening?”
He ran one hand through his hair. “We both finally sat down and had a long talk. We realized we were staying together for other people, so we agreed to call it off. Last I heard, Shelley married a man who worked at her father’s company, and they have two children. So as you can see, I’m hardly Prince Charming.”
Blair shook her head. “You’re looking at it all wrong. You were honest with Shelley, and she was honest with you. Sometimes relationships don’t work out. Mine didn’t either. Even if you hadn’t wanted a different career, you and Shelley might not have lasted unless you were both sure of what you wanted.”
“That’s just it. I’m sure we wouldn’t have lasted. No one in my family is successful in marriage. We aren’t the happily-ever-after kind.”
Blair studied him for a moment, uncertain what to say. Finally, she asked, “How did your family react to your broken engagement?”
“My father didn’t say a word. My mother laughed and said she wasn’t surprised. And that was the end of that.”
He ran a hand over his chin, then with a sigh, he stood and faced her. “I guess forever isn’t in my DNA.” Leaning down, he lightly brushed a kiss across her temple. When he moved back, Blair met his gaze.
“Have a nice night, Blair. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said.
“Yeah. Tomorrow.” She stood so Ethan could climb the stairs to the garage apartment. After a second, she headed back inside her house, thinking about what he’d told her. He had a broken relationship in his past, too, and all the marriages in his family had failed. Forever wasn’t in his DNA, he’d said.
She understood what he was telling her. He knew she wanted a marriage, one that would last and be happy.
But if Ethan was so very wrong for her, then why did this thing between them feel so very right?
**
“WELL, IF IT ISN’T OUR resident hero.” Bob Julian moved into the dressing room, grinning. He slapped Ethan hard on the back. “I’m proud of you. You did a good job saving that little girl.”
Slightly embarrassed, Ethan glanced in the mirror, checking his costume. Idly, he straightened a couple of the medals. He should be used to the fussing by now. His whole day had been like this, people coming to the house to thank him for saving Melanie. They’d all been sincere in their thanks, making it clear they really did appreciate what he’d done. The attention was flattering but also made him uncomfortable. He’d done what anyone would do. That hardly made him a hero.
Not that he’d had any luck convincing the people from town. Throughout the day, neighbors and friends had dropped off an assortment of baked goods. By the time he and Blair had left for the auditorium, Ethan had enough pastries to hold his own bake sale.
“I didn’t do anything special,” Ethan said for the twentieth time today. “You would have done the same thing.”
Bob’s loud laugh filled the small room. “No way. Look at me, son. I’m way too big to climb a ladder. I’d have had to send the missus up there. She weighs about half of what I do.” He patted his rotund stomach as if to emphasize his point.
Ethan chuckled and went to move around the older man. “You would have figured out a way to help Melanie.”
Although the play wasn’t due to start for a few more minutes, Ethan wanted a chance to wish Blair good luck. He hadn’t had much time alone with her today. As much as he hated to admit it, he would have loved to spend the day alone with her. He wanted to talk to her about last night.
He didn’t want her to think he’d abandoned her. But the whole incident had really thrown him, and last night, he’d been afraid that with his defenses down, he’d take his relationship with Blair to the next level. Which wouldn’t be fair. He didn’t want her believing he intended to stay.
But he hadn’t been able to talk to her.
Before Ethan could open the dressing room door, Bob stopped him again. “Mind if we talk for a moment?”
Something in the other man’s voice made Ethan tense. “I guess not.”
Bob said, “I won’t dance around. You’re a smart man, Ethan, so I guess you’ve figured out by now that folks in Falling Star think the world of Blair. She’s a really sweet lady.” He ran one finger around his collar. “The thing is, she’s got a heart as big as the Grand Canyon, and that ex-boyfriend of hers sure did a number on her. I know Tara and some of Blair’s girlfriends have tried many times to get her to start dating again, but she’s never shown any interest. Until you came along. I know I speak for all of her friends when I say we sure would hate to see her hurt again.”
Ethan was beyond tense by now. Truthfully, he was worried about the same thing. But the words sounded different coming from Bob’s mouth. More real. More true. He knew Blair had feelings for him, and he couldn’t help wondering how she was going to feel after he left town.
“I’m not going to hurt her,” Ethan said, wishing he could be as certain as he sounded.
Bob scratched his chin. “That’s the thing. You probably don’t mean to hurt her, but come on, this is Blair. You really think you’re not going to break her heart when you jump in your truck and breeze out of town? I saw the way she kissed you last night. Blair’s stuck on you.”
Ethan leveled his gaze on the other man. In the space of a few seconds, Bob had reminded him of the flip side of life in a small town—people didn’t hesitate to comment on your behavior.
Bob opened the door. “I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life, but people here in Falling Star look out for each other. And as her friend, I thought I should say something.”
The older man headed across the stage, leaving Ethan to trail after him. A few of the actors came over to praise him for saving Melanie, but while they talked, Ethan’s mind was on his conversation with Bob. He’d made it obvious that Blair’s friends were worried he was going to hurt her.
Unfortunately, this was his main problem. He’d spent a lot of time thinking about Blair. He didn’t know how not to hurt her. He’d told her time and again what sort of man he really was. Yet he could feel that she cared for him in her sweet kisses and her gentle touch.
So what was he supposed to do now? His gut told him to leave tonight, to head out to the job before he made things worse. But he couldn’t do that. Blair was depending on him to finish the play, and he cared about her too much to leave her in the lurch.
But there was more to his feelings than just concern. These days, he spent most of his time thinking about her, wanting to be with her. But he wouldn’t let his feelings deepen beyond caring, and Blair understood that. He’d been honest with her from the beginning.
After he left, Blair would be better off. She’d be able to find the right man, a man who could offer her everything she wanted in life.
So if he was doing the right thing, then why did he feel like he was taking advantage of the best woman he’d ever known?
**
BY THE TIME THEY GOT home from the performance, Blair figured it wasn’t humanly possible to be happier than she was. She and Ethan had stopped at the grocery store, and now they carried the bags inside the house, laughing as they went. Every time she looked at Ethan, her feelings for him grew. He was downright perfect. Perfect for her.
Too bad it would all end in a few days.
Pushing that thought away, she set her bag on the kitchen counter and grabbed her ringing cell phone. Blair smiled as she watched Ethan head back out to her car. She could get used to this, but she wouldn’t. If she wasn’t careful, this domestic moment might lull her into thinking she could change his mind, but she knew better. He would be leaving soon and that was that.
Only half paying attention to the phone, Blair was surprised when the voice on the other side said, “It’s Dad.”
Blair’s heart slammed in her chest. Her father rarely called these days. After her mother had passed away when Blair was in her early teens, her father had become very isolated. He didn’t talk to his children often when they’d been growing up. He spoke with them even less now, which made Blair very sad. “What’s wrong?”
Her father laughed. “Don’t sound so worried. I’m fine.”
“Good.” It was truly amazing—no matter how old Blair got, she still felt like she was five years old when she spoke to her father. Especially these days. Ever since Marshall had dumped her, her father treated her like she was a china doll, capable of shattering at any moment. Nothing Blair said ever seemed to win back his confidence in her.
“I wanted to let you know I’ve decided to come for a visit next Saturday. I’d like to see Justin. Plus, I can see the play you’re directing.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Talk about amazing. Ever since her father had retired from the service, he’d become a golf fanatic and hated to be away from his hobby for too long. If Falling Star had a golf course, Blair knew he would still live there rather than in Florida. But since there was no golf course, that meant he really was coming to see his children.
“That’s great.” Just then Ethan came in, carrying the remaining grocery bags. He smiled at her and began putting the food away. Ethan. He would still be here when her dad arrived. In fact, next Saturday would be his last day in town. Blair had always assumed they’d go out with the cast after the final performance to celebrate the play. Then she hoped the two of them could have a private celebration, maybe go dancing or something. She knew Ethan intended to leave for his job either later that night or first thing in the morning.
But now the private celebration wouldn’t happen. Still, she loved her father, and she was looking forward to seeing him.
As she listened to her dad, Blair watched Ethan moving around her kitchen, glancing at her from time to time. Her father was talking about the trip, but Blair’s mind wasn’t on the conversation. Instead, it was firmly focused on how much she would miss Ethan after he left. She didn’t want to love Ethan but looking at him now and thinking of life without him made her realize she really did love him. The realization made her incredibly happy.
Then a new—and terrible—thought occurred to her. Her father was going to be around immediately after Ethan left. He’d be here during those first tough days when her heart would feel like it was breaking.
No way could she let her father see her hurt again by another man leaving. She’d have to pretend her heart wasn’t breaking, which would be the performance of her life.
Because there was no way around it—when Ethan left town, he would take her heart with him.