My Fiancé's 'Girl' Gave Me a Buzzcut. I Gave Her a Subpoena for Their Wedding. novel Chapter 21

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

After my husband died in that fire, I opened a BBQ joint across from his old firehouse.

His crew came by most nights.

Tonight, the usual guys walked in-

then this rookie, Miller, froze when he saw me.

“Wait. Aren’t you the captain’s ex? The one who died in that warehouse fire?”

The room went dead quiet.

Then Miller added.

“I didn’t lie! Captain IS alive! He even showed us his new family photo last week!”

“He said he finally found his soulmate. His?real?wife!”

My son tugged on my sleeve.

“Mom? What’s wrong?”

I smiled. Touched his hair.

“Just grown-up games, babe

–

one day, you’ll see.”

After my husband died in that fire, I opened a BBQ joint across from his old firehouse.

His crew came by most nights.

Tonight, the usual guys walked in-

then this rookie, Miller, froze when he saw me.

“Wait. Aren’t you the captain’s ex? The one who died in that warehouse fire?”

The room went dead quiet.

Ex?

The man who died was my HUSBAND.

They all knew that. They were at his funeral.

But then Miller added.

“Captain’s alive! He even showed us his family photo last week.

“Said he finally found his soulmate. His?real?wife!”

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Chapter 1

My hands stopped.

“MILLER, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!”

Greg-Liam’s old captain-shot up and dragged Miller toward the door.

“Kid’s wasted. Ignore him, Sarah.”

Miller fought back. “I’m not drunk! Captain Hayes is-”

The door slammed.

Silence.

Every single one of Liam’s brothers was staring at the table. Not one met my eyes.

My son Nathan pulled my sleeve. “Mom? What’s wrong?”

I smiled. Touched his hair.

“Just some silly grown-up stuff, honey.”

I turned to Greg. He’d come back in, forcing this tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Sarah, Miller’s brand new. Kid doesn’t know his ass from his elbow yet. Got our guy mixed up with some captain from the next county over. Forget about it.”

“Yeah, exactly. I mean, what are the odds two people look identical?”

“Right? And everyone knows Liam. Total hero. The whole damn city mourned him!”

They kept jumping in, talking over each other.

Every word made my chest tighter.

I’d known Liam for ten years. Married him for three.

Five years ago, that warehouse fire swallowed half the west side-and took him with it.

He went back in for one last kid.

Building was coming down. He didn’t even hesitate.

They never found his body. Just his wedding ring, warped from the heat.

Since then, I’d been living on his pension and whatever these guys slipped me when they thought I wasn’t paying attention Raised Nathan by myself.

I always thought they were doing it for Liam.

Thought they had my back because that’s what brothers do.

Now I wasn’t sure.

I lifted my glass toward Greg.

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Chapter 1

“Appreciate everything you guys have done. Really.”

“Don’t mention it. That’s what we’re here for.”

He knocked back his drink. Way too fast.

I kept my tone casual. “So what’s that captain’s name? The one Miller was talking about?”

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