Read On A Night Like This (Callaways #1) for Free Online Page B

I have to admit that your father always scared the crap out of me, and I don't find that many people intimidating. Even now when I see him on the lawn, I scurry inside like a timid rabbit."
    Sara smiled. "I cannot see that happening, but I know exactly how you feel. He's always scared me, too. It's stupid. I shouldn't be afraid to talk to my own father." She set down her fork. "Enough about me, what's up with you? Any men in your life?"
    Emma sat back in her chair. "Not for the last three months. I lived with a guy for two years. I thought he was the one, but it turned out he wasn't. We had a bad break-up, and that's why I'm here in the family home again. I needed a place to stay and some of my mom's home cooking and tender, loving care." Emma drank some wine, then added, "Coming home has been good for me in a lot of ways. I love my career, but sometimes it's difficult to fight not only fires and arsonists but also prejudice against females. I always have to be on my game, and any mistake I make gets magnified out of proportion. It's stressful."
    "I'd think with all the Callaways working in the fire department, you'd be shown more respect. Doesn't your father have a big job in the department?"
    "Yes, he's the battalion chief. But my family name actually makes it tougher for me. I have to prove that I'm really good, and that I didn't get this job because I'm a Callaway."
    Seeing the determination in Emma's eyes, Sara was certain that her friend would prove all the doubters wrong.
    "What about you?" Emma asked, an inquisitive light in her eyes. "I don't see a ring on your finger."
    "Too busy working. Like you, I've been trying to prove myself, and right now I'm on the partner track."
    "Does that track keep you warm at night?" Emma teased.
    "No, but it keeps me too busy to think about anything else."
    "You were always good at staying focused, Sara. Me, I was easily distracted, especially by hot guys," she added with a laugh.
    Emma's words made Sara think about Aiden. She'd certainly been distracted by him a lot as a teenager. "Can you tell me anything about the accident Aiden was in?"
    "Not much." Emma set down her wine glass. "Aiden was jumping a wildfire a few weeks ago in the Shasta-Trinity forest, and apparently the winds changed quickly. Their exit routes were cut off, and the crew was separated. In the end, everyone got to safety except Kyle Dunne. There are a lot of rumors about what happened. A couple of the smokejumpers seem to feel that Aiden made some bad decisions that day. We were hoping he would come back and tell everyone what happened, but as you heard, he doesn't seem inclined to defend himself."
    "He's probably still reeling from Kyle's death."
    "I'm willing to cut him all the slack in the world, but Burke and my father…" She shrugged. "They're impatient, and they want answers."
    "Someone hit Aiden today—after he saved my dad's life," she said. "We were standing in front of the house and one of the firefighters walked up and punched Aiden in the face. I think his name was Hawkins."
    Emma's lips tightened. "Ray Hawkins. His cousin was on the fire with Aiden and Kyle, and I don't think he was ever a fan of Aiden's. I suspect he's responsible for a lot of the negative rumors. Not that I know for sure Aiden didn't do something wrong. He can push the envelope."
    "Yes, he can," she muttered.
    Emma gave her a curious look. "Okay. I've been wondering for more than a decade. It's time to talk. What happened between you two?"
    "Nothing," she said quickly.
    "You said that before, but I didn't believe you then, and I don't believe you now. You had a huge crush on him when we were in high school, and right before we graduated –"
    "I had a crush on a lot of people," she said, cutting Emma off.
    "Not like that one. Maybe I should just ask Aiden what went down."
    "He'll tell you the same thing," she replied, hoping that was true.
    "We'll see." Emma got to her feet.
    "Wait. You're not going to ask him now, are you?" she