The Tycoon's Perfect Match by Christine Wenger

tried to keep him just as an old friend—but she was beginning to feel more and want more.
    They had a history together, but did they have a future together?
    After he’d kissed her in the rowboat, it took all the willpower she could muster to push him away. But they were two mature adults. Maybe if they just had a fling, she could get him out of her system. Maybe it would be the best thing that ever happened to her.
    Or maybe it would make things worse.
    Suddenly, the kitchen phone rang, slicing through the silence. She closed her journal and tried to keep her heart from jumping out of her chest as she hurried to the phone.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œMari, it’s Brian. I’m on my way back to Sherwood Lodge. If you don’t mind, I need to borrow your van. There’s been an accident.”
    She wanted to ask him more questions, but her mouth suddenly went dry.
    â€œI didn’t want to scare you,” he continued quickly. “That’s why I called.”
    â€œAre you okay? Can I help?” she asked, finding her voice and reaching for her purse and coat.
    â€œI’m fine. I’m pulling in now.”
    She ran out the door, down the steps and to the van. Brian was running toward it. She hit the buttons on her key chain to open the locks and tossed the keys to him. “You know where you’re going. You drive.”
    Inside the van, she shrugged into her coat. “What’s going on?” Soon they were bouncing down the road.
    â€œI got beeped by Sam.”
    Mari gasped. “Is Mel okay? Are the kids okay?”
    â€œThey’re all fine,” he assured her. “It’s nothing like that. And no one’s really hurt, as far as I know. Sam’s the director of emergency services for the area. He said that a tour bus of senior citizens ran off the road on Route 28. They’d stopped for dinner and were headed back to Utica. The driver overcorrected when a couple of deer ran into the road. He veered into a ditch, and the bus is now wedgedagainst a rock wall. We need to unload the passengers from the emergency exit in the back of the bus. Medics are on the scene. So are other volunteers. The state police are on the way.”
    â€œI’ll do whatever I can,” Mari said. “Are you a fireman? An EMT?”
    â€œVolunteer fireman. We don’t have a full-time fire department.”
    It didn’t surprise her in the least. From his early Boy Scout days, when he rose to the rank of Eagle Scout, Brian had always chosen projects that involved helping others. And his loyalty and responsibility to his family were staggering.
    â€œWe only have one ambulance,” he explained. “I thought of your van, with its lift, because some of the seniors are in wheelchairs or have impaired mobility.”
    In her rush to help, she never thought of why Brian was asking to use her van. “Excellent idea.”
    It was dark and misty, and she was glad that Brian was a skillful driver and knew each curve of the road. Mari could see deer on both sides in the glow of the headlights, and she held her breath that the graceful creatures wouldn’t run across their path.
    As they turned the next bend, red emergency lights and bright flares came into view. Two firemen were directing traffic. Brian slowed down and rolled downthe window. A man with a fluffy black mustache and beard leaned over and peered into the car.
    â€œHi, Brian.”
    â€œHey, Alex. Everything going okay?”
    â€œYup. We’re unloading the seniors now from the back of the bus. They’re being relocated to the summer trolley shuttle for triage. Doc Weatherby and the medics are checking them. Another bus is on the way.”
    â€œWhere’s Sam?” Brian asked.
    â€œHe’s at the bus with his bullhorn, directing the operation as usual.” Rick signaled another car to move on.
    â€œDid Sam tell Melanie to bring the big tow to hook the bus?”
    â€œShe’s on