Chapter One

A Fiery Reunion

 

Jack’s POV

The “Welcome to Pine Valley” sign hasn’t changed in six years. Same peeling paint, same promise of small-town charm, same knot in my stomach as I drive past it. My BMW feels out of place on these familiar streets, like I do—too polished, too city, too much a reminder of everything I left behind.

I check my phone’s GPS, though I don’t need it. Every turn, every landmark is etched into my memory like a road map of regret. The hospital’s temporary position offer came at the perfect time—or the worst, depending on how you look at it. But when Bob Morgan’s name showed up in my inbox with concerns about his health, I knew I had to come back.

Main Street scrolls past my window: Maggie’s Diner, Murphy’s Bar, the courthouse where Riley and I shared our first kiss under the oak tree. I grip the steering wheel harder, forcing the memories away. I’m here as a doctor, nothing more.

The screaming sirens catch me off guard. Two fire trucks roar past, their lights painting my rearview mirror in urgent reds and whites. My heart rate spikes—old instincts dying hard. Before I can think better of it, I flip on my hazards and follow them.

The accident scene spreads across Jefferson and Maple like a deadly jigsaw puzzle. Three cars, one flipped, steam rising from crushed metal. I grab my emergency kit from the trunk, already scanning for victims as I approach the chaos of first responders.

And then I see her.

Riley Morgan stands in the heart of the wreckage, barking orders to her crew as they work to stabilize a crushed vehicle. Her turnout gear can’t hide the confident set of her shoulders or the grace in her movements. Six years haven’t changed that about her—she still attacks danger head-on, fearless and focused.

“We need medical here!” Someone shouts, and I’m moving before I can process why this is a terrible idea.

Riley’s head snaps up at my approach. Those steel-gray eyes widen for a fraction of a second before narrowing. “Who called for—” The recognition hits her like a physical blow. I watch her shoulders tense, her jaw clench. “Jack?”

“Doctor Calloway,” I correct her, keeping my voice professionally neutral as I assess the teenage victim trapped in the passenger seat. “What’s her status?”

Riley’s game face slams back into place. “Jennifer Martinez, seventeen. Conscious but trapped. Complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing. We’re cutting through the door now.”

We fall into a rhythm that feels horrifyingly familiar. Her team works to free Jennifer while I monitor vitals and keep her calm. Riley’s voice stays steady, professional, but I feel her awareness of me like an electric current in the air between us.

The door comes free with a screech of metal. Riley moves with practiced efficiency, helping to stabilize Jennifer’s neck as we ease her onto the backboard. Our hands brush during the transfer, and six years of carefully buried feelings surge to the surface.

“BP’s dropping,” I announce, forcing myself to focus on the victim, not the way Riley’s breath caught at our contact. “We need to move.”

The next few minutes blur into controlled chaos. Jennifer makes it into the ambulance, stable but critical. I step back, watching Riley direct the cleanup with the same intensity she brings to every task. She hasn’t looked at me again, but her body language screams awareness of my presence.

“Well, well.” A familiar voice breaks through my Riley-induced haze. “Look what the wind blew in.”

Maggie Sullivan stands behind me, arms crossed, wearing the same knowing smile that used to see right through my teenage bravado. “Jack Calloway. I was wondering when you’d find your way home.”

“It’s temporary,” I say automatically. “Just filling in at the hospital for a few months.”

“Mm-hmm.” Maggie’s eyes drift meaningfully to where Riley is speaking with her crew. “Nothing to do with our girl over there?”

“She’s not—” I stop myself, but Maggie’s already caught the slip.

“You know,” she says, her voice taking on that matchmaking tone I remember too well, “the annual Firefighter’s Benefit Ball is coming up next week. Still the biggest event in town. And Riley doesn’t have a date…”

“Maggie.” I try to sound stern, but she just pats my arm.

“Come by the diner later. Your usual booth is always open.” She heads back to her car, but turns to add, “And Jack? That girl’s had six years to perfect her walls. Good thing you’ve always been stubborn.”

I watch her leave, then make the mistake of looking back at the accident scene. Riley stands alone now, staring at her phone with an intensity that suggests she’s avoiding looking anywhere else. Specifically, avoiding looking at me.

The smart thing would be to leave. Get in my car, drive to my rental house, and focus on why I’m really here—the hospital position and Bob’s concerning symptoms. Instead, I find myself walking toward the diner, knowing their coffee is still terrible and their pie is still the best cure for regret in three counties.

^^^

Through the window, I see Riley’s truck pull up outside. She sits there, gripping the steering wheel, and for a moment I glimpse the girl I left behind in the woman she’s become. Then her radio crackles with static, and her entire body language shifts from uncertain to alert.

“All units respond. Medical emergency at 1242 Oak Street.”

I freeze, recognizing the address. It’s Bob Morgan’s house.

Riley’s truck peels away from the curb, sirens blaring. I’m in my car and following before I can think twice, my first day home already spiraling into complications I never planned for.

Some homecomings are subtle. Others come at you like a five-alarm fire, forcing you to face every mistake you’ve ever made. As I follow Riley’s truck through familiar streets, I realize this return to Pine Valley is definitely the latter.

Welcome home, Jack. Let’s see what burns this time.

Bob Morgan’s craftsman-style house looks exactly the same, right down to the meticulously maintained flower beds that Riley’s mom planted twenty years ago. But instead of the peaceful homecoming I’d imagined for later this week, the front yard is now filled with emergency vehicles, their lights painting everything in harsh reds and blues.

Riley beats me here by seconds, jumping out of her truck before it fully stops. I follow her up the front walk, my doctor’s bag in hand. She doesn’t acknowledge me, but she also doesn’t tell me to leave. Progress, maybe.

We find Bob in the kitchen, already arguing with the EMTs who responded first. “It’s nothing,” he insists, trying to wave them off despite being sprawled in one of his wooden kitchen chairs. “Just got a little dizzy.”

“A little dizzy?” Riley’s voice cracks slightly. “Mrs. Henderson said she found you unconscious on the front lawn.”

I move in, my professional training taking over as I note Bob’s clammy skin and slightly slurred speech. When I reach for his wrist to check his pulse, he jerks away. “Not you too, Jack. Isn’t it enough I’ve got one overprotective Morgan hovering?”

“Actually,” I say mildly, capturing his wrist anyway, “you’ve got two overprotective Morgans. Peyton’s pulling up now.”

Right on cue, Riley’s sister bursts through the door, designer heels clicking on hardwood. She’s traded her high school cheerleader uniform for a power suit, but her take-charge attitude hasn’t changed a bit. “Daddy! What happened?”

“Nothing happened,” Bob grumbles, but I notice he doesn’t pull away this time as I check his vitals. “I just need some water and—”

“Your blood pressure’s pretty low,” I interrupt, exchanging a look with Riley. “And your pulse is irregular. When was your last cardiac checkup?”

The kitchen falls silent. Riley’s hands clench at her sides, and I know she’s fighting the urge to take control of the situation. Some things never change—she still carries the weight of her whole family on those strong shoulders.

“I want you at the hospital for tests,” I say, using my doctor voice. “No arguments.”

“The hell you say.” Bob tries to stand, wobbles, and has to grab the table for support. “I don’t need—”

“Please, Daddy.” Riley’s voice is softer now, revealing a vulnerability that makes my chest ache. “For me?”

Bob deflates slightly, and I glimpse something in his eyes—fear maybe, or resignation. He knows something’s wrong. That’s why he emailed me last month, though Riley doesn’t know that yet.

“Fine,” he sighs. “But I’m not riding in that ambulance. Jack can drive me.”

“I’ll follow you,” Riley says immediately, but Bob shakes his head.

“You’ve got a shift, and I don’t need a parade. Peyton can handle the paperwork, and Jack here can make sure I don’t escape through the gift shop.” He manages a weak smile. “I’m fine, Riles. Go do your job.”

I watch the emotions war on Riley’s face—duty versus family, a battle she’s been fighting since she joined the department. Finally, she nods stiffly and turns to me. “Take care of him,” she orders, then adds more quietly, “Please.”

“I will,” I promise, trying to convey with my eyes all the things I can’t say out loud. That I’m sorry for leaving. That I’ve grown up. That she can trust me, at least with this.

She holds my gaze for a moment longer than necessary, then spins on her heel and strides out. Through the window, I watch her climb into her truck, rest her forehead briefly on the steering wheel, then straighten her shoulders and drive away.

“Well,” Bob says behind me, his voice gruff but knowing. “That was quite a reunion.”

“Let’s get you to the hospital.” I help him stand, pretending not to notice how heavily he leans on me. “We can discuss my love life after we run some tests.”

“Ha! Who said anything about love?” But his eyes are sharp despite his fatigue. “Though since you brought it up…”

“Don’t start,” I warn, guiding him to my car. “I’m here temporarily, filling in at the hospital. That’s all.”

“Right.” Bob settles into the passenger seat with a grunt. “And you just happened to pick Pine Valley out of all the hospitals in the country needing temporary help.”

I close his door maybe a little harder than necessary and walk around to the driver’s side. As I slide behind the wheel, my phone buzzes with a text from Luke Hart, my new—well, old—colleague at Pine Valley General:

Welcome back, stranger. Heard you made quite an entrance at that accident scene. Drinks at Murphy’s later? We need to talk about the Riley situation before you put your foot in it any worse.

I sigh and start the engine. Three hours back in town and I’ve already faced Riley, worried Maggie, annoyed Peyton, and earned a lecture from Luke. Plus, Bob’s symptoms are exactly what I feared when I got his email—the real reason I took this temporary position.

“You know,” Bob says as we pull away from the curb, “Riley’s single.”

I grip the steering wheel tighter and wonder if it’s too late to apply for that position in Boston instead.

^^^

Pine Valley General looks exactly like the postcard they sent out last Christmas—all red brick and white trim, with blooming dogwoods dotting the parking lot. The familiarity hits harder than I expected. This is where I did my first internship, where I first knew I wanted to be an ER doctor. Where I first treated Riley after she rushed into that burning house on Brunswick Street…

“Stop brooding,” Bob orders as I help him through the automatic doors. “It doesn’t suit you.”

“I’m not brooding. I’m thinking.”

“About my daughter?”

I’m saved from answering by Luke Hart’s arrival. My old friend looks annoyingly pleased with himself as he approaches, pushing a wheelchair. “I hear someone’s being stubborn about medical care. Must run in the Morgan family.”

“I don’t need that contraption,” Bob protests.

“Hospital policy,” Luke and I say in unison, sharing a grin. Some things really don’t change.

As we settle Bob into an exam room, Luke pulls me aside. “I’ve got this if you need to check in at Admin. Dr. Chen’s waiting to brief you on the department.”

I hesitate, glancing at Bob. He waves me off. “Go. Do your doctor things. I promise not to escape.”

In the hallway, Luke grabs my arm. “Seriously, man. What were you thinking, jumping right into a scene with Riley there?”

“I was thinking someone needed medical attention.” But even I can hear the defense in my voice.

“Right. And it had nothing to do with playing hero in front of—”

“Dr. Calloway?” A nurse interrupts, holding out a tablet. “Your paperwork’s ready, and Dr. Chen asked me to show you to your office.”

I shoot Luke a grateful look and follow the nurse, but his knowing smirk follows me down the hall. My so-called friend won’t let this go easily. None of them will.

^^^

The next hour dissolves into administrative details, department protocols, and trying not to compare everything to my Boston practice. Dr. Chen, the Chief of Emergency Medicine, is particularly interested in my trauma experience. “We could use someone with your background,” she says. “Especially if you’re considering staying on permanently.”

“It’s temporary,” I say automatically, but the words feel less certain each time.

When I finally escape the admin wing, I find Luke waiting by the nurses’ station. “Bob’s tests are done. Want to hear the results now, or should we discuss them over those drinks you owe me?”

“Now,” I say firmly. “And I don’t owe you drinks.”

“You do if you want my intel on Riley’s dating history since you left.”

My stomach clenches. “I don’t.”

“Liar.” Luke hands me Bob’s chart. “His BP’s stabilized, but I’m concerned about these cognitive markers. And the arrhythmia—”

“Dr. Calloway?”

I turn to find Gage Lawson filling the hallway with his firefighter presence. Riley’s self-appointed protector hasn’t changed—still built like a brick wall with a personality to match.

“Gage.” I keep my voice neutral. “Can I help you?”

“Just checking on the Chief.” His eyes narrow slightly. “Riley asked me to stop by.”

Of course she did. “He’s resting. Tests came back—”

“Jack.” Luke’s voice carries a warning. Right. Patient confidentiality, even with Riley’s second-in-command.

Gage crosses his arms. “You know, some of us stayed. Some of us were here when Riley needed someone.”

The accusation hits its mark. “I’m just doing my job, Gage.”

“Sure.” He turns to leave, then pauses. “Word of advice? Riley’s not the same girl you left behind. She’s stronger now. Better off.”

I wait until he’s gone to release my breath. Luke whistles low. “Well, that was intense. Still sure you don’t want those drinks?”

Before I can answer, my phone buzzes. A text from Riley: How is he?

Three little words shouldn’t make my heart race like this. I stare at the screen, remembering how she looked at the accident scene—fierce, focused, beautiful in a way that has nothing to do with conventional beauty and everything to do with pure Riley Morgan determination.

“Earth to Jack.” Luke waves a hand in front of my face. “You can’t ignore her forever.”

“I’m not ignoring her. I’m…” I trail off as another text appears:

Never mind. Maggie says you’re coming to the diner tonight. I’ll be there at 8. We need to talk about Dad.

Luke reads over my shoulder and laughs. “Man, you are so screwed.”

He’s right. Six years, a successful career, and a thousand miles of distance, and Riley Morgan can still turn my world upside down with a single text.

I shove my phone in my pocket and head for Bob’s room. One crisis at a time. First, I need to figure out how to tell Riley’s father that his symptoms match early-onset Alzheimer’s. Then I can worry about facing Riley across a booth at Maggie’s, pretending six years of regret isn’t sitting between us like a live grenade.

Welcome to Pine Valley, where second chances come with a side of small-town drama and a guarantee that whatever you’re running from will find you eventually.

At least the coffee at Maggie’s still sucks. Some things you can count on.