Page 27 of The Lucky List
“Can we go to the fire station? Mr. Mike said they have some cool Pokémon there. He has the game on his phone, and he said we could play sometime.”
I don’t even know how to respond to him. Micah does not like most men. The few visits with my dad ensured that. So for him to ask to spend more time with one, well, it’s huge.
“Okay,” I relent on an exhale. A chorus of cheers come from the back seat as we head towards the fire station.
I can’t believe I’m doing this. Have I lost my mind?
We walk up to the front door of the station, and Levi yelps when Micah hits the doorbell before him. I’m trying to separate the impending fight when the door swings open and Mike’s booming voice startles me.
“Just the kiddos I was hoping to see!”
Something about his admission warms my heart. He could have made a flirty comment and teased me more, but the fact that he seems genuinely happy to see my kids sets my mind at ease.
We follow him into the station, and Levi lifts his arms. “Uppies!” I’m about to lean down when Mike scoops him up like he weighs nothing. I should fight him on this, but I’m secretly relieved not to tote around an almost-fifty-pound four-year-old.
Mike continues the tour, showing us all the rooms in the station. I’m honestly in shock that they’re not bored becausewe haven’t even seen a fire truck yet. As I follow him down a hallway, Micah lets go of my hand and jogs to catch up with Mike. When he grabs Mike’s hand, my heart skips a beat, and I blink rapidly, trying not to cry. This is dumb. Why is this making me so emotional? I mean, this is a huge step for him, but it shouldn’t make me cry, for Pete’s sake.
Quick, I need a distraction, something to take my mind off the sentimental nonsense running through my head. My eyes track over from their clutched hands to Mike’s backside. Dammit, he has a really cute ass. I get why Levi grabbed it. It’s thick and round, and I’m struck with the urge to touch it myself.
A throat clears, and I look up to see Mike catching my leering as he peers at me over his shoulder.
“Enjoying the tour, Lucy?” He smirks, and I die a little inside. He totally caught me checking out his ass.
Fuck my life.
Before I have a chance to respond, he swings open a door to the garage part of the building. “This is the bay. It’s where all the rigs are stored.”
Saved by the fire trucks.
He sets Levi down, and he immediately takes off for the biggest truck, jumping up and down like he could reach the handle to open the door.
“Levi, no!” I screech.
Moving faster than I expected, Mike is right behind him, roping his thick, tattooed forearm around Levi’s middle as he hoists him in the air. “At least lemme open the door for you, lad.” He chuckles, and I blow out a sigh of relief. Micah lurks behind them, curious but cautious with his cast.
Mike sets Levi in the truck. Levi is in heaven, running his hands over everything in the cab, unable to sit still as his eyes go comically wide.
“Wanna jump in too?” Mike asks Micah.
Micah nods, and Mike carefully lifts him into the truck. He sits in the driver’s seat, watching his brother play whack-a-mole with all the buttons.
“He can’t break anything in there, can he? Because I’m not sure I could afford to replace anything on my teacher’s salary.”
“He’s grand,” he says, still watching my boys.
I’m mesmerized by the way he observes my kids, like he can’t look away. It would be easy to assume it’s because he’s worried about them breaking something, but he looks genuinely enthralled by them instead of scared off by their energy.
He must see a lot of kids come through here. This is just part of his charm. I mean, job. It’s part of his job. He props his foot up on the bottom step up to the cab as he leans against the open door. The move makes his ass pop, and I can’t help staring at it. Yeah, I definitely want to touch that.
“Whoa, you’re having a party without me?” a voice calls from behind me. I startle, prying my eyes off Mike’s ass as I turn, clutching a hand to my chest.
“Didn’t mean to scare ya,” he says, holding up his hands. “I’m Chief Sawyer.” He extends his arm, and I shake his hand.
“Hi. I’m sorry. We’re probably making too much noise, and you all probably have a lot to do. We’ll get out of your hair.”
“Nonsense, they’re having fun,” Sawyer says. “Stay as long as you like. Unless we get a call, we’ve got all the time in the world.”
“Chief.” Mike nods.
