Page 4 of The Fire Captain's Unexpected Baby
“I amofficiallydone with dating for another fifteen years,” I announce firmly to the empty room. If I don’t fill the silence with something, I might not have the courage to gather my things, walk to reception, and turn in the key.
Stepping outside, I’m grateful that the weather is at least nice enough to walk in. The air in Crown Hill is crisp against my flushed skin. It feels like I’ve been heated all evening in one way or another. In the throes of passion. In the midst of embarrassment.
The one good thing about living in a small town is that you’ll never have to walk far to get where you want to go. Summer’s house is only a twenty-minute walk from the hotel. I wave to the neighbors who drive past, probably wondering what I’m doing out by myself right now.
When I get to Summer’s house, I don’t bother knocking.
I let myself through the front door, as I always have.
“What are you doing back so soon?” Summer comes around the corner, Noah perched on her hip. “We were just getting ready for a bath and bedtime.”
“After the night I’ve just had, I would love to put my son to bed. Maybe drink a bottle of cheap wine and then fall asleep.”
“The date couldn’t have beenthatbad.” Summer hands Noah to me, and I snuggle him into my side.
I recount to her what happened from the moment we stepped into the hotel to the part where the new fire captain had to release me from my metallic prison.
“I would have much rather been there with Aaron,” I tell her, my cheeks pinkening.
Summer is my best friend. Where else could I possibly confess that her fiancé’s new boss may be one of the hottest men I’ve seen in these parts for a decade?
“So you found yourself a damsel in distress, at the mercy of a very attractive firefighter. Seems like there are worse ways to spend a night.” Summer’s eyes glitter with mischief at the mention of Aaron. I don’t want to know what she’s planning.
“No matter how hot he is, I think I’m done dating.”
“You say that now,” Summer says conspiratorially.
“It was a terrible night.” Noah sinks more heavily in my arms as he nears sleep. I nuzzle closer to him and press my lips to his smooth cheek. “I think you might be the only worthy man on the planet.”
A deep throat clears at the mention of unworthy men. When I turn around, Zachary stands in the doorway. Summer’s fiancé and Levi’s best friend from the station, Zachary could be an exception to the rule with the tender way he treats my best friend.
“Of course, Mr. Oakley and the firefighters are the exception to the rule,” I amend in Noah’s ear, loud enough for Zachary to hear.
“You almost hurt my feelings,” he jokes.
“I could never think that you’re a bad person,” I tell him. “But it’s been a hell of a night. Not even firefighters could make it better.”
“Maybe therightfirefighter can make all the difference,” Summer says. She winks when Zachary isn’t looking. He’s too busy thinking that she might be talking about him. He stands a little taller, shoulders rolled back.
I laugh, shrugging off her insinuation.
“By the way, howisthe new fire captain?” she asks, looking up at Zachary from beneath her thick, mascaraed lashes. If he thinks this is a strange turn in the conversation, he doesn’t show it.
“Seems like a good enough guy,” he volunteers. “A little too brooding, though. A little too closed off.”
“I’m sure we’ll get to know him when the time is right,” I tell Summer pointedly. She can’t keep asking questions like that without letting slip what happened between Aaron and me tonight.
And if Zachary knows, so will everyone else.
“I think you should invite him to the wedding,” she adds.
Zachary laughs and wraps an arm around her shoulders. “The wedding is next week, honey.”
“And he just moved to town last week. It would be impolite not to invite him. We invited the whole station.”
“I’m not sure why it suddenly matters to you, but I guess I’ll let him know the details.” Zachary shakes his head, baffled by such a change in topic. “I’m going to hit the hay.”
He leaves, and Summer walks me to my car with Noah’s bags.
