Page 29 of The Fire Captain's Unexpected Baby
I don’t say anything. Instead, I gather my things, and we walk to the café. Aaron places his hand on my lower back and guides me to one of the sticky vinyl booths in the corner.
He surprises me by sliding in beside me instead of sitting across from me. I absentmindedly pick up the plastic-covered menu without any intention of perusing it for something to eat.
“Worried about Noah?”
“I always worry when he isn’t with me. I know Levi takes good care of him, but my whole world revolves around him. It’s hard to explain.”
“I can’t imagine,” Aaron says. He picks a toothpick from the small cup and places it between his lips.
It recalls nights spent in clubs hazy with cigarette smoke. And the nights in clubs that didn’t allow cigarette smoke. The way the bands tried anything to take their minds off the nicotine withdrawal.
“A firefighter who smokes.” I raise my eyebrows at him.
Aaron looks properly embarrassed, color rising in his cheeks. “I stopped long before I became a firefighter. Smoking seems so stupid now. Reckless. Dangerous. But back then, it seemed like the only thing to do.”
I pause, giving him space to tell the rest of the story.
“I didn’t have the best home life when I was a kid.” The wood toothpick bobs between his lips. “I started smoking really early on. Stealing cigarettes from purses, from older kids in the neighborhood. Eventually, my dad convinced me to stop.”
“Your dad sounds like a good man.” It’s hard not to hear the pride in his voice when he mentions his dad.
“The best there is,” he agrees quietly. “You’ll see.”
“Meeting your parents doesn’t sound casual,” I point out. He agreed that we would see each other casually. Our morning has been anything but casual, but I need to put boundaries back in place.
He hums a note that sounds like he doesn’t believe me.
We sip our coffee mostly in silence. Our knees brush under the table. Our eyes meet as we reach for the sugar and creamer with each new pour of coffee.
It feels comfortable. Easy. But there’s an unmistakable tension brewing just beneath the surface. We’re like magnets, inexplicably attracted to each other.
All I can think about is taking Aaron to bed. I already felt his body against mine this morning, all hard lines and muscle. My mind conjures up images of his body hovering over mine in a soft bed.
Aaron puts his hand on my thigh, a few inches higher than I would deem appropriate for public. My restraint snaps.
“We should get back to the house,” I say abruptly, unable to think of anything beyond him.
He tilts his head to the side when I blush, but he says nothing.
To clarify, I add, “You know, to take care of the puppies.”
“Yes,” he says thoughtfully. “You did make a commitment.”
I try not to read too much into his comment.
Chapter Ten
Aaron
She practically races me back to her house. I run for fun and for work, but she damn near outpaces me with a speed walk.
“Where’s the fire?” I tease her. She makes it far too easy.
“I just don’t want to have to clean up a mess,” she says, but the blush on her fair skin gives her away.
“You walk faster than most of my men can run,” I say.
“We don’t run in the hospital unless we have to, but nurses have to be everywhere at once. It doesn’t happen by accident.” She shrugs, but I notice her pace slows as I draw level with her.
