Page 46 of The Fire Captain's Unexpected Baby
She slips on her shoes, grabs her wallet, and snags Noah’s bag from the hook.
“Oh,” she says, heading back toward the house. “I forgot that we’ll have to take my car. For Noah’s car seat.”
“Problem already solved.” I borrowed a car seat from one of the guys at the station, on the off-chance Paige would want to go somewhere with me. It’s easier to take my car in case I have to rush to work.
“Do you always think of everything?” She leans in and kisses me again.
“Not always, but I’m trying.”
I don’t tell her that I’m already thinking about our next date and the one after that. She wants to date casually, and I’m willing to pretend that I can do that with her.
Hopefully, I can soon convince her that I’m in this for real.
Chapter Fourteen
Paige
Our date last night was perfect. Sitting in those vinyl booths at the café made it feel like something we do all the time. Like we had a free night together and wanted to go out on a whim.
The kind of thing we do all the time without thinking too hard about it. The kind of thing you do in a small town when you and your husband are comfortable together.
We ran into some people we knew—guys from the station and friends from the hospital. Conversation ran easily between us, and it felt like our lives were mingling, even the ones we tried to keep separate.
But eventually, he had to go back to the station while Noah and I walked home to the background of the setting sun.
It was a long night to spend in my bed, all alone.
And now this morning, I promised Megan I would swing by the shelter and take a couple of the dogs out before my hospital shift. Noah and I plan to pick them up and take them to see Mr. Oakley for a little while.
“Okay, Noah.” I turn to look at him before we get out of the car. “We’re going to pick out two dogs, and then we’re on our way. Can you do that?”
He sips from his juice box in reply, the straw sucking up air.
“Thanks for doing this at the last minute,” Megan says when we walk into the back office.
The shelter is buzzing with activity as the staff gets ready for families to come meet the adoptable animals.
“I really don’t mind helping out,” I remind her.
“Just pick a couple of dogs and take them with you. I’ll make a note of who you take. We’re overrun here.” She grabs her clipboard with the available assignments and hands them to me.
Asking volunteers to take the dogs out of the shelter is pretty common around here. It gets the dogs out into the community, where more people can see them, bettering their chances of being adopted. Noah and I do it every once in a while, but mostly we prefer to play with the puppies here.
We wander the aisles of kennels, Noah’s hand tucked in mine. He doesn’t react to the loud barking and whining of the dogs. I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I don’t find it in the pitbulls and shepherds licking my fingers through the kennel fencing.
When the last kennel comes into focus, I realize what I want. The two puppies Aaron rescued from the wildfire play-fight, their nails click-clacking on the tile floor. Noah squeals and reaches for them.
“Alright.” I laugh at his enthusiasm. “Guess we’re stuck with them.”
Megan says nothing as she checks the puppies out to us. I can tell she’s holding back an I-told-you-so smile.
“We’re not keeping them,” I say as firmly as I can. It sounds a little flat, even to my own ears.
Noah pets their soft, floppy ears while she and I take care of the business side of things.
“Enjoy your day,” she says, releasing us into the parking lot.
I strap Noah into his car seat, place the puppies in the seat beside him, and slide behind the wheel. Hopefully, Mr. Oakley won’t mind how rambunctious these pups are.
