Page 51 of Wild Fire

When I patiently waited for Nate to kiss me, instead of taking his kiss for myself.

I swear I can still feel the remnants of his kiss, lingering on my lips, even though it’s been hours. Which is precisely how I ended up here, at the firehouse, where I slept. Technically, I’m not supposed to be on until tonight, but it’s not exactly out of the ordinary for me to drop in like this. And as long as I keep the guys' bellies full, they’re less likely to give me shit or ask questions. Well, everyone except JJ, of course.

Even though he hasn’t said shit, I feel his suspicious glares. He side-eyed me all morning as I made pancakes, eggs, omelets, sausage gravy and biscuits, and I’m pretty sure the only reason he didn’t say something was because someone had to grab the delicious pastries that get dropped off here every day. Still, I’m sure if there’s something he wants to say, he’ll say it, eventually. But he hasn’t yet, so I’m taking the win.

I’m just cleaning up the kitchen from lunch when JJ calls my name. I look up from the table, glancing at the clock. It’s already going on three, and I can’t help but think about how long I’ve been up, but it’s like I’ve got this burst of energy that can’t be ignored.

“AJ!” JJ whistles, and I blink.

“What?” I snap.

“Someone’s looking for you downstairs.”

“Me?” I point to myself.

“That’s what I said.” JJ gripes as I let out a long breath.

JJ holds out his hand, motioning for my rag. “Go, I’ll finish up here.”

I toss him my rag.

“Don’t have to twist my fucking arm,” I say as I head out of the kitchen. It’s not often we get visitors, aside from girlfriends or wives once in a while. Kids are the most common, but they aren’t here all the time, just on occasion. Which is always nice.

Though usually the visits are for one of the other guys, not… me.

When I get down to the garage, I have to do a double take because I see Nate staring up at the ladder truck. I stop, frozen as I take in the sight of him dressed in a long sleeve blue shirt and athletic fit jeans, those long legs and arms standing out as that brownish blonde hair falls in his face, a bit of a mess from the wind. He looks positively angelic against the red shine of the truck, the bright fall sun behind him like the heavens opened up just for him. But most of all, he looks timeless; full of promise and possibilities.

God, he’s so fucking perfect.

I clear my throat. “Fancy seeing you around these parts,” I joke.

I don’t miss the way his gaze flashes to mine, or the way he smiles when he sees me.

“I was… in the neighborhood,” he says carefully.

“Right,” I say with a grin, knowing how close he actually is to the firehouse.

That’s when I notice something in his arms.

My hoodie.

My eyes drift down to the way he holds it, almost clutching it to his body like a well-loved teddy bear.

“Whatcha got there?”

Nate blinks, clearing his throat as he tears his gaze from me.

A strange sort of warmth blossoms in my chest.

“Oh! Right, I keep meaning to return this, and last night, I ,uh… got a little distracted,” he says with a blush.

I smile. Fuck, I love when he does that.

“Well, I hope it was a good distraction.”

His cheeks redden a bit as he takes a step forward, offering me my hoodie, and I can’t help but feel he’s offering me more than just my hoodie.

I shrug. “Keep it. I’ve got others.”