I laughed him off, but a part of me knew he was serious.
By the timewe arrived at the fundraiser, it was in full swing.
Don held out his arm, and I slipped mine through his. “Thank you. I used to think you were such a Neanderthal,” I joked.
He peered down at me with a wrinkle between his brows.
“Corey always told me you were the player of the group. I interpreted it as you not taking life, relationships...anything too seriously.”
He paused to open the main door to the museum. “You never believed that. You onlywantedto.” His voice was so deep and held so much emotion within it, I shivered.
He’s right.
I wanted to believe he wasn’t the serious type. Otherwise, I might have taken the attraction I’d felt for him seriously.
“How the hell do you know me so well?” I breathed out on a sigh, not intending to let the words flow from my mouth. Yet, whenever I was around him, I always seemed to say what I felt.
Except for one phrase I hadn’t said yet.
His smile widened, and the sparkle in his hazel eyes intensified. “I was always meant to know you.”
I snapped my eyes shut against the enormity of his words. I had to concentrate on letting myself breathe, on allowing the needed oxygen flow in and out of my lungs. Anything else would require me to tangle with the depths to which those words had penetrated my very being.
“W-we should go in,” I said, peeling open my eyes. More guests passed us as they entered.
He held the door wider for me to enter. “After you.”
After checking in with the hostess, we headed for the main lobby area where the event took place. As soon as we entered, Carter and his beautiful wife, Michelle, greeted us.
“Look who decided to clean up for the night,” Carter commented with a smirk.
“I clean up on special occasions,” Don said, holding out the sides of his tuxedo and doing a three-sixty spin. “Otherwise, I’d outshine all of you butterfaces down at the station every day.”
With a laugh, I rolled my eyes.
“But really, it’s my woman that makes me look the best,” he finished.
I sank into him as he placed a hand at the small of my back. It didn’t alarm me when he called me his woman, even in front of Carter. Both joy and trepidation filled me, hearing Don claim me in front of Carter and Michelle.
It felt good and, at the same time, made me nervous.
After talking with Carter and Michelle for a few minutes, Don and I made our way around the room, meeting other firefighters and their spouses, along with several local athletes and business executives who were financial contributors to the foundation. Carter’s youngest brother, Tyler Townsend, was also there with his wife, Destiny.
Luckily for me, Tyler also happened to be best friends with my target for the evening.
Minutes after we began talking with the couple, Kelvin approached.
“My second in command,” Tyler joked as he introduced Kelvin to Don and me.
“Pleasure, Mr. Maynard,” I said.
“Kelvin, please.” The broad smile on his face and sparkle in his honey eyes were small tokens of his overall appeal. He was even finer in real life.
“Maynard,” Don grunted beside me, his hand firmly wrapped around my waist.
I gave him a side-eye.
The exchange was short-lived as another firefighter from Rescue Four made their way to the group for introductions to the two superstar footballers.
