“You know I love a man in uniform,” she purred loud enough for me to hear.
I wore my dress blues since we’d all just come from headquarters where I was awarded the Thomas Webster Award for bravery and honor due to catching the arsonist. The award was fine and all, but what was even better was that I was granted the position of station house fire investigator coordinator. Which meant I would split my time fifty-fifty between working at Rescue Four and coordinating with other stations to teach an investigative course for all firefighters to understand better how to assess a scene upon arrival.
This would help future investigations into arson and do a lot to stop future arsonists.
“I better be the only man in uniform you love,” I told her, my lips hovering above hers.
She pulled away from my hold. “Well, there is my brother.”
I grunted. “Him too. But only him.”
“I mean, didn’t your dad used to wear a uniform? Oh, and Cameron. I’ve seen pictures of him in his dress blues. I couldn’t—”
I tugged her body into mine. “Keep playing with me, Jocelyn. Your ass is going to end up back over my knee tonight.”
“Is that a threat or a promise?”
My cock twitched, and I mentally ran through the multiple closets and hideaway spots in the station I could drag her off to.
“Here you both go again,” Corey rudely interrupted, pushing his way in between us. He dropped an arm around my shoulder and the other around Jocelyn. “Just because I gave you my blessing doesn’t mean I need to hear you talking to my sister like that.”
He glared at me.
“Then you better stuff your ears with some cotton balls. I plan on spending the rest of my life talking all types of freaky shit to your sister.” I winked at Jocelyn.
“Disgusting. I’m telling, Mama. Mama!” Corey yelled, leaving us and heading toward the kitchen where everyone else was.
Jocelyn laughed, looking back at her brother. I did the same, happy to have him around again. Corey had told me that he’d joined a group that met a few nights a week for firefighters to deal with their trauma. He’d been embarrassed and still too raw to talk about it but slowly he was opening up again.
I took Jocelyn’s hand in mine. “Come outside with me.”
“They’re about to cut your cake.”
I looked over her shoulder at the gathering crowd in the kitchen. “They can wait.”
I tugged her arm, getting her to follow me out the front of the station.
“I wanted this time just between the two of us.”
“What’s going on?”
With a sigh, I looked down at her. “I had a dream about my mom last night.”
Her eyes grew wide with concern. She stepped closer, palming my face with her free hand. “Don,” she breathed. “What happened?”
I kissed the inside of her palm and widened my smile. “It’s okay. She said she was proud of me for saving you.”
Jocelyn’s expression turned from concern to a soft understanding. She lifted onto the tips her toes and I leaned in, letting our lips meet in the middle for a brief kiss.
When I pulled back, I lowered to one knee. She gasped as I pulled a ring box out of my pocket.
“Jocelyn, baby. You are my world, my everything. I love you in a way that takes over my entire soul. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes watered as she looked from me to the ring and back again. Slowly, she nodded. “Y-yes.”
“Woo-hoo!” I yelped, jumping up and putting the diamond on her finger.
“Wait, is that what Corey was talking about giving you his blessing?”
