“Yeah,” I say, letting my voice drop, letting the truth sit warm between us. “We’re a couple.”
The mood shifts—soft, charged, something that sinks right into my chest and makes itself at home.
She swallows. “Oh.”
“Oh,” I echo, shooting her a wink
Her eyes flick to my mouth—instinctive, quick, but enough to punch all the air out of me.
I lean in. Just enough. “If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to forget half this town is watching.”
Her lips part, breath frosting the inch of air between us. “Maybe you should forget. Just for a second.”
“Dangerous words, Em.”
I cup her cheek, thumb brushing the warmth there. I’m so damn ready to kiss her right here with the firelight dancing behind us and the whole town buzzing around us.
But I hear a throat clear behind me—the universe reminding me I’m still on shift—and she bites her lip to hold back a grin.
“Later,” I promise, dropping my hand but not stepping away.
Her smile is pure spark. “Later.”
nine
. . .
Emmy
The bonfire glow still clingsto my skin by the time I slide into my car. My hair smells like smoke and winter, my lips are tingling from every stolen kiss Hayes managed to sneak while pretending to “check the perimeter,” and I’m pretty sure half the town suspects something is going on between us now.
I don’t even care.
I stayed until the last ember had burned and shamelessly watched asmyfirefighter and his team made sure not a single spark remained. But the night still wasn’t long enough.
Not enough time with Hayes.
Not even close.
My phone is in my hand before I’ve even buckled my seatbelt.
Emmy:Any chance that I can come by?
I stare at the message for a heartbeat, nerves fluttering, pulse tapping against my throat. It’s bold. It’s very unlike me. Or maybe itisme—just the version that only comes out around him.
The three dots appear instantly.
Hayes:I’ll wait for you out front. Hurry. But drive safe!
I swallow, heat curling low in my stomach.
Emmy:On my way.
I toss my phone into the console, shove the car into drive, and try not to smile like an absolute maniac the entire ten-minute ride.
The firehouse looks quiet from the outside, only a few windows glowing as the engine backs into the truck bay next to the ladder truck and ambulance. I wait, hiding in the shadows just far enough down the street to watch.
Everyone climbs out and heads in separate directions. Hayes looks around. Says something to Wyatt, shakes his head with a smile then walks out and leans against the brick building.
