“Great job, Sam,” Jensen said to Samantha, chuckling. “You’re putting out fires after hours today.”
“Oh, speaking of putting out fires,” Grayson remembered, turning to Evangeline. “I need to bring those hoagies to the boys. Are you okay stopping by the fire station before we go home?”
“Of course,” she said.
“We’ll head over then,” he said before turning to the others. “See you guys later.”
Evangeline grabbed the stroller handles and walked alongside him, like she was already trying to make herself useful by leaving his hands free for Leo.
He appreciated it. Even though these carriers were supposed to be hands-free, he preferred to keep at least one hand on the boy. It just seemed safer that way.
As soon as they were alone, his old discomfort began to fall over him again. He knew he should probably make conversation with the girl, try to put her at ease. But he couldn’t seem to open his mouth.
“These are for the firefighters?” she asked after a moment.
“I used to volunteer,” Grayson said, nodding. “But I’ve got my hands full these days, so I do other stuff to help out.”
Leo smacked his lips, as if in agreement.
Grayson patted his little belly through the carrier and the baby grabbed his thumb in a vise-like grip.
“That’s really nice of you,” Evangeline said, glancing up at Grayson.
He felt an unexpected hint of pleasure at her praise.
“A lot of guys volunteer,” he said, shrugging instead of telling her how much he liked hanging out at the firehouse with the guys he’d known all his life.
They walked on in silence, moving from one pool of light to another as they followed the slope of the lot down to the entrance of the firehouse while Grayson stormed at himself for closing down.
Ever since Leo came to him, he’d been feeling more and more like his old self—laid-back and confident, with his old sense of humor rolling back in more often.
But right now, he felt like he was withdrawing into himself all over again, and he knew exactly why.
She doesn’t care about the scars,he tried to tell himself.When she looks over here, she’s just looking at the baby.
But that wasn’t exactly true. Those green eyes went right to his like magnets every time he opened his mouth.
It’s just new. That’s all. I’ll get used to her.
The big doors to the firehouse were open spilling light into the lot, and someone was playing Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” on the stereo.
They stepped inside to find Ashton Beck rubbing a microfiber towel over the door panel of one of the engines while Chad Stransky and Ken Oberfield lifted weights in the back corner.
“Hey there,” Ashton said, placing his towel down and wiping his hands on his coverall.
Grayson greeted him with a smile.
Ashton Beck had been completely dedicated to the station ever since they were teenagers. He was a full-time employee now with a wife and child, and the only person Grayson had ever known to say they wanted to be a firefighter when they grew up and then go on to actually make the dream come true.
They shook hands as Chad and Ken approached. Chad worked for Trudy Williams out at the inn, but Grayson had heard that he was in some kind of training program right now.
“Hey, guys,” Grayson said.
“Who’s the unlucky lady who has to put up with my buddy Grayson?” Ashton teased, smiling at Evangeline.
The other two chuckled as Grayson blinked at him.
He thinks we’re together.
