"Ford Sterling.Nice to meet you."
"Maddox Knight."He looked away."Chief thought it would look better if I was dating someone.Make me look more stable or something like that."
"Huh," was all I could come up with.
Maddox shook his head."I've been single for a while.The guys like to set me up on blind dates."
Eve rolled her eyes."I'm being fixed up with firefighters now."
I could imagine how men would react to a beautiful woman showing up at the firehouse in a slinky red dress.I'm sure she was popular.
"But we have firetrucks in the parade," Eve said as if it was worth it.
"Do you have a Santa for the firetruck?"Natasha asked Maddox.
Eve gave him a look."We're still working on that.I think that because I brought him as my date, he should be Santa."
"I'm supposed to be the next fire chief.I'll look ridiculous in a Santa suit."
"It will endear you to the community and the children," Eve said sweetly.
"I get along just fine," Maddox grumbled.
Eve placed her hands on her hips."Your boss didn't seem to think so.He said you needed to revamp your image with the public."
Maddox waved a hand."I'm nice."
Eve gave him a look.
I didn't know what was going on between these two, but I was positive Eve wasn't focused on Natasha and our relationship.She had her hands full with whatever deal she'd negotiated with the fire department.
"I think I need another drink," Natasha finally said during their standoff.
Eve turned to face Natasha."I want to know what's going on with you two.But I'm hosting this shindig."
Maddox offered Eve his hand."I think we're supposed to be dancing and looking happy."
"I can't be expected to work miracles," Eve grumbled but placed her hand in his.
Maddox led her onto the dance floor where they seamlessly blended with the other dancers.
"I've never seen Eve so off balance from someone before.She's usually so put together.”
"Maybe she’s off balance because she’s hosting this party and taking Maddox as her date."
"She doesn't look happy.Should I be concerned?"Natasha asked.
I chuckled, shaking my head."Absolutely not.She got herself into this situation."
Natasha curled her hand through my elbow."If she's focused on Maddox and the rest of the fire department, she can't ask questions about us."
"That too."
Then she looked up at me."Let's dance.I want to give you the full holiday-ball experience."
I allowed Natasha to pull me onto the dance floor."I'm impressed that you do this every week.It seems like an undertaking."
"We encourage the guests to come, and we get quite a few locals too.It's a fun date for newer couples and those who've been dating for a long time.Everyone likes to get dressed up every once in a while.It's a nice way to show the woman in your life that you care about her."
