I’m in the officer’s seat less than a minute later.
We pull out of the driveway, sirens wailing, lights flashing.
Carli’s across the street, climbing into her truck.
“Structure fire in an outbuilding …” dispatch says through the headsets. She rattles off the address and then says, “Neighbor called it in.”
Greyson maneuvers us through town to the property out an old farm road where houses are closer together than our ranches.
By the time we arrive, the owner of the property and his neighbors have mostly contained the flames. Steam and smoke unfurl in plumes from the rooftop and windows.
We park and I give orders through the lapel mic. We get the fire knocked down. Then we check for hidden fire and hot spots. After less than an hour, we’re wrapping up and heading back to the station.
We’re quiet on the drive back. I indulge myself in memories of my kiss with Carli just before the siren went off and reality burst our bubble again. I can’t keep sneaking around with her. I’m going to have to figure out a way for us to tell everyone that we’re dating.
Chapter 23
Carli
If you have two friends in your lifetime, you’re lucky.
If you have one good friend, you’re more than lucky.
~ S.E. Hinton
McKenna arrangedfor a dress fitting this afternoon and I’m running a little behind schedule. I had to help Jace in the barn and then I showered so I wouldn’t show up smelling like hog.
I park and blow out a breath.
What would it be like if I were seeing any other guy in town besides Cody?
All my friends would know. I’d be walking into this fitting to their eager expressions as they anticipated an update. My excitement would be shared—and multiplied—while I told them how I saw him at work and we snuck out back for a quick moment together—not to mention our whole day in Nashville. I place a hand on my chest and press in, easing the hollow ache.
The sound of laughter and giddy voices fills the old Victorian home turned cozy dress shop when I walk through the door. The front room of the store has three tufted sofas centered around a cream shabby-chic coffee table. The walls have arched cutouts with dresses neatly hung on bars in the recessed spaces. Three archways lead into the back area. The larger archway is open for customers to pass through. The two side archways boast a trending bridal gown and a tux on display like a headless bride and groom. This whole place exudes the promise of happily ever after.
McKenna’s getting married.
The warmth from my smile trickles down into my chest as I walk through the main room, greeting the woman at the register.
My friends turn and smile at me when I step through the archway.
“Carli! You made it!” McKenna runs over to me, pulling me into a hug when I enter the back room where a three-way mirror surrounds a platform. Small tufted benches line the walls.
My friends are all holding flutes of bubbling drinks. A tray of charcuterie sits next to another tray of petit fours on a cream side table.
“We’re ready!” McKenna tells Maisie, the owner of the dress shop.
Syd hands me a glass of sparkling juice and gives me a side-hug.
Maisie addresses the group.
“We’ve got a number of dresses set aside for you ladies. We ordered some based on McKenna’s input before we had all your sizes and preferences, so let’s look at this as a chance to narrow down what works.”
I glance at Syd. She raises a brow.
Maisie smiles around at all of us. “McKenna will be in thebridal dressing room trying on a selection of gowns. We set aside the bridesmaid dressing room for all of you. Once you have your dresses on, come out here so she and her mom can see you.”
“I’m so excited,” Mrs. Lawson says.
