There’s something about him. An aura that you can’t help but get drawn to. His large frame commands a room and it’s natural to follow his lead.
“How long have you been a firefighter?” I ask as I lean on the back of one of the trucks.
His lips pull back as he sucks in air through his teeth.
“Why do you have to askthatquestion? That’s like asking a woman how old they are. Don’t you know that’s off limits?” he replies, playfully bumping his shoulder into mine as he leans on the truck next to me.
“Oh, come on, that was sly, give me some credit.” My rebuttal makes him smile and, wow, he’s got a gorgeous, breathtaking smile.
“Alright, you win.” He sucks in a deep breath. “I enlisted in the Coast Guard when I was seventeen. I loved the routine, the camaraderie, and I was really good at it. So I worked my way up and realized how much I loved leadership and mentoring other cadets. But…all the years I was there, well, I hated the water.”
My eyes grow wide at his confession.
“A Guardsman that hates water, that’s an oxymoron if I’ve ever heard one.”
His eyes widen at my use of the lingo and his head tilts to the side as he inspects me.
“My father was a Senior Petty Officer for as long as I can remember. Everyone called him Senior, and I remember thinking how strange that was because he was ‘far from a senior’ in age.” I can’t help but smile knowing how many lives he affected in such a positive way. So many people showed up for his funeral, they had to shut down the three surrounding blocks around the cemetery.
“Ah, well it makes sense why I was instantly drawn to you. You’re family,” he states with ease.
That’s the thing about military families. They do become just that, family. The only time I felt like I had one was when we lived on base and had the support of the other families. Then we moved every couple years and lived off base, making me feel isolated and alone. It didn’t help that I was an only child. Fortunately, my mother worked from home, becoming my best friend throughout my teenage years while creating and managing an online platform that she was able to sell and enjoy an early retirement, shortly before she passed.
Major senses the awkwardness in my silence and chooses to continue his story, which I’m thankful for.
“After I retired from the military I felt a little lost until someone suggested this. It was the exact opposite of everything I knew but I loved it. It had a lot of the perks the Coast Guard had that I liked, minus the water. Win, win for me.” He smiles, but I raise a questioning eyebrow at him, because he masterfully avoided answering my question.
“I joined the military at seventeen, retired after twenty years and now, I’ve been doing this for eight years.” He raises his eyebrows back at me. “Putting me at the ripe age of forty-five, for that curious little mind of yours. Double your age, I’m sure,” he states, insinuating it as a question.
“Was the television still in black and white? I mean, wow, where’s your walker?” I stand, playfully peeking behind him and then step around the side of the truck. He throws his head back and chuckles at my sarcasm, it’s a hearty laugh from deep in his chest that travels straight to my core.
“Get back over here,” he commands and whatever magic drips from his tone makes him easy to obey.
Right as my ass plops down on the bumper of the truck, Jasper calls out from the kitchen.
“Food is ready, boss.”
I turn to look at him, and he’s just smiling down at me.
“You like being the boss, don’t you?” I gathered this from his military story and how he is so easily trained to command a room and people. Because I swear I’ll do anything this man says when his gravelly voice travels through me like melted butter.
He leans into me, bringing his lips to the shell of my ear. The only thing blocking his skin on me is the thick layer of my dark hair, providing a barrier I’m desperate to keep. Because I swear if he touches me, my whole body will light on fire and we’ll have a real fire emergency inside the middle of this station.
“You have no idea, princess.” He touches the small of my back to guide me up. His eyes lock on mine as I stand on my Jell-O legs, confused as to how he has such an effect on me.
The amber orbs of his eyes squint a suggestive smile and I’m unsure how to read it but I don’t care enough to want to try. He’s easily taken my mind off, well everything, and I’d almost prefer to stay in this little bubble we’ve been in.
“Come on, let’s go eat. Plus, if we don’t get back there soon, Jasper and Wade may end up killing each other.” His eyebrow raises as if sending me a secret message, silently telling me more than he should or at least making me validate my assumption.
And I wonder if those two really dislike each other or if there’s something more than meets the eye.
CHAPTER 4
PLEASE NOTE FOR THE RECORD: HOT COFFEE NASAL ENEMA’S HURT LIKE A BITCH
ABBY
The mouthwatering aroma of a homemade breakfast wafts through the air as I walk into the kitchen.
