Page 2 of Courageous Yearnings

She was stunning.

Her short black hair had a slight curl to it, almost in wisps around her face and with her big brown eyes – she reminded him of Betty Boop from the cartoons that used to play on the big console television at the orphanage sometimes.

Why would she want touch-ups?

“Feel free to give me the ‘Victoria’s Secret’ makeover,” Blythe was teasing, nervously chatting with Delilah. “You know, lift everything? Shave a few pounds? Get rid of my double chin and make things look perky?”

“You’ll be fine,” Lance blurted out – and immediately shut his mouth as both sets of female eyes swung toward him in shock as he quickly looked away. “Right there on the green ‘X’ taped down?” he continued, trying to distract them from what he’d just said.

Moving to take his spot, he hesitated.

“You want the coat and hat, lady?” he asked bluntly, trying to distance himself from calling her ‘Blythe’ or ‘Miss Monroe’ because that was causing his brain to picture her in that infamous white dress over a grate blowing air upward. Yeah, he really didn’t need to focus on that or the breeze blowing across her skin.

“Let’s see,” Delilah hedged, moving closer and looking at the two of them. “If you could stand here – and Blythe, what kind of photo are you wanting? Do you want him rescuing you? Do you want to wear his helmet? Coat or no coat?”

“Oh, um, well…” she began – again with the breathless voice.

Lance stared up at the trees, trying to ignore her. I wonder if they’ll drop pecans this fall? He thought idly and swallowed as Blythe’s voice rolled over him. She had the softest, husky voice that did something wild to every nerve ending within him.

“Let’s have him rescuing me, I suppose. Perhaps like a damsel in distress, or something like one of those dreamy romance book covers?”

“Ooooh, what a great idea!” Delilah practically purred happily – and Lance nearly ran, only to see the chief looking at him in the distance. Chief Carpenter put up his finger, wagged it, and then pointed at the ground, silently saying, ‘stay right there’…

Dang it!

“All right, Mr. Cortes,” Delilah began and pushed Blythe close to him, grasping his hands and putting them on her lower back. “Loosen up so I can move your arms if I need to.”

“I’m l-loose,” he volunteered, his voice cracking.

“Hi,” Blythe said breathlessly and laid her hand on the back of his neck just above his t-shirt, prompting him to look at her… and time stood still.

Her eyes met his, and something turned over within his gut as he swallowed. Her dark eyes were lined with eyeliner, giving her a mysterious look that seemed almost timeless combined with her short haircut. She immediately brought to mind what a dark elf or mischievous pixie would look like, except she wasn’t tiny. No, this woman was curvaceous and built and incredibly soft in his arms.

Lucious.

Dang it. He mentally cursed as he realized that was indeed the word that he would use to describe her. Pixie seemed to fit; stunning also worked, but luscious was the icing on the cake. This woman, Blythe, was utterly luscious in a striking manner that was practically banging a gong in his head, his heart, and his pants.

“Hi,” he croaked quietly, not looking away from her gaze – only to hear Mrs. Kendall’s voice in the background, spurring them on.

“Aren’t firefighter calendars supposed to have naked buff chests, swinging a bunch of dangling hoses, or puppies running around them? What kind of photo shoot is this? I want what I paid for…”

“Something just isn’t right with the pose,” Delilah was saying and moving his hand again, backing away, before stepping forward and adjusting it again. “Can you take off your shirt, Lance?”

For a second, he almost said ‘No’ and sprinted down the block… but the flare of interest in Blythe’s eyes made him hesitate. When was the last time that someone looked at him like that? Oh, he’d dated – A LOT – but no one actually looked at him like this.

She was staring at him like he hung the moon and stars. Everything in her seemed to be keenly focused on him, as a person. She was hanging on every word, taking in every movement, and it was just incredibly attractive combined with her own reactions? Her clavicle was turning this faint shade of pink that was causing his blood pressure to soar as it slowly crept across her exposed breastbone where a delicate crucifix lay against her skin.

This stunning creature was interested in him?

… Not just a little, but a lot?

Ohhh, man, my shirt is soooo gone! He thought wildly, immediately stepping back from her and shucking his suspenders, before ripping off his shirt. It had been a long, long time since he’d been intimate with a woman, and he could see the naked interest written across her expressive face.

If she was interested, he wanted to not only tempt her – but wanted his little ‘Betty Boop’ to dive right in and take a ‘bite.’ He slipped the suspenders back over his bare shoulders so he didn’t lose his pants because that would have brought on a very interesting conversation best not had in polite company.

“BABY OIL!” Mrs. Kendall hollered – and Lance looked up in time to see Colton Fisher slap his forehead in dismay. Looking back at Blythe, he could see the intensity in her eyes ratchet up a notch as her breath caught…

Lance didn’t hesitate.

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