Page 58 of Courageous Yearnings

“In dating or a relationship?”

“In forever, my love…” he promised, closing the gap between them as he kissed her finally. She heard loud cheering in the distance – and gave them a thumbs-up without breaking the kiss, knowing this would be recorded for all time.

When their kiss finally ended, Lance smiled before helping her stand up straight on her feet. He sweetly leaned forward and kissed her temple once more, like he was unable to help himself from being affectionate. His hand was on her lower back as she stepped forward to rejoin their friends, only to hear several radios go off nearby in unison.

Motor Vehicle Accident with Injury Reported

“Team A, Let’s move out!” Captain Marks began as Andy started chiming in.

“Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!”

Several men in uniform started climbing out of the benches, over the benches, and pushing past people in a rush to get to the fire truck waiting out front, directly outside of the building.

“Team B?” she asked – and saw several of the remaining guys bump knuckles, then pretend their hands ‘exploded’ before wiggling their fingers at each other.

“You are Team B, Mrs. Cortes…”

“Your man is one of the bros…”

“Bros with the hose!”

To her shock, Alec and Lance made faces and played air guitar. The chief simply rubbed his forehead ruefully as Justin shrugged before extending a hand toward her.

“Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.”

“A slightly dysfunctional family,” Justin amended, cracking a smile. “But family all the same. My wife can’t wait to meet you and has been wearing Chad’s wife, Maya, out for details. We’ll all have to get together soon.”

“But not for a few days…” Lance quickly added.

“Maybe in a few weeks, brother.”

“No calling in sick on Monday, either, Cortes…” the chief chuckled. “Congratulations, you two.”

“Thank you, sir,” Lance began and looked around. “Who’s got my phone? Does Justin still have it?”

“I’ve got it,” the chief admitted, handing it over. “I tried to keep my hand still after Justin handed it to me. Alec, just remember, your time is coming – and I promise you, we’ll be at your wedding too.”

“I’m never getting married.”

“I thought you said…”

“I need to go have a long talk with a few bossy females.”

“Good luck with that,” Blythe muttered under her breath and fought the urge to roll her eyes. Why was it when a woman was strong enough to play ‘the game’ that it suddenly made her ‘bossy’ or worse?

And heard Lance’s knowing laugh just before he kissed her temple once again. “Just so you know,” he whispered intimately in her ear. “You can be as bossy as you want with me – and we are leaving in less than two seconds.”

“You’re on,” she smirked, meeting his warm gaze. “Waiting on you.”

16

LANCE

Driving to the house felt so tense.

Lance kept looking at Blythe from the corner of his eye, trying to pay attention to the road, but she looked like a tall glass of water in the middle of the Sahara Desert right now. Her pale skin against her dark hair, those pink lips, and that frilly dress that was practically sheer was driving him nuts. Oh, it was a bit modest, and he sure would have put the ‘V’ neckline a little lower (selfishly, of course), but she was breathtakingly beautiful in a way he never imagined… and she was his wife.

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