Page 27 of Silver Fox Firefighters Next Door

“They’re overbearing. All of my brothers are. There’s something about Hellstone men…they were born with the need to be in control. I want to see them but I want some time to myself first.” She rolled her eyes. “They’re distracted these days, though. Your friend Billie has them all tied up in knots.”

I smirked. “She’s pretty great. Every time I see her these days she’s angry at your brothers, so it seems like the knots are mutual.”

“Oh, good! She’s in for a handful with them so she’ll need to be a bit angry to deal with them.” She glanced out at the park and then turned completely into me on the bench. “Enough about my brothers. Let’s talk about you. I’m seeing you in your natural habitat. You’re stunning, by the way. You’re beautiful over video, but in person…wow! Although you look like you’ve been crying. Lucky for you, I have an amazing shoulder to lean on. Tell me everything.”

I forced a smile and rubbed my hands down my thighs. “This doesn’t really feel like my natural habitat. I’ve been back a year and I rarely leave the cabin I share with my grandpa.”

“You’re going through something. You look so sad, Eve. What’s wrong?” She held both of my hands and leaned closer. “It’s me. The woman you work with and talk to randomly all the time. If you can’t talk to me, who can you talk to?”

Laughing, I squeezed her hands and sighed. “Thank you. For calling me beautiful. I should’ve said that already. I also should’ve said the same about you. If you let your publisher use your photo on your book jackets, you’d sell a million more copies in no time.”

I wasn’t exaggerating, either. She was gorgeous. Tall, curvy, and dressed stylishly. Her long brown hair had a red tint to it and her green eyes were so green it was like staring into shiny sea glass. There was a spark to her that hadn’t been captured over video calls. I found myself wanting to talk to her, to open up about everything.

“Bless your heart. That’s so sweet of you to say but if my face was published next to what I write, I’d be dead. Our oldest brothers, the ones who run our ranch back home, still think I’m a little girl. They’d have heart attacks and then come back to life just to murder me for even daring to think about sex.”

“They sound great.”

She laughed and then waved her hands. “Enough about me. What’s going on with you?”

“It’s nothing. Really. It’s not worth talking about.” I heard a familiar voice behind us and looked back to see Grandpa walking down the street with Coco.

I was still pissed off at Margaret and Coco was her right-hand lady. I assumed she had something to do with the lube that wasn’t lube, situation. I held up my finger to Vera as I stood up.

“I’ll be right back.” I crossed my arms over my chest as I hurried after Grandpa and Coco. “Grandpa? What are you doing?”

He spun around with a guilty look on his face. “Eve! What are you doing in town?”

I frowned at Coco. “Leave my Grandpa alone, Coco.”

“Are you still pissed about the lube? Get over it, girl.” She looked me over and then whistled. “Unless you’re still hurting. You’re standing like you’ve been riding a horse for a month straight.”

I felt my face heat up and scowled. “I’m not…you…I don’t trust you.”

“Well, I’m learning a lot. Did you have a nice time last night, Evie?” Grandpa snorted at my wide-eyed expression. “What? I’m just asking if you had a good night. What’s this talk about lube? Do I need to take you down to the station, Coco?”

“Yes. Arrest her. That would make me feel a little better. Arrest Margaret while you’re at it.” I groaned. “I have to go.”

“You heard what she said. I have to arrest you.”

“Oh, please do, Sheriff.”

I realized Vera was standing behind me and pressed my hands over my face. She put an arm around my shoulders and walked me away from where Coco and my grandpa were flirting. Nothing made sense in the world anymore. Coco flirting with my grandpa, the guys next door all wanting me, Vera showing up, and Mark messaging me? It was too weird.

“So. Your grandpa is definitely having kinky sex with that lady, right?”

I choked and had to stop walking to catch my breath again. Vera patted my back until I held up my hands to stop her. “Oh, my god. You can’t just say that. He is not. No way. God. Why did you say that? I’m going to have to drink bleach to get that idea out of my brain now.”

She laughed and dragged me forward. “They’ve got chemistry. I can’t believe you didn’t notice it.”

CHAPTER 22

Eve

“Seriously, stop. You’re killing me.” I dropped my spoon into the empty bucket of ice cream and swallowed the last of the Moose Tracks deliciousness. “My grandpa is not hooking up with Coco. Coco is crazy.”

“And your grandpa isn’t?” Vera held up her hands when I shot her a dirty look. “I’m just saying. I don’t think I’ve met a single person from this town who isn’t crazy. Everyone is freaking weird. I love it.”

We were in Vera’s rental, hidden away in her bed. We’d picked up ice cream and gone straight there. I’d spilled my guts to her and she’d listened without judgment. She did, however, have plenty to say about Grandpa and Coco.

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