Page 41 of Silver Fox Firefighters Next Door

I grinned. “Except, not really about the mud. Who the hell would we call if we got stuck? Brad?”

She shuddered and shook her head. “Nope. I need a cooling off period from him after that stunt I pulled.”

“No mud. Let’s go before a man finds a way to ruin this plan.” Joanie grabbed our hands and tugged us towards the door.

I slammed the cabin door shut behind me and laughed wildly as we raced to my car and jumped in like we were running from someone. I didn’t even finish putting on my seatbelt before I spun out of my parking spot and raced down the road. Dust flew up around the car and I could feel grit between my teeth almost as soon as the windows were down. It didn’t matter, though. With my hair whipping across my face, I felt like I could breathe for the first time in forever.

“Faster!” Joanie cheered from the backseat as Billie found a female power anthem and cranked the volume.

It was high school all over again and I couldn’t help laughing. It wasn’t going to fix everything for us but for the moment, it helped. We screamed along to the songs and drove into the nearest town with a late-night gas station. We bought crappy snacks and milkshakes from a vending machine and laughed about the time Billie and I bought a pack of cigarettes from the same gas station the day we were finally both eighteen. It was somehow exactly what I needed.

When I finally parked in front of the cabin again, I saw a light come on at the guys’ cabin. Immediately a flutter erupted in my stomach and I knew I was going over.

“Go on. We’re going to head back to the ranch. We’ll see you in the morning, though.” Billie pulled me into a quick hug and pushed me towards the cabin next door. “Whatever happens, we’ll still have each other when this is all over.”

I hugged Joanie next and then wasted no time in going next door. Aiden met me at the door and pulled me into his arms as soon as I stepped over the threshold. I wrapped myself around his body and took what I could. As I came between the three of them that night, I hid the tears which slowly escaped. I felt like it was over already, like I was with their ghosts.

Despite knowing better, I couldn’t stay away. I knew I’d be back again and again until the scent of them finally faded from the empty cabin.

CHAPTER 33

Tate

I ground my teeth together when I heard Eve come home. She didn’t come over right away and it just set my nerves on edge. I wanted her to run to us right away even though it was a bad idea. I wanted lots of things I had no business wanting.

I was sitting on the couch, waiting for her, when Nash came out of his room and sat across from me. Aiden was right behind him. We were all waiting for her.

“I’m sure she just has to shower before coming over. I saw some of the shit they were doing in the park today and some of it got messy.” Nash ran his hands over his hair and nodded, reassuring himself. “I didn’t mind the dirt last night, though.”

I shook my head. “It took everything in me not to bitch at her for how she drove out of here. The way she came back here covered in dirt…who fucking knows what they got up to.”

Aiden checked his watch and stood up. “I could just go get her.”

Before we could embarrass ourselves, the sound of her cabin’s door slamming shut echoed through the early evening. I held my breath, nervous she might’ve been leaving again. A few seconds later, the sound of her steps on the porch soothed that panic, though.

We all sat there like lions waiting on dinner to show up. When Eve did come inside, she had an electric energy which felt so unusual that none of us moved. She seemed happy with that as she moved to stand in front of us, her wet hair swaying as she bounced on her tiptoes.

“I have to tell you about today! It’s crazy what those crazy women pulled off!” She let out a happy laugh. “They’re playing matchmaker. I didn’t get it at first, but they totally are. It’s bizarre, but sweet in the way only they could be sweet while being total pains. They’re pairing off the couples and pushing them together. Billie and her guys were paired up. I was supposed to race with Billie, but Margaret gave me this look and it was somehow clear I wasn’t supposed to race. I just sat back and watched as Billie raced against the Hellstone brothers alone. Billie still won the battle but those men were staring at her like starving alligators. She’s definitely not coming over tonight. Same for Joanie. I don’t know how Margaret did it.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Sounds like a big day for Harmony Valley.”

“I don’t even know how many pairs were made today. It was wild. I’m happy for Joanie and Billie. They deserve their happy endings.” She sank into the chair across from us with a happy sigh. “There are two more days of this. It’s like one of the books I edit in real life.”

Nash grunted and leaned forward. “Come here, Eve.”

Her cheeks darkened but she got up and moved towards him. “Sorry. I’m just excited for everyone. Did you guys see any of it today? I saw some firemen and paramedics there but I didn’t see you.”

Nash pulled her into his lap and took her mouth in a hard kiss. Shutting her up. It wasn’t hard to see what he was doing.

Eve pulled back with a laugh and patted his chest. “I think there’s something going on with Margaret and Mayor Stevens. Is that crazy?”

I tilted my head back and stared up at the ceiling. Things were too precarious. I felt too tense, too on edge. I didn’t want to talk about love matches and I didn’t want to see how excited she was by other people’s love. It made me feel even worse about everything.

“I have to compete tomorrow, too. Not that I’m doing much. It’s really just the matches battling it out. I think I’m just a distraction. Not that I mind. I’m so excited for Joanie and Billie. Did I say that already? I’m rambling but I can’t help it. It was crazy today.”

I reached out and clamped my hand over her mouth. “Do you want to come to bed with us, Eve?”

Aiden shot a hard glare at me. “Tate.”

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