Page 17 of Silver Fox Firefighters Next Door

I made a face and refocused on the chili. When I was finally able to take a bite without burning myself, I was so impressed that I moaned. “Best chili ever. If being a badass paramedic and firefighter doesn’t work out for you, you could always sell this.”

Tate moved his chair closer to me and then casually tugged me into his lap. “You look a little unsteady with that spoon. Let me help you.”

I laughed and tried to slip back into my own chair but he wrapped his arm around my waist and held me tight. Glancing over at Grandpa’s door, I lowered my voice. “Grandpa could come out.”

His laughter was gentle as he pulled my bowl closer and scooped a spoonful. “I’m helping his exhausted granddaughter eat, Eve. It’s not like I’m eating his exhausted granddaughter. That would be different.”

“Tate!” I shifted on his lap and felt him harden under me. “I am not getting caught by—”

“Here you go.” He lifted the spoon to my mouth and fed me. “If Hank comes out, I’ll push you off my lap and we can make it look like you wanted to eat on the floor.”

I swallowed and groaned. “God, that’s good.”

“Good girl.” He laughed when I shot him a dirty look. “No? That’s not your kink?”

My cheeks heated and I glanced towards Grandpa’s bedroom door. “Don’t say that while we’re in the same house as my grandfather.”

“I could feed you at our cabin, if you’d prefer.” He saw the way my eyes widened and laughed. “No? You’re a little shy now?”

“Are all three of you always so forward about what you want?” I felt like I was constantly out of control around them. They were never what I expected.

“Is it really all that forward when we met you the way we did?” His eyes sparkled with laughter as he studied me. “If anything, you were the forward one.”

I scoffed and then ate the next bite he fed me. “I had an accident, Tate. That wasn’t me being forward.”

“Agree to disagree.”

I ate three more bites before I held up my hand to stop him. “You never answered my question. Are you always this forward?”

“No.” That was all he was going to say, apparently. He fed me more bites in between eating his own chili. “Did you make up with Hank today?”

A deep ache cut through my chest as I shook my head. “No… I will, though. Of course.”

“He’s a stubborn old coot, isn’t he?”

I sighed and shook my head as he tried to feed me another bite. “Yeah, he is. He always has been.”

“Aiden said he updated you this morning about Hank being good. When I checked this afternoon, he was still fine. He looks worse than he is.” Tate pushed the food away and rubbed my back. “Let me tuck you in.”

The subject change made me hesitate long enough that Tate just picked me up and carried me towards my room. I stared at him with my eyebrows raised and rolled my eyes. “This is ridiculous.”

“I’m taking your computer so you can’t work, too.”

I gasped. “The hell you are.”

He surprised me by carrying me into the bathroom and shutting us in. He put me down on the counter and pointed to the toothbrushes. “Which one is yours?”

I tried to grab the purple one and made a frustrated noise when he took it from me. I watched as he put toothpaste on the brush and wet it before holding it out for me. I took it with a scowl and brushed my teeth while glaring at him.

“I’m taking care of you, too. You need it.” He watched as I spit and then nodded to the toilet. “Need to pee?”

“Oh, my god. This is ridiculous. You’re being ridiculous. Stop it.”

“Everyone pees, Eve.” His smirk told me he knew he was getting on my nerves. “Fine. Straight to bed then.”

I stayed quiet as he carried me to my room and put me down in my bed. He sat down next to me instead of leaving and my lower stomach erupted with nerves.

“Are you really okay?”

---