Page 30 of Silver Fox Firefighters Next Door

“Eve?”

I cleared my throat and looked up at Aiden. “Sorry. What’d you say?”

“Who’s Mark?”

“Oh, just an ex.” I gently pulled my hand from his and held it behind my back. The pain worsened with it being at a lower angle but I kept a brittle smile on my face. “I should get home. I have to talk to Grandpa about the company he’s been keeping.”

Vera groaned. “You’re worse than me.”

Aiden sighed. “I’ll take care of your hand first. Say no all you want, I don’t care. I’m helping you.”

It was the first time I’d heard Aiden sound anything close to annoyed and I didn’t like it. I shot a look at Vera when Aiden looked away but she was shooting me a thumbs up and refocusing her attention on the other firefighter.

I didn’t know what else to say to Aiden in my strange state of mind so I let him pull me to the back of the fire truck. I gasped when he picked me up by my waist and sat me on a part of the truck that didn’t feel wide enough for my butt. I had no choice but to cling to him when he stepped between my legs.

There was a toolbox type of storage system next to us Aiden opened and reached in to grab a bottle of water and a cloth. He kept me pinned with his hips as he leaned over and poured the water over the cloth.

When he cupped my palm again and gently pressed the cool cloth against it, I cringed as the pain intensified. I wanted to yank my hand away but instead I bit my lip and forced myself to be still.

“Breathe, Eve.” Aiden poured more water over the cloth and took deep, slow breaths to demonstrate what I needed to do. “Nash is going to freak out when he hears you got hurt. You better prepare yourself for him bursting in and demanding the right to take care of you.”

I took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. Watching as he poured more water over the cloth, I closed my eyes and tipped my head back. “I didn’t get hurt. I just grabbed something hot. There’s no need to tell him.”

Laughing, Aiden somehow moved even closer. He was wedged so tightly between my thighs I was sure it looked obscene to anyone happening by. “Even if Nash and Tate weren’t going to read about this in the daily report, I wouldn’t keep it from them. I’m not in the business of hiding things from people, Eve.”

I caught the tone in his voice and slowly lowered my gaze to his. It wasn’t easy to keep my eyes on his when he looked so annoyed. I wanted to get the hell out of there but since I was stuck, I decided to try acting like an adult. It wasn’t my first instinct when it came to my neighbors, but I had to try something. “I’m not hiding things, Aiden. Mark is my ex. I don’t know why he’s calling like that but it doesn’t matter because I’m not answering.”

Aiden’s jaw clenched. “Don’t avoid his calls because of us, Eve. You don’t owe us anything.”

There was that same cracking feeling in my chest. I pushed him away and dropped to my feet. My hand felt like crap but I didn’t want to be around him anymore. I didn’t need the constant reminder I would never mean anything to them. “I wasn’t avoiding his calls because of you, Aiden. Why would I do that? I’m not answering his calls because he’s a married man and I’m not a homewrecker.”

Aiden reached for my hand again and sighed. “Stop, Eve. Let me wrap your hand.”

I shook my head. “No, thank you.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that in a rude way. Your grandpa told me a little about your ex and I just didn’t want you thinking we’d stand in your way if you wanted him back. We’re temporary and he might not be. Married, or not.”

For the first time, when I looked up at him, I felt disgusted. I didn’t even know what to say. There was nothing quite like sleeping with a guy and then having him eagerly push you towards another relationship the next day. If he was trying to let me know they really weren’t interested, he’d accomplished his mission.

“Can I please finish your hand, Eve?”

I let out a quiet laugh. “No. You’re temporary and I wouldn’t want to get used to your help.”

I turned around and walked back to where Vera was animatedly telling the other firefighter about how I’d grabbed the popcorn skillet. I forced a smile at her as I interrupted, “Sorry. I just wanted to tell you I was heading home. Thanks for the ice cream and the fire.”

She pulled me into a tight hug. “Are you sure you don’t want to stay? The smoke should clear out in a little while.”

“I’m sure. Plus, with the way gossip moves in this town, your brothers should be here soon.” I laughed at the way her face dropped. “Text me and let me know how everything goes.”

She nodded. “Same.”

I glanced over my shoulder at Aiden. He was frowning at me but he was staying where I’d left him. “I can tell you that already, Vera. It went bad.”

CHAPTER 24

Eve

Heavy knocking on the cabin door that night came and went. Grandpa didn’t come home and I had the cabin to myself but all I wanted to do was curl up and watch TV. I ignored the knocking and settled deeper into the couch. All the lights were off and the low glow of the TV felt comforting. I was wrapped in a quilt and watching an old western. Grandpa didn’t exactly have a lot of channel options. I was wondering what the hell John Wayne’s character was thinking as he grabbed a woman and bent her over to spank her when the knocking happened again, only louder.

---