Page 18 of Sizzling In the Mountains

Doug gets a big smile on his face. “Can I be on the cover?”

Mason chuckles.

“Um… no formatting decisions have been made yet,” I say, thinking fast. “I was thinking we could take a photo of each of you, compile it into a calendar, and sell it online.”

The Chief nods as he listens. “A calendar?”

“It would be on a voluntary basis,” I say, hoping that would help. “Obviously.”

“I want a month in spring,” Doug says with a grin. “I’ll be Mr. May.”

Mason chuckles. “Yeah, Mr. May I change the month so I don’t have to look at this pudgy guy anymore?”

“I’m not pudgy,” Doug says, grabbing a handful of his stomach.

Footsteps clang on the spiraling metal staircase in the corner of the large room and I hold my breath when I see James coming down. He’s in navy blue cargo pants with a navy blue T-shirt that has the emblem of the firehouse on it. His hair is perfectly styled and I can tell he just trimmed his beard.

There’s a bit of black under his right eye where he got punched last night, but it just adds to the dangerous look which is really doing something for me.

I can’t take my eyes off him. He's so incredibly hot, it should be criminal.

His short sleeves are hugging his round biceps and I find myself practically drooling at the sexy sight of the tattoos running along his arms.

“James,” Doug says. “Do I look pudgy to you?”

James turns and sees me for the first time. He looks just as awestruck as when he saw me at the fire. I love the way he looks at me. He makes me feel like the most beautiful desired woman on the planet.

Those sizzling brown eyes never leave me. He sees the camera in my hand, but he doesn’t say anything about it. He just stares, eying me like he might march over here, throw me over his shoulder, and carry me up those stairs. I wonder what would happen then…

“Victoria has an interesting idea,” the Chief says. “She wants to make a fireman calendar to raise money to rebuild the old railway station.”

“I’m going to be on the cover,” Doug says proudly.

“She needs to sell more than one copy to your mom,” Mason says with a laugh. “You can be Mr. December so that way we can dress you up as Santa Clause and cover your face with the beard.”

“You thought of that?” James asks me.

I swallow hard and nod, hoping he doesn’t think it’s a stupid idea.

“I like it,” he says, smiling encouragingly. “It could work.”

Happiness and relief fill me up and I can’t help but smile from ear to ear. Now, he would look good on the cover. Every hot-blooded woman in the world would want a calendar with him on the front. We’d pay for the library repairs in no time.

“When do you want to start?” the Chief asks.

“Whenever you guys would like?” I say, looking at my camera. I hope I still remember all of the settings, but I think I do.

“How about now?” the Chief says. I laugh. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought I would have to convince them a bit before they agreed, but he does seem like a man of action. Once there’s a plan, he wants to execute it.

“I’ll go first,” Doug says, throwing his cards on the table and standing up. “I just got my haircut, so it’s perfect.”

“Oh, did you go to that blind hairdresser?” Mason asks with a grin.

“What blind hairdresser?” Doug asks, the joke going right over his head.

I steal a peek at James while they’re bickering. He’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, shamelessly staring at me. He’s not even trying to hide the fact that he’s checking me out. I feel my cheeks getting red and I start fiddling with the camera.

This man is very intimidating. I still can’t believe I kissed him. I wonder if he regrets it or if he wants to kiss me again.

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