Page 57 of The Firefighter's Fate

Which gives me a good look at him.

His black tattoos all over his forearms.

His firm, toned body shape that’s irresistible to not admire.

That sexy manly beard.

That lovely bum...

He turns around.

“Were you looking at my ass, Ember?” he asks me, eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“No,” I lie.

It’s like he’s got a camera attached to the back of his head.

“Isn’t this the start of some kind of porn?” he queries. “The handyman coming over to help?”

“It is,” I reply with a laugh. “The city girl and the tradesman...”

The man grunts again.

“I prefer the city girl and the firefighter,” he corrects.

“I prefer firefighters too,” I reply instinctually.

And I’m immediately blushing at my stupid comment.

Did I really just say that...

Why, oh why?

“Are you blushing, Ember?” the firefighter asks me, a smirk forming on his tough lips. He knows he’s just caught me out.

“No... I...”

“I like you blushing, Ember. It shows you’re human. You’re not the high-achieving robot I thought you might be.”

I roll my eyes.

“Gee, thanks for that compliment.”

“Well, it seems like we’re all done,” Connor says as he tightens some bolts under the sink. “There shouldn’t be any leakage from now on, thanks to me.”

“Do you need payment?” I ask him. “You’ve done a good job. You’ve saved my sorry ass from living with a growing puddle that I was dangerously close to drowning in.”

“No, Ember,” the firefighter says sternly as he brushes his hands on his jeans. “I don’t need anything.”

He stands up and faces me. We’re very close. I can smell him – oaky and hard. Like a deep, dark, quiet forest. There’s something so innately tough about him. Rough. Powerful.

“Nothing?” I ask him. “Are you sure?”

“Well,” he whispers, “a kiss would be nice.”

Oh?

A kiss? Is he being serious?

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