Page 107 of Living with Fire

I give her a once over. Black jeans, sheer black, long-sleeved blouse with a lace camisole underneath, and her leather jacket in her hands.

“You look hot,” I fan my face. “Hot date?”

“I am too busy for dates between work, Gran, and serving,” she laughs, shaking her head. “A friend has a party tonight.”

I snap my fingers. “Too bad. I was looking forward to some juicy gossip about a man.”

She waves me off. “On my way back here, Martin asked me to let you know there’s a guy asking for you at the bar.”

“Oh.” I check my watch. It’s almost six.

At one time, hearing the words someone was asking for me would send me into a tailspin, but these days it does little more than make me curious. Therapy, and my worst nightmare being dead, probably have something to do with that.

I have no idea who it might be. I met with a vendor earlier today, but the next meeting I have scheduled isn’t until the following week. Maybe a vendor dropped by unexpectedly. I’ve learned they do that sometimes.

Nate should be here soon too. He worked at the firehouse yesterday, so I only saw him briefly this morning when I was getting ready for work, when he’d told me to dress up a little so he could take me for dinner tonight. When I chose an off-white cable knit sweater dress with a scooped neck that flares a bit at mid-thigh, he grinned at me, called me perfect, then threw me on the bed before I could finish getting ready. I didn’t object.

“I don’t want to know what you’re thinking right now,” Bryn laughs, and my cheeks heat. “I gotta go, though. I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t keep the guy at the bar waiting with whatever you’re daydreaming about.”

“I’m not daydreaming about anything!” I call out after she spins and leaves.

Whoever it is, I want to get rid of them before Nate shows up. I’ve been looking forward to our date night all day, and while I may have denied my daydreaming to Bryn, I’ve been fantasizing a lot after this morning.

I really thought our appetite would have curbed by now, and I guess it has slowed a bit. We can be in bed together without ending up tangled between the sheets, but I still constantly want the man.

I suppose we did go six weeks after the hospital where we didn’t have sex. Nate was way too concerned he’d hurt me, and he has the willpower of a saint. We were a grouchy household by the time I said fuck his rules and got him so worked up he couldn’t fight it any longer. I learned more than a few things that night about what drives him wildest.

Pushing away from the desk, I make my way into the kitchen, pausing for a moment when I don’t hear the usual sounds of the guys. Looking around, I realize no one is in here.

That’s weird.

A small knot forms in my stomach as I think worst case scenario. They wouldn’t all quit at the same time, with no notice, would they? I’ve gotten to know all these guys and they’re all a great bunch. Happy, goofy, here to do a good job while having a good time doing it. No one has come to Nate expressing unhappiness, so I’m not sure why no one is in the kitchen. An emergency?

I glance towards the back door and bite my lip, thinking of the night Tony overdosed. Would they all have rushed out there if it happened again?

A loud commotion from the front of house catches my attention, my frown deepening as I twist back to the swinging doors. I can see a bunch of people standing around out there, which is just as unusual as no one in the kitchen, especially on a Tuesday evening.

Deciding I’ll leave the issue with the kitchen staff for a moment to investigate what’s going on in the bar, I head towards the doors, pushing my way through them only to come to an immediate halt.

I blink once, twice, a third time, trying to understand what I’m looking at. The entire bar staff is out front, along with the firehouse crew. There are other faces I recognize as well, but I’m so caught off guard that everyone is turned to face the door I just came through, that I’m having trouble placing them.

Until I recognize one couple.

“Mildred? Bob?” I ask, shaking my head in confusion. Then I realize Elizabeth, Nate’s mom, is standing there along with his dad. Jordan is next to them. “What’s going on?”

No one speaks. The only indication I get from any of them is when Mildred nods her head to the side, indicating a spot I can’t see from my vantage point. With just as much uncertainty as before, I take a few tentative steps forward, my heart galloping in my chest with anticipation.

I’m not prepared for what I see when I turn the corner at the edge of the bar, both hands coming up to cover my mouth as I gasp loudly and stop.

Down on one knee is Nate, holding a black velvet box in his hand, his other held out to me.

It takes me a moment to move my feet because I’m so overwhelmed by the sight and what I think is about to happen. Tears sting my eyes, but I manage to move closer to him, taking his outstretched hand.

The man is beaming at me like I’ve never seen. Enthusiasm lights up his bright blue eyes, and there’s pride in his smile. Someone who didn’t know him may mistake his reddening neck and face as excitement, but I know it’s nervousness.

He’s so damn handsome I can hardly stand it, and I have to hold myself back from screaming “Yes!” before he has a chance to ask me.

“Hi,” he says, eyes dancing.

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