Page 80 of Just This Once

I only hoped that was a choice I wouldn’t be forced to make.

The longer uncertainty hung in the air, the more agitated I became. Sitting around and waiting for the hammer to drop was excruciating. I drummed my fingers against the counter as I waited impatiently for the coffee maker to hurry the fuck up.

With the first sip, my coffee tasted like bitterness and anxiety as I mulled over the possible outcomes of Emily’s talk with herdad. My eyes kept flicking to the clock, each passing second a painful reminder of the unresolved tension. I couldn’t shake the image of Chief storming into the station, his face stern, disappointment etched in the lines of his forehead. My heart pounded, a steady beat of dread accompanying each tick of the clock.

“Yo, Whip!” Connor’s voice called on the intercom. “You’ve got a visitor downstairs.”

I walked to the top step and looked down at his grinning face. I sighed. “Don’t fuck with me. I can’t handle another granny gorilla striptease.”

Connor barked a laugh. Last year I had gotten a “visitor,” and it turned out to be someone dressed as an elderly gorilla. As soon as I walked to the door, the gorilla started playing music and removing her clothing—complete with granny panties. I knew Lee was behind it. Hell, I was fairly certain it washimdressed in the costume, and it was fucking hilarious—not that I’d ever admit that to him.

Connor jerked his head to the side. “Come on. I think you’re going to want to see this one.”

Taking the steps two at a time, I bounded downstairs. My heart thunked against my ribs when I saw Emily standing with a large white bakery box in her arms and a wide, bright smile on her face.

“Aww...” Her lower lip jutted out. “I thought maybe you’d ride the pole down.”

Connor covered his laugh with his hand, and I shot him a look, telling him to get lost.

I stepped up to Emily.She’s actually here—standing in the apparatus bay surrounded by trucks and the smells of rubber and lemon cleaner.

She hefted the box higher. “I got something for you.”

“Is that so?” I tipped open the lid to find an array of neatly arranged pastries from the Sugar Bowl. “The crew will love them. Thank you.”

She beamed up at me, and we smiled at each other like fools.

How was this actually happening?

Emily gently cleared her throat. “I talked to my dad.”

I searched her eyes, but they were clear and sure. The tightness in my shoulders relaxed the tiniest amount.

“I think we’re going to be just fine, you and me.”

You and me.

I liked the sound of that.

Sure, I still wanted to talk with my chief about everything that had happened, but for the moment, Emily assured me things were going to be okay. It almost didn’t feel real. Things like this didn’t work out for guys like me. Women like Emily Ward didn’t fall for unworthy men.

“So we’re good then?” I asked.

Her gentle, excited nod was enough to send my mind sailing. She shrugged as I relieved her of the pastry box. “I’m sure there’s going to be a level of ball-busting I don’t really understand, but from where I’m standing, Dad took the news about as well as he could have.”

My tongue was thick and my jaw twitched.Was it really that easy?If I trusted in the carefree way she showed up at the fire station and the brightness in her blue-green eyes, then yeah... I guessed it was.

“I’m taking you out.” I grinned.

Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh, really?”

My molars clamped down to hide my cheesy grin. “Damn right. If this isn’t a secret anymore, the whole damn town is going to know you’re mine.”

Her lips folded in as a shy blush pinked her cheeks. “I think I’d like that.”

“Be ready by seven. I’ll pick you up at the house.” I nodded toward the open bay door. “Now get out of here. You’re too distracting to be walking around here looking all cute.”

She used two fingers to give me a salute. “You got it.”

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