Page 52 of Deck the Fire Halls

“He’s a nice guy,” Colson said, smiling at me. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. Same. He’s . . . kinda great.”

“Captain?” Doug called me from the door.

I gave Colson a clap on the arm as a goodbye, followed Doug, and got back to work.

It was after eight when we got back to the fire hall and then we had to run through the typical unpacking of gear and equipment. Even though we hadn’t used any of it, it was still standard procedure to be 100% ready for next time. Doug had once said it wasn’t standard procedure, it was critical procedure, and well, he wasn’t wrong.

Standard, critical, whatever.

It simply meant it was closer to nine when we called it a day. And I had every intention of going straight home. I didn’t want to bother Rob, given the hour, but his porch light was still on, and there was faint light coming from behind his blinds in his living room.

So, standing in front of his house, I shot him a text.

Still up?

A second later, he replied.

Yes. How was your night? Everyone okay?

The way his first concern was if people were okay made me smile. Instead of replying, I walked up his porch steps and rapped gently on the door.

A second later, the door opened and he stood there in comfy sweats, a book in his hand, and a slow spreading smile on his face. “Oh, hey.”

“Hey.”

“Everything okay?” He looked me over and opened the door wider. “Come in.”

His house was warm. The only light was a lamp beside the couch where he’d obviously been reading. “Sorry I’m late.” I smiled at the still-bare Christmas tree. “You uh, you didn’t decorate your tree.”

His smile was more of a sultry smirk, his gaze drinking me in. “I could have taken care of it myself, but I’ve been doing things solo for a while now, and when you offered to lend a hand...”

Well, damn.

He just about set my nerves on fire.

“A hand, huh?”

He pulled his bottom lip in between his teeth, then sucked back a breath. “Can I get you something to drink? To eat? You would have missed dinner.”

Before I could decline, my stomach answered for me with a growl. I shrugged. “Sorry. You mentioned food.”

He laughed and gently touched my arm. “Take your boots off, get comfortable. I’ll reheat you something.”

Lord, have mercy.

The second we saw each other, the electricity between us sparked. As soon as I was near him, there was so much static in the air, I could feel it buzzing on myskin. Sexual attraction an undercurrent just waiting for ignition.

I’d never known anything like it.

I’d seen guys I was attracted to before, sure. And I’d had times when things got hot real fast, usually on a dance floor a few beers deep or with a random Grindr find.

But nothing like this. Nothing even close.

Something was definitely gonna happen tonight, and my whole body was buzzing.

I got my boots off and hung up my coat just in time to hear the microwave beep. Rob was putting a plate on the counter when I joined him in the kitchen. “So the fire,” he said. “Everyone okay?”

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