Page 58 of Set Me On Fire

“Oh honey, don’t go offering massages.” Judy waved her hand. “I’ll have you working on my back, feet, hips, shoulders?—”

“Everything hurts?” Millie asked.

“You have no idea.”

“And how much longer have you got?” She ran her eyes down Judy’s pregnant form. “It can’t be long, right?”

“Three months.”

That came out as a groan as Judy straightened up.

“Oh my god, you’re gonna have to go through this for another three months!?” My jaw clamped down, ready to read Millie the riot act for her insensitivity, but she quickly recovered. “What the hell am I saying? I’m so sorry. That was freaking rude.”

“Haven’t had kids yet?” Judy smiled but she looked so tired. I knew we needed to get someone before this to take over her job.

Someone I hadn’t stuck my dick in.

“Um… no, not yet.” I expected a lot of things, but not the red staining Millie’s cheeks. She looked almost embarrassed by the admission. “I mean, I want to.”

Just not with me. Why the hell did that sting? I barely knew Millie. She could be a terrible mother, one who dealt with her partner leaving her by going out with a string of deadshits and forcing her child to call each one step-dad, just like my mother had.

“You look amazing by the way,” Millie continued. “Your hair’s all shiny and your skin is incredible.”

“There are some benefits at least.” Judy stroked her fingers through her hair. “This is the thickest it's ever been.”

“Mine’s always been thin and mousey.” Millie shot her a shy smile, twisting her finger through her long bob. “Maybe I just have to get pregnant to have decent hair.”

Fuck.

I could just see it. Judy was like an annoying little sister, but transposing her swollen form on Millie hit totally differently. The same curves that filled my hands that night swelled into something that had my dick punching against my zipper. Her tits would get bigger, that peach of an arse becoming something even curvier and her belly… I shook my head, the voice of the presenter about sexual harassment clear in my head.

This was not an appropriate train of thought for work.

I cleared my throat and the women looked up, each with different reactions. Millie looked like a deer caught in someone’s headlights, and I sucked in the moment her mask slipped, because it helped reassure me that I wasn’t the only one struggling with it. Judy, however, smiled and waved me in.

“This is Knox. Did you meet…? Oh shit, yeah, at the Christmas party. So, what can I do for the fire service’s grumpiest firefighter?”

“Not grumpy,” I said on automatic. She grinned, making clear I’d just proved her point. “Look, Jude, we need to put in a recurring milk order. I went to make a coffee, and there was nothing in the fridge. Gareth?—”

“Thinks he’s the original Weet-Bix kid?” Judy finished for me, before turning to Millie. “OK, I think now’s time to show me what you’ve learned. If Knox wants to have a crate of milk delivered each week to the station, what’s the process?”

Millie stared at the screen, not me, forcing me to shove my hands in my pockets, lest I reach down and tilt her eyes my way.

Look at me.

There was something primal in that impulse, perhaps because I had plenty of her attention before and now I couldn’t even get a sidelong glance. From checking me out at the party, to looking at me like I was a hero the night of the fire, I seemed to be going downhill in her eyes, and part of me freaking hated it.

“Find a suitable supplier on the procurement database,” Millie said, her hand moving the mouse. “Look for milk under food and perishables.” She scrolled swiftly. “These are all general wholesalers… Hang on, this is a major dairy supplier.” She finally looked my way. “Would the Fleurieu Milk Company work for you?”

“Um… yeah.” She was staring up at me and that’s what I came up with? I forced myself to nod. “Yep, they do a good drop.”

“See, his bark is worse than his bite.” Judy nudged Millie. “But they’re all the same. They come storming in here as if their arses are on fire, but if you get them what they want, they calm down real quick. Hot heads, every single one of them.” The two women shared a smile. “Now, do a draft purchase order but don’t send it in for approval yet because I have to pee again.”

“That’s another side effect of pregnancy?”

Millie seemed very interested in what Judy was going through, or was that just an attempt to build rapport? Judy nodded sharply before trying to lever herself out of the chair. Finally having something to do, I moved forward, supporting her arm and her back as she got to her feet.

“You don’t need to do that.” Judy was always an easy-going presence, but being pregnant made her understandablyirritable. She softened her words for a smile. “But I appreciate it when you do. You’re a good boy, Knoxy.”

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