Page 12 of Set Me On Fire

“To a party full of hot firefighters?” I asked. I pulled free to put my hands on my hips. “Are you kidding? So…” I could be the cool girl, the one that wasn’t still crushing on the out-of-reach guy from school. “You gonna be my wingman here, for old times’ sake?”

“Wing… man?”

Noah barely stammered that out, frowning slightly, and I admit that kinda pissed me off. I was no oil painting, but right now I was looking kinda cute. Cute enough for his friends if Charlie’s flirty smile was anything to go by. Then there was Knox’s big daddy act just after the fire.

“Yeah.” Fake it until you make it, that was my motto, so I shot him a cheeky grin. “I think every straight girl fantasises about making out with a hot firefighter,” I replied. “Introduce me to the single ones, and I promise I’ll help you get any girl you like.”

“That right.” There was something flat about his tone, but as his eyes narrowed, a slow smile formed. “Well, you better come in and meet the guys.”

Chapter 8

Noah

I had screwed up. I’d waited too long to find Millie, to make amends, to tell her the truth. When she pulled away, I barely stopped my fingers from closing tightly around her, keeping her right where she was.

Where she belonged.

I could still feel the imprint of her hand on my palm, burning hot while the rest of me went ice cold.

“You gonna be my wingman here, for old times’ sake?”

Her words echoed over and over inside my head, getting louder with each pass, to make clear something I had hoped wasn’t true.

That Millie wasn’t here for me.

Knox had rescued her. Charlie was the one who had the balls to invite her to the party, and I hung around the doorway like a lost dog, whining and hoping for a pat. I shook my head and then forced myself to smile before leading her inside.

The cheesy Christmas carol music,the bright green and red decorations everywhere, were like a physical blow. This was supposed to be the one time of the year when people relaxed, reflected, and reconnected with those they loved, and instead I made a beeline for the cluster of guys standing around at the back of the room, beers in hand, ready to introduce the love of my life to them.

“Fellas.” Every bloke turned around, and I saw their focus brush past me to take Millie in, and why not? She looked amazing. I stared the exact same way when she got out of the car, taking in the way that damn dress flowed across her body, and I knew what to expect. Guys pursed their lips, shifted restlessly as they took her in with hungry eyes. “This is Millie. She?—”

“Made it.” Charlie appeared with a grin, thrusting a beer into my hand. “Damn, that dress looks even better in person. Have you met everyone yet?”

“Um, no, we just arrived,” she replied, taking the glass of wine he offered her.

“Alright, this grumpy prick is Henry.” He nudged our teammate. “Great at putting out fires, but conversation? Not so much.”

Henry smoothed his hand over his stubble, barely smiling.

“Nice to meet you.” Millie didn’t realise it, but that brief nod was about as close to a conversation she was likely to get. “Gotta go. The missus is sending up distress signals.”

Kelly, his wife, was indeed waving him over, especially as his youngest son had decided to taste test Christmas ornaments.

“Don’t worry about him.” Dave stepped forward, a familiar grin on his face, and I shifted slightly, edging into the gap between them. “I’m Dave.”

“Millie,” my girl said, laying a hand on her chest, but she needn’t do that if she wanted his attention. He was already staring at her tits.

“That’s a beautiful name.”

I should’ve been the one complimenting her, and I was kicking my own butt for not having more to say when Millie got out of the car. The words came now, too damn late. The gold in her hair, the way it shifted each time she moved her head. The slender length of her neck, the ends of her hair caressing the back of it. But I hadn’t, didn’t. Instead, words dried in my throat, dragging me right back to school in the worst way.

Every muscle tensed as he offered her his hand and I wanted to snap, “Don’t take it!” Instead, he received the briefest of shakes, right before he turned her hand in his, presenting her knuckles for him to kiss. The guys chuckled at Dave’s bullshit, but Charlie didn’t. Instead, he stepped between them, forcing Dave back.

“Don’t worry about Shania over there,” Charlie said. “Let’s play a little game of ‘Have you met Millie?’”

“Shania?” She snorted and then frowned. “I thought you said your name was Dave.”

“It’s because he doesn’t impress anyone much,” one of the other guys said with a cackle, Millie’s mouth falling open, then closing as she barely suppressed a smile. “At least, that’s what the girls say.”

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