Page 23 of A Very Grumpy Firefighter

I know that Ryder, Maple’s husband, must be on his way too, so I stand to get ready to leave. I reach for my purse and almost faceplant, but two hands grab me and keep me on my feet.

“Easy,” Milo says quietly.

“Hey!” I say, turning in his arms to face him.

He seems surprised by how happy I am to see him, but he recovers quickly and grins down at me.

“Hey. Ready to go?”

“Yep!”

He nods at my friends and their husbands before he starts to lead me out of the bar.

“You didn’t have to pick me up. Someone would have dropped me off at my place,” I tell him as we step outside.

“I don’t mind. I like taking care of you.”

“Why?” I ask with a frown, and he tucks me into his side.

“You’re my fiancé.”

He leads me over to his truck and opens the passenger door for me. I reach for the handle and sway on my feet.

“Careful,” he warns, and then his hands are on my hips, and he helps me into the seat.

“Thanks.”

“Mhm.”

He closes the door, and I watch him as he makes his way around the truck and climbs in next to me. I turn in my seat to study him as he starts the truck and pulls out of the parking spot. His dark hair is hanging over his forehead, and I want to reach out and push it back.

He’s my fiancé. What’s stopping me?

Before I can think it through, I reach out and push the dark strands back.

“So soft,” I whisper, and he swallows hard.

“Lilou.”

“Hmm?” I ask as I run my fingers through his hair.

“How much did you have to drink?” He asks me carefully.

“Two martinis and a shot. I didn’t like it.”

He nods, and my hand slips down his neck to his shoulder and then his bicep.

“So strong,” I murmur, squeezing his arm.

“Fuck,” he groans.

“Do you think that you could lift me?” I ask him, and his body tenses.

“Yes.”

“You sound so sure.”

“I am,” he promises me.

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