Page 18 of A Very Grumpy Firefighter

I nod, and a few more cars park in the lot.

“I’ll see you then,” I tell him as I stand and head back behind the counter.

“See you then,” he says softly as he stands too and leans in, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek that leaves me stunned.

He pulls back, and we lock eyes for just a moment.

“Tonight,” he whispers, and I nod.

The bell above the door dings, breaking the moment, and I turn and hurry back behind the counter.

Milo waits for the new customers to enter before he glances at me one last time and leaves. Goosebumps cover my skin at the intense look in his eyes, and suddenly, I’m really looking forward to tonight.

I try to put Milo and my growing feelings out of my mind as I get back to work, but it’s impossible. I want him. As more than my arranged husband.

Now, I just need to find the courage to tell him that.

I finish my shift at On the Grind and head out, making my way towards Wet and Wild. I fish my phone out of my purse and call Lymric as I hurry down the street.

“Hey! I was just about to call you!” Lymric says as she answers my call.

“Perfect timing then. How have you been?” I ask.

I wonder if she can hear the nervousness in my voice.

“Pretty good. I’m just finishing scouting out a new location. I should be wrapping up soon, and then…” she says, pausing dramatically. “I’m coming to Wolf Valley!”

“What? Are you serious?” I ask her excitedly.

“Yep! I was going to surprise you, but I can’t keep it in any longer. I’ve got two weeks off.”

“Text me the dates. I’ll move my schedule around,” I tell her.

“I will.”

“Where are you at right now?”

“Canada,” she says.

Lymric is a location scout for a movie studio. She’s kind of living the dream. She gets to travel and explore new places and gets paid for it.

“How is it?” I ask her.

“Cold. Really pretty, but so freaking cold.”

I laugh with her and then she sighs.

“What have you been up to?” She asks.

“Well, my mom called. My grandpa had a heart attack.”

“Grandpa Joe! Is he okay? I can fly down to Santa Barbara instead if you need me to,” she offers, and I love her for it.

Lymric loves my grandpa almost as much as I do. We were inseparable growing up. I spent holidays and breaks with her family, and she spent some summers with me and my grandpa. She’s the sister that I never had, and her mom and dad were the parents that I always wished were mine.

“He’s okay, but I need to find him a new nursing home. One that does full-time care.”

“Your mom can’t handle that, right? Wait. That was a stupid question. Your mom is worthless,” she says angrily.

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