Page 33 of A Very Grumpy Firefighter

“Let us know if you need anything else in the meantime. We’re at the hotel right across the street,” I add, and he nods.

I can see that he’s tired, so after Lilou has kissed him goodbye, I usher her out of the room and down the hall. I can tell that today has drained her too. She’s almost swaying on her feet, and her eyes are starting to droop.

“Why don’t you wait here? I’ll go get the car and pick you up.”

“I can walk,” she argues, and I smile.

“I know. Let me be a gentleman, though. Your grandpa could be watching,” I whisper, and she laughs.

I grin before I take off towards the rental car. I hop in and drive back to pick her up.

“Are you hungry? I can grab food before we go back to the hotel room.”

“Yeah, just something quick,” she says through a yawn.

“Tacos?” I ask, nodding to the restaurant next to our hotel.

“Perfect.”

“I’ll drop you off at the room and go get it. That way, you can rest.”

She nods, and I pull up to the front of the hotel.

“Want me to walk you to the room?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

“I’ll be okay. See you in a few.”

She closes the door, and I wait until she disappears from my view before I pull out and go grab our food. By the time I park and make it back to the room, Lilou is just stepping out of the shower. Her stomach growls, and I smile as I set down the bags of food.

“Dig in,” I tell her as I pull out one of the chairs at the small table.

“Thanks.”

“No problem,” I say, sitting down next to her.

“No, really. Thanks. For this and for coming with me and for paying for our arranged marriage so that I can pay for his treatment and just…for everything.”

“It’s really no problem,” I tell her. “Lilou, I want to do all of those things. I keep telling you that I would do anything for you, and I mean it. I love you, Lilou. I have for a year, since the first day that I saw you.”

“Wh-what?” She stutters, and I reach for her hands, holding them in mine.

“I love you, Lilou. All those times that I asked you to hang out? To grab coffee, or dinner, or go see a movie? I was asking you out.”

“But…but you turned down all of the other girls in town. Bethany is so pretty, and you told her to leave you alone,” she blurts, and I frown.

“Who?”

“Tall blonde with a perfect hourglass figure,” she says, but it’s not ringing any bells.

“I don’t know who that is, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve only ever wanted you. I wasn’t going to settle for anyone less. It’s why I bidon you in the arranged marriage auction. I couldn’t let you be with someone else.”

She blinks, and I can see her brain trying to process everything that I’m saying.

Good. I want to finally lay all of my cards on the table.

“I’ve known that we were meant to be for a while, but I know that it might take you longer to feel the same way about me,” I start, but she shakes her head.

“I love you too,” she tells me, and it feels like my heart is about to burst out of my chest.

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