Page 81 of Hot Shot

“Then let her. I’ll always believe you if you always tell me the truth. Deal?”

Another nod, and she pulls away to sit up, sliding back over to her seat and buckling up.

“You ready to go say bye to your dad for the weekend?”

At that, she smiles, still sniffling. “Can we listen to Taylor?”

“Heck yeah, we can,” I say with a grin and crank up “Shake It Off.”

And we scream it the whole way to the fire station.

CHAPTER 31

THE REAL LIE

WILDER

My arm is elbow deep in a freezing bucket of soapy water when I hear Taylor Swift in the distance.

A smile passes across my lips as I stand, looking over my shoulder to find Cass’s truck approaching the station. The sound of them singing at the top of their lungs tops Taylor.

I toss my sponge in the bucket, wiping my hands on the towel on my shoulder and beam at them as they park. Tate snickers.

“Look at you, all domesticated. A couple of months ago, you were fucking half the county, now you’re just fucking Cass?—”

My damp towel hit him in the face, earning me a laugh from the other guys.

“Say another word about my wife and see what happens.”

The guysooooh.

“Pfft, jeez. Touchy.”

“One day, you’re gonna find a girl and fall so hard, you’ll never get up again. In the meantime, shut the fuck up.”

I head for the truck with my smile more of a smirk thanks to Tate, amused by the guys razzing him behind me. When I reachthe passenger door, Cricket launches herself at me, her arms whipping around my neck.

“Daddy!”

Every time she says it, my insides explode and melt and spill all over the place.

“Hey, baby girl.” I hook my forearm under her behind and hang her on my hip, circling the truck to reach Cass. The second I get to her, I slip my free hand into the notch of her waist and press a gentle kiss to her lips.

The energy I’ve expended restraining myself for the last two weeks could power a fucking county. She never did manage to stop looking at me like she wanted to give in, which made matters worse. In the particularly dangerous moments, the kind where I could feel the kiss crackling between us, I’d jokingly ask her if she’d changed her mind yet. And just like that, she’d be laughing from the other side of whatever room we were in.

But these little times are mine. When wepretend,my restraint eases. Nothing feels so real as when we pretend. When we can exist in our natural state. It’s the rest of the time when the real pretending happens. But I keep my mouth shut and channel patience I didn’t know I possessed. Honestly, I’d say I should win some fucking award when this is through, but by that point, I’ll already have the reward.

Her.

“Hey,” I say, tucking her into my side.

She sighs and leans in. “Hey.”

“Long day?” I ask when Cricket rests her head on my chest, sighing just like Cass.

“Long week. But we made it to the weekend!” Cass cheers, extending a hand to Cricket for a high five. Cricket giggles and slaps her palm. “Although I’m gonna miss our bug.”

“Well, good thing we get to see her for the muster, isn’t it?”

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