Page 7 of Nerdy Dirty Valentine

“So, how was babysitting Captain’s daughter on New Year’s?”

“Yeah, we played salon.” I flashed my purple nails. “I forgot to get remover.”

Caleb chuckled. “Looks divine. Did he have a date or something?” he added quickly, averting his gaze.

“Something about his mother needing him. She lives in Flagstaff, and he couldn’t get his normal sitter on a holiday.”

“Shocking.”

“The lack of a babysitter?”

“That Smack has a mother.” Caleb grinned. “And nice of you to babysit on New Year’s.”

“No big deal.” I shrugged, a little embarrassed. Erin was a sweet kid. I liked watching her now and then.

Besides, I hated New Year’s Eve for obvious reasons.

“Any resolutions?” Caleb asked.

“Naw, I don’t buy in to that stuff,” I lied. My real resolution not to get emotionally entangled wasn’t one I’d share.

“Mine is to date again. Even with this ugly mug.” He gestured to his damaged, beautiful face.

“Don’t say that about yourself,” I protested hotly.

Caleb used to be the most gorgeous one of us all. The centerfold of any fireman’s calendar.

“Tanner and I were at a club last New Year’s.” Caleb shook his head. “I went back there last week and ran into him.”

“Fuck, did you guys talk?”

Caleb swallowed some ice cream, nodding. “Yeah, a little. We’re bound to see each other, even though I transferred here, ’cause we are both still on the job.”

Tanner, prize douchebag that he was, had dumped Caleb while he was still in the burn unit. Caleb told me that Tanner “couldn’t handle it.”

“It” being Caleb’s disfigured face.

“How did you feel seeing him there?” I asked, licking some ice cream off my lip.

“A little confused… He needed me to talk to him.”

I shook my head. “Caleb?—”

“I know. Okay? But he was sad and… he even hinted that we should—I mean, Iwon’tgo back to him, but…”

“Can I get some of that?” Captain Smack’s voice startled the spoon out of my hand. I swiveled in my stool, with Caleb doing the same thing beside me. The captain strode toward us, pointing at the ice cream.

“Oh.” Caleb startled, a flush at his neck. “I thought you went to bed, sir.”

“I did. Woke back up.”

Caleb silently passed him a bowl and spoon. I wasn’t one to make assumptions, but it seemed to me their gazes held a little too long.

Captain Smack never discussed his personal life. All we knew was his husband, Tom, had died in a car crash when Erin was a baby. Eons ago. Erin was six now. He had never dated since, as far as I knew.

“We were just talking about resolutions,” I said to fill the awkward silence. “Any resolutions for New Year’s, Captain?”

“Yeah, to get your asses in line.”

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