Page 5 of Steamy Dreamy Hearts

It was enough. Ithadto be.

“Spin me, Daddy!” she demanded. So I did.

I could still feel the weight of Caleb glancing our way. What would happen if we ever had a chance to be alone?

I had no idea just how soon that day was coming. Or all that was going to happen between us.

CHAPTER

THREE

CALEB

Summer arrived in full force, which meant more work and the potential for fires, especially when you lived in a desert. It was getting hotter than Hades here, bone-dry of water. A dread lurked in the hot blasts of the wind. Phoenix was an incredible city, but no first responder welcomed summer with its heat and higher chance for devastation.

The morning meeting was full of people grabbing cups of bitter-tasting coffee. Wyatt had no doubt made this batch.

Phin was the first person to greet me. Regardless of my lack of sleep, I had a smile ready.

“How goes it?” He gave me a fast hug.

“Good. Heading to the coffeepot for a refill.” I stretched out my arms in zombie-like fashion, my empty cup dangling from my fingers, making him laugh.

“Same, dude. I need all the caffeine available.” He glanced at the door. “Especially before Captain Smack comes in.”

We poured two mugs of coffee with milk and sugar. Phin showed me a cute photo of him and James hiking some red rocks. James had a book tucked under his arm as Phin plowedahead. The last picture had the two of them doing aRockydance at the top of the hike. Their dog, Ginsberg, was even in one picture, his tongue lolling out in a big doggie grin.

Phin sipped his coffee. “How was the yoga class?”

“When they go left, I go right. When they put their foot to their bums, mine dangles like a flapping fish.”

“Oh, man.” Phin chuckled. “Why go, then, if you’re that bad at it?”

“By the end of the class, I’m sweaty and refreshed.”

“And are you still broken up with Tanner these days?”

I rolled my eyes.

When he’d returned from his honeymoon, Phin grilled me about being at his wedding with Tanner as my date, and it had taken some convincing that we weren’t together. Yet every day, Phin asked me this. I got it. I was the boy who cried wolf with Tanner. Taking him back, breaking up, taking him back.

“We’re over.”

“For now?” Phin raised a skeptical eyebrow.

I folded my arms. “For good.”

“Ah, heard this one before.” Phin cupped his ear. “Might need you to repeat it.”

“I’m for real this time,” I objected. “And for the last time, dude, he crashed the wedding. I just didn’t want to make a scene there.”

“I hope so? And I appreciate the lack of a Tanner fight. It would have really upset James. But you know I’ve been there for the other times. And it has sucked to witness Tanner sweet-talk you back after the way he treated you in the hospital and all. I’m not trying to be a dick.” Phin blew out a long breath. “I’m your friend, and I care about you. Honestly, dude? It’s hard to believe this is going to stick. Especially hearing all the excuses every time you gave Tanner another damn chance. Even when it was bad for you.”

“Damn…” I floundered. His remarks hurt, even if they were true.

“Aw, Caleb. I just think you deserve a good person, one who treats my best friend the way he should be treated.” Phin sighed.

I swallowed a lump in my throat. “That’s why I broke up with him, and I meant it. I—I want that for me, too.”

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