Page 63 of Steamy Dreamy Hearts

“I wish you could.” She pouted.

I froze. “I could do more, if—” I glanced around the crowded smoothie store. “If we were more official, and I was um… How would you feel if…”

“Spit it out, Caleb?”

“I want your dad to marry me. How would you feel about helping me arrange a way to propose?”

“Oh my God, yes!” Erin knocked over her mango smoothie to embrace me. “But only if you convince Dad to finally let me get my ears pierced.”

“Deal.” I hugged her.

“And I’m in charge of the music at the wedding.”

I laughed. “Slow down, kiddo. Your dad hasn’t even said yes yet.”

“He better say yes.” Erin gave me another squeeze before wiping up the spilled smoothie.

“Let me get you another.” I ordered her a second mango smoothie while Erin researched wedding proposals on her phone.

“Thanks.” She raised the smoothie in the air. “To you and to me deciding the music. Dad has no clue what’s popular today.”

“He’s not a music guy,” I agreed, hugging her closer.

A week later, I drove to the firehouse, ready to propose. Since we were involved, Sean and I continued to work different shifts. I did enjoy whenever we passed each other there, addressing him as Captain Smack or even “sir.” Sean was so predictable with his reaction he always made me laugh.

Today, though, I was nervous about how he’d react.

I knew he’d been the one to propose to Dan. That Sean was normally the take-charge guy. So I wanted our proposal to be different. I wanted to shock the man, with a little help from Erin.

When I arrived at the station, Phin was outside, washing a truck, his two-year-old watching in awe. He and James had adopted Matthew last year. The boy was all about firetrucks.

Understandably. Who didn’t love a freaking firetruck?

“Hey there.” I ruffled Matthew’s hair and grinned at Phin. “How goes it?”

“Good. Matthew and I are just getting started on this rig.”

“Twucks.” Matthew pointed. “Me.”

“I know, son.” Phin gave him a small rag to wipe the rims.

I hadn’t told Phin my plan, and he’d kick my ass later for it. But if he knew, James would know, then Wyatt would know… I loved Phin, but he had a huge mouth. I wanted Erin present, but we didn’t need the whole fire station here.

“Have you seen Sean around?”

“In the back, ordering around some new probies.”

“Oh, poor things.”

“Yeah, go save them from him.” Phin gave me a playful swat with his rag.

“That’s the plan.” I absently patted the ring in my pocket.

Phin raised his eyebrows. “Something up?”

“Daddy! Twucks!” Matthew demanded, yanking on his pants.

“I want Sean to be the first to know, but I’ll tell you later. You’re falling down on the job.”

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