Page 78 of Bleeding Hearts

This time, I smack him in the chest. “I’m thirty-nine, you asshole.”

Nolan grabs my phone so he can read it. Then sets it on the armrest and before I know it, I’m on my back with him laying on top of me. “You don’t look thirty-nine. I always forget that. Guess my sister and I have something in common.”

I’m almost afraid to ask, “What’s that?”

“We’ve both fallen for old geezers.” His laughter rings out when I fix him with a sharp, angry glare. “I’m kidding. You aren’t old. You’re perfect.”

“You’re just trying to butter me up after calling me old. When do you turn thirty?” This is annoying; I should remember, but I don’t. I’m not sure we’ve ever discussed our birthdays.

“I am thirty.”

“Wait, when?”

“I turned thirty in October. It was around the same time the boys had shit going on and you were trying to get that all worked out. No big deal.” He leans over and drops a kiss on my forehead. “I have a question for you. You can say no.”

“If it’s about watching the girls, I’ve already looked at my schedule and think we can make it work. As long as you’re okay with Bridget picking them up on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s then coming back to the university. It won’t be long, maybe thirty minutes. I have a class I can’t pass off to my TA.”

“It’ll only be two, maybe three times a week. And as you know, they’re never the same days. One usually falls on the weekend.” He shifts to move some of his weight off me. “You sure Bridget won’t mind?”

“She picks up her kids from the same schools, so I know she won’t.” My hands play with the back of his t-shirt. “I’ll stay here with them on the nights you have to work. The boys will be fine sleeping across the street alone.”

“Thank you.” His eyes bore into mine, a silent conversation passing between us; a flicker of something dangerous and exciting in their depths, a journey he wants to take me on, but I’m not ready. “Are you going home tonight?”

“I probably should.” My leg wraps around his. “But that doesn’t mean I want to.”

The heat from his stare only grows stronger, making me wish I never had to leave. We haven’t spent the night together sinceI pulled my head out of my ass. I was hoping we’d get to do that this weekend when the boys spend time with their father.

Nolan’s phone vibrates in his back pocket. With a sigh, he sits up, pulls out the small, worn device, so he can check it. As soon as the screen illuminates in the dark, the nameFire Stationglows, grabbing my attention.

“Archer speaking.” He listens as the person on the other end talks. “Hang on, let me check.”

Pulling the phone away, he frowns. “Can you stay? There’s a major fire down at the port. All hands-on deck. My team’s been called in as backup.”

“Go. You never have to ask.”

Standing, he walks to his bedroom while staying on the phone. When he returns, he’s dressed in dark pants and a SFD t-shirt.

How does he look so damn hot dressed in something so simple?

“Thank you. I’m sure I’ll be stuck at the fire house until my next shift ends. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. It’s all part of the job.” My arms encircle his waist. “And also part of my new role as the girlfriend of a firefighter. Be careful. Let me know when you get back to the station.”

Nolan leans down and kisses me. “I will. Tell the girls I’ll call them as soon as I can and that I love them.”

“I will.” I squeeze him one more time. “I love you.”

“Love you too.”

He grabs his keys and is gone in a matter of minutes.

I text the boys to let them know I’m staying. Feeling utterly spent, I go to his bedroom, hoping for a few hours of restful sleep. Unfortunately, that plan went to shit when I crawl into his bed and turn on the TV to see if any news channels were talking about the fire.

They were.

It was bad. Really bad.

Before the night’s over, two dock men are dead. One boat crew member is assumed dead. And three firefighters from Nolan’s station were sent to the hospital. They aren’t reporting the injuries, only that they’re lucky to be alive after a tank exploded.

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