Page 27 of Fire and Icing

“Do people ever say no to you?”

“Every other day. I’m the rookie. Did you forget that minor detail?”

“Apart from your childish initiation into the fire station? Do people turn you down?”

“People say no to me. You should meet my sister. She’s made a lifetime hobby of saying no to me.”

“I think I’d like her.”

“You’d love her. She has her own taco shop on the island where we grew up. She’s a bit fiery too.”

Emberleigh’s eyes narrow.

“And I mean fiery as a deep compliment.” I rush to correct my assessment of her.

Emberleigh makes me weirdly comfortable while also making me more uncomfortable than I ever remember feeling—and my ease with her doesn’t seem to be going in my favor.

“Of course you do. You’re a real charmer, aren’t you?”

“Do you meancharmeras a compliment?”

“Not really.” Her eyes twinkle with amusement.

“How about we leave the jury out on whether I’m a charmer.”

Her eyes narrow the slightest. “Do you think you were wrong to hoist me over your shoulder and haul me out of a minor kitchen fire?”

“Fire is unpredictable. Were you in imminent danger? Probably not. Were you barefoot and in shock? Probably. I did what I thought was best to assure your greatest chance of survival and safety.”

“So you’re not sorry.”

“I’m sorry that I upset you. And maybe I could have given you a little more warning. Am I sorry I carried you out? Not one hundred percent.”

Emberleigh is quiet.

Sydney pops through from the back. “Oh! Hey, Dustin. Here for the donuts?”

“I am.”

She looks at Emberleigh. “Is he allowed to get donuts?”

“Of course.” She looks at me and then at Sydney. “I was about to get them for him.”

“Okay,” Sydney says. Her amusement is evident.

Emberleigh takes my order, throwing in an extra blueberry-lemon, looking up and nearly whispering, “Okay, Rookie. I forgive you.”

My eyes go wide for a moment and then I lower my voice and say, “Thank you.” Then, because I’m me and I can’t seem to help myself around her, I say, “Next time I haul you over my shoulder like an oaf, I’ll be sure to obtain your consent.”

“Which will be the tenth of never,” she says.

Then she stares at me with her brows raised and her lips pursed. There’s that same twinkle of bemusement in her eyes.

“Never say never, Sunshine.” I tease.

Emberleigh’s mouth pops open. “Where did you hear that nickname?”

“Um … nickname? Is that your nickname?”

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