Page 77 of My Grumpy Fire Chief Next Door
The sky outside the window is starting to lighten into that pale, watery blue that comes before sunrise. It spills a soft glow across the hardwood floors as I move quietly around the room, gathering my clothes. Every step feels heavy; my feet don't really want to leave.
I find a notepad on the little desk near the door; it’s thick and creamy, and I see she always scribbles her art ideas on it. I tear off a page, grab a pen, and force myself to keep it simple.
Had to run to the firehouse. Lots to prep for the next fundraiser.
I’ll call you later. - Noah
I place the note beside her glasses. But what I really want to write is:You’re everything.
Maybe one day I will.
For now, I press a kiss to her forehead, drink in the scent of vanilla and sleep, and slip out the door before the weight of how much I love her keeps me from ever leaving again.
Chapter twenty-one
Kate
Porthaven mornings always carry this strange kind of peace; soft light, salt laced air, and gulls calling distantly on the breeze. But this morning, something feels different. Brighter. A little more golden.
We pull up in front of Ava’s café, the car tires crunching over gravel as Noah shifts into park. Before the engine’s even off, Parker’s already unbuckling himself with wild urgency, vibrating in his seat.
“Can I get down? I see Maddox! And…and Siobhan too!” he calls, breathless, pointing with the same kind of excitement he usually reserved for his dinosaurs and double scoops.
I can’t help but laugh. “Go ahead, baby. Just be careful, okay?”
That’s all it takes, and he’s out like a shot, feet hitting the pavement as Blaze bolts after him, the leash trailing in his wake. Noah watches them for a beat, smiling faintly, and then turns to me.
“He’s getting faster, even Blaze is struggling to keep up with him,” Noah says, his voice filled with amusement and adoration.
I know he loves Parker, and that warms my heart more than anything else.
“I know, right…” I turn toward him, and he’s already leaning in. His hand sliding behind my neck and pulls me into a kiss.
It’s deep and slow and completely unexpected. My breath catches, and I instinctively pull back a little, just enough to blink up at him in confusion.
Anyone can see us.
“Noah…”
“Just… one more,” he whispers against my lips, his voice rough with need. “Please?”
And God help me, I’ve always been a sucker for that. Not just the kiss. But the pleading. The way his voice dips low, the way his guard slips. It does something to me.
So, I melt. My whole body sighing into his as he kisses me again, and this one is gentler, more reverent. My heart beats faster, and I feel it everywhere; in my chest, in my belly, in my toes.
When he finally pulls back, there’s a dazed, boyish softness in his eyes that makes my stomach flutter. I absolutely love it.
“There’s so much I want to do to you,” He whispers as he eyes me.
“More than you already did last night?” I murmur, caught in the heat of his gaze.
“Want to drive back home? They won’t mind looking after Parker for a few hours.” Noah says, already inching forward again.
“I think the fire station should have a new chief.” My voice sounds a little breathless. “We are here for the preparation for the fundraiser for the fire station, and you want to leave?”
“The preparation can wait; we still have time.” He argues back.
I smack his shoulder and hook a finger against the car handle. “This can wait.”
