Page 5 of Ward
He runs his fingers down the back of my matted hair, but it still feels so good I practically purr. “I was changing the batteries of his smoke detectors. He has tinnitus and it was driving him insane, not that he’s not already a bit insane but that’s a whole other thing. Anyhow he would not take no for an answer and said he’d call the fire department to come do it but those guys hate coming all the way out to the boonies for those types of calls…”
“Okay, yeah, that’s enough information.” I giggle.
“Glad you’re satisfied.”
When we pull apart, I realize his shirt is soaked from my tears. The wet spot molds to his pecs.
“Who’s Ditra?” His question snaps my attention back up to his face.
“My best friend from Texas.”
“Oh yeah, I forget you’re from Texas,” he says. “Why’d you move to Tennessee?”
I plant my hands on my hips.We’re taking it slow, I said to Ditra. I better really mean that or else I am an actual liar. So take it slow…take itsomething, I tell myself now.
“If you want to ask me questions, you’ll have to take me on a proper date, Mr. Ward the Fireman Man.”
He matches my pose, hands on his hips as his eyes get big and round as he takes one quick sweep with his gaze around my house. He looks back at me, smirking. “Oh, I have questions.”
I’m about to reply with something sassy when a soft little coo coming from my yoga room has me headed that direction. “She’s waking up.”
Gathering baby Laney in my arms, she falls against my shoulder like a sack of potatoes, still warm from her little sleep. We’ve had so much fun together, but when she spots Ward, she practically bursts out of my arms for him. He has a broad grin on his face as he takes her, and my stomach swoops at the sight.
“Did you have fun, little miss?”
“Wad!” she says gleefully. She puckers her lips, and he dabs them in a quick kiss.
“I missed you, too.” Ward chuckles.
“You got everything?” I double-check as I help gather up all the items they brought over for Laney, and we head toward his truck. Ward gets her buckled into her car seat like he’s already seasoned at doing it. “Bye-bye, Laney,” I singsong, giving her a kiss on the forehead before he closes the door.
“You’re good with her,” I say to Ward as he pauses for a beat outside of his truck.
“You’re pretty good yourself.” He flashes a grin.
“About the…um.” I stop short of reminding him of what we almost were going to say about a date, but I can’t work up the nerve a second time.Your turn to take it slow, Firefighter Ward.
“I get two days off next weekend,” he does it.He does it!
“Saturday night is a new moon,” I mention.
He furrows his brow. “What’s that mean?”
“It’s the start of the lunar cycle. The moon will rise and set with the sun, and you won’t be able to see its illuminated side. It’s a symbolic time of reflection and presence and growth and new beginnings. A time for starting something new. I always find it exciting!”
Ward just nods slowly. “So…six o’clock?” he suggests.
“Let’s do seven. I’m kind of a night owl.”
“I’m aware,” he grumbles, frowning.
“Bye-bye, Laney!” I say once more, waving at her in the truck window as she watches us. “See you next week.”
“You’ll see her next week, for what?”
“I’ll want to see her baby brother when he’s born, if it’s alright with his mama and daddy.”
“He’s not due for two and a half more weeks.”
