Page 17 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. Axel’s not one to let things go once he’s curious. “Alright, fine. I asked Emily out to dinner, and she said yes.”
Silence hangs in the room for a moment after I drop the news. I can practically feel the shift in the air as soon as the words leave my mouth. Jace, who was lounging on his bed a second ago, suddenly looks like he’s sucking on a lemon—his brows knit together, and his jaw tightens. Axel’s face is usually a pretty good poker face, but there’s a flicker of something behind his eyes—surprise, maybe? Or concern? And Ben, well, he just looks at me with that curious tilt to his head, like he’s trying to figure out if I’m serious or not.
Axel breaks the tension with a low chuckle. “Tanner, man, you don’t waste any time, do you?” He shakes his head, grinning as he folds his arms across his chest. “Didn’t take you long to make a move, huh? You were only talking about her last night.”
“What can I say? I know a good thing when I see it,” I say. And I really mean it.
I lean back on the bed, a cocky grin spreading across my face as I think about Emily. “What can I say, guys? She’s got that girl-next-door vibe, you know? And those curves? Damn. She’s something else.” I can’t help but brag a little—she’s unlike anyone I’ve met before.
“You’ve got it bad man,” Jace says, shaking his head.
“Just don’t let your head get too big, Romeo,” Axel says.
“Where are you taking her though?” Ben says. “Even though the storm has let off, I don’t think the roads are cleared.”
I scratch my head. “Actually, I was thinking of the restaurant in the dining hall.”
“Very romantic,” Jace comments but then he seems to be sober, his brows pulling together. “Listen, Tanner, I know you’re just having fun, but Emily isn’t just some random girl. She’s Hailey’s best friend. If you mess with her, you’re not just dealing with her.”
Something about his tone is definitely off.
“Relax, man,” I say, trying to keep my voice light. “It’s just dinner.”
“Yeah, but we all know your history, Tanner,” Axel says.
I frown. What’s with the tone? It’s not normal for Jace to be protective like that. I had definitely caught something between him and Emily last night when he mentioned they might have some history. And it didn’t feel like he was just talking about his connection as Hailey’s brother. But what’s up with Axel? What’s gotten his ass?
“You’ve got a reputation, and if you’re thinking you can play around with Emily and walk away, think again,” Jace says.
I can’t help but chuckle at that. “Come on, guys. You’re acting like I’m some kind of villain here. It’s just dinner. I like her, okay? She’s different from the others. And who knows? Maybe she’ll see something in me that she likes, too.”
“Hmm,” Axel says, heading out the door. “I spoke to Hailey before and she wants us down for breakfast.”
“Aren’t we heading back to town today?” Ben says.
Jace shakes his head. “Axel has offered to stay back and help me out for a day.”
“I’m staying as well,” I say. “Just in case that wasn’t clear.”
Ben sighs. “Guess I’ll have to stick around if Axel is since I don’t have a car.”
“Does anybody have any decent clothes they can lend me for tonight?” I say as I watch my friends leave. “Guys?”
I take a deep breath, smoothing down the front of my shirt before knocking on Emily’s door. I don’t usually get nervous, but tonight feels different. I’m hit with a wave of awe when the door swings open. Emily stands there in a simple black dress that hugs her in all the right places. I’m just standing there for a moment, staring like a fool.
“Wow,” I finally manage to say, my voice a little rougher than I intended. “You look...amazing. A lot better than when we first found you. Are you feeling okay?”
She blushes, her eyes dropping shyly as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks, Tanner. You clean up pretty well yourself. Yah, I’m good. Let’s just say that I’m grateful to even be here right now.” She grabs coat and slings it across one arm as she steps out.
I look down at my clean shirt that I borrowed from one of Hailey’s cousins.
We start walking down the hall, and I can’t help but notice how perfectly her dress moves with her. It’s not flashy or over the top, just classic and elegant—exactly like her. I want to ask her about Jace, about what the deal is between them, but I decide against it. Tonight’s not the time for that. Tonight, it’s just about getting to know her.
“So, are we having dinner in the hall?” she asks, glancing up at me with those big, curious eyes.
I grin, shaking my head. “Not quite. I’ve got something a bit more private in mind.”
As we reach the doors leading outside, she wears her coat, buttoning it up. I pull at her lapels without even thinking. Our eyes meet and the air between us crackles, and, for a second, I entertain leading her back to her room but stop myself.
