Page 33 of Snowed In with Four Firemen
I need to be…not alone with him or I’m afraid I’ll do something. I almost kissed him before Collie interrupted us. The alcohol isn’t helping. In fact, it’s making things muddier. Suddenly I can’t help but think—it won’t exactly be the end of the world if I kiss him.
I quickly get off my seat. “You know, you’re right. We can’t do this alone. We’re gonna need the guys on board to figure out all the semantics—get everything sorted before Hailey completely loses her mind.”
He just nods. “You’re right. The more hands, the better.”
He downs the rest of his drink and gestures toward the door. “Let’s go round them up, then.”
We leave the bar together, walking side by side down the dimly lit hallway. The hotel has that rustic lodge feel—wood-paneled walls, low-hanging chandeliers, and a quiet that’s both comforting and unsettling.
We head toward the lounge area, where the glow of a fireplace spills across the room. Tanner and Ben are hunched over a chessboard, locked in concentration. Tanner leans back in his chair, studying the board like it’s some kind of military strategy, while Ben looks just as serious, fingers tapping against his knee.
“Good you guys are here. Where’s Jace?” Axel asks as we approach.
Ben looks up. Something passes across his face when he sees me. “Where did you guys hide away?” Tanner asks jokingly but I can catch the edge in his voice. Does he suspect anything? God, I hope not. What must he be thinking of me?
“We were coming to find you,” Axel says. “Have you seen Jace around?”
Before anyone can answer, the door to the lounge creaks open, and in walks Jace, his expression unreadable. His gaze immediately lands on us, and I can see the way his brow raises slightly when he takes in the sight of Axel and me standing together.
“Well, I was feeding your dog,” Jace says, his tone sharper than necessary. “Something you forgot to do.”
Axel’s jaw tightens, and for a moment, I expect him to snap back, but instead, he just presses his lips into a thin line and nods. I can feel the tension rising between the two of them, and it’s enough to make my stomach knot.
I clap my hands together, the sound sharp and sudden in the quiet room. “Alright, guys,” I say, forcing a smile as all three of them turn to look at me—each one in a different way but all intense. Tanner’s eyes are curious, Ben’s are soft and thoughtful, and Jace…well, Jace’s gaze lingers a bit too long, making my pulse race. The heat between my legs flares unexpectedly, and I have to swallow hard to push it away.
“So,” I continue, my voice a bit shaky.
“Axel and I have a plan. We need to make sure Hailey’s wedding goes off without a hitch, and given everything that’s happening—the flowers, the snow, the avalanche—we’re going to need all hands on deck.”
Tanner leans back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest, a small smirk playing on his lips. “You’re telling us you’re turning us into wedding planners?”
I laugh, though the tension is still thick in the air. “More like disaster recovery specialists. We’re gonna save this wedding.”
“You’re crazy,” Tanner says, shaking his head. “We can’t do that.”
“Please,” I say. “You have to help me.”
Ben looks thoughtful, rubbing his chin. “I’m in.”
I smile at him and Ben smiles back.
“Woah that was fast,” Tanner says.
Ben shrugs. “Well, it’s for Hailey.”
“Hailey…sure,” Tanner says, giving me another look. I briefly remember my dream. There’s no way he knows.
“Tanner?” Axel prompts.
“I still think you guys are full of shit, but since Axel is asking, and I can’t say no to sweet Emily,” Tanner winks at me.
Jace, who’s been silent, crosses his arms, eyeing us both. “So, what’s the plan?”
“Well…nothing concrete yet,” I admit, glancing at Axel, who smirks slightly. “But we did jot down a rough idea of what we need to do to make Hailey’s wedding a grand success.”
“First step would be to keep our expectations low,” Ben chimes in
“Don’t be a party pooper, man,” Tanner says, making him go red-faced.
