Page 26 of Fire and Ice
“You could have challenged me.” She grinned. “Of course, you would have lost your turn.”
He hesitated a moment, then shook his head. “I demand another opportunity to kick your butt.”
“Ha.” She leaned toward him and brushed her lips over his. “Be a good sport.”
He slid his fingers into her hair and cupped the back of her head. “With a kiss from you, how could I not? I think overall, I won.”
“Hmmm. When you put it that way…” She fell into the kiss like they were made for each other. It had only been a short time since she’d first gone out with him, and a week since their first date, but it might as well have been an eternity.
Grady drew her to her feet as he stood, and she wrapped her arms around his neck as he danced them around the living room, barely missing the Christmas tree. Their mouths moved together as the kiss made her mind spin with desire. She wanted his touch in so many ways.
When he drew back, she saw they were now near the front door. He smiled down at her. “Time for me to go.”
She looked up at him, trying to catch her breath from the amazing kiss. “Are you sure?”
“Especially when you look at me that way.” He brushed hair from her eyes. “I would stay the night in a heartbeat, but I won’t push you.”
You wouldn’t be pushing me, she thought, but couldn’t get herself to say it aloud.
He continued to stroke her hair. “Spot is home alone, too, so I need to go back before it gets any later.”
“Next time you come to my house, bring him.” She smiled. “He’s a good boy.”
“He is.” Grady gripped her upper arms. “Don’t forget—I won the bet, so you’re mine every night this week.”
“I won’t forget.” How could she? It would be hard to make it through each day knowing that she would be seeing him soon. She looped her arms around his neck. “Tomorrow is Mexican food.”
“Good.” He smiled. “I’ll pick you up at six if that works for you. Maybe stream a movie afterward?”
Her body felt flushed with heat, and she didn’t want to let him go. “Perfect.”
He brushed his knuckles along her cheekbone. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” she whispered before he kissed her one more time.
He drew away and kissed her forehead before he grabbed his jacket, opened the door, and let himself out and into the night.
9
The prior evening, Chelsea and Grady had eaten Mexican food takeout and watched a movie at his place, ending a wonderful evening with sweet kisses before he took her home.
Monday, they stopped by the firehouse. Chelsea took the day off from working in her dress shop. She trusted her assistant manager, Chantilly Chavous, completely to handle her business while she was away.
They parked in the lot adjacent to the huge brick building. One of its two monstrous doors was rolled up, and one of the red firetrucks was parked in front of it. Grady helped her out of his SUV, took her hand, and led her to the firehouse.
He escorted her through a door to the left. In front of them was a pole. She tipped her head back and saw that it went up through a round hole big enough for a couple of men.
“The pole goes into the room where our bunks are,” he said.
“It’s so high up there.” She looked at Grady. “I’d be afraid to fall.”
“You’d do fine.” He smiled. “It’s not so bad.”
Her gaze moved to the right, to the other red firetruck with KCFD in big white lettering on its side and gleaming chrome bumpers, grills, and all sorts of knobs and such. Like the truck outside, a large wreath with a red bow and sprigs of holly hung on its grill.
To the left of the truck, straight in front of her, a long locker with multiple doors ran the length of the wall. A staircase to the second floor was to the left of the wall.
“I hear the guys upstairs.” Grady gestured to the wooden staircase, wide enough for one person to walk up it. “Ladies first.”
