Page 112 of Burning for Alexander
“Now that you can work legally without worrying about being tracked down,” I said, “I’d like to offer you an assistant manager job at Timber. But only if you’d like that. If you have another dream you’d rather pursue?—”
Tavo’s eyes got wide. “Are you kidding?” he interrupted. “Working for you at Timberwouldbe a dream. But you don’t need to do that for me.”
I glanced at Judd, squeezing his hand tighter. “I’m not just doing it for you. When Judd and I started seeing each other, we learned that it was really hard to find time together with our work schedules. I’d like more freedom to be home when Judd has time off. Being devoted to Timber for the past three years was necessary, but it’s time for me to dial back and find better balance.”
“Hear, hear,” Judd murmured. “I’ll try to do the same.”
I glanced at him. “I know it’s not as easy for you as it is for me.”
The determined look on Judd’s face suggested thateasydidn’t matter. My grumpy fire chief would prioritize us, even over his work.
I’d already confronted him about Monroe’s suggestion that Legacy was just a temporary stop on his career trajectory, and he’d spent a significant amount of time in the shower this morning convincing me that he was here in Legacy to stay. “Or wherever you are, Firebug,” he’d added with whispered words against the back of my neck.
I’d been thoroughly convinced he’d meant it.
Judd slid his arm around me but turned to look at Tavo. “And maybe you want to rent Alex’s rabbit warren once the fire damageis fixed up because it’s going to be available. He’s staying with me from here on out.”
My chest was so full of contentment, I hardly knew what to do with it.
I could see domestic fantasies of living together swirling through both Tavo’s and Drew’s heads, but there would be plenty of time for that while Timber’s upstairs apartment went through the long process of insurance assessment and cleanup. In the meantime, Tavo was planning on staying with Lennon and Rosie out at the ranch.
The four of us found spots at the tables and sat down to lunch, and the rest of the day passed like a dream that was too good to be true.
It wasn’t until the following day that it sank in.
I was back at Timber, working behind the bar, when Maddox called. “I need you to make up an excuse to keep Adrian distracted today. Everyone’s been helping out, and now it’s your turn.”
“I don’t know what that means,” I said. “And I’m leaving here in a bit to serve hot drinks at the Starlight Spectacular. Our food truck is doing hot cocoa, cider, and these cinnamon stick things?—”
“Just give me an hour. Please?”
I blew out a breath. Thankfully, Tavo had already taken charge of prepping the truck for the event with Karim’s help. “What exactly am I supposed to do?”
“Doesn’t matter. Just get him to Timber and keep him occupied.”
Since Judd was back to work at the firehouse, which was particularly busy today as they helped prepare the holiday light display on Slingshot Mountain’s ski slope, I was honestly happy to have my own distraction.
What could I say to get him to Timber that he would believe?
“Adrian!” I said when he answered his phone. “Thank god you answered. I need backup. Legacy’s asshole fire chief just called in another ‘random inspection,’ and I’m about to lose my fucking mind. Can you come keep me company while he’s here and help me not commit homicide?”
Thankfully, he didn’t particularly care that when he showed up, there was no inspection or any chief.
My bad.
Instead, he drowned his sorrows in my spiked hot cocoa and told me the story of the miscommunication between him and Maddox. Poor Adrian was completely twisted up about it.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said firmly.
He stood up. “What do you mean? Do you know something?”
I nodded. “I do. And I have a question for you. Have you told Maddox how you feel? Like, specifically?”
Adrian dropped back down on his stool. “I’ve told him I want him. That I… that I have…” He hesitated, but I could tell he had strong feelings for our grumpy hardware store owner.
I smiled at him in understanding. Why did it always seem so much clearer when it was someone else experiencing it? “Have you said the words ‘I love you, I want to stay here, I choose you over everything else’?”
Adrian’s eyes widened. “Not exactly.”
