AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It was too late to do anything about my appearance but when I pulled into the nearly empty parking lot of the emergency services building, I fixed my lopsided ponytail, pinched some color into my cheeks and slicked some black cherry lip gloss across my mouth. Just to make myself feel better and no other reason. Certainly not to impress Rafe because that’s not what this was about. This was work.
After two minutes of wandering the firehouse and not seeing any actual firefighters, I got busy unloading my equipment and setting it up in two different locations I’d already scouted. This was the final photo shoot in the Hometown Heroes series and I was determined not to let anything get in the way. Sure, the calendar was for charity and the proceeds would go towards repairing Tulip’s Tribute, but this had been my idea, my brain child and the fact that it was almost over was bittersweet.
Or something.
Which made it kind of weirdly appropriate that Rafe was today’s subject. Or maybe it was just weird.
“It’s too early to be so lost in thought.” Rafe’s deep voice sounded behind me, no more than five feet based on the way that rich sound affected me physically. It was deep and honeyed, the kind of voice that could command you to do all manner of depraved acts, and you would. Without hesitation.
I turned slowly and took in the early morning yumminess that was Rafe. He wore jeans that were so worn and faded, they looked like cotton. But it was the long sleeve gray t-shirt he wore that hugged his muscles and showed off his narrow waist and wide back, that really sent my body firing on all cylinders. “Good morning, Chief.”
His gaze darkened and his nostrils flared, making me gasp. “Mornin’ Janey. Sleep well?”
“Perfectly,” I lied easily.
Rafe flashed a grin and shoved one hand in his front pocket. “I slept like shit too. Could’ve used some company last night.”
I laughed and shook my head. “A dozen firefighters not enough company for you?” I arched my brows playfully and soon, Rafe’s smile joined the party.
“Not exactly the kind of company I was looking for.” His gaze bore a hole right through me and my breath hitched in my throat at the heat contained in the depths of his dark blue eyes.
“Right.” I wisely took a step back, hoping he wouldn’t see the fluttering pulse that gave away thoughts and emotions I tried to hide. “Are you ready to work or do you have firefighter work to do first?” I clenched my jaws and prayed to anyone who might be listening that he had some kind of work to do first, any excuse that would give me a break from his teasing and flirting. From his overwhelming presence.
Rafe took a step forward, his gaze locked on mine. “I’m here for you Janey. Only you.”
If only. But he was right. I asked him to show up and here he was. It was really a no-brainer. “Okay then, let’s start with you in the dressy stuff.” He didn’t often have a reason to wear the dress uniform but when he did, it really wasn’t fair to the female population.
“Dressy stuff?”
Damn, that smirk was a panty dropper. “Yeah, the dressy clothes you only break out on special occasions. The dressy stuff.”
This time Rafe let out a long, low laugh that hit me low in my gut. My nipples beaded and I was grateful for the cotton bra I’d chosen for functionality rather than sex appeal. “The dressy stuff it is, then. Do you want to help me, you know, make sure everything is in its place?”
Absolutely. “You wish. Get a move on, Chief.”
The look he sent me over his shoulder was hot enough to singe my panties, a thought I quickly shoved out of my mind and focused on the shots I wanted to get today. All of the Hometown Heroes were sexy as hell, something I would never ever tell any of them, which made shooting them easy. But Rafe was last and I wanted to do something a little different, or maybe I just wanted to keep the sexy version of him all to myself.
“Yeah right.” That was the last thing I was doing, but the shots of the fire at the old grain mill had inspired me to do more.
“Talking to yourself? Isn’t that a sign of madness or something?”
“Probably,” I told him with a dry laugh. When I turned around though, I was completely unprepared for the sight just three feet in front of me. Rafe in his navy blue dress uniform, single breasted with gold bars around the cuff area, white hat tucked under one arm. “Holy hell that is one smokin’ hot uniform!” I grabbed the camera closest to me, my fingers itched to capture the image he made.
