As he cleaned up the plates and trash, his thoughts turned back to Sam. This was her life. Her world. And somehow, just by stepping into it, he’d caught a glimpse of something he wasn’t sure he wanted to give up when this was all over.
But how could he keep it?
NINETEEN
Sam exited the station lobby and found Liam leaning against the front of his SUV with his ankles crossed in front of him. As if thinking about him all day had conjured him here in front of the firehouse.
He smiled and stood up when he saw her. “Have a good day?”
He walked up, Mr. Loose-Hipped Marshal with all that federal swagger. He grabbed her hand. The warmth of his touch flooded up her arm and throughout her body. Something in her stomach did a little dance.
She cleared her throat. “The guys wanted me to make sure to tell you and the girls thanks for cleaning up.”
Liam held her hand, walked to the passenger side of the SUV, and opened the door for her. “Anytime.”
He let her get settled before shutting the door. Greer walked out and waved to them. Sam waved back.
She turned in the seat and looked at the girls. “Did you have a good day?”
They both nodded, not bothering to look up from their phones.
Liam climbed into the SUV and put it in Reverse. “I set some hamburger meat out to thaw this morning and cooked it before coming to pick you up. I thought I’d make spaghetti for dinner tonight. Is that something you ladies would eat?” He glanced in the rearview mirror at Isabella and then to Sam.
“Yes. We like spaghetti.” Sam answered for both of them. A man who cooked dinner?
“Oh, can you bake it?” Sophia said from the back seat. “It’s so good.”
“I don’t see why not. Have you had baked spaghetti?” He clicked on the turn signal and glanced at Sam.
“Can’t say that I have. How is baked spaghetti different than regular spaghetti?”
“It’s like a spaghetti lasagna. With lots of cheese,” Sophia explained.
“I can help cook,” Sam offered.
“You don’t have to. It’s pretty easy. Cook the meat, which I’ve already done, cook the noodles to al dente, mix it all with the sauce, throw some cheese on it, and slap it in the oven.”
“That sounds simple enough. And like something that would be perfect for my day to cook lunch at the firehouse, actually. Cheap and easy. And if we get called out, it wouldn’t go bad if it was left for hours.”
“So, did you guys get called out again after we left?” He kept his attention on the road.
“The call was a small electrical fire. Then we had a couple medical calls, but other than that, it was a slower afternoon.” Which had left plenty of time for teasing from the guys about her new boyfriend.
“That’s good. So, you’re not just a firefighter, you’re a paramedic too?”
“Yeah, I got my EMT certification, then entered the fire academy. I got my paramedic certification while I was working my probationary period with the fire department.”
“How long did that take?”
“About two years for all of it.”
As soon as Liam stopped in the driveway, the girls jumped out of the car.
Liam got out. “Do your homework first!”
Sophia waved over her shoulder and used her key to let them in, then the girls disappeared.
Sam and Liam followed the girls into the house, crossed through the living room, and into the kitchen.
