Page 8 of Changed By Firefighter Daddy

CHAPTER SIX

Jeremy

Several people were treated for smoke inhalation and small burns. I was just dirty and exhausted. After they rescued the trapped people, I stayed to help put out the fire. Clary waited for me, bringing water around to people and keeping gawkers away.

We finally made our way back to the cruise ship. Several others were supposed to have ATV tours, so word had already spread about how I had stepped in and helped save people. I held on to Clary’s hand tightly as I realized that there was a small crowd waiting for us at the top of the ramp.

“Hey man! That was awesome!”

“Can I buy you a drink tonight?”

“How did you know what to do?”

“I’d let you save me.”

This last from a young lady who nearly threw herself on top of me.

“Umm...thanks guys. I kind of just want to go back to my room,” I admitted, pulling away from the girl and taking Clary’s hand again.

“Can we just go back to my room?” I asked her to the side.

“Of course,” she responded, laughing.

She pulled me along behind her, barging her way through the people hero-worshipping me.

Once we were in my room, she turned on the shower and pushed me towards it.

“I’m going to go clean up. I’ll be right back,” she promised, then shut the door behind her. I couldn’t believe she’d hung around the whole time.

The shower felt amazing and I kept picturing Clary waiting for me after the fire. She’d looked tired, but beautiful. When she’d gazed up at me like I was some kind of hero, I’d almost started blushing. It had made me feel different than I ever had before.

I’d felt attracted to women, and cared about women, but this woman sparked both of those emotions strongly. I loved spending time with her and thought about her when I wasn’t with her.

I opened my eyes and blinked the water away. I loved her. Shit. I loved her. How had that happened so fast?

I finished my shower quickly, and got dressed comfortably. I wasn’t sure what the plan was for the rest of the night, but I just wanted to rest and relax. I was still reeling from the idea that I was in love with someone.

When she knocked, I got up and opened the door. She was standing there in a silk robe with a bottle of rum.

“The guy that gave me this said he would have gotten you beer you liked or a bottle of champagne if he could have found it. He was one of the ATV company’s employees.”

She handed me the bottle and walked past me. She smelled like lemons and freshness. Her hair was loose and flowing and I wanted to grab it and pull her to me.

Instead, I went to find two glasses and poured us each a shot. She sat at the desk while I perched on the bed.

She crinkled up her nose, but lifted the glass in a toast.

“To bravery and selflessness,” she toasted.

“To not getting roasted alive,” I offered in response, making her laugh.

We took the shot, then she looked at me seriously.

“I realized while you were in there, that I would be quite upset if you got roasted alive, as you put it.”

She poured another shot and took it with a grimace.

I grinned at her, then confessed.