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“Ah, crap. I almost forgot. I came to get Kandy for…”
Before he finishes, the bedroom door opens. I angle my head to watch Kandy walk out of the room and do a double-take. I am not sure what I expected her to throw on. Maybe a robe or some sweats. I was prepared for pretty much anything, but nothing prepares me for that outfit—black pants with a reflective band around the cuffs, yellow jacket with the same reflective band around the sleeves and chest, yellow boots and a yellow helmet on her head.
A fantasy of undress the firefighter comes to mind and I fight to shove it away for another time.
“Sorry, Theo. I totally forgot I was on call this morning. I’m assuming by the lack of lights and sirens, there’s no fire?”
“Nah, Chief. No fire. Just Mrs. Hillman again. I wouldn’t have bothered you, but she doesn’t want anyone else helping her.”
“No problem.” Her eyes finally come to me
“You can go back to sleep, Ryder. This shouldn’t take long.”
My brows pinch, “What shouldn’t take long, babe? Should I be worried? Can I help with anything?”
“Helping Mrs. Hillman. This happens about once a month. Don’t know why she insists on locking her bathroom door even though she lives alone. She goes in and her legs get numb and she has a bit of trouble getting herself up. She doesn’t want any of the guys to help her, especially after that ex of mine had trouble picking her bathroom lock once and busted in the bathroom door. Poor woman was mortified. So now she only wants me to come help her.”
“And it’s your job because…?” I’m truly perplexed. She owns and operates the diner and the garage and I’m guessing the single station gas pump with her name across it. But now she’s the fire chief?
What the hell? How many hats did this woman wear?
I know what my eyes are telling me, but I am having a bit of trouble making the last little leap.
“She’s the Fire Chief,” Theo shares helpfully. “Our town’s too small for much of a fire department. A while ago Doc James’ house caught on fire and it took so long for the fire crew to get here from Hanville that it burned down while we all watched. Kandy here decided that wasn’t ever going to happen again. So she organized our volunteer fire department and we made her chief.”
I blink at them, stunned at her determination and grit. In awe actually.
But before I have a chance to absorb the idea of Kandy as the fire chief, she is marching toward the door. She stops in front of me and gives me a quick kiss. “Gotta run. Can’t leave poor Mrs. Hillman waiting. Let’s go, Theo.”
She pats me on my bare chest and with her other hand on the doorknob, slides me a smile full of mischief. “I should be back in half an hour. But hey, maybe don’t lock the door. I don’t have a key.”
I pull her back to me and wrap my arms around her middle. “When you get back, we’re having that talk as I peel every last layer of clothing off you. Be careful.”
With that I spank an ass cheek and give her a wink as she closes the door. With my back pressed against the door, I listen to their boots clomp down the rickety stairs.
What the fuck just happened?
“Fuck me,” I whisper to the empty room. I shake my head ruefully. She looks like a little kid playing dress-up in her firefighter gear, but damned if the sight of her doesn’t have me hard all over again.
I turn back to the bedroom and find the rest of my clothes. I wish I could wait for my adorable little fireman to return but I have keys and paperwork to deliver to the new owners of my childhood home.
Before I step out, I make a mental list of the things needing done to make this place safe before I get back on my bike and head out of town. I don’t want haunting thoughts of what could happen if I were to leave this place as is. When I head out, I need to be one hundred percent certain I am leaving Kandy safe and sound.
Chapter Six
Kandy
Iwake to sunlight streaming in through the sheer curtains on my bedroom window and a face pressing between my legs. Yesterday I never did make it back to my apartment before midnight. But when I finally managed to climb the stairs I found Ryder here waiting for me wearing nothing but my pumpkin orange apron and a smile.
He made sure I ate and after hours of slinging food and fixing Theo’s truck, I admit I forgot to eat.
Ryder had my back. He might look like a GI Joe on the outside with his miles of muscles, but between you and me the man is the softest teddy bear in the world.
He stripped me out of my clothing, showered me and promptly put me to bed. I thought for sure he’d want a repeat of the night before, but he surprised me once again by gathering me into his arms.
The heat coming off of him seeped into my weary body until I was boneless. He arranged my limbs so I was cuddled into his side, my head pillowed on his hard chest, my leg hitched over his thigh, and my hand resting on his six-pack abs. He’d pressed his lips to the top of my head and as I drifted off to sleep, I felt like I could lie there happily for the rest of my life. And, okay, if I am being honest, after our fuckfest the night before I was more than a little bit sore. Getting myself off with my vibrator had in no way prepared me for all that was Ryder.
But I think his devilish plan last night was all about this morning.
