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“It’s your chariot. Figured, being your first day back and all, you’d want to make an impression.” Why is his smile the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen?
“You’re driving me to work in a fire truck?”
“It’s not just a fire truck, babe. It’s a fire truck equipped with the most talented firemen on shift.” At that comment, Brady sticks his head out the window, and Mitchell waves from the driver's seat
“Morning, Mak. What’s your fancy? Lights on or not?”
Ben laughs and jumps down. “After you.”
I shake my head, unable to conceal my laughter. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Amongst other things.” He leans in, softening his tone. “There was a lot of praising going on last night. Glad to be of service to you.”
I slap him against his steel chest. “Okay. Enough. It was just for show.”
“I’m sure it was. Shall we?” He takes my hand and helps me climb into the truck. The kid in me becomes giddy. I’ve never been on a real firetruck before. I have to say, it’s pretty darn cool. Brady and Mitchell spend the entire ride bickering, and I laugh. Ben is quiet, but his smile tells enough. He’s happy. I suck in my bottom lip as my nerves rush through me. He makes me so happy too. I’ve been happy before. But never like this. Maybe it wasn’t real before. Because this? Nothing could damper this feeling. Well. . . maybe his team knocking mine out of the playoffs or wine being discontinued. They would both be super tragic.
“You good?” Ben grabs my attention.
I feast on his gaze, taking in how handsome he is. “Not sure I’ve ever been better. But keep that to yourself. Some people let praises like that go to their head.” That earns a hearty round of laughter, which triggers my own snicker.
“Secret’s safe with me.”
We pull up to the school, and what a spectacle it causes. Kids stop and gawk at the truck. A few parents look worried, wondering why the fire department is pulling up. My boss’s eyes lock on mine.
Ben helps me down and hands me my work bag. “Have a great day.”
I blush from all the eyes on us. “You too.”
“Those dinner plans are definitely unavoidable now.” He looks over my shoulder, and I know exactly who he’s looking at.
“She’s probably going to want to know all about how we met, and I’ll have to confess what a turd breath you were.”
One corner of his lips turns up. “Don’t forget to mention that one time you tried to kiss me on top of the shed. . .”
God, that smug bastard. I step back. “I think your memory is jaded. If I remember correctly, it was you who tried to kiss—”
“Captain, we got a call. Need to head out.”
Ben cocks his neck back and nods, then turns back to me. “Gotta go. Duty calls. Miss me.” He leans in and places a sweet kiss on my cheek, then climbs into the truck, slamming his palm against the side. I stare at the red engine until it’s out of sight. The sound of my name startles me back to reality. startle.
“Oh, Makayla, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I turn to Mary. “Oh, no. It’s okay.”
“Well, I hope you don’t have lunch plans. I’ve reserved that time so you can tell me why you never mentioned the handsome firefighter was your boyfriend.”
* * *
Three days later. . .
I can’t do anything but shake my head.
“You know you love this,” Ben says from the hitch seat of the fire engine. For the past three days, Ben has shown up to take me to work. In the fire engine. Not sure if he’s trying to show off, turn me on until I combust, or it’s his way of being able to see me during his long shift.
“No, I think it’s the wrongful use of company vehicles,” I say back.
He just shrugs. “Worth it. Time’s up.” We pull into the school, and he helps me out, wishes me a good day, and gives me a gentle kiss on the cheek—like every day.
