“Come on, pretty boy, show that smile for the camera,” Carlos said, cupping his hands to his mouth and adding a catcall.
Bryan groaned. “Shut up.”
Elise looked over her shoulder and back to Bryan. “Ignore them. I mean it. You look great.” Completely adorable too, but she’d keep that tidbit to herself.
After working most of the day at the station, spending time with him, she could officially say she had a crush on him. He’d helped Sally with the dogs, kept the guys on task, and, yes, he’d even left at one point to get a cat out of a tree.
If she hadn’t been in the middle of photographing Harris, she’d have tagged along to get pictures of that. Of course, she was only thinking of marketing material, or so she told herself.
Bryan adjusted one of the suspenders holding up his pants and then his helmet. “Are you sure?”
“Positive, but if being shirtless makes you feel uncomfortable, I understand. We don’t need to do it this way. You can put a shirt on.”
Although, if there was a vote, she’d choose no shirt. Shirtless Bryan was a sight to behold. Lean and muscular. Not that the other guys weren’t, but Bryan…wow.
“Come on,” Derek said. “We all did it. You can’t chicken out at the last minute. Besides, this was your idea.”
“It’s not like I’m the only one this is benefiting, ya know.” Bryan rolled his eyes, shaking his head. “We need the money.”
Oh, they were going to make money. All six guys were attractive and fit. They’d done well posing with the dogs. Elise was confident they were going to rake in big bucks with this thing.
Margo joined them and moved around Bryan as she had with the other men, patting his chest and shoulders with powder puffs to tone down any shiny skin. It was clear she didn’t mind this particular task. Elise bit back a grin when Margo feigned swooning as she scurried out of the frame.
“Bring out the dog,” Elise called out as she adjusted one of the lights focused on the truck Bryan was leaning against.
Sally handed him a fluffy brown terrier fittingly named Scotty.
“Hey, little guy.” Bryan stroked the dog’s head as he held him. “You ready for this? You’re gonna be famous.”
Chuckling, Elise took a quick photo. “I think you’ll both be famous by the time this is over.” She paused. “Okay, Bryan, look this way, please.”
“Make sure you give her your good side,” Liam said just loud enough to be heard.
“No fair! He’s flexing.” Carlos huffed.
Casting a glance over Elise’s shoulder, Bryan replied, “Like you didn’t.”
“Hey.” She pursed her lips, lifting a single eyebrow as she stared at Bryan. “No talking. Save the conversation for later.” She released her hair from the clip at the back of her head where it was coming loose, pushing it back from her eyes and reclipping it.
Of course, the rest of the guys took her comment as an encouragement to tease him even more, but Bryan didn’t reply. Instead, he just shook his head, trying to ignore them, but she could tell they were getting to him.
Elise left the camera and approached him. “It’s just you and me and the dog, okay? No one else is here, and we’re just taking a few pictures. Focus on me and Scotty, and it’ll be over before you know it.”
Bryan lifted his gaze to hers, and she wished they were alone in the station. She couldn’t remember the last time she wanted to spend time with someone, getting to know them.
He nodded slightly, his stance seeming to relax. “Thanks. I didn’t think I’d feel this awkward.” He flicked his gaze to the guys. “Plus, they aren’t helping.”
“It’s okay. Do you want a minute before we start?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head as he petted Scotty.
“Okay.” Elise walked back to her camera and took a quick shot. “Just act natural.” It was a silly thing to say. She wasn’t sure he knew how to act any other way, and she was sure he didn’t know just how attractive he was. Her time as a photographer had given her a sense of when someone had an ego.
Well, none of these guys really had egos. The ribbing they were giving each other struck her as a way of easing the awkwardness they felt at having their photographs taken with the purpose of being featured in a calendar. If they’d fought for their moment in the spotlight, it would’ve been a different story.
“That’s great,” she said as she focused on her camera screen. “Adorable. You two are a great pair.”
He relaxed more and more with each passing second, and before long, she practically had to remind herself to take pictures. He was mesmerizing, so much more so than any of the others.
“Oh…oh no.” Bryan jumped back, holding Scotty at arm’s length. “He’s peeing.”
That snapped her out of her trance fast. “Whoops.” She laughed and snapped a few outtakes while Sally cleaned up the mess and Bryan handed Scotty over. “I’m surprised there weren’t more of those today.”
Sally nodded. “No kidding.”
Once the mess was cleaned up, Elise waved the guys over. “Why don’t you all stand next to the truck?”
Once they were all lined up, Elise took a deep breath as her gazed scanned from left to right. Oh yeah. They were going to make a killing with this calendar, and she’d be first in line to purchase one.
“How do we look?” Harris asked, running his hand over his short blond hair.
“You look awful. Just disgusting.” She sighed, making them all laugh. Got it, she thought with satisfaction as she captured a flurry of images. One of these would be perfect for the back cover. In her head, she could see the whole thing coming together.
After taking plenty of group shots, it was late afternoon by the time Elise called the shoot done. “I think that’ll do it,” she announced, clapping her hands. “Excellent work, guys. I think this is going to be awesome.”
As the men high-fived each other, her gaze settled on Bryan, and she melted a little. He looked grateful, and for some reason, that meant more to her than any thanks she’d received.
Chapter 4
Impressive. That was the best word Bryan could use to describe Elise Richards. Beyond her undeniable beauty, there was something incredibly sexy about her ability to command the room. He was fascinated as he watched her get lost in her work.
A few times in between model switches, they’d struck up casual conversation, mostly centered around the shoot and the dogs. But the more he talked to her, the more he wanted to get to know her. It had been a long time since a thought like that had run through his mind.
As he buttoned his shirt, he argued with himself to get it together. She was a professional, and thanks to her, they might have better job security, and maybe even get new equipment. She probably had zero interest in him anyway. Their chats could be attributed to her wanting to make things as easy as possible. Making her subjects feel at ease probably made her job a lot easier.
Still, would there be any harm in getting to know her a little better? Would a cup of coffee or a bite to eat be all that bad? It didn’t have to mean anything significant, did it?
Before he could travel down the path of thoughts best left alone, a knock came from the open locker room door. Turning to face it, he found Elise leaning against the frame, her camera bag slung over one shoulder and a laptop bag over the other.
“Oh, sorry.” She laughed, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of pink. “I thought you were fully dressed.”
He looked down at himself. Jeans, shoes, half-buttoned shirt. “You’ve seen me in less than this today.”
“True,” she said, ducking her head, and he was sure her cheeks were now a shade darker. “I, uh, just wanted to thank you for the opportunity. With you being the one spearheading this and all. It was fun.”
“You make it sound a lot more interesting than it is.” He chuckled as he finished buttoning his shirt. “It really was my sister’s idea.”
“But you’re the one who had the guts to bring it to the guys.” Sh
e straightened and lifted her gaze to his. “I know that couldn’t have been easy.”
“Oh? What gave you that idea?” He laughed, slinging his backpack over one shoulder. “I thought they did okay, though.”
“They did better than okay. This calendar will be huge for you, and for the shelter. It’s a win all around.” Hopefully, her enthusiasm would be shared by enough people to make it all worth it.
“Thanks to you.” He smiled.
As he closed the distance, she stuck out her hand. The second it touched his, electricity raced up his arm. He’d hoped the feeling would have diminished by now, but it was as equally powerful this time as the last.
“It was a pleasure. I mean, you know, it was my pleasure. I enjoyed it and was happy to do it.” She paused, taking a deep breath. “Maybe I should stop talking now.”
“I think it was a pleasure for all of us,” he replied, letting go of her hand. “I’m looking forward to seeing the pictures.”
“Oh? Would you, uh, like to come over and take a look? I mean, at the pictures? On my laptop? Doesn’t have to be tonight. Anytime, really.” She covered her face with her palm. “I think I left my intelligence at home today.”
“You sure didn’t look that way when you were working.” He flipped off the lights to the locker room and led her down the hall toward the kitchen. “You did great. I’ve always wanted to be good enough at something to master it.”
She tilted her head, giving him an amused look. “What do you call firefighting? A hobby?”
He shrugged. “You know what I mean. You’re a pro.”
“I’ll leave that to the people who look at the finished product.”
Now he could add humble to the things he liked about her.
The kitchen was buzzing with dinner prep. Harris stood at the stove, stirring a pot of what smelled like jambalaya, while Carlos and Gregg played chess at one of the tables.
“See you guys.” Bryan waved.
“You’re not working tonight?” Elise asked after a short goodbye to the guys.
“No, I just pulled a twenty-four-hour stretch. That’s how it goes. I’ll have the next forty-eight off, then twenty-four again, 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. Rinse and repeat, unless there’s an emergency that requires all of us to come in. I was off the clock at seven this morning and just stayed for the photoshoot, which might have been more pressure than fighting a fire.” He chuckled.
“Hey, it wasn’t that bad.” She elbowed him before eyeing the truck parked in the bay. “Wow. So you’ve been here almost thirty-four hours. I guess I didn’t realize how much time you guys spend here. This place is basically a second home.”
As they reached the parking lot, Bryan paused as he looked for her car. “Yeah, it is, which is why we need the calendar to do well. Obviously, we want to give the town our best, but it would be a lie if I didn’t admit it’d be nice to have a fresh coat of paint and some new equipment. Most of all, to keep our jobs.”
Shrugging, she crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d say you guys deserve it. If you have to spend most of your time here, a little comfort isn’t too much to ask.” A smile played on her lips. “You know, being the heroes that you are.”
He rolled his eyes. “Uh, no. None of us thinks of ourselves like that. I certainly don’t.”
“I’m not surprised.” The words were so soft he barely caught them. She looked down, clearing her throat, and he thought she might even be blushing again. “I’d better get home and check out these photos. I already have a few gems in the back of my mind. I can’t wait to see them, honestly.”
In his head, he was forming a way to say bye, but what came out was, “I haven’t eaten yet, would you want to grab a bite to eat with me?” He smiled, wishing his mouth didn’t have a mind of its own. “My way of saying thanks for volunteering for this project?”
Tucking a piece of flyaway hair behind her ear, she nodded. “Actually, that sounds great. I have spaghetti leftovers waiting for me at home, and they don’t sound all that appealing at the moment. Have you tried Lou’s Seafood and Brew?”
“Not yet.”
Her lips parted slightly, drawing his attention. Light pink, and in his opinion, perfect. “Really? Oh, we must remedy that. The fish and chips are to die for.”
“Meet you there or would you want to ride together? I could bring you back after we eat.”
Shrugging, she said, “Sure.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Uh…”
Wincing a little, she sighed, her cheeks definitely turning pink this time. “I mean, together is good with me.”
A thrill shot through him. Maybe she was as interested in getting to know him as he was her. Or maybe it had been a long day, she was hungry, and she didn’t want spaghetti. He didn’t need to read anything into her accepting his invitation. It was just grabbing a bite with someone.
Someone cute who piqued his interest. Inwardly, he groaned. He should have kept his mouth shut, but it was too late now. If he backed out, she’d think he was crazy. Which, based on how he was behaving when he was around her, he’d agree.
Just dinner. Nothing special. He just needed to keep that in the forefront of his mind, and everything would be fine.
* * *
Laying her hand over her stomach, Elise pushed her plate away and groaned. “Every time. I do it to myself every time. I say, ‘I won’t eat that much the next time I come here,’ and what do I do? I eat too much.”
Bryan chuckled as he nodded. “I believe you.” He groaned and tossed his napkin on his plate. “Stick a fork in me.”
Despite being stuffed, Elise had truly enjoyed her dinner with Bryan. Beyond gorgeous, he was funny, easy-going, and…comfortable. They’d spent their time touching different topics ranging from childhood to what brought him to Baker Beach. Although, she wasn’t sure he’d given her his whole story. He’d hesitated a little too long when she’d asked about moving to Baker Beach, but they’d just met, and pressing the issue didn’t seem right.
“I’m not sure if I’m glad you turned me onto this place or sad. I can see this becoming a problem.” He laughed.
“Right?” She stretched, hoping it would help her stuffed stomach. “I always leave miserable but happy.”
“Yeah, that’s the best way to describe it.” He caught her gaze, holding it a moment. “I enjoyed this. It was fun. Thank you.”
He was thanking her? She’d had the best seat in the house, sitting across from him. He was gorgeous when she first met him, and as they’d talked, he’d been firmly put in the adorable and charming category. “I did too, and you offered to pay, so I should be thanking you.”
Again, he held her gaze just long enough to make her wonder if he was feeling the same connection she was. When had she ever had dinner with a man and felt like this?
“Totally worth it.” He lowered his gaze to the table. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am for your time. I got here three months ago, and I’ve liked living here. I’d like to stay a while longer.”
“Yeah, it was a jerk move for the city to offer you a job and then announce a budget that took it away. I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault, and something positive came out of it.” He looked up and leaned forward with his arms on the table. “I had the pleasure of meeting a talented photographer. Plus, it felt good having a conversation that didn’t center around fire or fighting it or…” He chuckled.
She mirrored him, leaning forward. “Or looking at photos, editing photos, or…” She smiled. Man, she really liked him. He made her skin tingle. Her mantra of standing on her own two feet was getting a beating with each passing moment. “I think I needed adult conversation that didn’t revolve around my job.”
“Yeah, exactly.” He chewed his lip and then asked, “You wouldn’t want to do this again, would you? I’d say tomorrow, but after almost thirty-four hours…”
Elise covered his hand with hers. “No, it’s okay. I’d be exhausted too.”
Holding her gaze, an unreadable ex
pression crossed his features before he nodded. Clearing his throat, he said, “You ready to head back?”
In a blink, the entire mood shifted. Whatever thing they’d started or might have started seemed to be over. There was a chance she was reading too much into it, but there was definitely a change in the energy.
“Sure.” She nodded and slid out of the booth at the same time as he did.
Pulling out his wallet, he left more than enough to cover their meal and a decent tip. They walked to his pickup in silence, and just as he’d done before, he pulled open the passenger door and waited for her to get in.
Once they were back at the station, he walked her to her car. Leaning against the door, she stuck her hands in her jean pockets. “I really had a lot of fun tonight. I said thanks before, but really, it was so nice just having someone to talk to.”
“Yeah, I’m feeling like I should be the one thanking you, though. I like the guys, but the scenery was better tonight.”
Rolling her lips in, she held in a little squeal of delight. He was charming, and he was sending all of it in her direction, enough to make her melt. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and her cheeks warmed. “You’re sweet.”
“Maybe, but I’m not wrong.”
A second later, a large explosion filled the air, and they flinched. Together, they turned in the direction of the noise, trying to figure out the source of something so loud.
“There.” He raised his arm, pointing into the distance where a cloud of smoke rose from a row of buildings only a block from the bay.
The color drained from her face as she reached for his arm and latched on to it. “Th-that’s in the area where I live.”
Not a second later, the bell inside the station rang, and Bryan quickly said goodbye. Even though he was off, he wanted to help.
The moment he was gone, Elise got in her vehicle, hoping with everything in her that she was wrong. That she’d miscalculated the distance. Anything to give her a modicum of peace.
It lasted until she reached the block where her home sat. With the last little bit of brains she had, she managed to park where she wouldn’t be in the way of the firetruck that was now pulling onto the street. Her lungs felt squeezed as her heart raced. No question, that was her perfect little home, her life, burning right before her eyes.
Firefighter's Rescue (Bakers Beach: First Responders Book 1) Page 2
