202 Cherry Popper Way: A Small Town Friends to Lovers Firefighter Romance

by Penelope Wylde

  He stops with his hands midthigh, ready to pull back the only barrier between his lips and my pussy. What can I say, I’m wicked like that, and why put on panties when the animal will just rip them?

  “Candlelight?”

  I give a little shrug. “It’s our first ‘real’ date. I wanted something special.”

  “Good thinking. I can use those candles to drip wax over your pretty breasts and then suck you into the best climax you’ve ever had.”

  I purse my lips and run my thigh up against his side. He hooks an arm around it and I shudder when his powerful hand grips me tight.

  “You mean you’ve been holding back with all the other climaxes?”

  He leans in and nips at the tender flesh of my pussy before licking away the burst of pain. “Fuck, Miles. Don’t tease.” My head drops back and I’m already dripping girl-cum.

  He chuckles darkly and pulls away, helping me to my feet.

  “How about we get to your dinner so we can get to the dessert part of tonight?”

  My eyes meet his. He holds me close, and standing like this, our body heat as one, I can feel the steady beat of his heart against my palms. It’s calming and helps ease my nerves for what’s about to come.

  “The steaks and vegetables can wait. Wanna skip to that dessert? But real dessert. I made something special for you. Come take a seat.” I pull him to the head of the table where I have everything set out and love the deep growl of appreciation he gives when I head back to the fridge.

  The dangling tassels of the apron fall right over the crack of my ass, and I give a little more shim to my shimmy.

  “Close your eyes,” I call out and don’t move from the fridge until he complies.

  “Ok, open them. I found the perfect place with fresh coconut and the ripest cherries. When I told them it was for you they gave me a little extra.” I lean in and place a tender kiss on his cheek, but there’s no reaction. No nothing. He’s not even blinking.

  Miles’ perfect tanned skin turns pasty white in a matter of seconds as he sits speechless, staring at the banana coconut cream dessert with five cherries lined across the top.

  I go to put a hand on his arm but he’s out of his chair and across the kitchen before I can blink like hell is on his heels.

  I freeze in place, kind of puzzled at his freak out. “What? What’s wrong?”

  “How did you know? Who told you?”

  His words are abrupt and curt. He paces back to the table, eyes glued to the dessert platter, but I can tell it’s not the sweet treat he’s seeing. Jaw muscles bunch and release.

  “Mrs. Malone. She thought it would bring us closer.”

  He doesn’t say anything just scrubs a hand over his face, and I can physically feel him withdrawing from me.

  “Miles, talk to me.”

  My eyes start to water and I’m starting to freak the hell out from how white the man who spends hours upon hours in the sun is turning.

  “I...I have to go.”

  “What?” He pulls me into a hug and if that isn’t confusing enough it feels like it’s a goodbye hug. I don’t know how I know. Call it a woman’s intuition. I gave my mother one right before packing up my car despite her not wanting me to and pointing my car toward Cherry Falls.

  This is like that, but ten times worse.

  “Miles, please. Talk to me.”

  Dark eyes flash my way, and I’m rooted in place. There is a different fire in his eyes now. One of such deep emotions, I am left speechless.

  Just then the static of his radio goes off, and he swipes it off the top of the bag he came in with.

  His eyes are level on me, and I feel torn between wanting to run to him and throw my arms around him, kiss away the pain and just packing up and heading back to my place. Indecision blazes through my nerve endings.

  “This is the chief.”

  More static. “You need to come in. There’s been an accident up on the main highway. Three cars.”

  “On my way.”

  Long legs eat up the distance between me and the back door. He takes my chin in hand and forces me to meet his gaze.

  “I can tell what you’re thinking. Don’t you dare leave this house, Bela Andrews. Or I will chase you down and bring you back to me. When I get back, we’ll deal with this.”

  Holy hell, I believe him. What does it say about me that I’m tempted to put him to the test?

  He walks past me and heads for the door. I take a step toward him but I pull back. Letting him go hurts, but he has people depending on him, too.

  So I stand there, not knowing how to act, what to do. Did I do something wrong? Overstep my boundaries? Fierce, cold chills raise my skin. Before Miles, dating never hit my radar with all the hours I put in at school. And now seeing him walk away from me, I don’t think I ever want to again.

  “Wait for me.”

  With those last words, he’s gone, in his truck and speeding off to save someone else’s day while mine falls apart. What the fuck just happened?

  “Well, that didn’t go as planned.”

  Chapter Ten

  Miles

  That took way too long. A three-car pile-up turned into five cars by the time we got there. A total mess that might have cost me. The sun is coming up and I am just now getting back to the station. There’s a lot of work to do, rigs to put back in order, equipment, and a fucking mountain of paperwork before I can get back to Bela. What kind of leader would I be if I were to leave the crew to handle all the work themselves?

  Fuck, she gutted me last night. Hit me with a sledgehammer and shattered everything I thought I knew about women. Bela is different from everyone. More caring, open, and honest than I think I can be. Emotions come easy for her but for me, it’s like getting on a runaway train with no breaks, failsafe, or destination. My gut instinct is to hide who I am. Ten years of undercover work does that to a man. But if I want her, I’ll need to change.

  Duke walks in looking as tired as I feel and drops his weight into the chair opposite mine and kicks his feet up on the edge of my desk.

  “How did dinner go last night?”

  I grunt.

  “That good?”

  “I fucked up.”

  “As usual.”

  Duke’s voice is somber. “Tell me you didn’t scare off the best baker we’ve had in town since forever.” He holds his hands up. “No offense. Your mom and dad’s place was great, but she has a flair about her doughnuts I can’t get enough of.”

  “Scare off.” I hook onto those words and push to my feet.

  I never had anyone who cared enough to find out details of my past. To have someone who cares enough to ask?

  “What’s up? You heading out?”

  “I reacted badly to something Bela did for me. How many times do you think I can apologize before I’m given a kick in the ass?”

  Duke shakes his head. “Wrong person to ask. I think you know who you need to talk to, though.”

  He’s right.

  She deserves more, deserves a man who would never steal away her smile, but I can’t let her slip away. Can’t even fathom another man touching her much less loving her.

  “Hold down the fort?”

  “Go do what you gotta do.”

  I grab my phone, pull up contacts, and hope like hell I’m not too late.

  ***

  Bela

  “Are you going to hide out in there forever?”

  I turn the door handle to the bathroom at the sound of Poppy’s voice. I called her five minutes after making my mind up about my next move this morning, painful as it is.

  Miles never came home last night. And if that isn’t a dead ringer of how he feels, I don’t know what is anymore.

  I push open the bathroom door, not even trying to hide the tears streaming down my face. “I’m not leaving forever, sweetie. Cherry Falls is where I want my new life. But I need to take a breather. I’ll use the few days the workers need to finish up the repairs and then I’ll be back. Mom wants me
to visit anyway.”

  “How am I going to live without my best friend for four days?”

  I give a soft laugh, but my heart isn’t in it. “You’ll be fine! We’ll do a Wine Wednesday as soon as I get back.”

  I head upstairs and Poppy is right behind me, unpacking everything I put into my small duffle bag.

  I grab her hands. “Will you stop? I need clean panties and bras.”

  “Not if you don’t leave. Look, ask your mom to come here. I’m sure she would loooove to help you pick out new curtains that actually match.”

  I head to the bathroom for my toothbrush to come back only to find my duffle being shoved into the closet.

  Poppy turns a triumphant smile on her face. “Do you love him?”

  I fall onto the bed. “I swear it’s like a million zaps of electricity dances over my skin when he enters a room, Poppy. I see him and I can’t help but smile. He does this thing with his face that makes him look all tough but deep down he’s a teddy bear.”

  “Don’t let him hear you say that.”

  I huff out a deep sigh and sink to the floor, my knees to my chest. Poppy joins me. Together we stare at the patchwork to the flooring. “I do. I do love the man and it scares me.”

  Sirens blast through the cocoon of silence and we both pop up, running to the window.

  “Ms. Andrews, we know you are in there. This is the Cherry Falls Police.”

  “Is this a good time to ask when was the last time you saw the fire chief? You didn’t brain him with a frying pan or anything, did you?”

  I dash for the stairs and swing the front door open. “Officers?” Three police cars face the bakery and a small crowd starts to gather around.

  “Bela Andrews?” Sheriff Graham Larson drops his loudspeaker into the seat of his cruiser. Everyone in town loves the guy with a deep love for my doughnuts and a good joke.

  “Sheriff Larson, what’s this about?”

  “Bela, I hear you and the fire chief are having a couple of issues.”

  I prop my hands on my hips and eye the man across from me. He’s leaning on his cruiser, aviator glasses on with a smirk tucking the corners of his lips in place.

  “And?” What is it with small towns and getting into everyone’s business?

  “I’m just helping a friend out. Mind stepping this way, ma’am?” I take a hold of my arm and I follow the sheriff, curious as to where this is going. He’s only a few years older than me so for him to call me ma’am makes me want to laugh. I follow him around the corner and nearly trip over my own two feet. What the heck?

  I turn back to Poppy, my mouth hinged so far open I’m pretty sure everyone can see the back of my throat. “Poppy,” I hiss. “Oh my God. What’s going on?” She waves a hand at me, shooing me on. “Go. Go.” The grin on her face tells me she knows more than she’s letting on about.

  I spin back around to see the entire town standing behind Miles taking up all of Cherry Popper Way. Traffic has come to a huge standstill and unlike in Syn City, there’s no horn blaring and cursing. Not here. Nope, Cherry Falls folks are a different breed of people.

  This town sees someone in need and they are all there to help. The proof is literally staring me in the face. Everyone I’ve ever meet and so many new faces are smiling back at me with so many varying degrees of hope I’m kind of intimidated. Like what are they expecting of me?

  “Miles, umm...what’s going on?” I turn back to look at the sheriff but he’s no help. He and Poppy have their cell phones out like there’s something about to happen.

  Miles steps from the crowd and comes to a stop in front of me. Powerful. Commanding. I can mentally see him patrolling the streets of Syn City. Putting the bad guys behind bars and protecting those in need. I see it every day and now that I know a bit of his past the final puzzle piece clicks into place.

  “Umm, okay.” After several breath-stealing heartbeats, I find my voice. “Miles, I have to go home for a few days,” I say.

  “I know, Poppy messaged me. Bela, you are home.”

  I knew it.

  He takes my chin in a gentle hold and pulls my eyes to his. I still see remnants of our encounter last night and the hole in my heart opens wider.

  “I’m sorry about last night. I had no idea it would trigger you.”

  “You didn’t trigger me, sweetheart. You destroyed the darkness inside me with your light. Your kindness. Your heart. No one has ever done that for me.” His voice is thick with emotions and his eyes plead with me to understand. “I didn’t know how to handle all that at once. No words came to me then. And then—” He shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans and lets out a deep breath like he’s held it for hours.

  “And then you had to leave,” I finish for him.

  “Yes.”

  He takes my hands in his larger ones. Standing this close to him, the warm sunshine raining down on us and the half the town watching, I feel exposed and slightly out of my comfort zone. But I sense he has more to say, so I lace my fingers with his and listen.

  “You don’t owe me anything, my beautiful Bela. It’s me who owes you everything. A thank you at the very least.”

  I shake my head. “For what?”

  “Giving me a reason to love.”

  My brain stutters while my heart soars. I know the words, understand the words, but my brain has a hard time digesting them.

  “But first, I figure I’ve messed up so many times I might need a little more help this time around.” Miles jerks a thumb over his shoulder and gives a chin nod to the sheriff.

  “Help with what?”

  Miles, still holding my hands with tens of Cherry Falls residents standing behind him, kneels.

  I can’t breathe.

  “Miles,” I say shakily.

  “Bela Andrews, you left me speechless last night but this morning everything became crystal clear. I love you. I don’t know how to love, yet here I am doing it. You make it that simple. No instructions needed. When I first saw you behind the counter of your bakery I knew there was something special about you. It’s why I stayed away. I felt I would never be good enough, but I couldn’t stay away for long. Your light drew me in and now I can’t live without you.”

  This man is going to make me cry in front of the whole town. And it’s going to be on TV, too. The new crew just pulled up and they are already jumping out of the van.

  I turn my eyes away from them.

  “Miles,” I force strength into my voice and make myself sound strong because he needs to hear these next words if he never hears another syllable in his life. “You are worth every ounce of love anyone gives you. You are a true hero in every sense of the word. To those who know they need you, and to those who don’t. Your light is so bright, so strong, it is what drew me near. Not the other way around.”

  Miles stands and cups my face with his hands.

  “Never think for a second your ability to absorb the darkness in this world makes you dark. This world should have more people like you in it and that is God's honest truth. I love you.”

  I inhale the scent of him and feel a calmness settle over me. “Marry me, Bela. Marry me today. Let’s have babies. Lots of babies and teach them all how to make doughnuts—”

  “—to love. Let’s teach them how to love.” I cut in and he laughs warmly.

  “To love.” Miles draws me into his arms and we stand like that, me breathless and his heart racing.

  “Is that a yes?” he husks close to my ear, sending shivers racing through my body.

  I pull back, eyes on his. “Yes, Miles Malone. I’ll marry you!” I see Poppy run up before the flash and I can only grin bigger. I’ve somehow won the lottery in life. How I don’t know but I’m going to grip my winnings with both hands and never let go.

  Miles sweeps me into his arms, bringing back my laughter. “I never want to miss a day of your laughter.”

  Cheers erupt, and I’m pretty sure cameras zoom in on us when his hot lips crash into mine.

  Honestl
y, I am not paying attention. I can’t. He consumes me entirely. When his tongue strokes over my lips I open for him—my mouth, my arms, and my heart.

  “Let’s go home—we have dessert to get back to.”

  “And a baby to make.”

  Epilogue

  Bela, five years later

  Every time I look at the picture hanging in my bakery, I want to rush down to the fire station and kiss my man.

  Five years. Me, Bela Andrews, married for five years. And that big family I always wanted? Yeah, I have that too.

  “Has anyone seen Bandit?”

  I poke my head over my mom’s shoulder and brush my fingertips over the crown of our sleeping princess. Bela Rose Malone. She’s a quiet one at six months old, which is a nice change from the twin boys. Both Miles and I were right. I got pregnant that night we stole away in my bedroom. Nine months later our boys were born, Matt and Josh. They have their father’s eyes and his sense of adventure. Eleven months later Daisy was born and I’ve never seen a grown man as tough as my husband turn to mush, but the second she entered this world she had him wrapped around her finger. And now we have two princes and two princesses.

  Shortly after the boys were born, we bought a bigger house a few miles down the road. It has a bigger yard, a better kitchen and lots of rooms to fill with little firefighters and bakers. And believe me, Miles seems intent on making sure each one gets filled. Life is perfect with all its flaws and challenges. Because hello, has anyone tried nursing a newborn while chasing two four-year-olds? Pure hell and thank GOD for moms. Mine in particular.

  “Thanks for coming down for a while, Mom. You are a Godsend.”

  “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

  Mrs. Malone—Mandy, sits opposite my mom holding our two-year-old. Both babies are fast asleep after an afternoon at the park. It’s about an hour before we open the bakery and there are fresh apple pies ready to come out of the oven.

  “Guess who I found waiting for me at the station when I returned from a call.” Miles strolls into the bakery with a fidgety black pup tucked under his arm.

  “Bandit. Silly thing.”