by Vivian Wood
When she brought her fingers to Cade’s lips, she truly intended to leave it as a sweet flirt. But as soon as she felt his lips on her fingertips, when he took her wrist and held her hand close—sucked her finger slowly—she knew the tarte would have to wait.
“It’s sweet,” he said. “But not as sweet as you.”
He hoisted her onto the counter and shoved the prep dishes out of the way. The sounds of the clang of them hitting the floor shrouded the groan in his throat.
Cade reached up her thighs and searched for her underwear. All he found was her wetness, her want, and her heat.
Cade cradled her jaw and leaned her head back.
“Sneaky girl,” he said.
Lily laughed. She heard the rattle of his belt. He squeezed the flesh of her thighs and brought her toward him. Just when she thought she was about to slip off the edge, he slid inside her.
Lily wrapped her legs around his waist to hold him closer. She felt a tug at her chest followed by a series of pops as her snap-button shirt came undone. The air was cold on her breasts just long enough to harden her nipples, and then his mouth was on them.
His tongue flicked across her nipples while she rode him as best she could perched on the counter.
“You know you can see the shop from here,” he said into her ear.
Lily’s eyes popped open. She tried to twist around to look out the kitchen window, but Cade held her close. Below, she saw broad backs clad in denim bent over vintage cars.
“Shit,” she said.
“Don’t be shy,” he said. “How about we give them a good show?”
She knew if they were caught, she’d regret it the next day. The guys would give her knowing looks, and the loudmouthed one might even say something. But he felt so good.
Damn, he just feels so good.
Suddenly, Cade lifted her up. She squealed. “What are you doing?”
“Changed my mind,” he said. “Decided I don’t want to share you.”
With every step he walked her toward the bedroom, she held on tighter. With every step, she felt him sink deeper into her. Cade laid her on the bed and never exited her. He was on top of her, all-consuming, the only thing she could see or breathe. At that angle, he hit her G-spot just right.
Lily moaned into his ear.
“You’ve got me close,” she said.
“Let go,” he urged. “Just know that when you do, I’m not going to stop. I want you to keep coming for me…”
Lily felt the first orgasm build up at her center. She exploded onto him and called out his name the entire time. Cade slowed and worked every last layer of pleasure out of her.
She was sensitive, but didn’t want to stop. As soon as she thought she could handle more, she whispered in his ear. “Hey. Where’s that second round you promised me?”
Cade increased his pace, and Lily couldn’t tell if her first orgasm was still going or if it was a new one that built inside her. This time, when she reached her peak, he came with her.
“That wasn’t the dessert I spent three hours making,” she said as he lay heavy on top of her.
He laughed and pushed himself to one side. “Sorry. But I’m starving again now. Tarte in bed?”
Lily walked to the kitchen, naked and not caring if the people below saw. She grabbed the entire dish and brought it to bed. Cade scooped out a piece with his fingers and popped it in his mouth.
“Damn,” he said. “I never thought I’d think the whole Suzy Homemaker thing was so hot—”
She smacked him playfully. “I’m not a homemaker,” she said. “Trust me, I wouldn’t have the calluses I do if I were.”
“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” he said. “I’m just saying. You know, if we’re official or whatever … I’ve just never had a girlfriend before. And don’t think I’m complaining, but I didn’t think if I ever did that, you know, she’d be like you. You’re better than I could have ever imagined.”
“Girlfriend?” she asked, shocked. “Official? What … what do you mean—”
“Oh,” he said. “Sorry, I just kind of assumed. I mean, I thought we were on the same page—”
“Yes! I mean, we are. I just… we didn’t even talk about it, so I thought…”
“You thought what?”
“You know, that we weren’t putting a label on it. Or whatever.”
Cade laughed. “Is that the kind of guy you think I am?”
Lily looked down at the dessert, embarrassed.
“I don’t know,” she said. “It’s not just you. Every guy in his twenties, I thought that was the thing. The whole play it cool until you get married schtick.”
Cade laughed harder. “I’d like to think there would be a little more communication between meeting and getting married. I mean, if we have kids, I’d rather it not be a surprise.”
“You want kids?” she asked. With me?
“I never thought about it seriously, but, yeah. I think I do. One day. Don’t you?” he asked. “Although I have to be totally honest. There’s a part of me that kind of hopes for a redo of my own childhood. But I guess we all bring our baggage to the kid thing, right?”
“Talking about kids right now is a little too weird,” she said. “But, yeah, I agree. One day. How about we just stick with the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing for now?”
“Okay. So… do we need to pinky swear or something? How do you make it official?”
“I think a pinky swear will work fine,” she said. As he looped his finger through hers, she couldn’t remember ever being so happy.
23
Cade
My receptionist just sent your clearance to Captain Crane.
Cade stared at the text from Dr. Hersh. That’s it? he thought. It seemed too easy.
Does that mean I can return to duty? he replied.
You have medical clearance. Returning to duty is up to Captain Crane. Do you have time to talk?
Cade groaned. He was so close and then Dr. Hersh threw in that little question. It was almost like being in a real relationship.
Sure.
Immediately, his phone rang.
“Hey, Doc,” he said.
“Good morning, Cade. I trust you’re happy with the medical clearance?”
“Well, yeah. Of course.”
“Good. I’m sure Captain Crane will have you on the team in no time.”
“Crew,” Cade reminded him. “So if I’m cleared, what do you need to talk to me about?”
“Well, medical clearance is a big step, but mental health and managing the kind of trauma you sustained is going to take much longer than the few sessions we’ve had. It’s my strong recommendation—and one that I included in your clearance—that we continue sessions.”
“You want to keep seeing me,” Cade confirmed.
“Yes, but not necessarily as frequently as we have been. My recommendation is twice a month.”
“Huh.” Cade realized he didn’t hate the idea.
He’d gotten used to Dr. Crane and the strange, sci-fi furniture that didn’t fit his personality. “I … I guess that would be okay.”
“Great. I’ll have my receptionist call and set up our next few appointments.”
Cade hung up and pulled on the most recent firehouse t-shirt.
Might as well look the part when I arrive, he thought.
He grimaced when he saw Aiden’s truck in the firehouse lot. Since the incident in the parking lot, he’d largely managed to avoid Aiden without Elijah getting suspicious.
It was clear Aiden had avoided him, too. In order to keep up appearances, he’d asked Elijah out for drinks a couple of times. Both times, Elijah came alone.
“Where’s Aiden?” he asked each time.
Elijah always shrugged as he took a pull of beer. “Had something to do.”
“The crew’s all here!” Elijah crowed as Cade walked in.
The new recruits he’d trained clapped him on the back, but he saw Aiden with his jaw clenched in anger. Before Cade cou
ld figure out how to handle it, Aiden turned his back to him and went back to his task.
Well, this is going to be awkward.
“Hey, Aiden—” Cade started as he walked toward him, but his voice was drowned out by the alarm that started to wail.
“All crews head out,” Crane’s voice boomed over the system. “Including Charles.”
Shit. So this was it?
He hadn’t had an induction like this since his first day in Montana. As he raced to his locker, he felt the immediate rush of adrenaline mixed with naked fear. That was a first, and he wasn’t sure what to think of it. Fear hadn’t even been part of the equation before.
Cade suited up and raced to the airfield behind the station. He noticed the recruits he’d worked with stuck close to him.
God, no. Please don’t let them be counting on me.
“You six, go,” the captain called. Cade’s heart fell deeper when he realized he was on a rappeller group with not only Elijah, but Aiden.
If anything happens to either of them, that’s it, he thought. There’s no getting over that.
As the helicopter lifted into the air, he worked on his breathing. Even count in, even count hold, even count exhale.
You’re a goddamned firefighter, he told himself. Dangerous and stupid things are second nature.
In the past, every time he ascended with a crew, he was always first. He wanted to get the lay of the land, make sure there weren’t any surprises on the ground. But now? He was worried. There was no other word for it—and he’d never been worried before.
Below, the small wildfire had just started. It was small, but clean and hot. The chopper raged all around him. It filled his head with vibrations that made it hard to think.
Elijah nudged him hard through the suit. Fine? Elijah asked in rudimentary sign language as he tapped his thumb to his sternum.
They’d both signed up for American Sign Language in high school as their foreign language requirement, stupidly thinking it would be easier. It wasn’t, but what little they remembered had stuck.
Cade nodded and shrugged. For a moment, he though he saw his Montana crew below. Heard their screams.
They’re not there, he told himself. Breathe.
The pilot gave the signal to go, and Cade forced everything out of his head. All he saw was white. A soothing, calm white. His body took over, and Cade reached for the harness. Even if his brain couldn’t fathom it, his body couldn’t handle anything but to rappel out first.
As soon as he hit the ground, he looked up to count the suits that came behind him. Five. Two he knew were Elijah and Aiden. The other three were new recruits.
I got you.
“Trenches, go! Now!” Elijah commanded.
Cade was impressed. When he’d left Salem, Elijah was somewhat on the track to be a leader, but still had that boyishness to him. Now, it was gone. Elijah was all business, and Cade saw a trace of his dad in him.
Cade threw himself into the work. He didn’t look up when he started to sweat. He didn’t stop when the pain in his back got so severe he wondered if it was causing permanent damage. He kept his peripherals on the boots and suits around him. There were always five pairs. Always.
When he grabbed a shovel, he felt instant blisters blossom on his hands from the heat even through the gloves. Cade refused to flinch. His body was a machine, but it couldn’t stop the worry that broke through in his mind. It barreled through the serene whiteness and weighed on his brain.
What if something goes wrong? Five pairs of boots. He checked over and over again without a lift of his head.
For five hours, he pushed through. The trenches were strong, sure to hold.
That’s what you thought last time. The worry grew heavier, spread from his brain to his shoulders. The pain in any other moment would have been excruciating, but in the moment it served as a means to ground him.
I’m alive. There couldn’t be this much pain if I wasn’t.
In the distance, he thought he heard yelling and he paused for a moment.
Nothing. It was just the wind.
Cade went back to work. The walkie-talkie crackled for a moment. He bristled, but there was nothing. He waited for the voice of Barron, of Dominguez, but there was nothing but the whisper of static.
“… hear me?” Cade felt a sharp shove on his shoulder. It heated up the pain and traveled fast down his spine. Finally, he looked up and Elijah stood over him.
“Huh?”
“I said you’re on firebreak! Didn’t you hear me call you on the radio?”
“Uh … no,” Cade said.
Briefly, excuses flooded through him. Truth, too. I was too scared to listen.
“We’re done here,” Elijah said. Cade scanned his surroundings. Five suits. “There’s another crew coming in to relieve us. We just have to hike down to the main road now.”
“Oh. Okay.” Cade stood up straight, though the pain was almost too much to bear.
Elijah looked at him strangely. He opened his mouth, but snapped it back shut.
We’re both too tired for this, Cade thought.
As the two of them started down the trail together, Cade turned back to look at the fire. It had largely burned itself out. Elijah marched ahead of him.
From the back, he looked like his dad. Dog-tired after the fight, but still sturdy and strong. Cade felt like the little boy he used to be when he thought Mr. Hammond might as well be God.
Five suits. There were five suits in front of him.
But that was sheer luck, he thought to himself. I didn’t keep them safe. Elijah did. And so what does that matter?
He jogged after Elijah as the post-adrenaline rush shakes started to come on. His gear wasn’t that heavy—he worked out more than that in the gym. But it felt like it weighed a ton.
He spotted Aiden’s signature bowlegged walk at the head of the pack. He walked alone while the three recruits hung together in the middle. They no longer thought he could protect them.
And maybe I can’t. They’re on their own now.
Cade had never been happier to see the truck that waited at the main road. Aiden jumped in first and nodded for one of the recruits to sit beside him.
Anything to keep me away from him, Cade thought. But in that moment he was grateful. It wasn’t the time to get into it. Especially in a small, confined space.
Aiden had really whaled on him.
Not that I didn’t deserve it, he thought as he climbed into the truck.
Elijah was beside him. Cade stared out the window as a ground crew arrived. He watched as they moved in perfect sync together, clearly a crew that had seen some shit—and survived.
Cade wanted that again, he realized. He wanted to work together, to have zero animosity. More than that, he wanted his friends back. Elijah and Aiden had both been like his brothers ever since he could remember.
Hell, I remember when Aiden was still in diapers, he thought.
As they maneuvered onto a paved road, he thought about the years behind them. It was too much to give up.
And why should we? Why can’t we make this new dynamic work?
Aiden thought he would hurt Lily, and he couldn’t blame him.
But what if he knew how I really felt?
24
Lily
“Lily! What is wrong with you, you will burn the kouign-amann.” Jean-Michel tsked at her and batted a towel at her to get her to move.
“Sorry,” she squeaked. “It’s just—”
“The fire, the fire, yes I know. We all know,” Jean-Michel said as he eyed the pastries. “You are lucky, the perfect timing,” he said as he pulled out the tray. “Why you worry? What good will it do? He is a firefighter, he fights the fires.”
The bell to the front door rang and Jean-Michel gave her a look.
“Alright, I’m going,” she said, and rushed out front.
The last thing I feel like doing is ringing up croissants all day.
When she saw Renee, she broke into a
smile. “Hi.”
“I heard about the fire,” Renee said. She reached across the counter and squeezed Lily’s hand. “It’ll be fine. He’ll be fine.”
“I know,” Lily said. “Or at least I hope so. It’s the first big fire—or any fire—since Montana. And… I mean, I always stress out with Elijah and Aiden out there, but with what Cade went through in Montana… I don’t know, it’s worse this time.”
“He wouldn’t be out there if the doctor and captain didn’t think he was ready,” Renee said.
“Ah, the pretty friend,” Jean-Michel said. He emerged from the kitchen armed with trays of perfectly golden kouign-amann.
Renee perked up at the compliment.
“Thanks,” she said.
“Don’t be so grateful,” Jean-Michel scoffed. “You are pretty, yes, but you are also the only girlfriend Lily has.”
“Wow, thanks,” Lily said, as she rolled her eyes.
“You are welcome. It is truth. So, what can I serve you?” Jean-Michel asked Renee. “Your figure, so slender. Only baguette, then? Coffee black?”
“Actually, I was just stopping by to see how Lily is, what with the fire—”
Jean-Michel sighed loudly. “Ah, yes, the fire. Fires do not pay the bills for me. Baguette?”
“Uh. Sure,” Renee said.
“Lily, ring up your pretty friend.” Jean-Michel disappeared back into the kitchen.
“He’s all business,” Renee said under her breath.
“He’s just tired of hearing me freak out about Cade all day. I just don’t know how he’ll handle it.”
“I’m more concerned about how you’re handling it. Or not,” Renee said. “I get that it’s a big deal, but all the reports say it’s not huge. It’ll be okay. I’m sure he’ll check in with you as soon as he can.”
“I know, but I just can’t stop thinking about my mom. And how she’d sit up all night knitting, worrying about Dad.” Lily shook her head. “I don’t… I don’t think I’m up for it.”
“For what?”
“Doing what she did.”
“Lily—”
“I’m serious! I mean, even if all the obstacles disappeared with Cade and me, even if my brothers didn’t care about us being together, then what? Am I just supposed to sit around crocheting a scarf while I wonder if he’s burning up in some forest?”
