Chapter 2

The next shift, Gage tried to sneak into the open bay to avoid being noticed. As he edged around the truck, he pulled up short when he found all the firefighters standing in a line, every one of them wearing wide smiles.

A whistle sounded. Followed by clapping.

Gage growled. "I suppose you saw the newspaper."

Noah Turner waggled his brows. "And the TikTok."

"And Facebook." That last comment came from the lieutenant, who stood behind them wearing a frown. He curled his fingers. "Let's talk."

Gage aimed a hot glare at his friends, which didn't stop them chuckling as he stomped past.

"Sorry about that, LT," Gage said as he shut the door.

"No apology needed. I was rescuing you," he said, his steel-gray eyes crinkling at the corners.

Gage let out a huff and settled in the chair across from the LT's desk. "What a fucking mess."

"Oh, I don't know. The phone's already been ringing off the hook. Mostly calls from women wanting to know if they can drop by with cookies."

Gage grimaced. "Ah, shit."

"Yeah, and at least one photographer asking whether there were more like you at the station because she wants to do a calendar."

Gage wiped a hand across his face. "Fucking hell."

The lieutenant sat back in his chair, his gray eyes twinkling. "You didn't have time to put on any pants?"

"I forgot I wasn't wearing any," Gage muttered.

Knox nodded. "Guess you also didn't know she writes those books either?"

Gage grimaced. "Didn't have a clue. My neighbor's eighty if he's a day. I have no idea what she's doing there."

"According to the article, she rented his apartment for the week. One of those short-term arrangements."

"Explains it."

"You didn't get around to talking?"

Gage felt heat creep across his face. "She was too busy laughing herself silly."

"Ouch." He cleared his throat. "The chief called. Said to tell you quick reactions are all well and good, but maybe you should sleep in shorts from now on."

Gage couldn't help growling just a little. Everyone was having a grand old time at the expense of his dignity. Still, he wasn't all that disturbed about the fact that Viviana Moore, if that was even her name, had seemed to appreciate the situation. She'd looked long enough to witness every inch of his interest.

"That it?" Gage asked, wanting to escape. Hell, he'd scrub the truck from top to bottom just to get the guys off his back.

"Yeah, get back to work."

Gage pushed up from his chair and made a beeline for the door.

"Oh, and Gage?"

Gage glanced over his shoulder.

"Those are for you."

Gage followed Knox's pointing finger to the large bouquet of red roses sitting on the desk in the reception area. He frowned. What the hell?

He walked slowly to the mass of flowers and looked amid the thorny stems for a card. He slipped the card from the envelope, read the bold handwriting, and nearly smiled. He leaned close to the blooms and dragged in the scent, imagining rubbing the fragrant blossoms over someone's creamy curves.

"So what did the note say? Got a secret admirer?"

Gage shook his head and shot a glare at Noah, who was flanked by Coop and the rookie, Luke Harris. Knowing they'd only drag out the ribbing, he flipped the card to show them what she'd written.

You can put out my flames anytime. V.M.

Noah glanced back up at Gage. "Not sure how to take that. Does she mean she wants you to cool off or wants you to build the fire first?" Only Noah wasn't looking to Gage for the answer to that question.

Coop seemed to take the question seriously. "Well, there has to be a fire first—so I'm assuming she means for Gage to set it."

"I don't know," Luke said. "After seeing his ass, she's probably hoping he'll stay the hell away."

Gage shook his head. "The lady wasn't lookin' at my ass."

That snagged their attention.

Noah slipped an arm around his shoulder and leaned close. "Did the fire have you…fired up?"

Gage glared at the arm. "You know I don't swing that way," he growled.

"Sweetheart," Noah said in falsetto, "Hoyt doesn't give me that much leash."

Gage shrugged him off. "I know you all have better things to do than ride my ass."

The sound of someone clearing their voice behind them had every gaze turning toward the open door. Sunlight gleamed behind the full figure of the woman who'd claimed his attention since the first moment he'd spied her in Herman's window.

She fluttered her fingers in a little wave. "I see you got my flowers."

Gage cleared his own throat and stepped toward her. "I did. Thanks, but it wasn't necessary."

"Maybe not," she said, stepping inside. "But I wanted to do something to thank you."

"Also, not necessary. It's my job."

"Maybe so." A pretty pink blush flooded her cheeks, and she lifted a pointed finger to slide her glasses back up her nose. "And I'm guessing flowers aren't your thing, so I wondered…"

Gage shook off the last of his irritation with the guys and came closer. "Wondered what, ma'am?"

"Whether you'd have dinner with me?"

The way she said it, in a fast blurt as though she expected him to refuse, had him wondering if she had any clue just how attractive she was. Sure, her frame had a little padding, but her curves were delicious. He lowered his voice. "Only if you let me buy. I'm a little old-fashioned that way."

She gave a quick nod and flashed an even faster smile. "Great. I'm still at Herman's. The apartment building's insurance adjuster just left. The super already repaired the door. The only room I can't make use of is the kitchen, or I'd cook."

"You cook?"

She glanced down her figure. "Can't you tell I like to eat?"

He didn't like the way she joked about her figure. "We can go out, or you could let me pick up some steaks…"

"I'd like that," she said. "The steaks, I mean." She fiddled with her hair, tucking a strand behind her ear before glancing beyond his shoulder. "So the question is, when? I figured you'd probably be here overnight."

He didn't mind that she was a little pushy. From the pretty blush that continued to ride her cheeks, he was sure she wasn't very comfortable being this aggressive. But he sure appreciated the effort. Especially in front of his friends. "Yeah, shift ends tomorrow morning, and I'll have plenty of time to rest before tomorrow night." He barely managed to hide a wince at his choice of words. He didn't want to scare her away by giving her the impression he'd need rest because he meant to sleep with her, although seeing her now, that's exactly what he hoped. Dressed in a red blouse and black leggings with killer black heels, he wondered whether the underwear she wore was as pretty as the creamy lace from the night before.

Again, she cleared her throat, bringing his gaze to her face.

"Then…I guess I'll be over tomorrow night?"

He drew a deep breath. "I'll come get you," he said and gave her a smile. She'd be over. Cooking in his place. He'd have her all to himself, and she didn't look the least bit uncomfortable with that idea.

Chuckles sounded behind him, and he turned to glare, careful to reform his expression before meeting her gaze again. She stood there a second too long, not making a move to leave. "Is there something else I can help you with?" he asked.

"I don't suppose you'd give me a tour of the firehouse? I'm a writer, and I guess that makes me really curious about…everything."

Glad for the excuse to lose the chuckleberries looming behind him and to hold on to her attention for just a little longer, he waved his arm. "After you."

As she headed toward the corridor that led to the rec area, he couldn't help that his gaze dropped to her very generous bottom.

"Damn, Gage," Coop said, staring after her. "Her picture didn't do her justice."

Feeling very territorial, Gage backhanded Coop's belly as he passed. "Get lost, or I'll tell Moira you were ogling another woman's backside."

He didn't care that he'd betrayed his interest to his crew. They could stuff it where the sun didn't shine. All that mattered was that Viviana had sent him flowers and that she wanted to see him again. How much of him she wanted to see, well, a guy could dream.