Smoothing a hand down his cheek, I smile softly. “I’m trying to make the most of it.”
“You are,” he assures me with a lush kiss to my mouth. “I’m getting a condom. Don’t move.”
Why would I? I’m exactly where I want and need to be.
***
Thirty minutes later, Luke steps back into my bedroom dressed in navy blue pants and a matching T-shirt with a New York Fire Department logo on the chest. Now, I know what he had in the duffel bag he brought over.
I take a moment to soak it all in.
“You like this look?” he asks, holding both of his arms out to the side.
Nodding, I take a breath. “I like it a lot.”
He cocks a dark brow. “You should see me decked out in all my gear.”
“Can I see that?” I blurt out without thinking it through. “I don’t mean at a fire. I’m not sure I could handle watching you at a fire.”
His eyes search my face. “Because you’d be scared that something would happen to me?”
“Yes.”
That lures him closer to where I’m standing near the patio doors. I’m wearing one of my short silk robes.
Luke invited me to shower with him after we made love, but I needed time to catch my breath. Every time we have sex, my feelings for him intensify.
I think I’m falling in love with him.
He gathers me into his strong arms. “My training protects me. My captain always has my back. When I go to work, every precaution is taken to keep my crew and me safe.”
I reach up to cup a hand over his cheek. “You told me once that you’ve been hurt at work.”
He nods stoically. “Injuries are par for the course, but I’m cautious and aware of everything around me. I promise when I go to work today, I’ll take care of myself.”
I bounce up to my tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his lips. “I’ll hold you to that promise.”
“I’ll hold you until I leave.” He glides his lips across my forehead. “Unless you want to see a picture of me in my gear. I do happen to have a couple on my phone.”
Before he can utter another word, I’m on the move toward his phone.
I grab it from the bedside table. The movement causes the screen to light up, showing a text message.
I know I shouldn’t read it, but I do.
Corrine: We should get together for a drink one night.
The phone tumbles from my hands before hitting my mattress.
“Afton?” Luke rushes to my side. “What’s wrong?”
I can’t say it’s nothing because it is something. It shouldn’t be. We’ve never made a promise to one another to be exclusive. Luke has made it crystal clear that we’re just having fun.
His arm brushes against mine as he grabs the phone.
“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. “Not again.”
My gaze darts up to his face.
“Corinne is Brooklyn’s cousin,” he explains. “She’s been trying to reach out, but I’m not reaching back. That’s my past. I’m only looking forward from this point on.”
I have a million questions but can’t find a place to start, so I stay silent.
His fingers move over his phone’s screen. “I’m deleting her message and her from my contact list.”
That offers me some relief. I have no claim to him, but I’m happy that he’s putting his past behind him.
He turns his phone screen to face me. “Here’s a shot of me in all my gear.”
My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him in full firefighter mode. “Wow.”
“Wow,” he repeats back. “In a good way?”
I look up and into his eyes again. “In the best way. You’re freaking hot.”
He huffs out a laugh. “If you think so, I’m a happy man.”
“I’m a happy woman.” I move to wrap my arms around his neck. “Be safe today, Luke Jones. Be safe every day.”
“You have my word.” He slides one hand down my back to grab my naked ass beneath my robe. “I have you to come back to, so I’ll take very good care of myself.”
Chapter 37
Afton
I survey the collection of boxes in the library of Joel and Nelson’s home. “That’s it?”
Nelson nudges my shoulder with his hand. “That’s everything Cleta had sent over. I told her to address it to me. We can store it all here for you until you’re ready to go through it.”
I glance over my shoulder to see concern in my brother’s expression. “Thank you, Nels.”
“I love you.” He wraps an arm around my waist. “I hope you feel that and know it. I know work keeps me on my toes and with Joel and his movie role...”
I spin around to face him. “He got it?”
“They called him this morning to book a second audition.” He smiles. “That’s supposed to be a secret. He wants to tell you in his way.”