Page 11 of My Three Hometown Firefighters (Aspen Springs #2)

CHAPTER TEN

Sienna

Why, oh why, does this photo shoot have to be today?

I mean, I do know why—I have a best friend who’s a photographer, so setting up a photoshoot with the firefighters and the animals from the shelter seemed like a genius idea.

Now, I’m second-guessing all my plans to make a fundraiser calendar to raise money for the shelter.

All because I don’t know how to face three gorgeous firefighters who smacked me in the face with a proposal I haven’t been able to make heads or tails of yet. I swear, every time I think about their offer, I arrive at a different conclusion.

I’ll be firmly set on thinking it’s all insanity and there’s no way I can go through with it. Then, a few hours later, I’ll be jumping on the female empowerment train and telling myself, “Get yours, girl!”

It’s already been several days. I know I need to give them an answer, but arrrggghhh , I just don’t know.

Peeling myself out of bed, I groan loudly. I don’t want to. I don’t want to. If I say that enough times, will this commitment just disappear?

I mindlessly go about getting ready for the day. I throw on a long-sleeved dark gray dress and my favorite pair of bright yellow Converse. My wild hair is pulled into a messy braid with curls falling around my face.

Wallowing in my avoidance for today, I didn’t realize how short on time I was running. I put some food in Nacho’s dish before darting down to my car.

Yes, my cat’s name is Nacho. Yes, he’s the same bright orange color as the delicious fake cheese concoction served at sporting events.

I adopted him shortly after moving to town and starting to navigate things at the shelter. I thought we would be able to bond over being redheads.

I was sadly mistaken. I somehow lucked out with the least social cat alive. I get that cats are innately antisocial, but I genuinely believe Nacho hates people, including me.

I love the dude, but he really is a little asshole.

The next hour is a blur of getting everything loaded up from the shelter and over to the firehouse. Luckily, Hadley helped—there’s no way I would have gotten all the animals over here with just my car alone.

With a heavy sigh, I grab one pet carrier and walk toward the front of the firehouse where the large doors are wide open. One of the fire engines has been moved out of the garage to make room for our little photoshoot.

At first, I don’t see anyone until Grayson steps out from the hallway in the far corner of the space. We both freeze mid-step.

How do I even act around him now when he and two of his buddies offered to help me like sex again?

“Where do you want me to set everything up?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “Oh, uh, you can take the pictures wherever you want, but this room is mostly empty. You can put your stuff in here.”

He opens a door to his left, revealing a small room with a few tables in the far corner.

“Feel free to set up whatever you need. Just leave a path for the trucks to get out, and don’t mess with the gear room. We never know when we’ll get a call.”

The cat meows when I set the carrier down on the floor. “Thank you for letting us do this.”

He gives a jerky nod. “Of course.” He looks like he wants to say something else, but Hadley walks into the room with Cash on a leash.

Cash is a Burmese Mountain dog mix. Hadley instantly fell in love with the big oaf of a dog when she started working part-time at the shelter with me.

I secretly hope he doesn’t get adopted, so she gets a chance to do so when the time is right for her.

Grayson chuckles when Cash rams his large head into the back of his leg. “Hey, bud,” he says, patting him.

“I’m here too,” Hadley says, glowering at her brother.

“Hello, sister,” he says dryly. “I’m guessing you guys have a lot more stuff to bring in.”

Hadley and I both nod.

“I’ll go get the guys. They can haul it all in,” he says before disappearing.

Not wanting them to do all the work, I walk back out to my car. I grab one of the other carriers with a cat in it from the back of my car.

“I can bring that in,” Tucker says from right behind me. He’s so close, I swear I can feel his breath on my ear.

I spin around, probably making the poor cat dizzy.

“Be careful. The cats can be kind of feisty.”

He gives me a devilish smile. “I’m good at handling pussy, especially the feisty kind.”

With that, he grabs the crate from my hand, as well as the other one resting in my backseat. Without another word, he walks away.

I squeeze my thighs together. Fuck. Of course he’s good with pussy. He has an effect on mine with his words alone.

I don’t even want to know what he could do to me with his tongue, fingers, or cock. Or maybe I do want to know…

Grabbing the last few bags of supplies, I walk back inside. Hadley is already marching around telling the guys what to do.

The animal shelter might be mine, but this was all Hadley’s idea, and frankly, way more her area of expertise than mine.

Standing off to the side, I watch as Hadley has two of the younger guys stand in front of the firetruck with one of the smaller dogs.

“Hey.” Warren steps up beside me.

I have to tilt my head back to meet his eyes. He’s so tall.

“Hey,” I say, smiling. If they aren’t going to act like this is the most awkward encounter ever, then I guess I won’t either.

“She’s kind of bossy,” he says, mirroring my position by leaning back against the wall.

I can’t help the laugh that bursts from me. “Yeah, you could say that.”

She must not like the way one of the guys is standing because she grabs the front of his shirt, moving him to the exact spot she envisioned.

“I love her, though,” I say, shrugging.

My stomach takes that moment to remind me I didn’t even get a cup of coffee this morning, let alone any breakfast.

“Are you hungry?” he asks.

“I’m fine.” His eyes narrow. “Okay, yes, I’m hungry. I was in a hurry this morning.”

“Come on,” he says, walking toward the stairs. Before starting up the steps, he glances over his shoulder at me.

One look at Hadley shows she’s got this situation fully handled. It’s not like I’m doing much anyway, so I follow behind Warren as he lumbers up the stairs.

I absolutely do not stare at his muscular ass, which happens to be right in my face the entire way to the second floor.

We walk through the living area with a few couches and chairs, and by a long table with benches on either side. The kitchen has a large island with stools lined up along one side. He motions for me to sit on one of them.

Sitting on the closest stool, I watch as he starts pulling ingredients from the fridge.

“You like eggs?”

“I do, but you don’t need to do that. I know you’re…”

He holds up his hand to stop me. “Just let me make you breakfast. I’ll make enough for the other guys if they want some too.”

Fine.

The ease with which he maneuvers around the kitchen is sexy as hell. This clearly isn’t the first time he’s cooked here. Don’t ask me why that’s so hot.

I just know I’m feeling all twitchy sitting here watching him.

The way he sliced up the onions and peppers with his huge hands should be criminal. I can’t keep my mind from picturing other things I want those hands to handle with that level of care.

I’m so fucked.

He slides a plate in front of me that smells delicious.

“Thank you.”

He nods, then looks at one of the younger guys who came back up here a few minutes ago. “Barret, go tell the guys there’s breakfast if they want it.”

The younger guy nods and jogs down the stairs. Warren might not hold a position of authority here, but it’s clear they all respect him.

Unable to resist any longer, I dive into the food. Warren dishes up his own plate, sitting on the stool beside me. His shoulders are so broad that his arm brushes against mine every time he takes a bite.

“Sorry,” he mumbles.

“I don’t mind,” I say, intentionally rubbing my arm against his. His eyes remain on his plate, but his next words are clearly intended for me.

“Keep touching me and making those sexy little moans with each bite, and I might just have to do something about it.”

My eyes widen because there is no way those words just came out of this giant teddy bear of a man.

He glances over in my direction. Fuck. Those sultry brown eyes are swimming with lust right now. My mouth suddenly feels drier than the Sahara Desert.

“You’re up next, Tuck,” Hadley says, with her camera slung around her neck. She’s moved outside for some shots by the truck that’s parked out front.

“Yes, ma’am,” he says, walking over to her side. He takes the small black cat named Salem from Hadley’s hands.

Every time she isn’t actively taking pictures, his eyes are locked on mine. “Stop it,” I mouth to him because if he doesn’t cool it, everyone is going to realize something is going on between us.

But nothing is going on… at least not yet.

“Why?” he mouths back.

I furrow my brow, glowering at him. Maybe if I stare him down enough, he’ll stop.

“Okay, we’re almost done,” Hadley says. “I just need my dumbass brother.”

He’s been absent since he rallied all the guys earlier to come help us. I assume he’s been working in his office because even when Warren made me breakfast earlier, I didn’t see him.

“I’ll go get him,” I say.

I make my way upstairs and through the area I was in earlier. Turning to the right, I walk through the room filled with cots.

Off to the side, I can see Grayson’s head bent over a pile of paperwork while he works in his office.

I give the open door a few quiet knocks to let him know I’m there. His head snaps up.

I swear there’s a moment when his eyes soften as he takes me in, leaning against the doorway. It’s gone before I have time to think much about it, though.

“Your sister’s ready for you.”

He sucks in a deep breath. “Why do I need to be included in this?”

“Because we’ll sell a lot more calendars if you’re in it,” I say without thinking.

His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. “Did you just call me hot?”

“I didn’t not say that.” I mean, who am I kidding? He is hot.

He’s still smiling as he pushes back his chair and stands. “I guess we’d better get this show on the road before my lack of hotness downstairs angers my little sister.”

He crowds in front of me, so we’re both standing in the doorway. He tucks a stray curl behind my ear. “Have you thought about it?” he asks.

I don’t need him to clarify to know what he’s referring to. “I have.”

“Have you reached a decision?”

“I’m getting there.”

“I can be a patient guy,” he says, then grabs my hand.

He pulls me behind him down the stairs. Hadley sees our joined hands a second before he releases me and strides toward where his sister is crouched on the floor with Cash.

She gives me a knowing look over Grayson’s shoulder. I want to scream at her that there’s nothing to know, but that would be a bold-faced lie.

“You get to be with Cash,” she tells him. “He’s my favorite, so you better be nice.”

“I’m always nice,” he grumbles, clearly offended.

“As the person you used to push into mud puddles, I can adamantly say you are not always nice.”

“Just tell me what to do, Hads, so I can get back to work.”

“I’ve been waiting my whole life for you to say that to me.” She beams at him.

“You’re insufferable.”

“And yet you’re still going to do exactly what I say because…” Her voice trails off as he glances at me.

Grayson looks like he’s going to murder Hadley with his glares alone, but he does exactly as she says. Cash is the star of the show, so Grayson doesn’t have to do much besides putting on some of his gear.

It isn’t the first time I’ve seen him in his gear, but it’s the first time I’ve allowed myself to think about all the muscles he’s hiding underneath all of it. Muscles that I really do want to run my hand, and maybe my tongue, all over again.

“Wait. Where’s Salem?” I ask, seeing the empty crate still sitting in the corner of the room.

Tucker’s eyes pop wide as he looks around the room. “I swear I put her in the crate after Hadley was done with us.”

“Did you lock it?” I ask.

He pauses. “I think so.”

“Tucker,” I groan.

“We’ll find her. I promise,” he says, giving me an apologetic look.

But we don’t find her. After an hour of searching the firehouse and surrounding area, there wasn’t a trace of her in sight.

She’s a sneaky one. My gut tells me she’s holed up somewhere in the building, probably having a good nap.

“I’ll keep looking for her,” Tucker says, walking beside me to my car. The level of remorse he clearly feels is kind of adorable.

“She’ll be okay. She always seems to hate being outside, so I’m sure she didn’t get far.”

“Can I have your number?” He blushes, shaking his head. “So, I can let you know if we find her.” He smiles. “I wouldn’t mind having it for other purposes, though.”

I ramble off the digits, and he types them into his phone. A moment later, my phone vibrates in my pocket.

“I texted you, so you have my number too.”

“Okay.”

I expect him to head back into the building, but he remains in the same spot. His pale blue eyes almost match the sky above his head as he stares down at me.

“I know this might sound weird,” he starts.

“Not a great way to draw me in.” I laugh.

“Be quiet,” he huffs. “Can I give you a hug?”

The question is so precious. I can’t deny him. So, instead of answering with words, I just wrap my arms around his toned waist.

Without hesitation, his arms band around me. I try not to focus on it, but I can definitely feel his impressive build even through his clothes.

I take a moment to just breathe and rest the side of my head against his chest. The crisp air fills my lungs as I gaze at the gorgeous Rocky Mountains surrounding this small town I now call home.

His arms fall away from me as he steps back, and I find I’m not too thrilled about it.

“Have a good rest of your day,” he tells me quietly. “I know I will, thinking about you.”

So smooth, ladies’ man.