Page 2 of My Three Hometown Firefighters (Aspen Springs #2)
CHAPTER ONE
Sienna
SEPTEMBER
“It really is unfair that you have three dates while I have none,” I tell my best friend with an eye roll as I smooth out any wrinkles I see on my emerald green gown.
I love that Hadley has found three men who love the crap out of her, but seeing them so happy together can sure make a ridiculously single woman feel lonely sometimes.
“I could loan you one of them for the night,” she says, double-checking her own gown in the mirror hanging on the wall in her childhood bedroom.
“And have them pining over you all night while being forced to be at my side? Nah. I’m good,” I say, laughing as I follow her down the stairs.
I can hear her mom’s laugh from the living room, followed by a deeper voice that makes my spine instantly straighten.
I have had the same reaction to him for the past two years. Hearing him say anything immediately makes me think of the dirty things he whispered in my ear while our bodies were tangled together.
Rounding the corner, I come face to face with Grayson Jones. My best friend’s older brother. My one-night stand from Nashville.
Not that I knew that was who he was back then. I didn’t grow up in Aspen Springs, Colorado like Grayson and Hadley did. But my grandma lives next door to their mom, so I saw them anytime I came to visit her.
To say I didn’t have a crush on Grayson while I was growing up would be a lie.
He’s eight years older than me, so after he left for the fire academy, we didn’t see each other for a long time. Sue me for not recognizing him.
He went from being the cute guy who helped me when I fell off my bike a few times to the rugged man who I couldn’t take my eyes off of in a hotel bar.
I’m not the only one to blame. He didn’t recognize me, either. I still don’t know whether to see that as a good or bad thing.
Hadley is saying something, but I honestly can’t tell what it is. My full attention is locked on her brother. My mind flashes back to a day almost two years ago.
Putting my car into park, I wipe the sweat off my brow. I’m so tired. It took me longer than I thought to haul all my stuff up to my new second-floor apartment.
Now that I’m officially moved in, all I want to do is eat a home-cooked meal with my grandma. Then I can pass out on my mattress, which is still lying in the middle of my living room floor. Getting all the furniture into the correct spots will be a problem for a more rested me tomorrow.
Looking in the mirror, I cringe at the red blob on top of my head that is far more mess than bun at this point. I crack my neck from side to side as I round the front of my car.
The front door to the house next door swings open. A man pulling a ball cap down over his brown hair walks through the door. “Love you too,” he shouts over his shoulder.
That must be Grayson. I haven’t seen him in years, but that’s got to be him.
A weird shiver runs through my body. My steps falter.
He glances up. Our eyes connect, and we both freeze. No. There’s no way. It can’t be.
His eyes dart between my grandma’s house and back to me. The way his eyes widen isn’t just because I look like crap right now. The same realization is crashing into him.
We slept together, not having a clue who the other person was.
“Sienna?” he asks. His voice is barely loud enough for me to hear across the yard.
“Grayson,” I say with a heavy exhale.
He runs a hand over his trimmed beard, the very thing that probably kept me from recognizing him.
“Did you know?” I ask.
He steps onto the grass toward me. His eyebrows scrunch together, like what I said offended him. “Of course not. Why would I act like I didn’t know you if I did?”
I shrug because honestly, I don’t know. What I do know is that he left. He left without a word. No goodbye. Nothing.
He takes another step in my direction, an almost hopeful look on his face. I put my hand up in front of me to stop him.
I don’t have nearly enough energy to deal with all of this, so like the very mature twenty-three-year-old I am, I default to anger.
“Let’s just pretend it never happened, or at least that it never happened between us. We were different people that night.”
His face falls, dragging a piece of my heart with it.
“I’m not just visiting Aspen Springs anymore. This is my home,” I say.
His forehead creases in confusion.
“I’m taking over the shelter for my grandma,” I add.
He nods in understanding.
“So… let’s just not. Okay?” I finish, even though it’s the opposite of what I actually want to say to him.
He slides his hands into his pockets. “If that’s what you want,” he says, quieter than before.
I nod once. Without another word, I stomp up the stairs and into the house. As much as I want to turn around and look back at him, I can’t. If I saw that empty expression on his face for one more second, I was going to crumble.
Two years later and he’s still looking at me with the same sort of wonder that he did that day. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a level of heat twined in there, too.
I swallow heavily, trying to hold onto my resentment toward this man because holy shit he looks handsome tonight.
Normally, he’s either in jeans and a T-shirt or some version of his uniform for work. Tonight, his black suit fits perfectly on every muscular inch of him.
All the places I can’t seem to forget exist, even though I’ve tried continuously for the past couple of years.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Hadley darting her eyes between me and her brother. No doubt she’s picking up on the weird vibe hanging in the room now. More conversation is happening around me, but I can’t process it.
Grayson glances at Hadley, then back at me. “You both look beautiful.”
I know he’s talking to both of us, but he is solely focused on me the entire time. Tingles race down my spine.
No. I can’t have tingly feelings for Grayson. I can’t. Just no.
All three of Hadley’s men, Brooks, Austin, and Conrad, make their way into the house. The way they all stare in awe at my best friend makes my heart squeeze in my chest.
They all clearly love her just as much as she loves them, even if they haven’t told each other yet.
“Oh my god, you all are too freaking cute,” I tell them.
“As much fun as it is seeing all three of you fawn over my little sister and swap spit with her, I think it’s time for me to go,” Grayson grumbles, making his way to the door.
“Okay. Sienna, why don’t you ride with us?” Hadley says, turning to look at me.
“It’s fine. I’ll just drive myself.”
“What if you want to have a few drinks tonight?” she asks.
I open my mouth to tell her I’ll be fine, but Grayson’s voice stops me.
“I can give you a ride. I can’t drink anyway because I’m on shift in the morning.”
My eyes swivel between Hadley and Grayson.
“Unless you want to see a live orgy, I suggest coming with me,” Grayson says, holding the door open.
“Grayson,” Hadley screeches.
I could drive myself, but I really did want to have a glass or two of wine tonight at the annual Aspen Springs Charity Gala. With a huff, I mutter, “Fine. I’m going to need a stronger drink than wine to tolerate this drive, though.”
I don’t think he heard me. When we reach his truck, he holds the passenger door open for me. I cross my arms, staring up at him.
He sighs like I’m making his life unbearable. “Just get in the truck, Sienna. I know you’re a fierce, independent badass. Getting a ride to a gala doesn’t change that.”
His words render me speechless, so I have no choice but to slide my hand into his offered one and make my way into the truck.
Sometimes it’s really hard to keep hating him.