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I pose with the bridal party, letting the photographer direct us for shot after shot. Jeremy, who has found a glass of beer, stands nearby, watching, the smile on his face a mirror image of mine.
We’re in love.
Lucky smirks. “Oh my gawd, the two of yooz.”
“Whatever that was, I guess you worked it out?” Joyce asks in a low voice.
“Yeah.” I grin like an idiot at the photographer as she snaps another photo. “We worked it out.”
Bridesmaids and grooms-people are finally shunted to the side while the photographer focuses on shots of Nikko and Bailey looking swoonily into each other’s eyes.
“You off duty now?” Jeremy swoops a flute of champagne off a tray held by a passing waiter and hands it to me.
“Thanks.” I take a sip and sigh with perfect contentment. I can’t tell where my happiness for Bailey and Nikko leaves off and my happiness for Jeremy and me begins. “Aren’t they a beautiful couple? Isn’t it the most perfect day?”
A dry breeze picks up Blaze’s veil just then, ruffling her hair just as she turns to Nikko and the photographer snaps a shot.
Jeremy’s smile flickers for a moment. “Fire weather,” he says. “Hot, dry, and windy, and we haven’t had rain since the Fourth.”
I elbow him in the ribs. “You’re off duty, I’m happier right now than I’ve ever been, and nothing’s going to go wrong on Bailey’s wedding day. Just roll with it.”
He smiles down at me. “You’re right. No point borrowing trouble. Am I allowed to kiss you now that the photos are over?”
“I should really try to stay respectable at least until the majority of people here are drunk.”
“Not sure I can wait that long. Maybe I should start handing out drinks.”
“Hey, let’s get pictures of the other couples!” Bailey waves us all back again. Joyce and Hunter, then Lucky and Anthony pose together.
“You too,” Bailey insists, motioning at me and Jeremy.
Lucky holds our drinks. I thread my arm through his and we pose together. Maybe we’re not quite in the same relationship league as Anthony and Lucky, who are engaged, or Joyce and Hunter, who have a baby together, but we’re a couple, a real couple. The kind of couple that says I love you to each other.
The rest of the wedding is a swirl of joy and festivity. The guests are delightful, the champagne is perfect, and even the hors d’oeuvres aren’t messy. When we sit down to dinner, the food is the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Each toast is funnier and more heartfelt than the last. And when Anthony gets up to sing a song he wrote especially for Bailey and Nikko, it’s the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard.
Throughout it all, there’s Jeremy. Funny, charming, and attentive, he looks as happy as I feel. Every few minutes, our eyes meet and I feel a thrill of excitement and understanding, like we’re in on the most perfect secret together.
After the tastiest cake in the world is served and eaten, the music begins to play.
I stand up and hold my hand out to Jeremy. “You going to join me on the dance floor?”
He stands as he takes it. “I’m not much of a dancer, but I’m looking forward to seeing your moves.”
But he never gets the chance. Something in his breast pocket beeps suddenly and the way his face darkens, I know it’s important.
He pulls a pager out of his jacket and frowns at it. “Hang on.” He pulls out his phone to make a call.
A few terse words later, he hangs up and shoves the phone back into his pocket. “I’m so sorry, Blaze, but I’m going to have to go. There’s a fire to the west of town.”
“I thought you weren’t on duty tonight.” I clear my throat, hating how petulant I sound.
“I’m not, but it’s serious. They’re calling in stations from all over the county.”
Disappointment wars with worry. Worry wins. “How serious?”
“It’s not headed in this direction,” he replies, which isn’t very helpful. “But it does look like it could be headed toward town if we can’t get it under control.”
Fear claws up my throat. A fire big enough to endanger the whole town is definitely enough to endanger one fire chief, no matter how good he is at his job.
