Page 70 of Falling For You

I waited until her heartbeat slowed against my side.

"You have no idea what that filthy mouth of yours does to me."

She froze. She lifted her head and looked at me. Her eyes wide.

"Did you just quote my book?"

I grinned.

"Wyatt Brooks." She sat up on her elbow. "Have you been reading my romance books?"

"Maybe?"

She laughed. Her face flushed and her hair everywhere. "You're so—" She shook her head. "You're so!"

"I love you too."

She kissed me. Then she dropped her head back against my chest. I felt her still laughing against my ribs.

The Lantern was full on a Friday night.

The firehouse crew had the usual table. Travis holding court, Greene and Carl in the corner. Knox was at the end of the bar. Jeremy was at the counter talking to Terrence about something that had them both laughing. Andy sat with the crew, a beer in her hand. Fresh flowers from Daphne's shop sat in a jar on the counter, the way they did every week.

Gus set a beer in front of me. He leaned on his side of the bar and looked at me for a long moment.

"I'm happy for you, Wyatt." He said it simply. "Seeing you happy makes me happy."

He was there the week Birdie was born, showed up at my house with a bag of groceries and a casserole. He sat with me on the nights the grief got too heavy to carry alone. He listened to every update I had about Birdie. Her first word, her first steps, every milestone I didn't think I'd survive. He told me I was doing a good job when I was sure I wasn't. He was the father I wished I'd had when I was younger. I was glad I had him now.

"Thank you, Gus." I looked at him. "For everything."

Gus held my gaze.

"You don't have to thank me. That's what we do."

"I know. But I wanted to."

He nodded. Then he reached under the counter, pulled out a bottle, poured two shots, and slid one across to me.

He raised his glass. "To family."

We drank.

From the table, Travis's voice cut through the room.

"Please." He had his hands together. "Please, Andy."

Andy didn't look up from her beer. "No."

"I just want to know what it feels like."

"I said no, Travis."

"Come on." He leaned across the table toward her.

"I'm not losing my badge because you want to know what 50,000 volts feels like."

Travis sat back. Thought about it for exactly one second. Then he turned to Jeremy. "Fine. Murray, you tase me then."