Chapter 11 #2
Kevin cleared his throat. “You do know that for me, this never stops. There is always another fire, another call, and sometimes another arson. It happens, and it’s my job.
” He tugged Willy closer. “You and the kids are safe here, and you can begin to rebuild your lives. The insurance company should come through with payment because you had nothing to do with the fire.”
“They said it should be soon.”
“Good. Once they do, you can replace what you had and fill this place with everything you and the kids need.” Kevin paused.
“I guess I need to know if you want to be part of the ritualized chaos that is my life. I will always work odd shifts and get called in when really bad shit happens. I’ll be one of the guys who runs into burning buildings. That isn’t going to stop.”
Willy swallowed hard. “I know that. Because you’re a hero.
And you have to know that I will sit at home and worry about you.
” He turned to look into Kevin’s eyes. “So you better know that part of your job is to phone me after every damned call and let me know that you’re okay.
Don’t make me get another call from Chase.
Unless you’re dead or unconscious, you damn well better call me, because if you don’t, then I’m going to think you’re one of those two things.
Understand?” He was as serious as a heart attack.
“I got it. As soon as I get out of a burning building, drop whatever I’m carrying and call you.” Kevin smirked, and Willy lightly smacked him on the shoulder.
“Don’t be a smartass. You can carry the people you rescue to the ambulance…
and then call me.” He met those warm eyes.
“I could put together a set of rules and laws that we live by. After all, I’m an economist. I love lists and theoretical rules that may or may not reflect the actual world. ” He cocked his eyebrows at Kevin.
“Now I’m scared,” Kevin whispered and drew closer.
“You should be. I can be a real terror when I get into list mode. I can organize everything and everyone to within an inch of their lives.”
Kevin drew even closer, the television forgotten. “If that’s true, then what’s the first thing on your list?”
Willy didn’t hesitate for a second and reached for the remote. “Turning off the television. Then we get you into bed, because you were in a fire today.”
Kevin let his hands slide around Willy’s waist. “And what do we do after that?” He slid them to Willy’s lower back.
“Well, we don’t do whatever you’re thinking at this moment, because a certain sexy firefighter has lungs that aren’t up to full capacity. And as hot as he is, there is nothing sexy about a coughing fit in the middle of boom-chicka-mow-mow.” Willy rolled his hips just a little and then giggled.
“I think I hate your list.” Kevin did his best imitation of one of Grant’s pouts.
“Love it or hate it, the list is the list, and it’s God. So come on. We need to get you into bed so you can rest and get better. You’ll be off work for a few days, and the kids go to daycare on Monday. I can probably arrange to have my afternoon free.” His blue eyes actually grew wicked.
“Damn.” Kevin groaned, and just as he leaned close, his body betrayed him and he started coughing. “I was going to argue.” He got himself under control, and Willy helped him to his feet.
“Let’s get you in bed and you can rest. Tomorrow we’ll get you some clothes and stuff from your house.”
“Okay,” Kevin agreed, and Willy let him use the bathroom first. Then he got Kevin into bed and checked on the kids, who were safe with their personal canine guardians. Then he got into bed after shooing Thumper down to the foot.
“He always was a bed pig,” Kevin said, talking about the dog.
Willy snickered. “The real bed pig is the guy next to me. I swear you spread out across the entire bed in the night.” He lightly patted Kevin’s chest. “Go to sleep, and do your best not to push me out of bed, okay? I’d really appreciate it.”
“Is that another thing on your list?” Kevin asked.
Willy sat up and leaned closer. “That’s on a very special list that only you get to know about.
So you go to sleep and I’ll think about telling you what else is on that list, but only when you’re feeling better.
” He shifted closer, letting his arm rest over Kevin’s chest. “Just relax and go to sleep, because no matter what, as soon as it gets light, one of the kids will be up and raring to go.”
“But tomorrow is Sunday.” He sounded almost affronted at the idea.
“And to a two-year-old, it’s just another day with an entire world to explore and grown-ups to do her bidding.
” Willy got comfortable and closed his eyes, hoping to all hell that he wasn’t scaring Kevin off for good.
Grant and April were amazing kids, and he wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world, but they could be a lot, and he worried that Kevin was going to wake up and realize that they just weren’t worth all the hassle.
WILLY WASN’T sure what time it was, but in the morning, he woke alone.
The door was closed, and even the dog was gone.
He got up, stretched, and checked the time, nearly panicking when he saw it was after eight.
The kids never slept this late. He pulled on some clothes and hurried out of the room, only to find Kevin and the kids on the sofa in the living room.
Kevin sat in the middle, with April and Grant on either side, all of them watching a movie about a man with a pet penguin. They all seemed enthralled.
“Did they eat?”
“We had cereal,” Grant said with a smile, leaning against Kevin like he was a great big muscly pillow. April sat on the other side of him, her hand on Kevin’s arm as she watched.
“Okay, then…,” Willy said softly, leaving them to their television watching. All three dogs followed him into the kitchen, and he filled their water dishes. “Did you feed the dogs?”
“Yes,” Kevin answered, so Willy gave them all pets and set about making an egg sandwich for himself.
But it seemed Kevin wanted one as well, and Willy was smart enough to make him two, because he ended up sharing with the kids, who adored the things.
It was so cute as Kevin held the sandwich and each kid took a careful bite.
Damn it all, he could fall in love with the man just for how he cared for his children.
Willy brought each of the kids a juice box and then settled in the chair for his breakfast. He had three dogs all positioned around him, tails wagging as they watched every bite he took.
“They’re better than any vacuum cleaner ever made,” Kevin said as he finished his breakfast and set the plate on the coffee table.
Willy had things to do, so once he finished eating, he left them to their movie and took a few minutes to change the bedding for all of them and get the dirty sheets in the washing machine.
Once the movie was over, so was the reprieve. The kids went out to play in the yard as Willy did his best to finish his Sunday chores.
“What are you doing?” Kevin asked from right behind him.
“Loading the dishwasher.”
“I think I like you like this,” Kevin whispered. He ran his hand down Willy’s arm before lightly squeezing his butt.
“I bet you do. But you aren’t up for anything athletic yet.
” Willy straightened and turned around. “And if I’m honest, I don’t dream of having sex in the kitchen.
It just doesn’t do it for me.” He smirked.
“Now, if you can figure a way for us to sneak away… I always dreamed of… well, under the stars has been a real fantasy for me.”
“Okay. I’ll see what I can do,” Kevin said and then coughed hard. “Shit.”
“Uncle Kevin said a bad word,” Grant called from the back door. “Are you going to wash his mouth out with soap? That’s what a lady on television did.” He looked so danged cute, yet Willy knew he was full of mischief.
“How about a swear jar?” Willy offered. He had dreams about what Kevin did with his tongue, and none of it had anything to do with soap.
“Whenever someone says a swear, they have to put a dollar in….” He opened the cupboard and pulled down a plastic container.
“This.” He opened the lid and held it out to Kevin.
Grant crowed as Kevin put in a dollar, and then Willy closed it. “Go back outside.”
“But I wanna listen for more swears.”
“Scoot,” Willy told him, and Grant went out to play. “You know he’s going to listen to everything, and he’ll make you pay.”
“What will you use the swear jar money for?” Kevin asked. “I vote for beer, since I’ll be the one paying. I just know it.”
“Nope. I’m thinking ice cream this summer when it really starts getting hot. That seems fair to me.” He went back to his chores, and Kevin sat down. “You’re watching my butt, aren’t you?”
“You said a swear.” And just like a Grant-in-the-box, he was back.
“No, I didn’t. Butt is not a swear. Now go sit on your butt outside or you can go upstairs and take a nap.”
Grant’s shoulders sagged as he returned to the backyard.
“Man, you’re strict.”
“There are real swear words, and I am not paying a buck every time I say butt. Now the other word is another thing. And we can say that all we want once we’re in my bedroom and the door is closed.
In fact, the swear jar is off once the bedroom door closes.
” Willy closed the dishwasher and started it.
“You’re still tired.”
“Yeah, I am. At least you didn’t hog the bed last night. Your dog did that.” He yawned and sat at the table with his second cup of coffee. Willy really needed something to wake him up.
“How about I get one of the Lego sets and Grant and I can put it together? That will give him something fun to do. And maybe you can do something with April.” That sounded fine to him.