8. CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 8
GRANT
“Looks like you’re going to be springing for pizza again this time, Cash.”
Ian flashes a smug smile as he spreads his cards out with a flourish. “Full house. Anyone beat that?” With his other hand, he reaches towards the pile of Monopoly money piled high in the center of the table.
“Not so fast.” Eloise swats his hand away. She grins at him before flipping her own cards over. “Four of a kind. I win.”
Cash chuckles as he tosses his cards face-down on the table. “You beat me. Again.” He eyes the empty spot where his money used to be and adds with a smile, “Bad luck, I guess. Pizza’s on me.”
I add my losing cards to the discard pile and cast a quick smirk at Cash. My tone is dry as I say, “It’s really incredible how bad you are at poker. I’m not sure I’ve ever played with anyone who loses so often.”
He shrugs, hiding a smile. “It’s a curse. Anyway. What toppings do you guys want? ”
Ian catches my eye, shooting me an is he still playing this game look, and I lift my chin at him in response. Yes. Cash still pretends to be a horrible poker player, and it’s easier to just go along with it.
It’s one of the traditions at Station 4; playing rounds of poker or rummy in between calls. We sit around the table in the common area, shoot the shit, play cards, and if there’s a game on, we’ll have that on in the background. When I started here three years ago, we placed bets with actual money—nothing too much, we used quarters as chips—but then Mitch lost his job, and Tony went through a divorce, and it didn’t feel right taking their money while they were struggling.
So Ian showed up with Monopoly money one day and asked if we minded using it instead. He claimed he needed to cut back on expenses so he could make some improvements at the gym he co-owns, which was believable, although I don’t really think it was true. But we all went along with it, and we’ve used the same worn Monopoly bills ever since.
It works out well for everyone, except now Cash has to come up with more creative ways to be generous with his money. Like losing at poker so he can pick up the tab for pizza, or showing up with tickets to a Yankee game he conveniently forgot he can’t attend.
We all know what he’s doing. But he’s our friend, so we never call him out on it. And honestly, we all help each other out in different ways. Ian offers discounted gym memberships to all the first responders in Sleepy Hollow. Eloise is a tech genius, and she’s always available to help when someone has a computer problem. And I’ve stopped by my buddies’ houses more times than I can count when something needs to be fixed—a leaky sink, a broken water heater, or a garage door that won’t open.
Volunteering at the station is one of my favorite things about living in Sleepy Hollow, and I wouldn’t have the friends I do now without it.
“Okay, pizza’s ordered.” Cash glances at his phone for another second before setting it down. “And Ari texted. She wants me to remind everyone about the party coming up.” Affection softens his expression. “I told her I didn’t need a birthday party, but she’s very stubborn when she wants to be.”
Eloise smiles. “I’ll be there for sure. Let me know if there’s anything I can bring.”
“Same.” Ian gives Cash a quick chin lift. “We wouldn’t miss it. Rose has been searching for the perfect gift for weeks.”
Cash starts, “You don’t need to buy anything—”
Ian cuts him off with a smile. “We want to. It’s a birthday party. Gifts are required. And you know Ari’s got some big surprise planned.”
“Probably.” Cash pauses. “I keep telling Ari she already gave me the best gift. Actually, two. Marrying her and having Winnie.”
“Aww.” Eloise presses her hand to her chest. “You and Ari are so freaking adorable. I knew once you fell, you’d be a goner.”
His gaze goes distant for a moment as his smile fades to something more serious. “I had already fallen for Ari. Years ago. It just took me a long time to realize it.”
Ian lets out a rueful chuckle. “And I can’t even make fun of Cash for it.”
“That’s right,” Cash shoots back, smiling again. “Now that you have Rose.”
An affectionate look moves across Ian’s features. “Yeah. She’s incredible.”
My heart does that weird flopping over thing again.
I’m listening to my friends talk about their women, but my mind keeps coming back to Scarlett. What she’s doing right now. If she’s having a good time with Maya. If she’s thinking about me. If she misses me like I miss her.
It’s crazy how intense my feelings for her are.
When we both admitted we wanted more, when we kissed, it was like a wall collapsed, and all the feelings I was holding back broke free.
Now, when Cash shows us a photo of Ari holding little Winnie, there’s a twinge in my chest.
I wonder what Scarlett would look like holding our child.
Which is crazy, because we literally kissed for the first time last night. We’re nowhere near that kind of commitment.
Still. I’ve never even thought about another woman like that before.
“What about you, Grant?” Eloise pins me with a pointed look. “You’re coming to the party, right? ”
“Of course. You know I wouldn’t miss it.”
“And are you planning on bringing anyone?” She says it casually, but there’s a teasing note to her voice.
I’m hoping to, assuming Scarlett doesn’t have to work. She usually only works during the week, though occasionally she’ll be asked to fill in for a weekend shift. I probably should have asked Scarlett already, but with everything going on, I forgot that Cash’s party was coming up so soon.
Tomorrow. I’ll ask Scarlett tomorrow, and hopefully she can arrange to have that Saturday off. I’ve always gone to all our events and parties solo before, but now I’m thinking about walking around with Scarlett beside me, watching her get to know my friends better, maybe holding her hand or giving her a quick kiss…
“Maybe—” But I cut myself off as my phone buzzes and Scarlett’s name appears on the screen. “Hang on. I just want to check this.”
I’m already smiling as I tap the screen to read her message.
Hey. Hope everything is going okay. Just hanging out here with Maya, but I was wondering if you wanted to stop by after your shift? I have lots of snacks if you’re hungry. Or I could make you a late dinner.
Before I can respond, another text appears.
Or you could just stop by to say hi. I miss you. But if it’s too late, I understand.
I grin at my phone as warmth seeps through me. See Scarlett again? Kiss her? Maybe cuddle on the couch for a little while, and she might even fall asleep in my arms again?
I quickly tap out a reply.
I would love to stop by. I miss you too.
But that seems too short. I want her to know I’ve been thinking about her. That I can’t wait to see her. So I send another message.
I hope you and Maya are having a great time. And I can’t wait to see you.
When I look up from my phone, three pairs of eyes are glued to me, all accompanied by shit-eating grins.
“Who were you texting?” asks Ian, although he knows damn well who I was talking to.
“Anyone we know?” If possible, Cash’s grin gets even wider.
Eloise raises her eyebrows at me. “A possible date for the party?”
Shaking my head, I chuckle as I say, “Very subtle, guys.”
Ian deadpans, “I’ve been told I’m known for my subtlety.”
Eloise snorts.
Cash sobers. “You can tell us to mind our own business, Grant.”
“No, it’s fine.” I glance down at Scarlett’s message again—the one that says she misses me—and that warm feeling in my chest expands again. “It was Scarlett.”
Eloise leans forward, leaning her elbows on the table. “How are things going with her? Is she doing okay? ”
“She’s good.”
There’s an expectant pause as my friends wait for me to say more.
But why wouldn’t I tell them more? These are my friends. I was there when Cash and Ian met their women, and I’ll have Eloise’s back when she finds someone. “She’s really good,” I add with a smile. “She wanted to say hi. See if I wanted to stop over once I’m done here.”
“Nice.” Ian gives me an approving nod. “So. What’s the deal?”
“The deal?”
“Yeah. The deal. Are you together?” Eloise asks. “You’ve been doing the friends thing for ages. Is this something different?”
I’m not used to talking about my feelings—not since I left my SEAL team—but the urge to talk about Scarlett is too strong to keep it to myself. “It’s different. After the robbery, it was like a switch was flipped. I couldn’t stop thinking…”
Cash lifts his chin at me. “What if you lost your chance?”
“Yeah. I guess so. And then helping her, and she opened up to me about things, and…” My heart squeezes. “I didn’t think I wanted more. But now—”
“Now you do.” Ian claps me on the shoulder. “I get it. Trust me.”
Eloise reaches across the table and pats my arm. “If you feel like it’s right with Scarlett, you should go for it.”
Just as I’m about to answer, the radio crackles to life, signaling an emergency call .
We all leap up from the table, ready for action, our focus shifting to the details of our job.
This is a part of being a firefighter. Just as it was when I was a SEAL. Shutting down the emotions and extraneous thoughts so I can be ready to handle whatever comes at me. So I can save someone’s life, if it comes to that.
But I do allow one last fleeting thought before I jump into the truck.
I’m sure about Scarlett. And I’m not holding back anymore.
I guess Scarlett had a good time with Maya.
At least judging from the slightly tipsy smile she gives me as she opens the door.
“Grant!” She flings her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek. My arms come around her and I hug her to me, pressing my lips to her hair and inhaling the faint scent of citrus and flowers. As I hold her, everything inside me settles, and the residual stress from our last call disappears.
“Hey, Scarlett.” I smooth a hand down the length of her hair, threading my fingers through the silken strands. “I’m glad you texted.”
She pulls back just enough to look up at me. “I’m glad you came. I’ve been thinking about you all night—” Her mouth snaps shut and pink tinges her cheeks .
“I was thinking about you, too.” And I do one of the things I’ve been thinking about since she texted, and I lean down to kiss her.
Scarlett hums in the back of her throat as her lips part for me. Her small hands clutch my shoulders, and her breasts press tantalizingly against my chest. As my tongue plunges deep, stroking and tasting, a desperate pressure builds inside me.
She throws herself enthusiastically into the kiss, meeting each move of my tongue with one of her own. Her nails dig into my shoulders; just the faintest bit of pain in the midst of incredible pleasure.
Plastered against me, I can feel her nipples tightening into taut peaks. Her heart is racing in rhythm with mine.
I’ve been kissing Scarlett for less than a minute and I’m already rock-hard and aching for her.
The plan wasn’t to ravish Scarlett on the doorstep, but as soon as I held her in my arms, felt her lips on my cheek, saw that pretty smile and the way she flushed when she said she’d been thinking about me—the original plan went flying out the door.
But then Scarlett wobbles a little, and my rational brain kicks back in.
Girls’ night. Wine. Tipsy Scarlett.
Not the time for passionate kisses.
So I pull away and frame her face with my hands while sternly telling my protesting body to calm down. But she looks even more beautiful now, if that’s even possible, her cheeks flushed and lips kiss-swollen and her hair slightly tousled like she just got out of bed.
Shit.
Think of something else. The blueprints for the Finlays’ garage. Payroll. Literally anything other than how badly I want Scarlett.
“Is something wrong?” Her eyes go wide and worried. “Was this too much? Should I—”
“No, baby.” Looping one arm around her shoulders, I shut the door and lock it with the other, then lead her towards the couch. “But you had girls’ night. With drinks I bet. So I don’t want to—”
“I’m not drunk,” she protests; a tiny line forming between her brows. “We just had some wine. And Maya left an hour ago.”
“Maybe so.” I gently tug her down to sit beside me on the couch and take her hands in mine. “But I bet you had more than a glass or two. So anything like what we just did should wait until you’re completely sober.”
That tiny line of worry is still there, so I trail my finger softly across it. “It’s fine, Scarlett. I came over because I wanted to see you. The kissing is amazing, but I don’t mind waiting for that part.”
Her lips purse into the cutest pout I’ve ever seen. “But I still want to kiss you. ”
“And I still want to kiss you, too.” I press a quick kiss to her forehead. “But that can be later. Right now, I’m good with just sitting here with you.”
“How about hugging? Is that okay?”
‘Yeah.” Drawing her into my side, I kiss her forehead again. “Hugging is absolutely okay. And you can tell me how your night went.”
Scarlett snuggles into me, resting her head on my shoulder. “I want to hear about your night, too.”
Oh.
This feeling of rightness.
Like this is meant to be.
“Well. There’s a party at Cash and Ari’s house in a couple of weeks. I was hoping you’d come with me?”
She tilts her head up to meet my gaze. A smile lifts her lips. “I would love to.”