Steamy Dreamy Hearts

Chapter 1

CHAPTER

ONE

CALEB

Nothing like having your ex show up as your plus-one at a wedding.

I would say I couldn’t believe his audacity, but Tanner had always been kind of an insensitive prick with too much self-confidence to believe anyone would dump him for real.

Back in high school, I was the Disney prince and all about the romance. Nobody who knew me then would have predicted I’d become this scarred, self-sabotaging mess, but my on-and-off-again relationship with Tanner had made me insecure. So here I was, avoiding the couples surrounding me and thinking I’d rather be scrubbing floors than here at the “ball” with Gaston.

Resting the bubbling champagne flute on the nearby table, I rubbed at my temples. A headache throbbed behind my right eye. Lately, I dreaded weddings, but I had been faking it rather than disappointing my friends. I was happy for Phin and James for getting married—I was. Love like theirs was rare. I’d never felt that way about Tanner, even before my accident.

I traced my fingertips over one of my scars, one that traveled halfway down my jaw. No matter how much Tanner apologized for freaking out and leaving me then, I couldn’t get past it. I’d woken, screaming with pain, all alone. Tanner took a full month to admit the idea of seeing my burns or having to become my caretaker overwhelmed him. Sure, we were back together, but for how long? The moment I promised him that I’d try, it felt like a bottle of Elmer’s glue had been poured into my heart.

Looking at the bubbling remains of my glass, I picked it up and swallowed in big gulps.

“Caleb?” Tanner called, just as I finished my champagne. I ducked away, glad his view was obstructed by the huge floral centerpieces, and I fled to the nearest escape path. I didn’t want to be an imposter and pose with Tanner all night, but I was also too chicken to confront him.

Phin shot me a puzzled look as I rushed past him and James, and I was relieved he couldn’t ask me why the hell I was back with Tanner again (even if I wasn’t). Not that Phin would believe me. I wouldn’t believe me either.

Hurrying down the long corridor near the front of the country club, I didn’t know where I was going, but I only wanted my getaway. Phin would forgive me for missing the last half of the celebration. I could only tolerate so much joy when I felt so empty. Hell, he’d even encourage my ditching Tanner. Phin made it clear I was crazy to have gone back to him.

Reaching the exit, I placed a hand on the doorknob, the escape in my sights, when a muffled noise coming from a nearby closet stopped me short.

A soft sob. Another.

“Hello?” I paused outside the closet’s door.

“Go away!” a small, tearful voice demanded.

My first-responder instinct kicked into high alert. I might be a romance villain, but my day job was still the same. So, instead of listening, I took a step closer. “Just tell me if you’re hurt?”

“I’m fine,” the girl’s voice choked out.

I hesitated, looking at the front of the building and picturing my car parked just outside. My deep need to escape warred with my former good-guy code.

Carefully, I opened the closet and peered in. It was Erin, my fire captain’s daughter, curled up near some fallen coats, her head down and tucked beneath her arms. It wasn’t ever cold in Phoenix, and no one attending the wedding had arrived with more than suit jackets and light wraps, so why the place even had these coats was a mystery. It smelled old and musty, unused and forgotten.

I slid down to my knees. “I bet your dad’s worried and looking for you. Why are you hiding out here?”

Not that I didn’t get it. I could see the appeal of burrowing into a safe, dark space away from the world.

“If I tell, you have to leave me alone.”

I frowned. Erin was shy whenever she’d visited the firehouse, peeking tentatively at the gear and bright rigs. Captain Smack was always like a hawk, checking on her.

“You can trust me,” I reassured her. “I’m Caleb, remember me? I work with your dad.”

“The other girls were making fun of this.” She raised her head, gesturing to her hair. “And this.” She flashed her missing front teeth. “They called me Jack-o’-Lantern Face.”

I surveyed her hair. It was a bowl cut, which was unfortunate enough, but somebody had added sloppy bangs that hung in all different lengths around her face. Having grown up with sisters, I knew better than to try and argue over what mean girls said. So, I attempted logical persuasion.

“Honey, don’t worry about those girls. They aren’t your real friends—real friends don’t care about your haircut.” My speech only resulted in more sobs. I let her snot-cry for a moment, rubbing soothing circles on her back. “I bet those girls just want to make you feel bad.”

“Why?” She sniffed, wiping at her eyes.

“Who knows? I bet it’s your outfit,” I replied. “You’re dripped out! That sundress and those glitter sneakers—what a total fit.”

She giggled despite her tears. “You’re too old to talk like that.”

“Hey, I resent that. And your dad’s older,” I said, getting another giggle out of her. “I’m young and up on my brain rot words. But hey, look at me, I’m not at all pretty, right?” I pushed back my shaggy hair from my forehead and gestured to my scarred face, visible from the hallway light.

Erin bit her lip, clearly raised not to hurt another person’s feelings.

“It’s okay,” I said softly. “Your hair will grow out of that cut, and your front teeth will also come in. I’m stuck with this ugly face forever, but I’m still going out to the party. I won’t let some mean comments stop me from James and Phin’s wedding. I’m going to dance. Eat. Have fun. Will you come out with me?”

She examined my burn scars, marking over half my face, and slowly nodded.

“Come on, then.” I held out my hand.

Erin uncurled her legs and stood with me, and we stumbled out of the closet, hand in hand.

“Erin! Thank goodness. Where have you been?” Captain Smack asked in a tight voice, rushing right toward us. “You’re not supposed to run off without telling me.”

“Sorry,” she muttered and glanced at the closet. “Caleb and I were playing hide-and-seek.”

“You were doing what?” Smack’s sharp eyes took everything in.

His gaze was often absorbing his surroundings like that—a gaze that spoke of a lifetime of experience, grooves etched at the corners of his eyes. Those icy-blue eyes on mine blazed with such light it always hit me dead center.

Strike me dead. The man was sexy as fuck.

I sucked in a breath. My stomach swooped. I swear I lost all control of my nerves around Smack. And I shouldn’t be thinking this way.

“My fault, Captain. I thought you knew.”

“I didn’t.” He scowled, tugging at his crooked tie.

Why was he so pissed? Phin had babysat Erin on more than one occasion, and Phin was a total goofball. Did Captain Smack think I wasn’t good with kids or something?

“Daddy, can we get dessert?” Erin rescued me. Out in the better lighting, her haircut looked even worse. The bowl cut was lopsided on the left side, the bangs a total mess. Didn’t Smack know to take her to a proper hairdresser?

Smack gave a slow nod, and his throat bobbed and swallowed. He crossed his arms as if holding himself back from saying something in front of his kid. He radiated pissed-off vibes, but he was trying to be reasonable. Inside, he wasn’t feeling it. I could see it in his eyes.

“I love dessert,” I said, a bit desperate to break the contact.

“Me too!” Erin enthused. “Phin said there would be cookies and cake.”

Smack took his attention off me. He might still want to give me those dagger eyes, but he wouldn’t in front of her. “Not sure I can eat both cookies and cake.” He patted his belly, forced a smile.

For the record, Smack’s stomach was hard and flat. We all joked that he was the younger brother of Christopher Meloni since he loved his Peloton. And he looked like a Law others had some distance between them, but they all appeared to be having fun.

“There you are!” Tanner’s voice boomed from behind me.

Damn it . I’d been so distracted by Erin and Smack, and the couples’ dance, that I’d almost forgotten why I’d fled the main hall.

“Here I am,” I said reluctantly as Tanner came over and flung an arm around me with casual possession. He looked good, I had to admit that much. Tanner always looked good, like a runway model with his perfect teeth and floppy blond hair, not to mention his carefully tailored suit. He knew how to show off his body. He was prince-worthy, all right.

“Let’s share.” Tanner held out a thick slice of wedding cake, but before I could take a bite, he yanked it back to his mouth and chomped down, devouring half the wedge.

“Hey!” I protested.

“What?” He smacked his lips. Tanner finished the cake without a crumb on him. No icing smears. No bits caught between his teeth. My headache came back full force, only it wasn’t from the noise or drinks; it was a heartbreak headache.

“You shouldn’t be here. I asked you not to come.”

“Relax. Don’t get all weird about it. You’ll be glad to have me during the dancing.”

I gritted my teeth. “Don’t tell me to relax.”

The music quieted as James tapped his fork against his champagne glass.

“Oh, not a speech,” Tanner groaned. “And this dude? He yaps so much.”

“He’s one of the grooms? Plus, James is a professor. Of course, he’s articulate and wants to talk.”

Tanner let out a belch and shrugged. “Whatever. As long as we can go to some real dance clubs after this dumb shit is over.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere with you,” I hissed.

“Attention, everybody,” James called. “I’d like to say something. If Phin would please join me up here?” James held out a hand to Phin as he joined him near the DJ.

“Phin and I just want to take a moment and thank you all for coming to our party. We appreciate you celebrating our wedding with us. Thanks again, everybody,” James said. “Most of all, I want to thank Phin for seeing me when others didn’t. For believing in me. And for loving me.” He pushed his thick glasses up the bridge of his nose before going in for a giant kiss. Phin melted against James, cupping the sides of his face. By the time he let James go, James was blushing fiercely.

Phin raised a glass of soda; he was sober after a long struggle with alcohol. James picked up his champagne. Who would have ever thought that bookish James and adventurous Phin would be a couple? But they totally worked together. They clinked glasses, basking in the joy of a future just for them. Phin glowed with pride in their matching tuxedos, and I was a bad friend again because I could only think about myself and how lonely I was trapped with Tanner. Even if Tanner had shown up unannounced, I was the idiot standing next to him instead of actually taking chances with my heart.

All my failures at love rushed through my mind like a toxin. As a firefighter, I had breathed my share of black smoke, but no smoke was as poisonous as my thoughts.