Chapter 38
Roman
Itook a slow sip from the bottle of beer in my hand, the familiar taste from the local brewery sliding down my throat. Normally it was one of my favorites. Tonight, even that wasn’t enough to lift my spirits.
A crowd of concerned citizens had gathered around me, talking my ears off.
I was used to this sort of thing. There were always people in town who had something to complain about. As the fire chief, I was one of the town officials expected to listen. Most days, I didn’t mind it. But tonight? Tonight was a lot.
Everyone seemed to be talking at once—yapping about the fire damage, strange things they thought they’d seen, neighbors they didn’t like who they were convinced must be behind the arsons.
I did my best to placate them, offering reassuring nods and the same calm explanations I’d repeated a hundred times this past week.
“We’re doing everything we can,” I told them. “We’re investigating every lead.”
“We’re safe, right, Chief?” Al Humphry, the owner of a bakery near Latte Pages, asked.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “You’re safe.”
Mrs. Leary, a particularly paranoid old woman, had been chewing me out for a solid two minutes when Nolan suddenly stepped into the fray.
He flashed the small group his warm, friendly grin. “Sorry to interrupt, folks.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “But I need to speak with the fire chief for a bit.”
Mrs. Leary scowled but didn’t argue. The rest of the group began to drift away, conversations already starting up between them as they dispersed.
Nolan guided me away from the crowd, steering me toward the bar along the far wall. The moment we were out of earshot, my shoulders slumped.
“Thanks for that,” I muttered, lifting the bottle to my mouth and draining the rest of the beer in one long swallow.
Nolan chuckled. “You can thank me by getting me a rum and Coke.”
I snorted softly but nodded, stepping up to the bar. I grabbed another beer for myself and ordered Nolan’s drink before joining him off to the side of the room.
“Gotta love being the fire chief in a small town,” Nolan mused, shaking his head as he took the glass from me.
“Comes with the territory.” I sighed.
My mind drifted to my dad. I remembered how he’d handled situations like this—citizens coming to him with every worry and complaint imaginable. He’d always listened with patience and kindness.
I’d always tried to do the same.
Nolan took a sip of his drink as he glanced around the room.
The community center’s main hall was packed.
I was honestly stunned they’d managed to sell so many tickets for this thing in such a short time. Small towns had their downsides, sure, but when someone needed help, people showed up.
Latte Pages had long been a central business in the community. Even after it changed ownership after Amos was arrested, the town embraced the new owners like they were saviors. No one wanted to see the coffee shop disappear.
“Security was pretty tight getting in here.” Nolan lowered his voice as he nodded toward the exits, where several cops dressed in plain clothes stood watch. “You think it’s going to be a safe night?”
My eyes swept across the room.
The DJ had music playing near the front of the hall, and a handful of couples were already dancing. Most people stood in small clusters, talking and laughing while they drank or picked at the trays of finger foods being passed around.
Tables lined the back wall, covered in silent auction items—gift baskets, homemade quilts, and gift certificates from local businesses. Donation buckets sat at nearly every table.
My brothers weren’t here yet. I’d come early with some of the other off-duty firefighters to help set up earlier.
Though I knew Palmer was safe, I didn’t like being away from her. It hadn’t helped that I’d had to work every day this past week, leaving her at the house while I handled inspections and meetings.
I realized Nolan was staring at me. He’d asked me a question, right?
“You distracted by something, Chief?” Nolan’s brow furrowed. “Should I be worried about tonight?”
I shook my head. “No. Everything’s secure. August made sure of that personally.”
Nolan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “And all your brothers will be here tonight?”
“Yeah.” I took another sip of my beer. “They should be here any—”
The words died in my throat when I saw her.
Palmer stepped through the entrance to the hall like she owned the entire room. Her hair was swept up into an elegant bun, and the dress she wore was slim-fitting, with long sleeves. The fabric hugged every curve of her body perfectly.
My mouth went dry.
For a moment, the entire room faded away to nothing but her.
My brothers stepped in behind her, scanning their surroundings with careful vigilance.
I muttered a quick, “Excuse me,” to Nolan before setting my beer down and making a beeline straight for her.
She hadn’t spotted me yet. She was scanning the space, hesitating before walking deeper inside. I liked that for some reason. The thought that she was searching for me sent a quiet warmth through my chest.
My mouth pulled into a faint smile as my gaze locked on her. She was the most breathtaking thing I’d ever seen.
Everything about her drew me in: her freckles, the sweep of her golden hair, and the graceful line of her neck where it disappeared into that dress.
But more than any of that, it was who she was that had captured me.
She was soft and kind, but she was also strong when it mattered most. She was a woman who had survived things that would have broken others.
When I was within a few feet of her, she finally found me. Those hazel eyes lit up like the sun, and she smiled.
My returning grin faltered as I realized there was something different about her. Her lips were a soft, glossy pink, and her lashes were darker and fuller than usual. She was wearing makeup.
Damn. I almost forgot how to breathe. She was beautiful with or without the cosmetics, but seeing a different side of her was thrilling.
She closed the remaining distance between us. “Looking for someone?” she asked playfully.
I dragged my tongue along my bottom lip. “Just my girl.” I reached for her without hesitation, sliding my hands around her hips and pulling her against me.
She let out a small gasp, and my smile widened.
“I think you should dance with me.”
That predictable blush bloomed across her cheeks, and I had to fight the urge to kiss the spreading color.
“Roman,” she mumbled, glancing around the crowded hall apprehensively.
I only pulled her closer. Dipping my head, I leaned in so my mouth brushed her ear. “I’m sorry,” I whispered, “but I’m not letting go of you.”
My arms tightened around her waist. “I think you’ve drawn the attention of every man in this room, and I want to make sure they understand that you aren’t available.”
She pulled back enough to look at me. “I’m not?” She blinked.
A low, disgruntled rumble worked its way up from my chest. I couldn’t tell whether she was teasing me or not.
“You’ve spent every night this week in my bed,” I said, my voice low enough that only she could hear. My hand slid to the small of her back, holding her close. “You’re mine, Golden.”