Light up the Night (Firehouse Three #2)(13)

“Sorry, but I’m on duty,” he said, indicating the thing on the end of the leash.

Belinda looked down, and then she noticed the words on the vest the creature was wearing.

Your donations help to rescue pets like me! Hopeful Paws Pet Adoption.

Right. That made sense. The bachelor auction she’d seen online when she Googled “Firehouse Three” was to benefit that place. As to when he’d gotten a hard-on for helping ASPCA rejects, she had no clue.

“How about when you’re off duty?” She reached for his arm again, but he pulled away. Undaunted, she continued. “My hotel isn’t far from—”

“Nope, got plans afterward too. Have a safe trip home.” He gave her a half-assed wave and turned on his heel. The fat little creature at his side waddled right next to his heel as if it was born to do so.

Glaring after him, Belinda set her jaw.

If he didn’t want to play nice, that was fine. She’d be happy to implement Plan B.

Throwing money at problems was one of her favorite ways to solve them, anyway.



Forty-five minutes later, a bit earlier than Drake was scheduled to return, he made his way back to the booth. Everly was kneeling down inside a small pen, surrounded by chubby little puppies, their squirming bodies and wagging tails making a living mass around her. A little girl knelt down across from her, one of the pups cradled in her hands as he kissed her round brown cheek.

“So when they grow up, they’ll look more like the mommy dog over there,” Everly was pointing at the crate just beside the pen. “They’re old enough now to go to another home.”

“Won’t they miss their mommy?” The little girl’s eyes were wide as her chosen pup climbed her shoulder.

“For a little bit, but they’ll learn who their new family is. When you love someone, they can feel that, and it makes them happy. So if you love him, and treat him well, he will be happy.”

In response to Everly’s statement, a wide smile broke out across the little girl’s face.

The little girl’s father was standing just outside the pen, smiling down at the pair. Drake’s own chest felt a little warm at the sweet exchange. Clearing his throat, he turned away to grab his composure.

What the f*ck was wrong with him? Hunter would give him hell if he could see what a ridiculous sap he was being over this girl. They’d shared one kiss. So why was he falling to pieces over her?

Speaking of Hunter, he was going to be pissed as f*ck if he heard that Belinda was in town. When his buddy arrived for the auction, Drake was going to have to warn him. And possibly the SWAT team.

Those two mixed like ammonia and bleach—potentially deadly to anyone caught in the fallout.

When he turned back around, Everly had stepped out of the pen and was handing a clipboard to the father as the little girl jumped up and down beside him, the beads on her braids clicking with every move. As Everly talked them through the adoption process, Drake and Gossamer moved to the back of the booth and sat down, Drake with a bottle of water from the cooler marked “Volunteers” and Gossamer from a beaten-up blue bowl that Drake poured some Dasani into.

“I think we did good,” Drake said to the ugly dog as he gave her a scratch behind the ears. She leaned against his leg, rubbing her squished face against the calf his shorts left bare. “Let’s see what Miss Pitts thinks about our numbers, but I’m glad to call you partner.”

Gossamer gave a snort, and licked her floppy jaws.

“You guys are back kind of soon.” Everly moved back into the booth after waving goodbye to her newest adopters. “Give up?”

“No, we ran out of room.”

Everly hiked an eyebrow at Drake. “What?”

“C’mere girl,” Drake said as he coaxed Gossamer to her feet. When Everly saw Gossamer’s costume, glittery butterfly wings and bobbing antennae, she laughed. But when she noticed the bulges on the dog’s donation vest, her eyes went wide. Drake pulled out bill after bill after bill from the pouches, and once he’d neatened them into a thick pile, he handed the wad to a stunned Everly.

“I think you’ll find we did a satisfactory job.”

“What the—This is—How did you—”

“Talent, baby girl, pure talent.” Drake sketched an elaborate bow, and Gossamer snorted beside him.

Everly’s cheeks pinkened, and Drake smiled. There weren’t many things more satisfying than beating someone at their own game, and for some reason, Everly’s defeat was even sweeter than he’d imagined. Not as sweet as her kisses, though.

Damn, he wanted to hold her again.

“Did we do a good job?”

“You know you did,” Everly said, tucking the donations into the pouch at her belt. “I don’t know how you did it, but I’m grateful.”

“How grateful?” He moved closer to her, gratified when she looked up at him with those luminous blue eyes. She didn’t back away.

“Very,” she breathed.

“Want to show me?” He leaned down.

Her eyes fluttered closed. “Yes.”

With the world’s ugliest butterfly at his side, Drake pulled Everly into his arms and kissed her once again. She didn’t hesitate this time, but wound her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

Sweet, soft, passionate, she was everything he’d remembered and then some. He let his hands wander down her back, and pulled her closer into him, his erection pressing into her belly. She groaned, and he held her tighter, his tongue searching the warmth of her mouth, her tongue meeting his stroke for stroke.