Light up the Night (Firehouse Three #2)(27)

Steam curling up around her face, Everly sank down onto the wrought iron patio chair and sighed. Wow. This—was totally not like her. She’d only had sex twice before in her entire life, and never after a first date. Had she gone too far?

A bark at the corner of her fenced-in-yard yanked her attention back to the present. “Arrow, leave that squirrel alone. It’s not a racing lure, you can’t eat it.” The greyhound ignored her, happily barking his fool head off at the fluffy-tailed rodent that didn’t have enough sense to leave the zip code.

With her fingers curled around the heat of the cup, Everly stared into the distance, searching for answers. They had to be there somewhere. How should she feel about this? Who was this strange person she was becoming? Did Drake think she was easy? Too forward? Had she done the right thing?

“Got any more coffee?”

Startled, she almost dropped her cup, hissing when the scalding black brew dripped onto her fingers.

“Sorry,” Drake said, stepping onto the deck and taking the cup from her. He set it down on the wrought iron table and cradled her reddened fingers in his hand. “I didn’t mean to startle you. Here, let’s run some cold water over this.”

“It’s okay,” Everly said, pulling her hand away. “It’s not a big deal. Let me make you a cup.”

She darted away from him, not looking at his face. She couldn’t. If she saw disgust, or disappointment, or anything like that in his eyes, she’d be done as a human being forever. Later she’d face him and figure out his opinions on the night they’d shared. Now, she was going to make coffee.

He stayed on the deck as if sensing she needed the space. Once she’d started the coffee, she rinsed her fingers at the sink. Fortunately, she’d been right, and it wasn’t that bad. Just a little sting.

The coffee was almost done, so Everly chanced a glance over her shoulder.

He was sitting in the chair beside her mug, hands laced together as he leaned forward, watching her dogs. He’d slipped his basketball shorts on, but was still shirtless. A silver chain hung around his neck, the brightness contrasting with his tanned skin. His dark hair curled at the nape of his neck, and Everly shivered, just a little, remembering how it had felt to tug at his hair when he’d entered her last night.

“It’s beautiful here,” he said as she handed him a mug.

“Thanks,” Everly said as she sat down beside him. “We like it.”

“This is good,” he said after taking a sip.

“I’m sorry. I should have asked if you wanted any milk or sugar.”

“I drink it black.”

“Me, too,” she said lamely. Idiot. Of course you do. Your cup is right there.

“I had a good time last night.”

Silence fell between them at his pronouncement as Everly struggled for a normal response. What should she say? “Me, too?” “Fucking you was amazing, let’s do it again?” “I swear I’m not normally a slut, but for you all I want to do is strip naked and jump your bones?” “Let’s screw again sometime, how about now?”

She just nodded, feeling like an awkward idiot.

When Jacques trotted up to her side, she reached down and grabbed him, thankful for the distraction.

“Who’s this little girl?” Drake asked, reaching over to scratch behind the poodle’s ears.

“Boy,” Everly corrected as Jacques shot Drake a look. “This is Jacques.”

“Sorry about that, dude,” Drake said, and Jacques gave his knuckles a lick as if in forgiveness. “You’re a nice kid, huh?”

“He is. He’s kind of pissed at me for kicking him out of the bedroom last night,” Everly said without thinking. She instantly wanted to smack herself in the forehead. Why was she talking about last night?

“Wish I could say sorry about that too, kid, but I’m not,” Drake said with a mischievous smile that sailed straight into Everly’s chest and twisted. She tried her best to keep her breathing even as he continued. “I hope that you’ll get kicked out of the bedroom again very soon.”

Oh. My. God.

She chugged her coffee, glad it was cool enough to down quickly. It was the only thing she could do. Because jumping up and down for joy and screaming in frustration simultaneously would be confusing for all involved.

Did she want him to spend the night again? Hell yes. And oh, no. Because despite her act the night before, she had no. Fucking. Clue. what to do with this tall, sexy drink of water. She hated feeling like this. Out of control, and vulnerable, and much too exposed. But her body had loved every second of being with him last night, and even now she wanted to lean over and press her lips against the bare skin of his shoulder.

“Looks like it’s about to rain,” Drake commented, looking up at the sky which had clouded over in the last few minutes.

“Come on, pups, let’s head inside,” Everly called, not bothering to watch Arrow run up the steps to the deck. She just clutched Jacques to her chest like a shield and walked into the kitchen. “Wow, it’s getting late. I need to get ready to head to the festival. Charlie’s picking me up.”

Drake frowned as he set his mug next to the sink. “Hey, are you okay this morning?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I be?” Her smile was too bright, her answer too energetic, as she poured dog food into two separate bowls. “I just don’t want to be late. Since Charlie shut everything down last night, I want to help get things kicked off this morning. I’m usually really hands-on, so it makes me nervous to just leave things.”