Light up the Night (Firehouse Three #2)(31)

“Honey, you’re awesome. You’ve got to stop selling yourself short.” Charlie pulled her in for a hug, and Everly squeezed back, smiling as Charlie’s hand patted her back. “I’m just jealous you grabbed a hottie fireman and I’m still sitting here single and ready to mingle.”

“You’ll find someone soon.”

Charlie grabbed her windbreaker from the back of the office chair. “Maybe your Mr. Hottie Pants will have a single friend. Drop a word for your girl, will ya?” She winked, and disappeared through the back door.

Everly unlocked her cell phone’s screen and scrolled through her contacts for Drake’s number. She had to do this before she chickened out again.

Just a moment later, the call connected.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Drake.” She sat on the edge of the counter, nervously drawing invisible circles on the speckled black countertop with her fingertip. “Listen, I’m sorry about before. I was just—a little stressed. But if your offer is still good, I would love to grab dinner with you.”

The warmth in his deep voice poured over her like hot fudge. “That sounds like fun. Want me to pick you up?”

“I’d hate for you to go out of your way,” Everly said as she looked toward the front windows. A set of headlights had just turned in to the lot.

“Not out of my way at all, if you don’t mind walking out the front door.”

When she saw the red pickup, she smiled. “Whoops. Guess you knew I wasn’t home. Why were you in this neck of the woods?”

“Wishful thinking that you’d change your mind. Glad I took the chance.”

“Give me two seconds to lock up and I’ll meet you out front.”

As Everly killed the call, she took a deep, cleansing breath. This was good. No, her anxieties weren’t totally gone, but Charlie had been dead right, and Everly fully intended to keep an open mind about Drake. She was single, he was single, and there was nothing wrong with getting to know one another. And if the mood was right, sex was an option. But she didn’t have to do it, if she felt uncomfortable, and there was no harm in saying no. She’d just have to be up front with him. If Drake was anything like she thought, then he would appreciate her honesty and everything would be fine.

Nerves twanged just a little as she pulled open the passenger door of his truck and saw him sitting there, dark hair tousled, mischievous light in his eyes pricking her skin.

She wasn’t out of her league here, was she?



Drake was glad Everly’d had the change of heart, but things were a little different through dinner. Keeping her previously claimed headache in mind—even though he was fairly certain it was a lie—Drake suggested a quiet little bistro he’d eaten at the first night he’d come to Dallas.

It was a cute little joint, serving soups and pastas mainly, but even though they sat at a corner table, their easy conversation from the night before hadn’t quite returned.

Drake told her about his college days, his best friend Hunter, his hobbies, his likes, his dislikes, and Everly smiled and nodded a lot. She didn’t really open up to him as much as she had the night before. Even when he asked questions, she responded with simple answers and no details.

Oh, well. The night was still relatively young.

He drove her back to the shelter once dinner was finished, singing along with the radio as they drove. Everly laughed at his Bruno Mars impression, but refused to join in, even when he asked. Maybe she wasn’t a singer. She did, however, lace her fingers through his when he left his hand palm-up on the truck bench between them.

That little touch gave him hope that the night might not be over.

Back at the shelter, beneath the tree he’d first seen her in, Drake cut the engine after rolling the windows down.

“It’s a beautiful night,” he said, looking up at the sky. There were a few stars visible, even with the downtown city lights in the distance.

“It is,” she agreed. “Summer isn’t far away.”

“Nope.” He looked over at her. She was staring up at the tree. Remembering the first time she’d seen him? Maybe. He hoped she was remembering that first kiss. The promise of that kiss had taken him through the whole week. He’d wanted to see her again desperately. But he hadn’t dared hope their first night together would end the way it had.

With a slow, measured movement, Drake wrapped his arm around her shoulder. A brief moment of hesitation, then Everly melted against him. Drake closed his eyes and leaned against the silky softness of her hair. She’d worn it down tonight, the soft brown waves falling attractively beside her face. It smiled like lilacs and lavender. Everly.

He moved a finger along the silky softness of her jawline. Turning her chin toward him, he looked down into her eyes. The dim lighting of the parking lot lights didn’t reveal much of what was written in her eyes, just enough to show him that she was nervous.

That was okay. He could go slow.

His thumb dragged over her lower lip, reveling in the softness of her pink skin. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her breath blew over the skin of his hand. Slowly, so slowly, he bent his head toward her. He gave her every opportunity to pull away, to say no, to give him an indication that she didn’t want his kiss.

She did none of that, just waited. So he kissed her.

Gently, so softly, he pressed his lips to hers. Her lips were closed at first, but he didn’t press for more, just feathering soft touches across her closed mouth. His hand on her cheek, his arm around her shoulders, he stayed close to her.