All Summer Long (Fool's Gold #9)(71)

Clay grinned. “You hinting I won’t want to live with the newlyweds?”

“It’s up to you.”

“I’ll figure something out. Mom and Glen are moving into their place next week. So I’ll stay in the main house until Rafe and Heidi get back. Maybe rent a house in town.” He wondered what Charlie would say to having a roommate.

* * *

CHARLIE LIFTED THE boy up so he could run his chubby fingers along the side of the hose.

“Pretty cool, huh?”

The four-year-old’s eyes widened as he nodded.

She laughed and set him back on the ground. “Thinking you want to be a fireman when you grow up?”

Another nod.

“Thanks,” his mom said. “I’m sorry he’s so shy now. This morning all he talked about was seeing the big red fire engine.”

“Don’t worry about it. I love having big strong boys like him come by.” She winked at the kid. “I’m here all day. Come back and see me.”

Charlie waved as they walked away. Getting kids excited about the fire department was all part of the job. Traditionally, the Fall Festival was one of the times when the equipment was set up in town for everyone to admire and learn about. Although she considered herself a somewhat crabby person, she liked the public meet-and-greets. Especially with the little kids who were so wide-eyed and intrigued.

“Here you go.”

Clay walked up and handed her a large lemonade from the stand by the park. Charlie took it.

“Thanks. I love these and I don’t care that they use real sugar.”

Clay held up his own drink. “I tried mine on the way back and I agree. The best ever.”

As he wasn’t with the fire department in any capacity yet, his presence was strictly as a civilian, but she was willing to admit, she liked having him around. He was good company. Too good, she thought, aware she wasn’t as immune to him as she would like.

In truth, their deal should be over. Based on what happened the other day while they were out riding, she was plenty healed. The captain’s actions after the fire proved that he was being given a fair shot. They’d both gotten what they wanted. She needed to cut him loose. Even if she didn’t want to.

“What’s next?” he asked.

Charlie stared at him, wondering how he’d figured out what she was thinking. Then she saw him pointing to the schedule posted by the rig.

“I have a fire-safety talk at eleven,” she said. “Seven-to twelve-year-olds, so it’s more entertainment with a few facts hidden in fun demonstrations than lecture.”

“Get ’em while they’re young,” he said.

“Exactly. The holidays will be here before we know it and that’s a prime time for house fires. People can be so stupid.”

Clay grinned. “Ah, my delicate flower. You have to learn to open up and share your feelings.”

“Shut up.”

“Whoa! You didn’t threaten me. I must be getting to you.” He winked and lowered his voice. “As a reward, I have an idea about something we could do later.”

Her chest suddenly got tight as heat burned a path to the center of her body. Wanting followed, leaving her weak at the knees. The man knew how to get to her, she thought, unable to summon any regret for the fact.

Two college-age women walked past. They caught sight of Clay and did a comical doubletake. One of them nudged the other and said something Charlie was glad she couldn’t hear.

It happened all the time. Everywhere he went, women noticed. She would guess that he was offered phone numbers and sexual invitations on a nearly daily basis. Was he tempted or did it get old? She was almost afraid to ask.

As far as she could tell, he’d never been unfaithful to Diane. Personality-wise, Clay didn’t seem interested in screwing around. Maybe he’d gotten it out of his system while he’d been younger. He had mentioned his dog days, before he’d met Diane.

“You got serious,” he said. “What happened?”

She jerked her head toward the girls. “You have fans.”

He didn’t bother looking. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

“You don’t get bored and think ‘what the hell’?”

“No.”

“As simple as that?”

“I’ve got what I want. Why would I go looking?”

Meaning her? She didn’t think he was saying that, exactly. They weren’t involved. Not in the traditional sense.

“I’ve suspected that being you isn’t as easy as it seems,” she admitted. “Now I’m starting to learn that being with you isn’t that easy, either.”

“I’m worth it,” he said with a grin.

She thought about how she felt when she was with him. Not just sexually, but how she enjoyed his company. With Clay there weren’t any games. Just a sense of connection.

He was worth it, she realized. He was someone she wanted to be with. Which was going to make saying goodbye more difficult than she would like.

* * *

BY FOUR O’CLOCK, Charlie had lost her glow. She was tired, her feet hurt and the endless parade of small children asking the same question over and over again had ceased to be charming. She reminded herself it was her own damn fault for signing up for a double shift at the festival. Michelle would be on to relieve her any second. Then Charlie was going to go home, open a bottle of wine and sink into a bath. She might never come out.