Page 35 of The Fireman and the Flirt

“I like that.” Derek’s face split into a jolly grin. “You know what I’d also like? For you to be my agent again.”

“What’s wrong with Hannah?”

“Hannah’s great, but she doesn’t try and spin a hole in a roof as being an organic skylight.”

“I never said that.” I shoved his shoulder playfully…maybe flirtatiously? We were clients and friends with a no-bullshit zone. I had to keep my blatant flirting under check even more.

“Not yet. But it could be a Caryism.”

“A Caryism? Is that a thing now?”

“It’s definitely a thing.” Derek shoved me back. His eyes stayed locked on mine for a few extra tantalizing seconds. “Let’s see…what else…if there’s a house without a fridge, then it’s an invitation to enjoy rustic living.”

“Okay, you did not just come up with that.”

“When I’m bored at the firehouse, I’ll think up Caryisms to pass the time.”

He thought about me in his downtime? He dreamt up Caryisms?

“Oh, here’s another one. If there’s a house with no windows, you would say the owner has full control over their light intake experience.”

A loud laugh exploded out of me, attracting attention.

My lust for this man was quickly being overpowered by a stronger feeling coming straight from my heart. I wanted to jump Derek’s bones. That was a universal truth. But was I falling for him?

I focused back on my real estate agent duties to distract myself from that question. “It just so happens that there’s a new development being built at the north end of town. Eden Falls. Some of the model homes are available for walkthroughs. I know you were leaning toward an older house, but new construction has its perks. What do you say?”

Derek held out his hand for a shake. “I say we’re back in business.”

11

DEREK

Cary and I made a plan to see Eden Falls in a week’s time, the Monday after Thanksgiving. Between our work schedules and the holiday itself, that would be the soonest we could make it happen. Now that I’d officially started at the firehouse, I was working twenty-four hours on, forty-hours off. It would take me a little time to adjust; thank goodness Cal was there to help with Jolene.

One of the reasons I had us make the move back home now was so Jolene and I could experience the holidays with extended family for the first time in years. In Alaska, it was usually only the three of us–or four on those occasions Angus the deceitful hamburger joined us. Those memories were ruined now.

Cary and I hadn’t texted the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving. I was on my shift, and Cary was busy doing back-to-back closings. It wasn’t like we needed to talk to each other. We had our plan in place for Eden Falls after the weekend and that was that. But it was weird not hearing from him, like a part of my daily routine that was missing.

On Wednesday morning, I stumbled home after my first twenty-four shift. Swords of sunlight slashed through the darkness. I was exhausted, using sheer willpower to drive me back to Cal’s. The grogginess was its own form of drunkenness, prodding me to text Cary once I collapsed onto the pullout couch.

Derek: Hey

Derek: Happy Thanksgiving.

Cary: Thanksgiving is tomorrow.

Shit. Well, I’d gone ahead and made myself look like a fool.

Cary: But if we were in Australia, it would be Thanksgiving already, so Happy Thanksgiving!!!

It was too early for all those exclamation points, but I imagined Cary’s excited face as he typed them.

Cary: Are you just coming home from your shift?

Derek: Yup.

Cary: That schedule is insane.

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