Page 95 of The Fireman and the Flirt

“Um…” Cary stared at the declaration, then at me, then at the closing agent. The struggle to keep on a professional expression was real.

“Is something wrong?” the closing agent asked.

“What? Um, no…”

“You know what? I missed the part where I was supposed to initial,” I said, finding a perverse glee in Cary’s reaction. I snatched the document back and found the space for my initials.

I wrote this instead:I want you back.

Oops.

Hell, they could always print off a fresh copy.

I slid the paper back to Cary. “Did I miss anything?”

A smile peeked at the corner of his mouth. “You missed one here.”

He turned the page and pointed with a shaky finger to the final signature line.

“Sign and date,” he said, clearing his throat.

“Sign and date. You got it.” I signed my actual name this time. For the date, I put this:Seriously, I am in love with you.

“Are you writing out the date in words?” asked the female agent.

“Did I do that wrong?”

“Can I actually have a minute outside to speak with my client?” Cary asked, turning the same shade as his shirt.

“Don’t take too long. We want to get this wrapped up soon. I need to pick up my daughter from gymnastics and my son from basketball practice,” she said in her nasally voice that made my balls jump up into my body.

“Just one minute, Pat,” Cary said. “Derek.”

His eyes urgently insisted I stand the fuck up and follow him into the hall.

Cary shut the conference room door softly behind him. He glanced around. It was only us. I got a good look at his beautiful, confused, scared face.

I crossed my arms, refusing to take back what I’d said—or rather, written.

“Derek.” Cary paced in front of me. “We are in the middle of a closing, arguably the most important closing of the year for me. Buying a home is a major life event. Those are important documents in there and…” Cary stopped, out of breath. He put his hands on his hips. “And…you said you loved me.”

“I did.”

“Twice.”

“Uh huh.”

“Did you mean it? Or were you trying to get a reaction out of me?”

“C,” I growled. “All of the above.”

“Oh thank god.” Cary jumped into my arms and smothered my lips in a passionate kiss full of relief. He grabbed on so tight I didn’t know how I’d ever get him off me. Not like I wanted to, but I did have a house I needed to buy.

Our mouths parted. Cary heaved in breath. Our faces were so close it was as if we were meeting under the covers in bed rather than in a bland office building lobby.

“I was so scared I pushed you away for good,” he said.

“You didn’t.” I kissed him again. “I’m right here.”

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