Page 72 of Stuck with my Brother's Firefighter Besties

A few couples milled around in the lobby, but I felt like all eyes were on me as Nate and I entered.

Nate offered me his arm once again, and I took it without thinking. He looked proud, as if he were showing me off to everyone around us.

Inside, the room was full of laughter, chatter, and the clinking of glasses. Everyone was dressed up, looking sharp and happy.

I felt a twinge of discomfort—everyone looked so put together, while I still felt like I was hiding too much behind my smile.

“You all right?” Nate asked quietly, noticing my discomfort.

I forced a smile. “Yeah, just a little overwhelmed. It’s been a while since I’ve done something like this.”

He gave my arm a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay. Just relax. You deserve this.”

I nodded, but my stomach did a somersault as we made our way further into the room. It didn’t help that I was acutely aware of the men I’d spent the past few days avoiding.

Jaxon, Colt, Ryan—all of them were here, in tuxedos, standing at the bar, laughing and chatting with people they knew. My chest tightened, and I couldn’t help but glance over at them as we moved deeper into the crowd.

Then, the announcement came.

“All right, everyone, time for the big reveal!” the emcee called, his voice booming through the speakers. “The fire department’s annual calendar has arrived, and we’re ready to show you all just how well the men of Medford clean up!”

The crowd cheered, and I felt my pulse quicken.

This was weird.

It was so intense, I could hardly stand it.

The first image flashed up—Jaxon, looking effortlessly cool in a black shirt and jeans, leaning against an old truck. His blue eyes pierced through the camera, and I could feel my stomach flutter.

Damn it.

The next shot was Ryan, who looked like he could’ve been the star of a Western film. He wore a faded leather jacket, his rugged features illuminated in the soft light. His serious expression made me bite my lip.

Stop it, Lila.

Then there was Colt, striking a more playful pose, arms crossed, a wink on his face as if he were daring anyone to resist him. That one made me laugh, though it hurt at the same time.

He was… sexy, and the way he smirked at the camera had my mind wandering. I couldn’t even help it.

The audience clapped and laughed at the poses as the screen scrolled through the rest of the photos. It was all very lighthearted, funny even.

But as I stood there, watching their images flash across the screen, a strange knot settled in my stomach.

I tried to laugh along with everyone else, but it wasn’t funny to me. Not when I couldn’t stop my body from responding tothem—Jaxon, Colt, and Ryan.

They were all so...captivating. Each of their poses had me feeling heat pool in places I didn’t want to acknowledge, places that wereoff limitsfor someone who was supposed to be so far beyond all this mess.

“So, what do you think?” Nate asked, nudging me as we watched.

I forced a smile, but it felt too tight, too fake.

“I think it’s… pretty impressive,” I said, trying to sound casual, even though my heart was hammering in my chest. “It turned out well.”

It wasn’t just the photos—it was the way they made mefeel. I didn’t want to feel this way. I didn’t want to be turned on by them, not when I couldn’t even sort through the mess in my head.

But there it was. The truth I couldn’t avoid.

When the music shifted and the DJ called out for the next slow song, my breath caught as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

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