Page 2 of Steamy Dreamy Hearts

She giggled despite her tears. “You’re too old to talk like that.”

“Hey, I resent that. And your dad’s older,” I said, getting another giggle out of her. “I’m young and up on my brain rot words. But hey, look at me, I’m not at all pretty, right?” I pushed back my shaggy hair from my forehead and gestured to my scarred face, visible from the hallway light.

Erin bit her lip, clearly raised not to hurt another person’s feelings.

“It’s okay,” I said softly. “Your hair will grow out of that cut, and your front teeth will also come in. I’m stuck with this ugly face forever, but I’m still going out to the party. I won’t let some mean comments stop me from James and Phin’s wedding. I’m going to dance. Eat. Have fun. Will you come out with me?”

She examined my burn scars, marking over half my face, and slowly nodded.

“Come on, then.” I held out my hand.

Erin uncurled her legs and stood with me, and we stumbled out of the closet, hand in hand.

“Erin! Thank goodness. Where have you been?” Captain Smack asked in a tight voice, rushing right toward us. “You’re not supposed to run off without telling me.”

“Sorry,” she muttered and glanced at the closet. “Caleb and I were playing hide-and-seek.”

“You were doing what?” Smack’s sharp eyes took everything in.

His gaze was often absorbing his surroundings like that—a gaze that spoke of a lifetime of experience, grooves etched at the corners of his eyes. Those icy-blue eyes on mine blazed with such light it always hit me dead center.

Strike me dead. The man was sexy as fuck.

I sucked in a breath. My stomach swooped. I swear I lost all control of my nerves around Smack. And I shouldn’t be thinking this way.

“My fault, Captain. I thought you knew.”

“I didn’t.” He scowled, tugging at his crooked tie.

Why was he so pissed? Phin had babysat Erin on more than one occasion, and Phin was a total goofball. Did Captain Smack think I wasn’t good with kids or something?

“Daddy, can we get dessert?” Erin rescued me. Out in the better lighting, her haircut looked even worse. The bowl cut was lopsided on the left side, the bangs a total mess. Didn’t Smack know to take her to a proper hairdresser?

Smack gave a slow nod, and his throat bobbed and swallowed. He crossed his arms as if holding himself back from saying something in front of his kid. He radiated pissed-off vibes, but he was trying to be reasonable. Inside, he wasn’t feeling it. I could see it in his eyes.

“I love dessert,” I said, a bit desperate to break the contact.

“Me too!” Erin enthused. “Phin said there would be cookies and cake.”

Smack took his attention off me. He might still want to give me those dagger eyes, but he wouldn’t in front of her. “Not sure I can eat both cookies and cake.” He patted his belly, forced a smile.

For the record, Smack’s stomach was hard and flat. We all joked that he was the younger brother of Christopher Meloni since he loved his Peloton. And he looked like aLaw & Order: SVUcop with his penetrating gaze, a body that defied age, and his bald head. Was it weird that I liked looking at his bald head? That I wouldn’t have minded if his belly were more rounded? Like even if he had a total dad-bod, I’d be into it. I was always so hyperaware of him. His strong shoulders, protective gaze,gruff voice. So different from the model-pretty guys, with their confidence and glossy looks, the ones that I used to chase. Like Tanner. Like me…before.

“We gotta hurry,” Erin urged.

“First, we have to tie those sneakers, or you might trip headfirst into the desserts.”

“I’m serious.” She put her hands on her hips.

“You always are.” Smack’s usually stern blue eyes twinkled, showing slight crow’s feet around his eyes. Despite the teasing, he spoke to her in a gentle baritone. I imagined Smack reading her stories, the soothing rumble of his voice. He bent and retied his daughter’s messy shoelaces. Knowing he was so good with his daughter, so loving and tender, was a huge turn-on?—

Oh, fuck.I had to stop this.I was only fantasizing about Captain Smack because it was far easier than dealing with the very real problem of Tanner.

“Bye, Caleb! And thanks.”

“Anytime.” I high-fived her, glad the lure of sugar was greater than the teasing of some girls.

My steps slowed as I followed them into the banquet room, my gaze stuck on my captain. I’d often wondered about Smack’s husband, who died years ago. What had he done for a living? Had he been around the same age as Smack? Had they been madly in love? The thought bothered me. Since transferring to his firehouse over two years ago, I’d seen Captain Smack take command of multiple fires, handle negotiations between probies, and delegate fairly to all. I had come to respect the hell out of him, but unlike some of the others who’d been with Smack longer, I hadn’t gotten close to his personal life. Until today.

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