Page 100 of Frosting and Flames

The band is setting up, and Brody dramatically clears his throat into the microphone with acheck one, twowhile the metallic clink of ladles against pots and sizzling meat permeates the air.

Sweat trickles down the back of my shirt as I lean over the steaming pot to stir it, careful to not touch the camp stove.

Tanner hands me a cold bottle of water, and though I have no idea where he got it from, I gratefully accept it, chugging a quarter in one go.

“You know, you could’ve asked Rachel to make the chili,” Tanner says, eyeing the combined ingredients skeptically.

I shoot him a look, though he doesn’t seem to pick up on it. “The firefighters have to take part, too. And she’s coordinating everything else. She’s busy.”

I scan the crowd, but can’t spot her familiar ponytail anywhere.

Tanner leans in further, scrutinizing my chili. “Is it supposed to look like that? It’s all watery.”

Damn. It does. “It’s fine. It has to thicken… or something.” I stir it some more, as if I know what I’m doing.

“Well, it better be like the last batch you made. That shit was good. Are you bringing home leftovers?”

I roll my eyes. “No. This is for the community.”

He makes an honest to God pout, and I laugh. “I’ll have Rachel make us something else soon.”

He perks up at that. “Yeah? When’s she coming over next?”

“She’s spending the night tonight.”

He rubs his hands together with glee. “What’s she making us?”

I bat his hands away. “She’s not making anything. That’s not what tonight’s about.”

“Gotcha.” He gives me a knowing nod. “It’s about hooking up. I’ll make myself scarce.”

“No. Jesus.” I pinch the bridge of my nose, then remember I might have jalapeno still on my fingers and let go. “And I don’t think it’s hooking up if she’s my girlfriend.”

His brows raise. “Girlfriend? Good for you. When did this happen?”

Between my station shifts and preparing for the chili cookoff, I haven’t seen him much in passing. “Earlier this week.” I can’t help the smile that tugs at my mouth, but Tanner doesn’t rib me for it.

“Played the long game and it payed off.”

That’s one way to look at it, but like Rachel said, I’m just glad we’re together now, no matter how long it took.

“Well, try not to poison her with this stuff,” he says, motioning to my chili, a grin on his face. “Or half the people in this town.”

“Get out of here.” I shoo him away and give the chili another stir, but I think I’m pretty much done. It just needs to simmer.

Chief wanders over from his own station, inspecting my pot. He’s been done for the last twenty minutes—probably because he knows what he’s doing.

“Does it look okay?” I ask cautiously. A part of me wants to find Rachel and have her come check it out for me, too.

He nods in that understated way of his that means everything is fine, and I relax.

Chief looks around, his gaze lingering on Mark taking tickets at the entrance and Jamal issuing wristbands to those who purchased them. “This fundraiser is shaping up pretty nicely. People are showing up.” He gestures across the way to where a man is chugging a glass of milk at the hot pepper eatingchallenge booth, others both cheering and jeering him. “Having a great time. You did good, kid. Something like this isn’t easy to pull off.”

I stare at him, my chest going tight. Chief doesn’t dole out praise for the fun of it. My gaze drops to the bubbling chili, like it can save me from the weight of the moment. “I appreciate it. Most of the credit goes to Rachel, though.”

“Funny, when I spoke with her, she said you did most of the work.”

“No, it was her plan—”

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