Page 76 of Frosting and Flames

“What are you… Oh.” Tanner leans against the kitchen counter, a smirk playing over his lips. “There’s only one reason you’d be like this.”

“What?” I ask, half-distracted as I open the dishwasher to find dirty dishes already in there. Damn it.

“Rachel’s coming over, isn’t she?”

Am I that transparent? “Maybe.”

He chuckles and pulls his burrito out of the microwave. “You’re so whipped.”

I roll my eyes. “I’m not whipped.” How can I be? Rachel and I aren’t even dating.

“Uh huh. You suddenly care about doing the dishes for unrelated reasons.”

I shoot him a look, even if he has a point. “How about you help instead of taking digs at me? It’s your mess, too.”

He holds up his burrito. “Sorry. On a time crunch.” He takes a massive bite, then fans his mouth. “Ah, shit. Too hot.”

I throw a cleaning tab in the dishwasher and set it to run. “Serves you right.”

He gets himself under control and swallows his food, then says, “How about we make a deal? You clean the house and I’ll make myself scarce tonight while Rachel’s over.”

As much as I want help with cleaning, it’s a good deal. I hold out my hand for him to shake.

He does, grinning. “Ha. I was going out tonight, anyway.”

“Fucker,” I mutter, but his amusement is infectious. “Where are you going?”

“Some of the guys at work are checking out the new bar. Said I’d stop by.”

Maybe I should take Rachel there sometime.

I stop myself before I get too carried away making plans. I still need to make up for leaving her the other night. For all I know, she only agreed to come over tonight to tell me this isn’t working out. I mean, if I can’t even make it through the first date…

My schedule at the fire station was the reason my last girlfriend broke up with me. Mandy had hated that I didn’t have a normal weekend. That I was exhausted after my shifts. That I was unreachable when on a call.

I’ve figured out a sleep schedule that works for me now, but the other two I can’t do much about. Will those be dealbreakers for Rachel, too?

“Is Rachel cooking something here again?” Tanner asks, interrupting me from my thoughts. There’s a hopeful note in his voice, probably because he was the one who ate the majority of the chili leftovers.

“No, I am.”

His hope quickly turns to disappointment. I’d be offended, but my track record doesn’t exactly speak for itself.

“Hey, I practiced the other night.”

His brows shoot up. “That was dinner? I thought it was a science experiment.”

I ignore his comment and start washing up the pots and pans I’ll need again tonight.

“Why don’t you order takeout and pretend you made it?” he suggests. “You know,Mrs. Doubtfire-style.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I’m not starting out this thing with Rachel by tricking her. I want to show her I’m making an effort.”

“To poison her?”

“Don’t you have to go back to work?”

He holds up his hands, burrito nearly finished. “What do I know? I’ve only lived with you for nine years.”

---