1

Wade

“Come on, Chief, one more shot.” Marco pours the shot before I can decline. My second-in-command looks at me expectantly, while the other guys egg me on.

I’m not on call tonight, but I’m not a big drinker either. Regardless, I take the shot in hand with a heavy sigh. Hanging with my crew outside the office is a good way to let off steam and boost morale, and we do it often, especially after a big fire. Most of the time coming here to The Broken Tankard, our little town’s only bar.

“This one’s for the chief,” Marco shouts. The rest of the group nods in agreement. I throw back the shot and glance about the room, ready to make my exit.

“All right, guys, I think I’ve had enough for one night,” I say, placing the now empty shot glass upside down on the bar. My confession is met with a cacophony of protests, but I slap a bill on the counter, trying to flag down Smithy. “The next one is on me.”

“Aw, come on, Wade. You can’t leave now. The fun is just getting started,” Jason calls, lifting his longneck in a salute.

“I’m an old man,” I joke, knowing just the opposite. I’m actually the youngest crew chief in the county. At age thirty-two, I’ve been doing this since I was sixteen.

“Old, my ass. I’ve got T-shirts older than you,” Hank, the oldest member of the team, speaks up before taking a long pull from his bottle. He’s exaggerating, of course. Being only fifteen years my senior, Hank’s been in the business the longest. “Don’t worry, boss man, if you stick around, I’ll take your next shot.”

“Hell yeah,” someone shouts, and Marco begins doling out another round of shots, this time setting my glass in front of Hank. I shake my head with a chuckle and plant my ass back onto the stool. I can spare a few moments longer.

It’s been a quiet season so far. Not uncommon for the small rural area we live in, but that doesn’t mean I let my guard down. I’ve seen what can happen when an unexpected fire gets out of hand, and with my men’s lives on the line, I don’t fuck around.

“Hey, Wade,” Smithy, the owner and tonight’s bartender, stops in front of me with an ice tea in hand. He slides it over with a knowing look before heading down to the end of the bar. I look down at the tea in front of me and reach for two pink packets of sugar when the sound of sugary sweet laughter catches my ear.

Someone’s having a good time, I surmise, turning my head out of curiosity, and catch sight of a pretty little redhead. Her head is tipped back, and she’s focused intently on the person in front of her. Dragging my eyes away from her, I turn my attention to the person she’s with, and my heart skips a beat.

The world around her fades away to black until the only thing I see is her, shining brightly in the dark room. Her sultry laughter falls from pink, pouty lips, and I watch diligently as she takes the straw from her drink and wraps them around it, sipping on the contents. Her heart-shaped face is accentuated with eyes the color of sapphires, which twinkle in the dim lighting as she laughs louder at her friend.

Completely relaxed and at ease with herself. I’m drawn to her, like a moth to the light.

Mine.

Her lush body and full breasts are something out of a dream, and the tightening in my pants has me shifting on my stool to hide my growing attraction. She is the opposite of her friend, but she’s all woman and exactly my type.

Her honey-blonde hair falls in waves past her shoulders, hitting the middle of her back. My hands itch to run my fingers through the silken mass. Her creamy skin looks soft and tempting against the soft yellow dress. My mouth waters for a taste.

My eyes travel down the length of her shapely legs to the fuck-me peep-toe heels. I imagine her legs wrapped around my waist, the heels of her shoes digging into my back.

I’ve never been struck like this. Never had a woman affect me this way.

I don’t even know her name.

Yet.

*****

“Do you want to get out of here?” she purrs in my ear as she sways her hips to the pulse of the music surrounding us. Everything about this woman has left me needing and wanting the things only she can give me.

“Are you sure?” I ask, worried about the amount of alcohol she’s had tonight.

“I want to see your firehose.” She giggles, this time running a finger down my chest. I grasp her hand before she can reach said firehose.

“Where’s your friend?” I look around the bar, seeking the redhead who came with her. I find her chatting with one of my men. What was her name again?

“She’s probably gone off and found an empty bathroom stall with some hottie.” She giggles again, like it’s the funniest thing she’s ever heard. “Can you take me to your place?”

“Viv, honey…”

“Don’t tell me no, captain.” Her green eyes narrow on me, and she hiccups. I take a breath, trying to ignore the way my body begs me to scoop her into my arms and take her home. My hands grip her hips as she pushes them into mine, moaning in my ear as she feels the hardness of my cock against her belly. “I’m not drunk, but I feel good, and I know you can make me feel even better.”

Well, shit.

How can I say no to that?