Hannah

 

I can't help looking forward to seeing Kieran again. He’s more exciting than any guy I ever met. The sheer size and power of him. His experience. His unwavering confidence. And the way he messes with my mind.

Then my heart sinks. I should have thought. Will I never learn? He's probably married like Simon turned out to be.

I didn't think to check. The guys I've come across at college since I found out and kicked Simon to the curb aren't even close to being married. They're too young. Too fickle. Not established in their careers.

Oh well, I wasn't planning on getting my hands on Kieran, anyway, even if I enjoy looking. This is a job, my future in the balance. In any case, so far, there's nothing to make him guilty of anything other than harmless flirting.

Kieran is waiting in the foyer, looking at the bulletin board, when I go down to look for his car at ten o'clock. Mmm—he's wearing his fire gear again, but without the helmet. He turns and, I may be imagining it but, his eyes seem to spark as he sees me. I glance down. No ring. Not that it means anything that there's no ring, but if there were, it would definitely be game over for me.

He opens the car door for me. He has a blue Audi, nothing too flashy like Simon's convertible. The Audi seems to say this guy is happy with himself. He doesn't need to drive around in what Amy calls “a penis extension.”

And then I glance over at the back seat hoping he has brought his helmet to put on later and burst out laughing because there's a big bright yellow furry thing right next to his helmet. It doesn't seem to suit the car at all.

“Nice car rug,” I say. Oops. Maybe it was rude of me to laugh.

“That’s a costume.”

“Don’t tell me, you dress up as a furry banana in your spare time?”

“It's a teddy bear. I found it in the stock room at the station. One of the older guys said it’s been there for years. I thought you could wear it.”

“You're kidding me.”

“Don't you want to get the kids talking to you? It's a way you could help out and engage them. I brought some other props. I'll be Fireman Kieran and you can be Traffic Teddy.”

I spent hours after yesterday's meeting composing questionnaires for the kids, working out what I needed to find out so I could get them interested in road traffic awareness week enough to nag their parents to take them to the open house. And he's turned me into Traffic Teddy.

“How will the kids take me seriously if I wear that? ‘If’ being the important word here because I'm not wearing it. I can't go out in public in that.”

“How will anyone recognize you? You'll have the head on. I've seen you in outfits less appropriate for public consumption. The private view was nice though.”

“A gentleman wouldn't mention that.”

“Who says I'm a gentleman? No one ever accused me of that other than my gran. I must be losing my touch.”

“So, what makes you such a rogue?”

“Nothing. I'm just messing with you. I like to keep myself to myself.”

“Oh, why?”

“Easier like that. Less complicated.”

It looks like there's more to it than meets the eye. I should just let it drop but I can't help myself. “So, no one ever tied you down?” I brace myself for getting the word he's married. I've no idea why because the man is not for me. We’re so different, he’s not exactly out of my league as much as in a completely different ball game.

“Nope. Being tied down is good for playing cowboys and Indians, not so great for grown-ups.”

“Sad.”

“You call me sad; you won't even wear a bear costume to make the kids’ day because you're worried about going out in public wearing it. I'll seriously make it worth your while if you do.”

“How?”

“I'll take you to dinner.”

“Having dinner with you is a reward? Now I've heard it all.”

“Some people think so.”

I don't know how to answer that. I'm sure plenty of women would love a date with him. Did I really just turn down dinner with the hottest man on two legs, whether he's for me or not?

He pulls up outside the school. The playground is deserted. All the kids must be inside.

“Are you going to put that on?” He nods over at the back seat.

No one knows me here. What's the harm it? And I can't help wanting to get closer to Kieran Forrest.

“Is there pizza and ice cream involved? The full works?” I ask.

“Garlic bread too if you want it.”

“You don't play fair.”

“Never did. Never likely to.”

I humph, as if there's no way I'm going out with him when I know damn fine I want to. I get out, open the back door, and take a look at the costume. The head is underneath. It's really quite cute.

“If I'd known I'd have dressed for the part,” I say.

“What do bears wear under their skin, anyway? Teddies?”

I roll my eyes at him but now that I've seen the bear's face, I'm warming to the idea. Kieran adjusts his gear and puts on the helmet. He stands there all sexy fireman looking, watching me while I sit down on the back seat and slip my ballet flats into the legs of the bear costume and pull it up over my black skinny jeans. Then I slip my arms into the yellow furry sleeves of the bear and stand up.

“Let me zip you up,” Kieran says.

That idea makes my heart race though I don't know how else I was supposed to do the costume up. I feel his hands on me pulling the sides of the suit together behind me, his warm breath on my neck and I melt as I catch the male, clean-soap smell of him. Who knew yellow fur could make a girl feel sexy as sin?