A Firefighter in Her Stocking

“They love each other very much. It’s so obvious when you see the two of them together.”

“If you say so.” Distracted, he lifted the pan lid to check their breakfast. Trapped steam rose and burned his fingers. Jude swore. “Can we not talk about Charles?”

So excited about the news, Sarah was oblivious to his mood and kept on talking. “He invited me to an impromptu engagement party Vanessa is throwing for them tonight.”

Apparently, they did have to talk about his cousin.

Not looking at Sarah, Jude let out a long sigh. “How about those Knicks?”

“You must be happy for Charles, surely?”

“We’re really not that close but, sure, I’m happy for him.” Was he? Jude wasn’t so sure.

“You’re going to the party, too?”

Vanessa had called him just moments before. The news that Charles had asked Grace to marry him had shocked Jude. Had thrown him for a loop.

“No, I’m not going.” When she looked ready to argue, he added, “Let it go, Sarah.”

Unfortunately, she wasn’t ready to let the matter drop.

“Why does it matter to you that I’m not going, anyway?”

Her gaze narrowed. “Maybe you weren’t paying attention, but I was invited. I’d like to have a date.”

“So you want to use me?” He was trying to lighten the conversation, to ease the annoyance he’d never heard in her voice before. To just spend the day with her and not think about Charles and Grace...and Nina.

“Absolutely.” Sarah didn’t crack a smile. “You found me out. That’s all last night was. I was using you so I wouldn’t have to go to Charles’s engagement party alone.”

“You’re a terrible liar, Sarah.”

“So are you,” she countered, lifting her chin a notch.

He took a deep breath.

“I’m going whether you do or not,” Sarah informed him, her disappointment thick. “Because I care about Charles and I want him to know how happy I am for them. Since no one but Penny knows about us, at least I’ll be spared having to make excuses about why you aren’t with me.”

Did she really think no one knew about them except Penny? His father had called to ask about the woman Penny had flown around. His father hadn’t asked him about the opposite sex in years. Fussed about how many women came in and out of Jude’s life, yes, but never asked for details. Until Sarah. Which made Jude wonder what Penny had said. No doubt she’d sensed Sarah was special, that Jude wanted to make her happy, that he didn’t want to disappoint her.

As he was doing by refusing to go to his cousin’s engagement party.

“Is that it? Do you not want to go to Charles and Grace’s party because you don’t want your family to know about us?”

Old insecurities had appeared in her eyes and gutted Jude.

“They know.”

More uncertainty flitted across her face. “Does that bother you?”

“No, and no, that they know about us is not why I’m not going to Vanessa’s party.”

Taking a deep breath, Sarah took his hand into hers and squeezed it tight. “Please, go, Jude. I can’t imagine being with your family if they know about us and you aren’t with me.”

He opened his mouth to say no again, but his gaze met hers, saw the vulnerability in the depths, and when his mouth opened, the wrong words came out.

“I’ll go.”

“Really?” She practically leaped into his arms.