Hot Stuff

The timing is perfect.

Everything is perfect.

Today, I already know, is going to go down in history as the very best day of my life.

Garrett

Lauren’s legs are silky smooth as I dip my head under the hem of her dress, run up the length of them with my lips, and grab the lacy garter from her thigh with my teeth.

The noise from the partygoers around us is overwhelming, the sound impressively intimidating like the roaring wall of a fire.

My heartbeat speeds up to supersonic levels, and I close my eyes for a brief second on my way out from under the dress. Just long enough to mentally prepare myself for what I’m about to do—for what the guys at the firehouse talked me into doing.

The lacy scrap of material in my teeth, I emerge from the darkness under Lauren’s dress and the wall of noise triples in intensity.

Her smile is punctuated by red cheeks, the embarrassment of such public affection making her sweat, but my God, she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.

With a quick wink and a deep kiss, I step back from Lauren, shoot the garter off like a slingshot over my back, and turn to the DJ with a nod.

Immediately, the chords of Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” fill the tent, and I fall back five steps, directly into my choreographed position. Lauren’s eyes widen so far, I can see the whites on every side, and Jake whoops a holler of surprise so loud, you’d think he’s possessed.

God help me, here we go.

“One, two, three, four.” I count it off with my fingers in the air, all twenty-one of our guys from Station 18 falling in behind me—including Lauren’s father, Captain Jimmy.

“Five, six, seven, eight!” they yell as a unit, dropping into a deep squat at the end that I join in for.

I notice Sarah cover her eyes off to the side, and all my embarrassment starts to melt away.

Because if I’m embarrassing my kids, I’m probably doing something right.

Three hip chugs forward start our dance, followed by the hand behind the head arm sweep. Lauren’s smile is so fucking huge, I swear I could combust, but I know the show must go on. I run my hands down my sides, knowing the guys behind me are all mimicking my movements, and Lauren points directly to her dad’s position, covering her mouth as laughter spills out from everyone in the room.

I make my sexiest eyes as Donna yells about “Hot Stuff” over and over again, twisting my hips and gyrating harder with every shimmy I take toward my bride.

She dances in her chair, and I fall in love all over again. She is magic, and together, we’re a fairy tale.

As the notes of the song start to fade out, I make my way to her chair, lifting her out with my hands at her jaw, and slam my mouth down on hers. She grabs my wrists to keep herself steady and joins in with reckless abandon. The crowded reception breaks out into more cheers, and as the song comes fully to a close, everyone yells out in unison.

“Hot Stuff!”

“You and me,” I whisper against Lauren’s mouth.

“Hot Stuff forever,” she returns, and I smile against her lips.

“Goddamn, I love you.”

“Always and forever?” she asks on a whisper.

“It’s going to take you infinite lifetimes to get rid of me.”

“Never!” She giggles and wraps her arms around my neck. “I’m never getting rid of you!”

I rub my nose against hers and lock our gazes. “I am yours and you are mine. Till death do us part, beautiful wife of mine.”

“Damn straight, husband.”

Eight months later, Late April

Garrett

“I’m so sad you have to go already,” Lauren complains adorably from her seated position on our bed. “I thought you were supposed to get a couple days between calls. It’s not even peak fire season!”

“I am. And I know,” I say honestly, trying my hardest not to ruin the surprise entirely. I want to tell her so badly what I have planned, but Jake, the stupid bastard, is convinced that secrecy is going to make the big reveal that much sweeter.

Three months ago, he planned a surprise trip to Matt’s cousin’s ranch in Utah for Holley, and then, when Holley kept talking about how nice it was to have a friend like Lauren in her life now, he decided to tack Lauren and me onto the plan.

I’ve been waiting on freaking pins and needles for this day to come, and now that it’s here, I can’t even tell her that it’s happening yet.

I pace slightly in front of our bed, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

I don’t want to disappoint her. I don’t want her to be sad.

So, I do the only thing I can, and I do my best to talk in code. “I know this isn’t what you had planned, but I promise, it’ll all work out.”