Fighting the Fire (Warrior Fight Club 3)

***

Dani’s question caught Sean off guard not only because it felt like an abrupt change of subject but also because he hadn’t realized she’d heard him on the phone.

“I mean, if you don’t mind my asking. I wasn’t trying to listen in, I was just making sure you didn’t have company before I came downstairs.”

“Oh.” He smiled and ducked his chin. Shit, he was busted. Welp. Here went nothing. “Uh, it was an interview.”

She gave him a funny look, clearly picking up on his sheepishness. “For what?”

After everything else he’d told her, this seemed like such a small thing to keep secret, even though he was going to feel like shit if they turned him down. So he laid it all out there. “Um, well, I applied to be a Big Brother.” He shifted to sit on the bed beside her.

Dani frowned, and for a split second, his gut dropped to the ground thinking she disapproved. But then her eyes went wide and so did her smile. “Wait, what? Sean, this is awesome.” God she was beautiful, sitting there wearing his clothes, her hair up in a sleek ponytail, looking at him like she believed in him.

Satisfaction filled his gut, but he shrugged it off and played it down. “I mean, they haven’t approved me yet. They’re coming to do a home inspection tomorrow.” Which had him making a list of things he should think about doing around here before that happened. His grass needed cut. The spring on his front storm door needed repaired. But most importantly, he wanted to spiff up his currently super basic guest bedroom in case his Little ever just needed a place to crash or just hang out alone. Another safe place in the world that he could call his own. Something Sean never had.

Dani grinned. “Sean, they are totally going to approve you. Your house is gorgeous and your basement would be any kid’s dream. You have a good and very cool job. And you’re a role model who’s fun to hang out with. You’re a shoe-in.”

A role model? Wow. There she went again. Making him fall in love with her just a little bit more. “Yeah? You really think so?”

Facing him, she laced her hand into his. “I know it. This is so cool. Did Billy and Shayna get you into it?”

“Billy’s stories about hanging out with his Little, Dante, just sounded like something I’d enjoy doing. I guess the accident has also left me feeling like there should be more to life than just work, you know? I mean, there’s WFC, of course, and all of my friends there. But this is something that gives back, too.” Of course, what he didn’t say was how she fit into all that for him, because he really fuckin’ wanted her to.

Dani kissed him, once, twice. “You’re going to be a great Big Brother. I’m proud of you.”

Fuck if that didn’t put a knot in his throat. “Thanks, D,” he managed, surprised at just how much those words meant to him. Coming from her, they meant a lot.

Do the thing that scares you.

Putting himself out there to become a Big Brother did scare him, but he realized that had nothing on the thing that truly scared him the most. And in that moment, Sean knew exactly what that was, because words were right on the tip of his tongue. Words he’d never said to anyone in his entire life.

He searched her gaze for a long minute and then just dove in, “Daniela, I—”

“Sean, I—” she said at the same time.

They both laughed.

Heart pounding in his chest, he nodded at her. “Go ahead, you first.”

“Oh, okay. I was just going to say thank you for taking such good care of me the past few days. It’s been a long time since I had anyone to do that for me.”

“I was happy to do it, D,” he said, sounding way more nonchalant than he actually felt.

She sat back, and he had the weirdest sensation that she was pulling away, but maybe that was just him freaking out over trying to tell her how he felt. “So…I think I’m gonna head out,” she said. “I haven’t been home since early Saturday morning and I have a few things I need to do and check on.”

“Oh. Okay. Sure.” Now he was pretty sure he’d read her right, which had him reining in his mouth.

“What were you going to say?” she asked, but there was a guardedness about her gaze that told him now was not the time.

So he gave her part of his truth. “Just that I’ve never shared everything I told you with anyone else, and I really appreciated how you supported me. It meant a lot.”

There was warmth in the smile she gave him, and when she leaned close and kissed him, there was heat in the way she touched him. Those were reassuring, at least. “I feel the same way,” she said.