Firefighter's Virgin

Still, I understood now the importance of having a support system around you at a time like this, and I was willing to admit that, innocent or guilty, I had let my brother down when he needed me the most.

I thought about Megan, and I desperately craved her presence. At the same time, I wanted to avoid having her see me like this. As we pulled up to the station, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that the court systems were designed to weed out the innocent from the guilty. I prayed that that was enough.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Megan

“Thinking about Phil again, aren’t you?” Marta asked, wagging her eyebrows at me.

I looked at her in surprise. “How did you know?”

“Because whenever you think about him, you have this big dopey smiled on your face,” she said, giving me a wink.

“I do not,” I said defensively.

“Oh, girl, you sure as hell do,” Marta nodded. “Every time.”

“Oh God,” I said, putting my face in my hands. “That is so embarrassing.”

“I think it’s cute.”

“Oh God!” I said again.

She laughed. “I take it things are going well?”

“Very well.” I nodded. “We’ve been having so much fun together and when I’m over at his place, it feels like we’re…”

“We’re what?” Marta asked when I tapered off.

“Well, it kind of feels like we’re

married.”

“Is that something that interests you?” she asked.

“I’ve never really thought about it before,” I admitted. “But I suppose since meeting Phil, I have been having these dreams.”

“Wedding dreams?”

“Kind of,” I admitted. “Lame, I know.”

“Oh, sweetheart, it’s not lame to dream about marrying the man you love,” Marta said.

“It’s way too soon,” I said. “We’re not even living together really, and Phil’s job keeps him so busy. I don’t think he’d have the time to get married, even if he wanted to.”

“Maybe you should ask him?”

“What?” I said incredulously. “That would just freak him out.”

“What if it didn’t?” she asked. “What if he was thinking the same thing you’re thinking?”

“He’s not,” I said immediately.

“Are you just afraid to hope?” Marta asked.

I smiled. “You know me too well,” I sighed. “I suppose I am a little. I just… I love him so much, and I can’t imagine not being with him.”

“I predict you’ll be engaged before the year is out,” Marta said confidently.