Crazy Hot Love (Dirty Dicks 2)

“Yes, you did. You didn’t give up on me when I was struggling not to give up on myself. You called every day even though I was grumpy and short with you. You cooked for me and took care of this little girl while I got my head on straight.”

“I did what any friend would do.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’ve got other friends, Mo, and not one of them went as far as you. Thank you for that. And thank you for forcing me to get out of the house last night and for bringing Milo back this morning. You’re a really great friend, and I’m lucky to have you.”

Her eyes fill up with tears.

“Don’t cry,” I say, pulling her into my arms. Milo grunts between us, but doesn’t bother to move.

“I can’t help it. I’ve been really emotional the last few days. I think I’m getting ready to start my period.”

“Period?” I laugh. “Nothing about shark week for you is a period. It’s a damn exclamation point.”

She’s crying and laughing, and it feels good to be back to this place with her. “I missed you,” she says.

“I’m going to be fine, Mo,” I assure her. And this time I think I mean it. “It might take some time to get back to normal, but I promise I’m getting there.”

She holds me tight in her arms for several minutes before pulling back. “Sean and Rhett are taking care of Animal Haven. Wanna hang out? We could watch a move or grab lunch.”

“I’d love that.”

23

Trevor

“What’s up, Allen?” Darius, or Big D as we like to call him, comes into the washroom at the firehouse and drops his gear next to the washing machine. “You using this?”

“I’m done.” I smile and pat his back. “It’s all yours.”

“What’s gotten into you?” he asks, shoving his turnouts into the washer. “I don’t think I’ve seen you smile this much since the Cardinals won the World Series.”

“Nothing’s gotten into me. Just ready to be done with this shift.” So I can go see Claire.

We texted off and on all day yesterday and made plans to meet up tomorrow night. My shift ends tonight, but I won’t get home until late, and tomorrow I have to work at the ranch. But after that, she’s all mine.

Still don’t know what in the world I’m going to say to her, but I’ll figure it out.

Big D bobs his head. “Don’t I know it. My shift is over effective…” He looks at his watch. “Right now, and all I want to do is go home, take a hot shower, bang my wife, and sleep for a day.”

I laugh. “What the hell are you hanging around here for? Go. I’ll take care of your gear.”

“I appreciate the offer, and any other day I’d take you up on that, but Todd and I have to go to the elementary school for community career day.”

“On your day off?”

He shrugs. “No one else wanted to do it, and I can’t let the kids down like that, man. They love us.”

I glance over at Todd, who is in full gear, doing a check on truck 1090. I vaguely remember seeing a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board asking for volunteers for career day, but that’s never been my thing, so I ignored it.

“You said it was at the elementary school?”

“Yeah,” he answers. “First and second grade.”

Thoughts meet brick wall.

I’ve never really believed in fate, but this has to be some sort of sign.

I turn to Big D. “I’ll do it.”