Catching Fire (Hometown Heat 2)

“Said the pot to the kettle,” she murmurs against my lips.

I laugh. “True. And yeah, I want an entire pizza. Be right back.”

I swing out of the truck, mentally ticking off the things I’ll need to head straight to the job site tomorrow as I start for the front of the bakery. I reach for my keys, but the door swings open before I can pull them from my backpack.

Naomi and Maddie stand on the other side, both of them looking fit to burst.

“So, how did it go? Did you take pictures?” Naomi asks breathlessly as she closes the door behind me, setting the overhead bells to tinkling. “Did you love the dinner? Did you have the crab cakes to start like I—”

“What about the room?” Maddie cuts in. “Was it as gorgeous as it looked online? And did you do the ghost tour of the French Quarter I texted you about?”

“And the voodoo museum,” Naomi adds. “And all the beignets!”

I smile as I pull Naomi in for a hug. “Yes, we had a wonderful time. Thank you so much for everything. You’re the very best,” I say, before stepping away and heading for the stairs leading up to the apartment.

“That’s it?” she calls after me. “That’s all we get? What about the nitty-gritty!?”

“Yeah,” Maddie agrees. “We need details. Especially the romantic ones!”

“We’ll talk later,” I call over my shoulder as I fit the key in the lock. “I’m in a hurry. I need to grab some stuff and get going. Faith’s waiting outside.”

“Is that right…” Naomi’s words fade away.

A second later, I hear the bell above the bakery door tinkle again and curse beneath my breath.

I cross to the window overlooking the street in time to see Maddie and Naomi descending upon Faith, cozying up to the driver’s side window like puppies begging for a treat.

“Great,” I mumble beneath my breath before spinning back into the apartment to snag a change of clothes, my laptop, and my sketch materials as quickly as possible.

I love my sisters and I’m grateful to Naomi for the wonderful weekend she helped make possible, but the Sister Scare-Off Factor isn’t something to be taken lightly.

And if they scare Faith off, I’m going to lose it.

We need to have a serious discussion about them keeping their distance until Faith and I are one hundred percent solid.

I don’t want to risk messing this up. What we started in New Orleans is…special. Really special. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Being with Faith makes coffee smell better, donuts taste sweeter, and an afternoon walk feel like an adventure I can’t wait to take again. When I’m with her, the whole world seems brighter.

Even when we aren’t kissing.

And when we are…

Jesus, I want more of her so much it’s crazy. Kissing her, touching her, having her touch me is amazing, but I’m greedy when it comes to her body. I’m dying to be with her. To be her first, her best, and maybe…

I’m trying not to think too far ahead just yet, but I’m thinking far enough to know I really, really don’t want my nosy sisters to screw this up.

I grab the last of my things and pound down the stairs, through the bakery, and out to the street, not breathing easier until I see Faith leaning out the driver’s side window with a grin on her face, saying something that makes Maddie giggle.

“What’s so funny?” I ask with a mock scowl, secretly pleased that they’re all getting along and that so far Faith seems immune to the Sister Scare-Off Factor.

“Nothing.” Maddie bites her lip, clearly fighting a smile. “You’re just cute.”

“I am not. I’m manly and badass.” I shift my glare to Faith whose grin widens in response. “What stories have you been telling, woman?”

“No stories,” she says as I swing back into the truck and close the door. “Maddie just asked where I got my necklace.” She rolls the silver charm—a firefighter’s hat—between two fingers before letting it rest on her chest. “I told her you bought it for me yesterday as a ‘remember our first vacation’ gift.”

I glance over to where my sisters are standing on the sidewalk, fighting to keep a straight face as Naomi gives me two enthusiastic thumbs up and Maddie jumps up and down and claps silently, grinning like a madwoman.

Faith turns back to the driver’s side window, nearly catching Naomi and Maddie. But not a second too soon they drop their hands nonchalantly to their sides and play it cool.

I snort at them. Silly sisters. But also…sweet. It’s nice to know they so enthusiastically approve of my new girlfriend.

“Good to see you guys, but we should get going,” Faith says to them. “We haven’t eaten anything since this morning.”

“Okay, you two have a great night,” Naomi says, her eyes twinkling. “We’ll catch up on all your news tomorrow.”