Fan The Flames (Man Of The Month Book 3) (7 page)

Yet, when it had come right down to it, despite all of Brad’s best persuasive abilities, Todd had reenlisted. Signed back up with only minor hesitation when considering the wife and child he was leaving behind for a major part of the year. In hindsight, Brad realized it was almost as if Todd was afraid of married life, afraid of how to be father and husband in the normal, everyday world where bullets flying overhead weren’t a common occurrence.

Perhaps Todd hadn’t wanted to bring home any baggage, or admit to some of the things he’d done. As it was, he’d been deployed approximately eight months at a time, so by the time he’d gotten somewhat settled into domesticity, it had been time to hit the road and head back overseas.

Maybe some men never outgrew the wanderlust. What was that about the grass being greener on the other side of the proverbial fence? Brad had wanted what Todd had—a wife and kid. A stable, loving home. Someone back in the States that worried and cared—someone besides his mom. Yet despite his best efforts to forget Scarlett, Brad couldn’t, and subsequently all other women paled in comparison. Todd had had the commitment that Brad sought, but his friend had run from it, for his mistresses—the sea and his job—captured his interest more than his wife.

“Want some help with that?” Brad asked after Scarlett’s parents left. He gestured to the dishwasher. A skeptical eyebrow arched. “What? Did Todd never help?” She answered by handing him a plate, which he slid between the bottom rack tines. “I take it dishes weren’t his forte.”

“Can’t save the world in everything,” Scarlett said, rinsing and handing him another plate.

“Well, just call me Mr. Domestic. I’m the new kind of superhero. My mother would be proud.”

“Well, you saved the day tonight. Thanks for pinning that picture up.”

“Anytime. My mother covered our refrigerator. Sometimes whole layers of things fell off because the magnets couldn’t hold them. I didn’t even think about that when I installed the appliances. See, I told you that your living here would help me out.”

He loaded more plates. Put the glasses that came his way on the top rack. Occasionally their fingers would touch, and the water droplets that transferred created a pleasurable little zing.

“You really didn’t have to stay and help,” she told him as she passed over a set of forks.

“I’m actually having fun. Nice to see someone enjoying the kitchen. I’m glad you’re here.”

Spoons came his way instead of a reply.

“So you’re really in agreement with my parents? Now that we’re alone, it’s okay. You can back out. You don’t have to take me to this ball.” She faced him. “Unless you want to.”

“Yes, I do. Why not? Have you dressed up in a while? I haven’t. I could use a night on the town and it sounds like you can too.”

“True. My nights are mainly spent watching kid shows and playing with Colleen. Some adult company might make a nice change.”

“Even if it’s mine?”

She gave him a shy smile. “You’re a gorgeous man. I’ll be the envy of every woman there, Mr. July.” She snickered at that.

“Ha-ha. Funny.”
She’d called him gorgeous.
“You try being exposed to the world.”

She made a face. “No, thanks. But I will fend them all off for you. Promise.”

“Good. And I promise we’ll have fun.” Something hovered in the air, something intangible, like hope or promise. She stood far too close—her perky button nose upturned toward his, her tempting lips reachable in one quick swoop. Far too much too soon. He reached forward and brushed a bubble from her cheek. Her mouth parted. “Soap,” he said.

“Thanks.”

She wouldn’t thank him if she knew how much he wanted to kiss her. He checked his desire. “Hey, just so you know, I only have a half bath over there. Normally I’ve been using the hall bath upstairs and I keep my clothes in the spare bedroom, but I can use the firehouse from here out.”

Those fire-colored strands framed her face as she shook her head and his fingers itched to touch. Was it as soft and silky as it looked? “No, it’s fine. Come get a shower. No need to disrupt your routine. We’re your guests.”

Even warm reassurance could make him go mad with want. “You aren’t guests,” he said, for he could never see her that way. “I want you to consider this your home. That’s why I’m telling you it’ll be around six thirty a.m. You can say no. I won’t be put out.”

Not for her. For her he’d walk miles, but the flickering in her eyes revealed she wasn’t ready to believe him. And why should she? He’d kept her at a distance simply to protect his own sanity. “Okay. I’ll probably sleep right through your shower time and if I don’t, eventually I’ll get used to it and I will. I want to coexist peacefully.”

“I also do laundry here. And my mail will come through the slot.”

“Now you’re really pushing it,” she said, grinning to indicate she was joking. She touched his arm, ran her fingers for a moment over the woven fabric. Then she removed her hand quickly, as if she’d received a static shock like he had. “Seriously, we’ll work it out. It’s a process. I doubt we’ll figure out all the ins and outs of this relationship in one conversation. God knows Todd and I couldn’t.”

Todd, who would always be a mutual loss. “He loved you very much.”

“I know. He was a good man. He cared for you as well.” Silence fell, both lost for a moment to his and her respective thoughts. Her chin jutted forward. “Let’s not dwell on the past. Not tonight. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time for that later.”

“Okay.” He wanted to make her happy. He’d never had that particular urge toward a woman before, unless it was regarding sex. But with Scarlett, all aspects of her happiness came first. He wanted to see her have fun. Smile. Enjoy life again, and not just because he’d made a promise.

“So how do you make a bulletin board anyway?”

“Framing materials and some cork.”

She motioned to the center of the room. “You’ve done a beautiful job on this place. I can’t even imagine what it looked like before.”

This was a safe topic. “A mess. I went room by room and gutted it. It’s been doable because of the historic tax credits.”

“Ah. Well, it’s gorgeous.”

“Glad you like it.”

“I love it.”

“Good.” Satisfaction filled him. For two years he’d built it with her in mind. Then his brow creased. When put like that, he worried he was obsessive. More stalker than wooer. He stepped toward the back door, needing space. It was one thing to imagine things from afar, to fantasize and dream. To make believe. It was quite another thing to see those plans coming to fruition, to have the reality come true. She was here, and they had a date. What if said reality failed to meet expectations? What if all these feelings were just figments in his mind? A delusion? What then? The large kitchen seemed claustrophobic. “I should go. Dishes are done and it’s late. Call or text me if you need anything.”

“I don’t want to bother you.” Her smile wavered as he took another step back. Had he sounded cold? Aloof? He hadn’t intended that. Several women had called him an unfeeling bastard, and he knew they were right. He jerked a hand through his hair. He feared he’d hurt Scarlett before they’d even had a chance to really get to know each other, before he had his chance.

“You could never be a bother. Seriously, call me anytime. If I don’t answer, it means I’m on a fire call and I’ll get back to you right away,” he said.

She appeared more reassured. “Okay.”

“Promise me.”

She smiled then. “Okay. Promise.”

He let out a whoosh of pent-up breath. “Perfect. You can depend on me. I’m here for you. I want to be here for you.”

“Thanks. That means a lot.”

Although deep down Brad knew he wasn’t a knight in any type of shining armor. He moved back into her space then and planted a kiss on her forehead. Her skin was soft and smelled of soap. “Sleep well.” He drew away, grabbed his coat and didn’t look back.

“Oh, Brad,” she called when he was halfway out the door. A blast of air swirled in.

“Just so you know, I’m going to find that calendar.” She smirked at him, and something inside him bloomed.

“Not if you know what’s good for you,” he teased back.

“How do you know it wouldn’t be?”

And therein lay the trouble. “Good night, Scarlett.”

“You too,” Scarlett called, clearly pleased she’d won that round of … could it have been flirtation? Or just fun between platonic friends?

Brad closed the door behind him, lifted the parka collar to keep out the wind and made his way across the small backyard to his studio. He unlocked his door, went upstairs, turned on a lamp, saw the letters he’d removed from the envelope in his locker now sitting on the table.

They would have fun, he determined. Because Todd wanted it that way, and Brad owed it to Todd. He also owed it to himself. Finally, once and for all, he needed to either see if his love for her was real, or if it was just something he’d built up in his head. He prayed for the former and feared the latter. Only time would tell.

Chapter Four

Scarlett bought a new dress. Not that there was anything wrong with her two other gowns. But when she’d taken them out of the storage box and lifted the clear, protective dry-cleaning plastic, her eyes had begun to water. She’d sniffled. Then she’d simply let herself have a short cry, until Colleen had come into the third bedroom and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Scarlett had wiped away the tears and lied that she’d gotten dust in her eye. Then she’d pulled out the dresses and told Colleen about each of the events she’d attended with Todd. She told her about the delicious food. The dancing. How handsome her daddy had looked in his fancy uniform. She’d even let Colleen step into her glittery sequined heels and trot around, laughing as her daughter clacked on the hardwood floors, her pink painted toes peeking through the hole. Her daughter’s antics always cheered her up, and soon Scarlett stowed the dresses safely back in their plastic wrapping, hung them in the closet and closed the door.

She gave herself one last look in the mirror. Her mom had taken her out for a day of pampering. She’d been scrubbed, buffed and professionally made up. Her wavy hair was up in a knot, although two wispy tendrils draped by each ear. Smokey eyelids blinked. Red lips pouted, the color somehow not clashing with her hair—the makeup artist had been correct when she’d insisted Scarlett try the shade. As she stared at her reflection, she had no idea who this pretty woman was. Hadn’t ever seen her before.

“You look like Cinderella.” Colleen sat on the closed toilet lid, her own lips stained pink with a swipe of Scarlett’s usual shade. “But she wore glass slippers. And she had yellow hair.”

“I feel like Cinderella,” Scarlett admitted. She touched her bare throat. The midnight blue dress had a higher, more modest neckline, and she’d decided against a necklace. Pearls would be out of place, and except for a thin gold chain, she really didn’t have anything that wouldn’t appear shabby. No, better to go without. Besides, she did have earrings, and she touched the small diamond studs, her only real piece of jewelry and a gift from Todd after he’d received the SEAL bonus.

“You’re beautiful, Mommy.”

“You think so?” She held out her hand and Colleen took it. Skirt swishing mid-calf, she led her daughter out to their second-floor living room.

“Brad will think you’re beautiful too.”

That assertion made Scarlett’s heart jump, which was silly. Despite living in his house, she’d hardly seen him this week. If he had come in to shower before work—and she knew he had because the alarm on the intercom system he’d installed had beeped—he moved like a ghost. He’d drywalled the third floor. A bulletin board had appeared, with Colleen’s picture tacked up dead center. Now the board was full of crayon artwork. The beeping of the alarm being armed had told her when he’d left. The few times they’d passed, he’d smiled at her and then looked away. It was like he was avoiding her, sort of like he’d done in high school after she’d started dating Todd.

The intercom buzzed, indicating someone had pushed the back doorbell. “He’s here.”

“Or maybe it’s Granny again,” Colleen said, following her mom down to the kitchen door.

Or maybe both, Scarlett thought as she saw Brad and her mother standing on the back porch. “Look who I found,” her mom said as she entered first. “He was right behind me on the walk.”

“Brad!” Colleen shouted. “You’re all dressed up.”

Scarlett swallowed as butterflies began to thump against her chest. He wore a black tux that fit like a glove, completed with a black tie and cummerbund. He’d added some gel or something, his hair combed back from his face and tucked behind his ears. Had he gotten a trim? She tamped down the desire to thread her hands into that hair, for Brad was a friend. Friend with a capital
F.

Although flirting also began with an
F,
which they had been doing the other night. Or so she thought. She’d replayed their good-bye in the kitchen over and over before chalking it up to renewing old acquaintances.

“Had to dress up,” he told Colleen, reaching over to ruffle her hair. “It’s a black tie event. Had to wear this monkey suit.”

“You don’t look like a monkey. Monkeys have bigger ears and lots of fur.”

“It’s just an expression,” Scarlett tried to explain. “Means he feels silly.”

Colleen processed this. Brightened. “Oh. Mommy, do you feel like a monkey? You’re all dressed up too.”

“No,” she said.

“Your mommy is too pretty to be a monkey.” His eyes darkened as his gaze roved over Scarlett, and unable to help herself, she blushed. “I don’t remember seeing that dress in any of the pictures.”

“It’s new.”

“New city, new dress,” her mother added. “Speaking of pictures, stand over there and let me take one.” Bernadette took out her phone and gestured them together. Brad wrapped his arm around Scarlett’s waist. Such an innocent gesture, but Scarlett felt her face flame as he drew her to him. Her knees weakened and she wrapped her arm around him. He was a few inches taller than Todd, but with her heels she fit against him fine. As if she belonged there.

“Smile,” her mom directed. “One … two … three…” She leaned back and checked the phone screen. “Perfect.” She made a shooing motion. “Now both of you get out of here and go have a good time. You’re cutting into my grandma time.”