Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
There’s a bit of black under his right eye where he got punched last night, but it just adds to the dangerous look which is really doing something for me.
I can’t take my eyes off him. He's so incredibly hot, it should be criminal.
His short sleeves are hugging his round biceps and I find myself practically drooling at the sexy sight of the tattoos running along his arms.
“James,” Doug says. “Do I look pudgy to you?”
James turns and sees me for the first time. He looks just as awestruck as when he saw me at the fire. I love the way he looks at me. He makes me feel like the most beautiful desired woman on the planet.
Those sizzling brown eyes never leave me. He sees the camera in my hand, but he doesn’t say anything about it. He just stares, eying me like he might march over here, throw me over his shoulder, and carry me up those stairs. I wonder what would happen then…
“Victoria has an interesting idea,” the Chief says. “She wants to make a fireman calendar to raise money to rebuild the old railway station.”
“I’m going to be on the cover,” Doug says proudly.
“She needs to sell more than one copy to your mom,” Mason says with a laugh. “You can be Mr. December so that way we can dress you up as Santa Clause and cover your face with the beard.”
“You thought of that?” James asks me.
I swallow hard and nod, hoping he doesn’t think it’s a stupid idea.
“I like it,” he says, smiling encouragingly. “It could work.”
Happiness and relief fill me up and I can’t help but smile from ear to ear. Now, he would look good on the cover. Every hot-blooded woman in the world would want a calendar with him on the front. We’d pay for the library repairs in no time.
“When do you want to start?” the Chief asks.
“Whenever you guys would like?” I say, looking at my camera. I hope I still remember all of the settings, but I think I do.
“How about now?” the Chief says. I laugh. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought I would have to convince them a bit before they agreed, but he does seem like a man of action. Once there’s a plan, he wants to execute it.
“I’ll go first,” Doug says, throwing his cards on the table and standing up. “I just got my haircut, so it’s perfect.”
“Oh, did you go to that blind hairdresser?” Mason asks with a grin.
“What blind hairdresser?” Doug asks, the joke going right over his head.
I steal a peek at James while they’re bickering. He’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, shamelessly staring at me. He’s not even trying to hide the fact that he’s checking me out. I feel my cheeks getting red and I start fiddling with the camera.
This man is very intimidating. I still can’t believe I kissed him. I wonder if he regrets it or if he wants to kiss me again.
Doug ends up going first. He takes his shirt off and sits on the bumper of the firetruck wearing his firefighting pants and helmet. Right as we’re about to start taking pictures, the fat pug waddles over, huffing and snorting out breaths.
“How about I hold Bubba?” Doug says as he picks him up. “He’ll make me look slimmer.”
I laugh as I raise the camera and start taking pictures. Bubba licks Doug’s neck and he throws his head back and laughs. It’s a great photo. I’ll probably use this one.
I’m not sure where James went to, but I feel his possessive eyes on me every now and then. I think he’s keeping me in his sight.
We take a few more by the fire pole and the front of the building. The photos actually look really good. Doug might not have a shredded six-pack, but he has a nice smile with some friendly energy. Some women are into that.
Graham, the Fire Chief, is up next. He’s fifty-two with a muscular build, a thick beard, and kind blue eyes. Women are going to love him. I think the winning photo is the one beside the fireplace. Graham is shirtless in front of the roaring fire (which he started just for the photo) and grinning as he roasts a marshmallow at the end of a long stick. The tattoo of the firehouse’s emblem is visible on his arm with ENGINE COMPANY 38 written on top of it in block letters. This one is going to be another hit.
I’m nervous to be alone with James, so I pick Mason to go next. We take a few shots around the firehouse, but the best one is of him in front of the firetruck holding an ax across his broad shoulders. He’s shirtless with red suspenders holding up his big yellow firefighting pants. His chest looks huge and his stomach is ripped. He even took some ash from the fireplace and spread it on his torso and face to make it look like he just came back from a fire.