Round and Round Read Free Page B

looking at him with those kind eyes, he’d sit still the entire dang day.
    “They’re clearing out the building and opening the windows to get the smoke out.” There was a breeze, and it wasn’t long before smoke puffed out the front windows of the building, driven by the wind. “Feeling better?”
    Kevin nodded again. “I’m okay.”
    “Just breathe and stay quiet. You gave us a scare.”
    “My head is clear and I feel much better,” he said, removing the mask. “Thank you.”
    “I certainly hope this isn’t going to be a habit—you showing up at all my fire calls.”
    “To be precise, you’re showing up to all my calls, and I think I like it. Hopefully I won’t have to be in a fire to see you again,” Kevin said and blushed something fierce. He hadn’t meant to be that provocative or forward. His mouth had engaged before his brain. But he liked it when MacDreamy Hotness smiled at him.
    “Let’s get this area cleared of people,” another firefighter said. “The building should be safe to reenter soon, but the apartment where it started is going to need to be cleaned.”
    “I better go,” MacDreamy said and turned away to help control the gawkers.
    After a few hours they were all allowed back inside. To his surprise, even Mrs. Vertebedian was able to go. She didn’t have a stove. That seemed to have been carted off, which was probably just as well, but at least she still had her home.
    Kevin kept his windows open all day, and the landlord put fans in the hallways to get the smell out of the rugs and things. After all the excitement and the fact that he’d been up late and hadn’t slept much, he tried resting in the afternoon.
    “Okay, Mrs. V,” he called when he heard a knock and went over to open the door. He had expected her to ask to use his stove. The woman cooked all the time. It was her thing, and being without a stove must be driving her crazy, so he’d figured she’d wander up. He pulled open the door, but it wasn’t Mrs. Vertebedian.
    It was MacDreamy Hotness, and this time he was in jeans and a T- shirt that left much less to the imagination than those baggy fire pants had.
    “Did I do something wrong?” Kevin asked, looking around. After the past couple of days, he half expected his apartment to burst into flames.
    “Of course not. I wanted to make sure you were breathing okay. You looked pretty wiped out when we found you on the grass.” He smiled, and what a smile it was: perfect teeth, a glint in his eyes, and dimples, even.
    “I’m okay. I was going to lie down for a while.” He covered a yawn. “Sorry. I’m a little tired.” He wondered why MacDreamy was here. “Was there some other information you needed?”
    “No. I didn’t come by to talk to you about the fire.” He stepped a little closer. “It isn’t very often that I get to meet a guy who’s a hero twice in two days. Well, not one as cute as you are.”
    Kevin giggled and covered his mouth again. “I’m not a hero,” he said. The cute comment he wasn’t going to dispute because it was really nice to hear. “I just did what I was supposed to do. I only hope that part of my day isn’t always going to include a call to the fire department.” Although if MacDreamy was the one to show up, Kevin just might. “So you came here to see me? Was it to ask me questions or something?”
    “Actually, it was. I was wondering if it would be all right if I took you out sometime.” He flashed a smile that would stop traffic, and for a brief moment Kevin wondered if this was happening to him. Before his friends settled down, they were always getting asked out. They were outgoing and good-looking. Kevin wasn’t. His features were average at best.
    “Me?” Kevin asked, instantly feeling stupid. There was no one else here, after all. “MacDreamy Hotness is asking me out.” Kevin slapped his hand over his face and hoped like hell the ground under his feet would open up and swallow him whole.
    “What did you call