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variety of soft drinks.
    Everyone cooed over the baby, and Mariah looked fabulous. After the baby was
fed, changed and put down for a nap, Mariah said, “So aren’t you glad you
trashed that Rib Shack in the first place?”
    Kate rolled her eyes. “I was only giving my opinion. And I still haven’t
forgiven you for blabbing to Rocky about my dating experiences — or lack
thereof — for the past year.”
    “Hey, I just was letting him know you were available and willing.”
    Blushing, Kate reflected on the kiss she’d shared with Rocky. She’d been more
than willing to let him explore her lips, her mouth. He’d felt wonderful. So
solid and strong. Her heartbeat had raced, her body had reacted. She knew she
was falling for him.
    “So when do you see him again?” Mariah asked.
    “Tomorrow. We’re going for a ride on his motorcycle.”
    One of the women laughed. “I can’t believe you’re going to do that again.”
    “I actually enjoyed it,” Kate admitted. “It was like —” But what she was
going to say was cut short as the smoke alarm went off.
    “What in the world?” Mariah asked, dashing down the hallway to get the baby.
    The ladies ran into the kitchen, glanced inside the oven. One of them said,
“Sue, your casserole is spilling over.”
    Sue nudged her way through the women, looked through the glass. “Well, it’s
never done this before.”
    The smoke detectors bleeped and screeched. Mariah opened the front door to
take the baby outside. She was met by Mrs. Banks, who informed them she’d called
the fire department.
    Worried, Kate asked her friend, “Is the baby okay?”
    “Apparently so. Sleeping right through it. But I’m going to keep her out
here.”
    In the background, sirens could be heard and Kate waited in the doorway.
Rocky was the first one up the short series of steps. He wore his turnout and
boots, looking more handsome than ever. Of course he had to be on shift today.
He probably thought she was the lamest woman on the face of the earth.
    “Lady, you got another oven fire?” Rocky joked, making her pulse skip. She
felt a bit less idiotic.
    Captain Evans and Driver Bud Hailey went past them to assess the situation.
    “Something spilled over in the oven,” Kate said to Rocky. “But it’s not on
fire this time.”
    He spoke under his breath. “This time, I am. Kate, you make me on fire.”
    Staving off a blush, it was hard for Kate not to throw her arms around him.
Filled with a dizziness that came with complete infatuation, Kate whispered,
“Me, too.”
    And suddenly, she was glad Sue’s casserole was making a mess in her oven.
Kate could think of no better sight than three good-looking firefighters in her
kitchen.
     
    The End