Promise Me Always (10 page)

As we were pulling into the parking lot, Blake leaned over and put his hand on my thigh. I felt chills run up my spine when he touched me and my whole body got goose bumps. He leaned in close to my ear and whispered, “Tess, you really are amazing. Just the way you are.”

I felt tears prick my eyes and I knew, in that moment, Blake really did have deeper feeling for me. That or he just wanted a piece of ass. I hoped it wasn’t the later as I looked up at him through my lashes and smiled.

Tess looked stunning in that black dress. I had to readjust my pants about ten times in the limo. All I wanted to do since the moment I saw her was rip that dress off of her and show her just how beautiful she really was. Her legs looked fucking sexy as hell, peeking out behind that slit in her dress and I couldn’t help but wonder if they felt as soft as they looked. When we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel, I knew that was going to be my last chance for a while to touch her. So, leaning over, I put my hand on her leg and whispered the one line that I had sang to her three years ago. She shivered in response as goose bumps ran up her leg. Apparently, her body liked what I was doing—I just hoped her mind wasn’t thinking something different.

The limo pulled up to the front of the hotel and the driver came around and opened the door. I got out and then offered my hand to Tess so I could help her out of the limo. As she stood up, I grabbed her around the waist with my other arm so I was standing behind her. I brushed my lips across the back of her neck and in a soft, but serious voice, I told her, “Don’t forget what you promised me, Tess.”

She slowly turned her head, so she was looking over her shoulder, and stared at me with those mesmerizing, honey brown eyes, and simple stated, “Never.” I rested my forehead against her temple and she closed her eyes. I felt her take a deep breath in. I mimicked her actions and we stood there like that for just a moment.

As I inhaled through my nose, my senses were flooded with her scent. She always smelled like the beach—like coconuts mixed with vanilla and a hint of musk. What I really wanted to do was take her home and show her just how perfect I thought she was, but we needed to get through this night first. And I needed to make sure she was feeling exactly what I was feeling before anything like that happened.

I pulled myself out of my day dream and took one last deep breath. “I guess we should go get this party started.”

She opened her eyes and nodded in agreement and I escorted her into the hotel.

Blake led me to the ballroom where the party was being held. When he opened the doors, I was completely blown away. The ballroom was just spectacular—I had never seen anything like it. The whole room looked like it was on fire. The walls were covered in white linens and fire flames were being projected onto them, giving you the impression the room was engulfed in flames. The lighting in the room was a deep blue color and it made the flames on the walls stick out even more than they already did. The centerpieces were the next thing that caught my eye. Each table had enormous vases filled with white birch tree branches and they were surrounded by tons of white candles in all different sizes. Silver shimmering table clothes covered the tables and you could see the reflection of the flames all over the room.

“Oh my God, it’s gorgeous in here,” I gasped as we walked up to check in for the event. Blake took care of everything and got our table number for dinner.

“Should we get a drink before dinner starts?” he asked, grabbing my hand. We walked over to the massive bar to get our first round of drinks. “What will it be, baby girl?”

“I’ll have a Captain and lemonade, please,” I said to the bartender

“Oh, going with the hard stuff already, huh? Am I that boring?” Blake teased as he winked at me. He turned to the bartender while laughing, “Make mine a Captain and Coke.”

“As a matter of fact, Blake, you have been quite entertaining so far. I’m actually excited to see how the rest of the evening plays out.” I bit my bottom lip seductively. I watched as Blake’s mouth dropped open as he watched me. The bartender cleared his throat and Blake jumped a little. He handed us our drinks and we headed off to find our seats for dinner.

There were already a few men and an adorable couple sitting at our table. As we walked closer, Blake put his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side, almost like he was claiming me. Everyone at the table turned towards us when we approached and they all gave Blake friendly smiles.

“Hey, Blake! Glad you could make it,” one of the men said.

Blake nodded his head in the man’s direction. “Tessa, I would like you to meet Brent, Adam, and Cash,” he said as he pointed to the guys. Then he turned to the sweet couple sitting on the other side of the table. “And this happy couple over here is Cam and Cara. Everyone this is Tessa.”

Everyone at the table greeted me. Cara even jumped up out of her chair to give me a hug. Cam stood up with her and repeated the gesture. Blake had told me about Cam and Cara last week when we were at Palmer’s. Blake had talked about Cam like they were brothers. They had been through the academy together and were both rookies this year. Somehow they even managed to get assigned to the same shift at the same fire station.

Cam was extremely attractive. His dirty blonde hair was short and had that just fucked looked to it. He had very intense blue eyes that resembled the sky on a sunny day and, even though he was wearing a tux, you could tell he was muscular. I didn’t know Cam at all, but from what Blake had told me about him, he seemed like an interesting guy. He just started dating Cara about a month ago and I could tell by the way he was looking at her—it was the real deal.

“So, I know you and Cam are on the engine together, but what about the rest of these guys?” I asked Blake.

“Tess, you are looking at the men of Station #34, C Shift,” he said, pride evident in his voice. “These guys are my family when we are on the job. I spend more time with them than I do my own fucking brother.”

“Well, I bet they know a lot of secrets about you then. When do I get to start playing twenty questions?” I laughed.

We sat and talked with the rest of the table while dinner was being served. I learned that Cash was the Captain of Station #34 and, at only 32 years old, that was a big accomplishment. I immediately liked Cash. He was the leader of the team and he acted in such a way that you couldn’t help but feel protected while he was around. Adam and Brent were both Lieutenants and had been on with department for a couple of years. They were both really sweet to me, but liked to give Blake and Cam a hard time. They were the rookies, though, and it was kind of a tradition to give them shit.

Dinner was finally served and it was incredible. The filet was delicious and I was so full by the time dinner was over, I didn’t think I would be able to move—let alone dance. Lucky for me, they were doing an award ceremony next, so I would have time to digest my food. I had already had three drinks and decided I needed to use the little girl’s room, so I excused myself.

As I stood up to leave Cara decided to accompany me. I heard Cam as we were walking away, “What is it with women and going to the bathroom together? Do they really need someone to talk to while they do their business? It’s a bathroom for fuck sakes.” Cara looked over her shoulder and gave him a nasty look as we walked away. Cam laughed in response.

Cara was a doll and I knew right away that I was going to like her. She was a petite little thing, but she had an amazing body—curvy in all the right places. Her short brown hair fell just below her chin and she had the sweetest pair of brown eyes.

As we made our way into the ladies room, Cara started the girl talk immediately. “How long have you known Blake?” she asked me.

“Almost five years now. We met in high school through my sister and her boyfriend,” I stated, as I opened the door to the bathroom.

“So, you’re the one,” Cara mumbled cryptically. She said it so quietly, I wasn’t even sure that was what she really said.

“What?” I asked her.
Did she really just say I was ‘the one’?

“Oh, nothing,” she said dismissively. “Sorry. I was just thinking out loud. So, lots of eye candy here tonight, huh?” She elbowed me in the ribs and a silly smile played across her face.

“Tell me about it! Most of the heat is coming from our table, too,” I giggled back at her. I could tell Cara didn’t have a filter on her mouth and I loved that about her. I never seemed to have one either, unless it came to talking about my feelings. Bring emotions into the picture and I was as quiet as a mouse.

“How long have you and Cam been together? You look like you were made for each other,” I asked her through the stall door.

“We just started dating last month. So far, things are great. But it is still early and men always seem to get a little scared after the first couple months—you know, commitment issues and all,” she sighed. “He’s amazing in the sack though. That man definitely knows how to fuck.” I covered my mouth and started laughing hysterically.
Yep, no filter at all!
Good thing we were the only ones in the bathroom at the time.

“Well, that was more info than I asked for, but damn girl! Good for you!” I said as I opened the door and washed my hands. I took my lip gloss out of my purse and reapplied.

“We better get back out there before some slutty bitches try to snatch up our hot firefighters,” Cara exclaimed, and part of me knew she wasn’t really joking.

We headed into the ballroom and back to our table where the guys were waiting. Just as we sat down, the music stopped and an older gentleman approached the microphone. From what I could tell, he was the Fire Chief. He thanked everyone for coming and gave a long speech about how the funds collected tonight from ticket sales and the silent auction were going to be donated to help the families of fallen and injured firefighters around the state. He thanked a bunch of people for helping make the event possible and then he started calling names and handing out awards.

They were about half way through the ceremony when a familiar name was called by the Fire Chief. “Blake Bentley.”

I spun my head around and looked at Blake with total shock in my eyes. He shrugged his shoulders at me nonchalantly, while a confident, sexy smile crossed his mouth. I watched him stand up and walk over to the stage. He shook the chief’s hand and then stood next to him as the chief continued.

“On April 3
rd
, Bentley and the crew of Station 34 were called to a structure fire at the Highline Ridge apartment complex. Upon arrival of the crew, witnesses were claiming that there was a child stuck on the third floor of apartment #305. Without hesitation, Bentley and the rest of the crew made their way up to the apartment. Bentley entered the apartment and immediately started searching for the child. Within less than thirty seconds, the child was found unconscious. Bentley brought the child down to the EMS team where they were able to resuscitate and get him breathing again. If it wasn’t for Bentley’s timely reaction, this child would not be alive today. Blake Bentley, I present you with the Southlands Fire Heroism Award.”

Blake shook the Chief’s hand and bowed down as the Chief put a ribbon with a large medal pendant around his neck. He posed for some pictures and then walked back over to our table to sit down. I was in complete shock. I mean, I knew what firefighters did, but he never once said that he was going to be receiving an award for heroism tonight. I suddenly realized just how dangerous his job really was and it made me extremely nervous. I started to twirl my hair. Blake must have noticed because as soon as he made it back to the table, he took my hands in his and gave them a little squeeze.

“Blake, that is so amazing! Why didn’t you tell me you were going to be receiving an award tonight?” I asked him.

“I didn’t think it was really that big of a deal. I was doing my job. I don’t think I need an award for that,” he stated simply.

Blake took my hands and brought them up his mouth and kissed them both tenderly. I just stared at him in awe. It was like I was looking at different person all of a sudden and, in that moment, I fell for him just a little bit more. I had already fallen for the cocky side of him and, if that wasn’t bad enough, I was now seeing the brave, caring, heroic side of Blake. I could honestly say that my feelings were starting to spiral out of control.