Sugar & Spice

Chapter 19

A/N: Dedicated to michaelsbae101 ♥

There were three firefighters at Crissy's door the next morning – Quinn, Pete, and a third man she didn't recognize, with a shock of dark hair and ice blue eyes. Quinn shook the snow from his coat and stomped his feet before stepping inside when she opened the door for them. He tugged his scarf free and smiled at her, so familiar and warm and comfortable that Crissy couldn't help but smile back.

"Good morning," he said, his voice low for only her to hear. He hooked an arm around her waist and ducked his head to press a chilled kiss to her lips.

Pete sighed noisily behind them. Quinn broke away, his gaze roaming over Crissy's face for a moment before he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Got something to say, Pete?" he asked without looking away from Crissy.

"Sure do, buddy," Pete replied. "People eat here. You're being unsanitary."

Quinn rolled his eyes. Crissy stifled a laugh in his coat lapel. He brushed his thumb over her chin – a habit she was quickly getting used to – before he turned around.

"Crissy, this is one of my coworkers, Stephen Almeida. Stephen, this is Crissy."

Stephen nodded and shook her hand. "You've become a bit of a legend at the station after the Valentine's Day party."

A warm blush crept up her neck and into her cheeks at the attention. Quinn covered for her.

"I told him there would be food as payment," he said. "He's been hanging around Pete so long, he couldn't let that opportunity pass him by. All right, boys, let's get that stove off the truck already."

He brushed a brief kiss to the top of Crissy's head before he slipped out the door. Amy came bounding down the stairs from Crissy's room, pulling her long dark hair into a ponytail.

"Your bathroom is always so much more organized than mine," she said as she came up alongside Crissy. "The ponytail bands were so neat and tidy in the drawer, I found them right away which never happens in my apartment. I should pay you to clean up my bathroom. Not that it would stay that way for more than five minutes."

"I've seen your bathroom," Crissy said, watching Quinn, Pete, and Stephen wrestle the stove off the back of the truck. "You couldn't pay me enough. And I know your salary too. It'll only get thinner the more kids you have."

"Pleasant thought." Amy edged closer to Crissy to peer over her shoulder out the door as well. "Oooh. Now there's a nice view to get the day started."

Crissy swatted at Amy's arm. "Shush. I've already blushed once. I don't need any more of that, thank you."

"It only makes you cuter, lil' peach."

"Coffee. Now."

"Yes, boss."

Amy busied herself behind the counter as she got the coffee started. Crissy pulled the door open as Quinn, Pete, and Stephen hauled the stove inside, around the counter, and into the kitchen. Crissy waited at the threshold of the kitchen, doing her best to be available if help was needed while at the same time, staying out of the way.

Quinn stripped off his coat and began to set it on the counter but Crissy took it from him instead. He caught her hand and gave her fingers a grateful squeeze before Crissy accepted Pete's and Stephen's coats as well.

"Stephen," Quinn said, returning to the work. "You're in charge of the electricity. Breaker panel's in that cabinet."

Crissy stepped back to watch. Pete fished a few penlights from his back pocket and handed them out. Right before Stephen cut the power, Quinn swore under his breath.