The Firefighter's Cinderella by Dominique Burton

idea what you mean.”
    â€œYou’re all dressed up like girls from where I grew up, except none of them could hold a candle to your beauty.”
    â€œAll I’m wearing are Wranglers and a brimmed hat.” She looked down at herself. “Some kind of peach-colored Western shirt and cowboy boots.”
    â€œI’m telling you, Tasha, you’d make all the boys in Craig, Alaska, come running, that’s for sure.”
    â€œFor goodness sake, C.J. You’re making me blush.”
    â€œI like to get you all hot and bothered.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œBecause it means you’re human underneath that facade.”
    â€œI’ve always been human.”
    C.J. tossed his cowboy hat aside and pulled her into his arms. He tipped up her chin until her hat fell back, hanging from the string around her neck, and his eyes searched hers. Then he crushed her to him. She felt his heart beating fast like hers. “I’m going to be keeping an eye on you tonight,” he said hoarsely. “Now what’s the plan?” He released her.
    â€œWe’ll leave the villa through the maid’s entrance and head out to the street. Then, like any tourist, we’ll flag down the shuttle.”
    â€œWhat?” he blurted. “You mean this villa comes with a shuttle?”
    She tried not to laugh. “No. The town has a shuttle that runs for free. You just have to get on its route and flag it down.”
    â€œDoes it take us to the restaurant where you meet the IAs?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell, then, lead the way.”
    The shuttle ride turned out to be a revelation. He was surprised how pretentious the passengers were—snooty and arrogant people who steered away from him and Tasha, who were dressed like vineyard pickers. Obviously, the two of them looked like workers who’d come for a night on the town.
    C.J. cast a glance at Natasha. If anyone knew she was the daughter of a congressman, they’d be trying to butter her up.
    And Tasha wondered why he didn’t dress like this all the time. The more he got to know her, the more he had the feeling she liked the part of him bred in the wilds of Alaska. She was searching for comfort, not flash. He just didn’t know how deep her feelings went.
    C.J. was positive she was attracted to him. She didn’t open up to many people. Even if he was Tim’s friend, she seemed to have no trouble separating the two of them lately. For C.J.’s sake, he hoped it was true.
    When the shuttle reached its destination, he couldn’t believe his eyes. In the distance he saw an old Spanish bar called Amigos. The exterior had mortar peeling everywhere, with chips in the tiles. Signs for beer ads plastered the walls. The small windows had bars covering them, and the place rocked with salsa music. In two minutes’ time they’d come from picturesque Yountville to Tijuana.
    â€œTell me this isn’t where we’re headed,” C.J. muttered in dismay.
    â€œAfraid so,” she said.
    â€œTasha, this is a dive.”
    â€œExcuse me, sir. They have the best Mexican food this far north of the border and the best company in town. I’m getting out even if you aren’t.”
    C.J’s gaze followed Tasha as she walked over to the driver and asked him to come back at ten forty-five. What kind of world was this, where shuttle service was free and, even better, would come back at your requested time?
    He hadn’t known what he was getting himself into when he and Tim had become friends. The life of the privileged never ceased to amaze him.
    Tasha was about to step off the shuttle. “Are you coming?” She popped her head back in.
    Her question brought him out of his thoughts. “Yes.”
    Outside, he put his arms around her and gathered her to him. He needed to calm his heart. The thought of such a beautiful, brave woman risking everything to come to a place like this scared him to the