Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 62

James spotted her right away. He had his helmet tucked under one arm and closed the distance between them with those easy, long strides of his.

He looked a little worn out, like he’d finally let himself relax after a brutal shift, but there was still that careless confidence in the way he moved.

“Done for the day? Not busy tonight?” he asked when he got close.

A bunch of firefighters who’d just climbed off the truck noticed what was happening and immediately started whispering to each other—not quietly at all.

“No way, check it out—who’s that girl? She’s gorgeous!”

“How does James even know someone like that?”

“Are you kidding? When has James ever actually talked to a woman first? That’s gotta be his girlfriend!”

“Seriously, after all this time, South Bay Fire Station’s most eligible bachelor finally has someone!”

They weren’t exactly subtle about it.

Emmy could feel her cheeks getting hotter by the second.

“Not busy anymore,” she mumbled, looking down at her feet. “I’m heading home.”

James caught the way her face turned bright pink. She looked like the sweetest peach—so cute he almost wanted to reach out and tease her.

He swallowed, leaning in close and dropping his voice. “I’ll come home for dinner tonight.”

The guys behind him practically lost it.

“Did you hear that? James is going home for dinner!”

“I told you, she’s gotta be his girlfriend—he’s actually going home to eat!”

“She’s stunning. Like she just walked out of a movie or something.”

“Come by more often, okay?”

They kept getting louder, and Emmy wished she could just disappear.

She risked a quick glance at James, muttered, “Okay,” and hurried off without looking back.

James watched her slim figure until she turned the corner and was out of sight, his brows slowly knitting together.

She didn’t look happy.

Did something happen? Or did the guys just embarrass her?

He turned around, his expression going cold in a split second.

“She’s shy. Next time, don’t make a scene in front of her. Got it?”

The night air was cool, and a few neighbors were still out walking.

One of the aunties smiled and waved them over.

“Oh, are you two the new couple? I haven’t seen you around before.”

“You two look perfect together—what a handsome pair!”

Emmy’s face went hot again. She gave an awkward smile, glancing at James, waiting for him to say something.

But James just nodded politely, totally unfazed, as if this happened all the time.

The group of aunties ambled off, still smiling.

The breeze rustled the leaves, and for a moment it was just the two of them, quiet and close.

Then James turned to her, his voice low. “The board meeting didn’t go well?”

Emmy froze.

He saw right through her, and suddenly she felt a lump in her throat and her nose sting.

She looked up at him, the streetlight drawing sharp lines across his strong jaw. Her voice came out soft. “James… is your dad good to you?”