Because shed think it was funny.
Funny that you have a crush on her?
I dont have a crush on her. He sighed. Okay, I do. Shit.
Sam and Eddie brought Brooke a drink. To replenish the fluids, Sam explained. Both men looked at her expectantly.
What?
You tell us, Eddie said.
Instead, she took another large bite of her burger.
Dont you have anything you want to share? Sam looked hopeful. With your two best friends?
Were best friends?
They both nodded eagerly. So if something was on your chest, Sam said. And you just needed to, you know, get it off-
In detail, Eddie added. Were all ears.
Her burger congealed in her gut. You know?
Oh, we know all.
She looked at Dustin, who grimaced, then nodded. She handed him back the plate, and Eddie the drink, and then walked off. She stopped at the waters edge.
Stop sulking, will you?
Brooke turned and faced Cristina. Im not sulking.
Pouting, then. Look, this is a fire station. Were all walking God complexes who put our lives on the line every day, and yet socially? Immature as high school kids. Come on- she snorted when Brooke scoffed -we love to talk. Youve given us something new to talk about. Deal with it.
Brooke sighed. How long will it last?
Until its over.
It is over.
Please. It is. It was a one-time-only thing.
Okay, now I know youre crazy.
Why?
Why would you sleep with that man only once? Thats just a waste of all that hotness.
Im leaving in a few weeks. We agreed it was just a letting-loose thing.
Cristina stared at her, then laughed. And let me guess. Youre already regretting that stupid decision.
Brooke looked away, into the bonfire. No. Yes.
Cristina just shook her head. Well, lucky for me, your shortsightedness is another womans gain. And she walked away in her sexy little top and shorts, heading directly toward Zach, stopping to hug Blake.
Zach stood at one of the barbecues, holding a long spatula, flipping burgers and laughing at something Aidan was saying to him. Just looking at him, something happened inside Brooke. A clutch. A quiver.
What would it be like if she wasnt leaving? she wondered.
But she always left.
Always.
Besides, shed said no strings. Shed insisted. Shed come here tonight, just wanting to let go, to live and, oh boy, had she. She just hadnt realized that in doing those things, something else would happen.
In spite of her promise, shed begun to fall for Zach.
She watched as Cristina took the plate out of his hands and handed it to Aidan before drawing Zach over to where people were dancing, proceeding to grind up against him in tune to the music.
Here.
Brooke stared down at the proffered beer, then into Blakes face.
You looked like you could use it, the tall, thin firefighter said gently.
I
Drink. Then well dance. If it makes you feel better, you can rub all over me like she is with Zach. Im a good friend like that.
Im not jealous or anything.
Okay.
Im not.
He just nodded.
And she drank the beer, then took him up on his offer to dance.
Chapter 10
After dancing with Cristina, Zach moved to the coolers to get a drink. He pulled out a soda, then stood there with the waves at his back, looking for Brooke.
Shed been dancing with Blake, but now was with Sam, who was making the most of his time with her. Twice the firefighters hands slipped to her ass, and twice Brooke lifted them to her waist.
Sam grinned in a cant-blame-a-guy-for-trying way, and Zach considered going over there and tossing him into the ocean, but he didnt.
An hour ago, Brooke had been in his arms, panting his name as she came all over him. Shed let loose now. Washed him right out of her system and that was fine. Hell, that was great. Hed just move on, too, and-
You holding up? Tommy asked, stopping next to Zach, sipping a beer.
Why wouldnt I be?
Havent heard from you in a few hours. Couldnt figure out if I should be worried, or if it was because you were finally trusting me to do my job.
Zach let out a long breath. And how is that going? Your job?
Tommy just took a drink.
Shit. Dont tell me its not going.
Im not saying that. Im not saying anything.
Well, then, say something.
Youre just going to have to trust me a little bit longer.
Unfortunately, he really had no choice. Tommy walked away, and Zach watched Brooke dance some more. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair a little wild. Shed definitely loosened up tonight, and he couldnt tear his gaze off her. Forcing himself to, he moved to stand by Blake, who was back at the bonfire.
The other firefighter tossed a log into the flames, watched it catch. You could just ask her to dance.
Who?
Blake shook his head in disgust, then tossed another log into the fire before swiping a forearm over his sweaty brow. He didnt look so good, and Zach frowned. You okay?
Yeah.
Why dont you take a break, let me relieve you for a few?
Ive got it.
Blake had been quiet and down all year since Lynn had died. Of all of them, Zach thought maybe he at least knew a little of what he was feeling. Blake-
Yeah.
Why dont you take a break, let me relieve you for a few?
Ive got it.
Blake had been quiet and down all year since Lynn had died. Of all of them, Zach thought maybe he at least knew a little of what he was feeling. Blake-
I said Im good.
Great. They were both good.
And they were both liars.
For Zach, the next few days whirled by, a blurry, crazy merge of calls. He didnt sleep well, and finally gave up even trying, ending up at the firehouse kitchen table with his laptop, going through all his gathered arson information to distract himself from daydreaming about the feel of Brookes curves, the taste of her skin
And then the object of his fantasies walked into the room.
She was early for her shift, looking a little sleepy and a whole lot sexy as she headed directly toward the coffeepot on the counter.
They hadnt had a chance to speak alone since shed worn that pretty dress with her hair down, her body soft and giving and sweet.
So goddamn sweet.
Her mouth was still soft and sweet now, but she was back in the uniform, complete with her hair all carefully pulled back.
Buttoned-up.
It didnt matter. He remembered what she looked like with her hair down, not to mention without her clothes, and he wanted to undo her all over again.
He wanted that. He, the one whod not wanted a relationship.
Jesus. He really needed more sleep.
Brooke doctored herself some coffee, then looked at him. What are you doing?
Since the answer to that was, something I shouldnt be, he shut the laptop.
You and Blake. I caught him looking at porn, too.
Excuse me, but I was not looking at porn.
Over her mug, she raised a brow. What was it Viagra Man said? Guys will be guys?
For Gods sake. He opened the laptop back up. Come here and look for yourself.
Oh no, thank you. She was laughing now, and lifted her free hand. What you do in your own spare time-
Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and tugged her over, letting go just before she fell right into his lap, where he really wanted her.
She sat in the chair next to him and looked at him for a long beat; he looked back.
Hi, she whispered.
He smiled. Hi.
Turning her head, she stared at the screen, at the list of property deeds and the records of ownership hed been studying, and her smile faded.
The fires, she said quietly. The arsons.
Yeah. Doing some research. Which was getting him nowhere. Nothing matched. None of the current owners, none of the past owners, none of the three properties were related to each other in any way. After all these weeks, he was at an impasse, and was afraid Tommy was, too.
Youre trying to link them together.
He wasnt supposed to be doing any such thing. He certainly shouldnt be discussing it.
What about the way the fires were started? she asked.
Theyd all been started in a wire-mesh trash can, with a second point of origin as bait for the investigator to find and be misdirected, but he was afraid he was the only one who knew that. Similar, he admitted.
Suspects?
He stared at her. She wasnt lecturing him on how stupid it was to risk his job digging into this. She wasnt telling him all the reasons why these fires hadnt been arson. She was sitting here, believing him, believing in him. Most arson is committed by the owners. But the owners of these properties arent connected in any way that I can see.
New structures? Or old?
Newer.
What about contractors, then?
All different.
Okay, then. Back to location. Standing up, Brooke paced the length of the kitchen and back again. Leaning in over his shoulder, she typed on the keys of the laptop. If we compare their footprints
He couldnt stop staring at her, bowled over by her analytical mind, her quick thinking. I already did.
And?
And her scent was extremely distracting. As was the way her breast gently pressed into his arm. They were all different square footage, he told her. Different building types. Different everything.
Show me.
He brought up the map hed created. Her arm was resting on his shoulder. Her skin looked so damned silky, and he knew from experience that she tasted amazing.
Everywhere.
Theres got to be a connection. She was studying the screen, her brow furrowed, her mouth grim. Somewhere.
She believed in him. The knowledge was staggering. Brooke.
Somebody is connected in some way. An employee, a relative, someone She was thinking, chewing on her lower lip, eyes still glued to the screen, and he couldnt take his off her.
Maybe-
Brooke. Her gaze cut to his questioningly.
And he lost his breath. Instead of talking, he tugged on her hand, so that she was forced to lean in closer until she lost her balance.
He caught her.
And then he kissed her.
With a soft murmur, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Oh yeah, this was what hed needed for days-hell, maybe his entire life-and he kissed her until they had to break apart to breathe.
They were still staring at each other when the kitchen door opened and Aidan walked in. Hey.
Brooke leaped back to her chair like a Mexican jumping bean.
Anyone got food? Aidan asked.
Uh Brooke put her hands to her cheeks. I have cookies on the top shelf.
Score. Aidan helped himself while Brooke rose to her feet.
Gotta clock in, she said and, with a last glance at Zach, left the room.
Zach thunked his head to the table.
What? Aidan took two fistfuls of cookies and plopped himself down next to Zach, peering at the laptop. Trying to link them. He nodded. Hey, maybe if you-