Yes. Brooke OBrien.
Zach Thomas.
Hi, Zach Thomas.
His eyes warmed to a simmer, and a matching heat came from deep in her belly. Holy smokes, could he see the steam escaping from her pores? It was so strange, her immediate reaction to him. Strange and unsettling. What do you mean latest?
Theyve sent us six EMTs so far. He smiled without much mirth. No, seven. Yeah, youre the seventh.
Okay, that didnt sound promising. Whats wrong with the job?
Besides crazy twelve-hour shifts for the glory of low pay and little or no recognition? He let out a low laugh, and she found that the butterflies in her belly were dancing to a new tune now. Not nerves, but something far earthier.
No one mentioned that Im the seventh temp, or that theyd had any problem filling the position.
Did I scare you off?
Did you want to?
He lifted a shoulder, not breaking eye contact. If you scare easily, then itd be nice to know now.
A challenge, and more of that shocking, undeniable sexual zing.
Did he feel it? I dont scare at all.
At that, something new came into his gaze. Approval, which she didnt need, to go along with that undeniable awareness of her as a woman.
She didnt need that, either, but damn, it was good to know she wasnt alone in this. Whatever this was. Since she wasnt ready to put a finger on it, she forced herself to stop looking at him. I dont actually officially start until tomorrow, but the chief suggested that I come by, check the place out. And, she supposed, meet the crew, who, it sounded like, were tired of meeting people who didnt stick.
But shed stick. At least for the six weeks shed been hired for, because if she was anything, it was reliable.
Would you like the tour?
Yes, please, of your body. No, dont get up, she said quickly when he started to do just that. Really. Ill manage.
Doors unlocked, he said, watching her, gaze steady.
Great. Ill just Try to stop staring at you. Jeez, itd been too long since shed had sex. Waaaay too long. Nice meeting you.
How about I say the same if youre at work tomorrow?
Ill be here. She might be nearly drunk with lust but she knew that much. She would be there.
Hope so. His light eyes held hers for another beat, and more uncomfortable little zings of heat ping-ponged through her.
Whew. Any more of this and she was going to need another application of deodorant this morning. I will, she insisted. I always follow through. She just didnt always grow roots. Okay, she never grew roots. Turning away, she let out a long breath and, hopefully, some of the sexual tension with it, and headed toward the door, which stood ajar. Hello?
Utter silence, broken only by a gurgling sound. The front room looked like a grown-up version of a frat house, not quite as neat and organized as the garage, but clean. There were two long comfy-looking sofas and several cushy chairs in beach colors that were well lived in. Shelves lined one wall, piled and stacked with a wide assortment of books, magazines and DVDs. On the floor sat a huge basket filled with flip-flops and bottles of suntan lotion. Another wall was lined with hooks, from which hung individual firefighter gear bags.
She could see the kitchen off to the right and a hallway to the left, but still no sign of life, which was odd-they couldnt all be off on calls, not with the rigs still out front. Hello?
Still nothing.
With a shrug, she headed toward the gurgling sound, which took her into the kitchen, and a coffeemaker, making away. Whod want coffee on a hot day? she asked herself.
A crew whos been up all night.
Turning around, she faced sexy firefighter Zach Thomas, and as potent as hed been lying down, his hotness factor shot up exponentially now that he was standing, even with bed-head-or hammock-head-which was good news for himand bad news for her.
Letting out a huge yawn, he covered his mouth, then grimaced. Sorry.
He looked good even when yawning. She was so screwed. Dont be.
He set down his boots and shirt and stretched. His T-shirt rose, giving her a quick peek at a set of lickable abs. He ran a hand over his hair, which only encouraged the short strands to riot in an effortlessly sexy way that might have been amusing if she hadnt been in danger of drooling.
Shed never been one to lose it for a guy in uniform, so she had no idea why now was any different, but oh my.
We had seven calls last night, he explained. Fires, an explosion in the sugar factory, a toxic-waste spill at the gas station on Fifth. You name it, we were at it, all night. None of us got more than an hour. Again he ran his hand over his already-standing-on-end hair. Were wiped. Everyones sleeping.
Beneath all that gorgeousness, true exhaustion lined his face, and suddenly Brooke saw him as a flesh-and-blood man. Im sorry I woke you. Especially after such a rough night.
He lifted another shoulder, not anywhere close to how irritated and frustrated shed be if shed had only an hour of sleep. Thats the way this job works. You wanted to meet the crew?
Ill come back.
You want coffee first?
She opened her mouth to say no thanks, but then she saw it in his gaze. His guard coming up. Here he was, overworked, the place obviously short-staffed, and in his eyes, she was just one in a long line of people that had flaked. That would flake. You know, coffee would be great.
He turned to the cupboards while she took in the kitchen. The table was huge, with at least twelve chairs scattered around it. On the counter ran a line of mugs the length of the tile. How many of you are stationed here?
Were on three rotating shifts, with only six firefighters and two EMTs each, which makes ustwenty-four? Down from thirty, thanks to some nasty cutbacks.
A medium-size station, then, but huge compared to the private ambulance company shed last worked for, where thered been only four on at all times.
Shed have to be far more social here than she was used to. The firefighters worked twenty-four-hour shifts to the EMTs twelve, but it was still a lot of time together. She told herself that was a bonus, but really it just drove home that, once again, she was the new kid in class.
Zach eased over to the coffeepot. Black, or jacked up?
Jacked up, please.
He reached for the sugar. Without her permission, her eyes took themselves on a little tour, starting with those wide shoulders, that long, rangy torso, and a set of buns that-
He turned and, oh perfect, caught her staring.
At his butt.
Arching a brow, he leaned back against the counter while she did her best imitation of a ceiling tile. When she couldnt stand the silence and finally took a peek at him, he was handing her the mug of coffee, his eyes amused.
Thanks, she managed.
Youre not from around here. He poured another mug for himself.
All her life she hadnt been from around here, so that was nothing new. Getting caught staring at a guys ass? That was new. New and very uncomfortable. Is that a requirement?
Ah, and a little defensive, he said easily. You look new to Santa Rey, thats all.
And you know that because?
Because of your skin. Reaching out, he stroked a finger over her cheek, and instantly she felt as if all her happy spots sparked to life. She sucked in a breath.
So did he.
After a pause, he pulled his finger back. Huh.
Yeah, huh.
Youre pale, he said. Thats what I meant. Youre obviously not from a beach town.
Okay, so they werent going to discuss it. Im just careful, is all.
Zach nodded slowly. I didnt mean to ruffle you.
Even though he was clearly ruffled, too. He slid his feet into his boots, leaving them unlaced as he set down his coffee and shrugged into his uniform shirt.
Maybe he hadnt meant to ruffle her, but thats exactly what hed done, was still doing just by breathing. Im a big fan of sunscreen.
With a nod, he came close again, his gaze touching over her features. It was a compliment. You have gorgeous skin, all creamy smooth. Again, he stroked a finger over her cheek, and like before, she felt the touch in a whole bunch of places that had no business feeling anything.
He was ruffling her again. Big-time ruffling going on, from her brain cells to all her erogenous zones, of which she had far more than she remembered.
Back East? he guessed.
Massachusetts. Brooke was trying not to react to the fact that he was in her personal bubble, or that she was enjoying the invasion. You, uh She wagged her finger toward his shirt, still partially opened over the invitation to bite him, which she suddenly wanted to do. Didnt finish buttoning.
You distracted me.
Yeah. A mutual problem, apparently. This close, he seemed even taller and broader, and now his surfer good looks were only exaggerated by the firefighter uniform. Are the surfboards outside yours?
Why? He flashed a smile that must have slayed female hearts across the land. It certainly slayed hers. Because I look like a surfer?
Yes.
Do you surf?
Ive never tried, she admitted. Im not sure itd be a good idea.
Why?
Im She paused, not exactly relishing telling this gorgeous specimen of a man her faults.
A little uptight? he guessed, then looked her over. Maybe even a little bit of a perfectionist?
Are you suggesting Im anal? Because Im not.
He just kept looking at her, a little amused, and she caved like a cheap suitcase. Okay, I am. What gave me away?
The hair.
Which she had in a neat braid. Keeps it out of my way.
Smart. And the ironed cargoes?
She slid her hands into her pockets. So I hate wrinkles.
A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Yeah, wrinkles are a bitch.
Damn it. He was gorgeous and perceptive. Fine. Im a lot anal.
He let out another slow and easy grin.
And something within her began a slow and easy burn.
Oh, this wasnt good. It was the opposite of good. Maybe I should just come back-
But before she could finish that thought, a loud bell clanged, and in the blink of an eye the surfer firefighter went from laid-back and easygoing to tense and alert.
Units two and three, respond to 3640 Rebecca Avenue, said a disembodied voice from the loudspeaker.
Thats me. Zach set down his mug as movement came from down the hall.
People began filing into the front room in various stages of readiness, most of them guys-really hot guys, Brooke couldnt help but notice-half of them pulling on clothes, some shoving on shoes, others giving orders to others. All looked exhausted, and somewhat out of sorts. Having been up all night, they couldnt be thrilled at having to move out now, but she still expected someone to ask about her, or even acknowledge her, but no one did.