Shed meant it, but she really regretted saying it.
Cristina came outside. She wore her blue uniform trousers, a pair of kick-ass boots and a tiny white tank top, which emphasized a figure that a Playboy model would envy. Chomping into a red apple, she glanced at Brooke. Are you actually relaxing, New Hire?
Brooke. My names Brooke. This was now a three-week-old refrain between the two of them.
Hard to believe shed been in California for so long already, but it was a fact. And as she always did, Cristina shrugged. Hey, I called Number Four Skid Mark, so consider yourself lucky.
She would. Cristina might be sarcastic and caustic but she was brutally honest, emphasis on brutally, and loyal to a fault. In short, if you were on her good side, you had a friend to the death. Brooke knew the two of them werent there, not even close, but at least she didnt have a nickname she couldnt live with.
Theres no point in remembering your name when you all eventually quit, Cristina continued.
Im not leaving until my six weeks are up. Im just past halfway.
Leaning back against a tree, Cristina studied Brooke with interest. People who arent from around here rarely stick.
Gee, really? Even with your sweet and welcoming attitude?
Cristina smiled. Its too bad youre not sticking. You could grow on me.
I am sticking. Until the job is over.
Speaking of sticking, I hear you were sticking to Officer Hotties lips. That true?
Oh, boy. Officer Hottie?
Yeah. So were you?
Thats She settled for the same line shed given Dustin. Personal.
How personal?
Wasnt that the question. She and Zach had only kissed, but it seemed like more, and thered been lots of close encounters sinceAll she knew was that the wild sexual tension seemed unrelenting.
And overwhelming.
She really wanted to face that tension, and release it.
Let loose.
Assuming Zach still wanted to.
I know my faults, Cristina said into her silence. Im sarcastic, mean and I dont like many people. But Zach? I like him. A whole lot. Hes going through a tough time, and hes vulnerable.
The thought of big, rough-and-tumble Zach being vulnerable might have been funny only a week ago but Brooke knew Cristina was right. The arson thing?
The chiefs riding Tommys ass, and Tommys riding Zachs. Zach could just shut up and walk away from it all, but its not in his blood to walk away, not when he knows hes right. I care about him, we all care about him, and he needs to stay focused.
How do I threaten that?
Youre messing with his head. Im the only one who does that.
As warnings went, it wasnt exactly subtle. I didnt realize you two were dating.
Oh, I wouldnt call it dating, Cristina said with a smile.
Okaaaaay. What would you call it?
Cristina just looked smug, then, standing up, grabbed hold of a tree branch above her. Any new interesting calls lately?
Hard to top Viagra Man, but Im sure theres something just around the corner. What are you doing?
Pull-ups. She did five in a row, and still managed to talk normally. Cats and hard-ons. Interesting job, you have to admit.
True.
So where are you going when this is over?
Dont worry. Itll be far, far away. Brooke just wished she knew where. She always knew-but this time nothing was coming to her.
Dont worry. Itll be far, far away. Brooke just wished she knew where. She always knew-but this time nothing was coming to her.
Looking pleased, Cristina executed ten more pull-ups, then dropped to the ground to do push-ups.
Brooke went back to her laptop. Cristina didnt seem to mind being ignored, and Brooke tried for some peace and quiet. When another set of footsteps came up the walk, she didnt even bother to look up. She was busy, very busy, thank you very much, and needed no more distractions.
Didnt anyone ever tell you that all work and no play will make you a very dull girl?
Everything within her went still at the sound of Zachs low, husky voice. He wore his uniform, looking just hot enough that she felt little flickers of flame burst to life inside her. Maybe I like dull.
Nobody likes dull.
I dont know. This from Cristina, now doing sit-ups on the grass like a machine. I can believe she likes dull.
With an irritated sigh, Brooke closed her laptop yet again and stood. Shed find another place to study. Some place where the not-so-subtle barbs couldnt pierce her skin. Some place where there were no gorgeous, sexy firefighters making her yearn for things she shouldnt, like a connection, a real connection. And letting looseShe made it to the door before a big, warm hand hooked her elbow and pulled her around.
For a guy who only moved when he needed to, she was surprised at how fast hed caught her. Im busy, she said with unmistakable irritation. She used that tone when she needed someone to back off, and itd never failed her.
But it failed her now. Utterly.
Yes, I can see that youre very busy.
Cristina, apparently finished torturing her body, walked past them with a smirk.
But Zach just studied Brookes face. Youre always busy. You like it that way.
So damn true. But they werent going there. Where were you?
A meeting with the chief.
He was no longer amused, and she read between the lines. How did it go?
Terrific.
Really?
Sure. All I have to do is learn to respect authority, and everything will be just terrific. So were you and Cristina bonding?
Nice subject change, she thought, but she saw misery in his eyes, and she didnt want to poke at it. Yeah. Were like this. She held up two entwined fingers.
He smiled.
Officer Hottie? she asked. Really?
He had the good grace to wince. If it helps, I dont answer to it. It was just the two of them in the yard now, with no company except the light breeze and waves. Perfect time to tell him she wanted to mix business and pleasure, just once. He stood close enough that she could see flecks of dark jade swimming in that sea of pale green. He hadnt shaved this morning, and maybe not yesterday morning, either, and she could feel the heat radiating off his body and seeping into hers. She could smell him, too, some delicious, intoxicating scent of pure male that had her nostrils twitching.
Bad nostrils. Tell him
Cristina doesnt mean to be rude, Zach said.
It made her laugh. Yes, she does.
Okay, yeah. She does.
Youre all a very tight unit. I get that loud and clear.
We are. Its what makes us so good. But theres room for more. Theres room for you. You could fit in, if you wanted to.
Her greatest fantasyIf I wanted to?
Yeah, well, you have a tendency to stand on the outside looking in.
No, I dont.
He just looked at her, all patient and quietly amused, and she sighed. Okay, I do.
But you dont want to be on the outside looking in.
How was it that he knew her? We both know I dont really fit in.
You could.
Uh-huh. Cristinas waiting with open arms.
His expression was serious now. Shes had it rough and is a little distrustful, thats all. It has nothing to do with you.
She had a feeling it wasnt only Cristina whod had it rough. Youre sleeping with her.
Brooke hadnt meant for that to escape from her lips. She wanted to pretend it hadnt, but Zachs brows had shot up so far on his forehead they vanished into his hair.
Not that it matters, she said quickly, trying like hell to backtrack. Because it doesnt.
It doesnt?
She shook her head. It doesnt. It really doesnt. It really, really, really doesnt-
He set a finger on her lips and she shut up.
Cristina and I are friends, he said quietly. We have been for a very long time.
She wrapped her fingers around his wrist and pulled it away. And more than friends? Have you been more than friends for a very long time, as well?
Twice. A very long time ago.
She didnt want to acknowledge the relief that flooded through her at that. You might want to remind her of that part the next time shes going around marking her territory.
She has no territory to mark. Or I never would have kissed you like I did. He ran a finger over her jaw.
A simple touch.
But there was nothing simple about the way her body reacted, starting with the breath backing up in her throat and her nipples tightening as they hoped for some attention, too. So much for not mixing business and pleasure, because there was pleasure when she was with him. Lots of it. Oh boy.
His gaze met hers. Oh boy bad, or oh boy good?
Were friends.
Yes.
Th-that touch felt likemore.
Did it? He smiled innocently. Then youre the one mixing the business with the pleasure, arent you?
She stared at him, but he only smiled, touched her again, then walked off, leaving her to talk to herself. Am not, she whispered.
But she was.
She so was.
The next day, Brooke and Dustin hit the ground running and never slowed. They delivered a baby at a grocery store, transported a set of conjoined twins, stood by at a bank robbery and helped locate two fingers belonging to a construction worker, whod lost them in a pile of sawdust thanks to the blade of his handsaw. It was early evening before they finally made their way back to the station, where a delicious smell had Brookes nose twitching.
Ohmigod, Dustin moaned. Smell that?
Tell me its for us.
If theres a God.
Following the scent into the kitchen, they found the crew grabbing plates and helping themselves to a huge pan of lasagna. Zach was already seated at the table, his uniform trousers and a gray T-shirt spread taut over that hard body.
Brookes gaze locked on his. They hadnt spoken since yesterday, where shed done that whole mixing-business-with-pleasure thing, confusing their issues.
Her issues.
The memory of their kiss-that deep, hot long kiss-was still burned in her mind. In spite of herself, she wanted another one, and she had a feeling it was all over her face.
Ah, man, Aidan moaned loudly from the table, mouth full-which didnt stop him from loading more in. This lasagna is better than sex.
Cristina snorted. Then youre doing it wrong. She took a bite, then also moaned. But, oh yeah, baby, this is a close second. Nicely done, Officer Hottie.
Zach rolled his eyes. Thanks. I think.
Brooke stared at him as she sat. You cooked?
Well, we tried letting Cristina cook, Aidan said. Remember, Eeyore? He nudged Blake with his elbow. For your birthday?