Page 21 of Avery's Hero

“I thought we just stopped for lunch.”

He leans in, resting his elbow on the table, pinning me with his heated gaze. "So did I, but sitting here, having you look at me like I’m on the menu made me think otherwise.”

Okay. Now my cheeks are flaming. I croak, “Fire extinguisher, please.”

Brock laughs warmly, never looking away. At that exact instant, Monica the waitress shows up. After sliding our plates and drinks on the table, she looks between us with a look of utter disappointment on her young face.

Yes, he's looking atmelike I’m going to be dessert.

Snapping her gum, she asks tartly, “That all you two need right now?”

Maybe the fire suppression blanket from the kitchen. Or a personal sprinkler over my head.

Pinching my lips tight, I nod yes. Brock thanks her without looking up, and she scurries off. Her disappointment trailing behind her like a wet blanket.

And I’m left staring at my plate, my pulse flying, with Brock’s eyes burning into me.

“Hey,” hesays softly.

I unfold my napkin and make myself really busy getting my silverware ready. “Yes?”

Brock sips from his tea, never taking his eyes from me. Ask me how I know? Because my skin is about to turn bronze under that scorching gaze. I might as well be in Death Valley in August.

“You’re beautiful when you blush.”

Oof. That got me in the stomach. A million little sensations stir in me. I want to say thank you but I’m totally tongue-tied. He grins.

The cocky devil. After a minute, I manage to speak. “I blush easily, don’t pat yourself on the back too much there, Chief.”

“It’s becoming. Now eat. Don’t let me stop you. I’m going to be devouring mine, so there’s no use being afraid to jump in with both feet.”

Oh, I jumped in with both feet alright.

I had no idea when I agreed to that blind date that Brock Mitchell would be so confounding, complicated, and utterly heart-stopping.

Maybe Earth-shaking is the best way to describe it.

I know he’s trying to make me feel more comfortable when he turns the conversation to the arson cases that I worked on in San Diego.

Thank god. I take a breath and concentrate on the thing I’m good at. Remembering facts. Like the exact way his hands felt on my body on that first date.

CHAPTER SEVEN

I’m passing the bill to the girl at the cash register when a rude slap on the back makes me tense. Reeves. The bastard is grinning his lopsided grin beneath his low-slung fire department baseball cap. He looks between me and Avery. “Funny seeing you two here.”

I growl something unintelligible.

He tips his head at Avery. “Afternoon, Ms. Ellis.”

“Calling me Avery is fine,” she says as she greets the man with a smile.

He flashes more of his pearly whites. “Right on. Avery. Anyway, I’m surprised the chief brought you tothesecret spot so soon. We try to keep this place hidden from the world so we can get a table when we want one.”

She shrugs her slender shoulder. “I think his stomach made him do it.”

The cashier gives me the total, I pass her the county credit card, and sign on the receipt. When I turn around, Avery and Reeves have wandered off toward the door and are talking about the fire scene.

His hat is off now, gripped in his hand, and his eyes are locked on her, his attention rapt as he listens to her talk about what she noticed.

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