Page 13 of Burn It Down

“What?” Janelle looks confused, but that doesn’t make her pull her eyes off Kade.

“Janelle,” I say, trying to get her attention, but she’s almost comically glued to the man. “That’s Kade.”

“What?” she says again, and I don’t think my words are registering with her at all. I place my hand on her arm.

“You’re a married woman.”

“Again, not dead,” she says, finally prying her eyes away from Kade and looking back at me. “Kade...” It’s finally clicking. Her eyes go wide. “That’s Kade?”

I nod, picking up my drink and taking a healthy swig. “Yes. That’s Kade. Stop staring.” Her eyes have gone back to him yet again. “For the love of God, woman. Be subtle.”

Her gaze is finally on me again, but I swear she hasn’t stopped the drooling—and I get it. Lord, do I get it. As gorgeousas I thought Kade Mitchell was when we were younger, his younger self has nothing on grown-up, fireman Kade. “I’m sorry. Even if he’s a total prick, I’d climb that man like a tree.”

“He is a prick.” I say, taking another long drink.

“Who’s a prick?” Shit. My entire body goes stiff—including my cock, which is just so inappropriate—when I hear his deep voice coming from behind me.

“You, apparently.” Damn it, Janelle. The woman doesn’t miss a beat, and I really think I need to get a new best friend. “I’m Janelle,” she says, shamelessly reaching her hand out for Kade. I can see their hands out of my peripheral vision, and I finish my drink quickly and turn around to look at Kade.

“I’m a prick?” he asks after dropping Janelle’s hand. Janelle looks way too pleased as she grabs her drink but stays turned around, facing Kade.

“You’re saying you aren’t?” Okay, the alcohol has loosened my lips a little, but it’s fine. This is totally fine, and I’m still in control.

“Don’t worry about this one. I’m sure you had your reasons,” Janelle says, draping her arm around my shoulder. “He likes to make it hard to love him at first, but once you get to know him, it’s impossible not to.”

She actually winks at him, and I swear I’m searching for a new best friend tomorrow. Kade, for his part though, actually smiles at that, his lips twitching slightly with amusement. “We go way back.”

I snort at that. “As if you remember.”

His eyes darken a little, his brow furrowing, and if he could stop looking so hot, that would be fantastic. Like any minute now, please. “I do remember you. You think I don’t?”

“Why don’t you join us for a drink and you two can talk this out,” Janelle tries unhelpfully.

“Nope.” I stand up, and admittedly, my knees are a little bit wobbly from the alcohol, but I manage not to trip as I lay money down on the bar and thank Judy one last time. “I’m heading out. I guess you two can just talk without me.” Though when I say that, I do get a sick feeling. I can just imagine Janelle gossiping and laughing and talking away with Kade after I leave. “Don’t you have to get home to your husband and kids?”

Janelle finishes off her drink and stands up. Blessedly, I think she knows exactly why I blurted that out and lets me off the hook. “I suppose I do.” She looks at Kade—not hiding at all that she would in fact like to climb him like a tree, as she put it. “It was so nice to meet you, Kade. I think I’ll be seeing you around.”

“Will you?’

“Janelle is a teacher at the school too.” I add, though I’m not sure why. I should be getting the hell out of here.

“Oh.” Kade looks at her happily and smiles. “Then, yeah. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

Janelle kisses me on the cheek and whispers, “You should stay and talk.”

I shake my head. “No.”

Her pretty eyes roll, and she hugs me anyway. “So stubborn.”

“See you on Monday.”

“Have fun boys.” She waves before taking off, and then it’s just Kade and me—with me trying to talk my legs into walking away from him, but they aren’t really working with me at the moment.

“You really taking off?”

Okay, that helps. His deep, stupidly hot voice sends a tingle through my entire body and reminds me just how dangerous it is to be around this man. How it’s always been. I was strong in school—believe it or not—and I could handle the torment of bullies. I knew then I needed to hide the fact that I was gaybecause, while the world does seem to be getting a little more accepting, even seven years ago, things were much, much worse. And I knew it wasn’t safe.

But when Kade Mitchell was around—it wasn’t possible to hide the effect he had on me. Apparently, he still does because my dick is still half hard from being in his presence. I need to walk away. “Yes. I’m leaving. Have at it,” I say, motioning toward the bar and then forcing my legs to carry me toward the exit.

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