Page 18 of Burn

“Do you have a plan?” I whisper to Scarlet before we’re in front of them.

She shrugs. “No, but we have tits for that. They’re magical. When you don’t know what else to say, stick your tits in his face.”

“I’m not wearing a bra,” I blurt out.

“Even better.”

This certainly isn’t the first time I’ve been summoned to seduce a guy. And probably not the last. The realization is sobering. Actually, it’s depressing as shit.

Within a foot of the booth, I realize how big this guy is. Not like huge but he’s definitely got some muscle mass on Judah. His dark gray shirt stretches over his broad chest nicely, and my eyes wander to his black hat. His eyes are a lighter color than Judah’s, but I can’t tell in this lighting if they’re blue or green.

Though our eyes meet again, he’s talking to the guy seated across from him.

It’s a second later, and we do make solid eye contact, and he stops talking to his friend. He’s looking directly at me. Not Scarlet. And I see stars and unicorn glitter.

Just kidding.

Nothing spectacular happens at all because then he’s staring at my tits.

See? They’re magical as Scarlet says.

Or maybe it’s because I’m not wearing a bra. That’s the problem with coming out on a whim. My bra wasn’t clean, and now that I’m thinking about it, I can’t remember the last time I shaved my legs.

Before I say anything to the guy, I glance at his hands, the bloody knuckles and the way they’re wrapped around a glass with amber colored liquor in it. Call me crazy, but you know, the bar fighter was turning me on already, and I hadn’t even heard him talk yet. I always pick the bad ones. Not that I want to snag the bad boy. It’s nothing like that. It’s more like me wanting someone to pull my hair, and fucking mean it. Bad boys are the only ones who can deliver.

“Hey,” Scarlet says, her voice warm and honey sweet. She sits down like she’s old friends with these guys. Only she doesn’t sit beside them, she sits on the guy across from the bar brawler’s lap.

“Hey, yourself,” he says to Scarlet, but there’s a grin on his face.

Can’t say the same for the brawler. He’s glaring.

His eyes, the glare, it’s no wonder no one has approached him since he basically busted a guy’s jaw for no apparent reason. His mere presence here is intimidating but leave it to Scarlet and me to find the darkest motherfucker to make Judah jealous.

From one prick to the next, as my mother always said.

“I’m Scarlet . . . and you are?” She stares at the lighter-haired one wearing a dark blue hoodie, waiting for an answer.

“Owen.” He nods across the table. “That’s Caleb.”

Caleb? That’s a cute name, and it’s not even close to Judah. Perfect. And I can totally picture the name falling from my lips in the heat of the moment.

Here’s some information about Scarlet in any social situation. Scarlet can basically put herself in any group of people and get them talking. She’s gifted like that. Which is why I hate that she won’t move over to customer service in the hotel and sticks with cleaning rooms.

Unless I’m at work and need to, I can’t start conversations to save my ass, but I suppose this is why I’m friends with Scar, right?

Precisely.

“Are you guys police officers?” Scarlet asks, motioning a bartender over with a flick of her wrist as I stand there like an idiot refusing to do the same and sit down.

Owen laughs after Scarlet gives them her drink order, tossing his head back in amusement. “No.Definitelynot brass. We’re America’s heroes.”

I still haven’t sat down. My hearts in my throat and I can feel my eyebrows getting hot. As if seducing men is her calling in life, Scarlet’s hands move over his shoulders and then she gives me a side-eye, like I’m supposed to do the same thing to Caleb. She looks at Owen again. “Military?”

Watching Scarlet with this guy totally reminds me of middle school when I was slow dancing with Kevin Kirk while intently watching the actions of the cooler, more popular Emma Lane and what she was doing with her boyfriend. I couldn’t even tell you what song was playing that night, all I knew was whatever Emma Lane did, I did to Kevin Kirk.

Lucky him.

“Military?”Owen repeats, staring at Caleb, eyebrows drawn together, and then he glances up at Scarlet, straight-faced, as if he can’t stomach for her to get it wrong again. “No. We’re firefighters.” And then he adds, “We run into a burning building when everyone else runs out.”

---