Page 65 of Ignite

Ethan:So I should bring a box of tissues or update my will?

Something had to go my way because it seemed everything was pissing me off.

Half a dozen of us got together on Friday nights. For Korbin, Trey and Brody, it was about pre-fueling and deciding which town to hit for the weekend and which women were their targets. For Reece, Bailey and I, it was about celebrating the end of the week and delaying going home to lonely homes. We all took turns at paying for a feed on Friday nights. My shout had cost me a full paycheck which had taken my breath away. But when I saw Trey’s bill, it had a seventy-five percent discount. When I’d asked about it, he shrugged it off as the cost of prioritizing backburning applications.

The bastard acted like a saint, a pillar of the community, and volunteer firefighter, but he got kickbacks for doing his job.

I was too angry with him to speak, but I unleashed my rage and disgust on him during the next training session.

Reece pissed me off just by being Reece. Everyone could see he had the hots for Zoe Wynters and was patiently waiting for her marriage to die of natural causes. I mean, no one battered an eye or called him on it. As for Zoe’s husband, even if he had a clue, he wouldn’t give a shit. No man who loved his wife would talk to her the way Glenn did.

And it was easy to be pissed off at Korbin. The dude just floated through life, going through one woman at a time and not giving two shits about the consequences. Not that the three barmaids from Beringi were complaining. The only good thing that had come out of the auction had been watching Korbin try and extract himself after the women tracked him down ay the gym and wanted more than one weekend.

Rose, the woman who’d won my auction, seemed nice enough. She owned a chain of cafes up the south coast of New South Wales and by the end of our second date, she’d gotten with the program we’d never be more than just friends.

The only woman I wanted in my face or my life was the woman who could barely stand to be in the same room as me. Luckily, we still had technology.

Ethan:What are you doing Tuesday night?

Rylee:Washing my hair.

Now that gave me visions that would keep me hard for half the night, no matter how many times I relieved myself.

Ethan:Want some help?

Rylee:Funny man.

Ethan:Ryan will be training with us.

Ethan:I’m going to have to leave early. Do you mind meeting the guys at the pub? I promised him steak and roasted vegetables and don’t want to let him down.

Rylee:Sure.

At least one plan was coming together.

“Thank you for another wonderful evening,” Rose said as I released my seat belt. “That would be date number five done and dusted.”

“You don’t have to sound so thrilled.” I laughed. “I do have an ego, remember?”

“So do I but that didn’t stop you from rejecting me.” Rose laughed good-naturedly. “I can’t remember the last time I went bowling. Most men want to wine me and dine me.”

“I got you hotdogs and a soda.” I relaxed back into the passenger seat, wishing I had a car. This whole being picked up for a date didn’t sit well with me. Then again, being on a date with the wrong woman didn’t sit well either.

“Then let me amend, most men want to wine, dine and then bed me. You haven’t even tried first base.”

“You know me,” I said, shrugging with mock innocence. “I’m saving these lips for someone special.”

“Rylee?” Rose asked and I nodded. “Does she know she’s special because sometimes us girls need it pointed out.”

“If she doesn’t by now, she will in a week. I’ve been organizing a surprise with Flick.”

“Care to share?”

“I got access to all the photos she has taken of the cars she’s done up on her own. I got prints made up, Zoe helped pick which ones would showcase not just the cars but Rylee’s signature style.”

“Zoe knows her marketing.” Rose nodded, “I want her to do some work for my business, but she declined due to conflict of interest.”

“Conflict?”

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