Page 89 of Ignite

Like it or not, I had to deal with Darin before Ethan and I could resume our moment. I didn’t have Trixi’s contact info—why would I—but friends of mine could probably get in touch with her. I’d be happy to pour him into her car as long as she took his car keys with her.

“Let me get some ice for that,” I picked up Ethan’s hand, inspecting it for damage. “Keep the swelling down so it doesn’t mess with your training.”

Before he could stop me, I’d sprinted through to the kitchen, grabbed a bag of frozen peas and a clean tea-towel and wrapped it around Ethan’s fist. Did he realize I hadn’t gotten anything for Darin? That Darin was someone else’s problem now? That I only cared about Ethan?

Did Ethan notice? Did he care?

“Um, this was a mistake. I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had plans,” Ethan said, smoothing down my dress before backing away. Moments ago, he’d looked confused. Now he looked at me with the same level of disgust Darin had when Darin first arrived.

No. No. No.

“This? No.” My heart raced as I struggled to explain—what? My ex turned up unannounced and unwelcome? “Me and Darin, hell no.”

“Gonna try telling me you got all dressed up to do paperwork?” Ethan snorted, shaking his head, wiping any trace of our kiss from his lips, and removing all hope. “I wanted to thank you for the ute, so, thank you. Consider any mutual obligations resolved and paid in full.”

Ethan tossed me the peas still wrapped inside the tea-towel and stormed out.

I wanted to follow him, make him stop, and listen.

But what would I say?

That the chemistry between us was off the planet, and the sex hadn’t been all alcohol driven? He knew it. I saw in his eyes and actions that he knew it.

That the highlight of every day had become his text messages? That no one else could drive me insane with one-word messages that I could interpret one thousand ways. Or make me laugh when I wanted to throttle a supplier who’d increased their costs without warning.

I looked forward to Ethan being my last text at night, and first in the morning.

And the kiss.

Before Darin ruined everything, the kiss had been full of future possibilities. But then Ethan had decided to let his ego get in the way of sticking around and helping me deal with my drunken ex.

Had Darin saved me from making another mistake? Hell if I knew.

Chapter 23

Burn Me Twice

“Thetimeforcomplacencyand preparation is over. Based on latest weather forecasts, the RFS is predicting an atrocious fire season with nearby blazes already out of control. Excavators are digging out containment lines to stop the Escarpment blaze from reaching the National Park. We all know what will happen if the National Park catches hold. Review your fire plan and be prepared. In other news ..”

Rylee

Damn.

I slammed the door as Ethan’s ute tore out of my driveway and down the street.

I couldn’t believe Ethan had jumped to all the wrong conclusions and had left me with the mess that was Darin.

My heart wanted to text Ethan, call him, drive after him, or even get the boys to track him down until I could find him and force him to listen. My head insisted I stay and deal with Darin. He’d already driven here drunk. I needed to find and hide his car keys.

My heart screamed for Ethan. Why had it taken so long to realize he’d taken the time to get dressed up, for me. He’d come to see me.

Now, I didn’t even know what to say. Even if I found him, how could I explain how much I’d thought about him and us and what we could be as I put the finishing touches to his ute? How could I explain the times I’d fantasized about his reaction as he saw what I’d done to his ute? Or how much I’d hoped he would come over to thank me in person.

I couldn’t even explain to myself how I’d dressed up from tomboy into a woman I hoped Ethan would take a second chance with. I wanted to be the woman he could sayI love youback to.

I wanted Ethan to take one look at his ute and realize it had been a labor of love. Moments into our kiss, I’d even steeled myself to ask for a clean slate—try a third, first date.

Instead, Ethan had let his ego take control and stormed out. The man I wanted, left, while the man who’d once promised me a forever, had stayed.

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