Page 23 of August Heat
Does that mean you and your squeeze were up to no good?Krys had seen the couple slobbering all over each other near the bushes. “Man, everyone in this town is so damn nosy.”
“Is it really better back where you’re from?”
“Portland? You’re lucky if people acknowledge you at all before they run you over with their scooters.”
Krys scrambled to think of something to say to Ariana, who wasn’t about to budge until she got a few answers about somebody’s dating life. Yet before Krys could come up with a convincing story without violating Siobhan’s privacy, a head of frizzy red hair appeared in the opened garage door.
“Well, well.” Ariana let out a low whistle when she caught who Krys looked at in the distance. “Guess that answers a few questions.” She winked at Krys before turning around again. “Enjoy your pizza. Ma’am.” She nodded to Siobhan on her way out. Only then did Krys realize that her missing jacket was folded over Siobhan’s arm.
The sun gave a healthy glow to Siobhan’s reddish-orange hair.I have never seen it that light before. I dig it.Krys dug a lot of things about Siobhan, though. Like the profile that said she always had a serious thought running through her head. Or the fashion sense of a thirty-something woman who now kept her wardrobe to practical jeans and sweaters. Even now, when it was an easy eighty-five, Siobhan wore a baggy white sweater over a camisole. Didn’t look like vet clothes. Had she changed to see Krys?
“If you’re here for an autograph,” Krys said, hands on her hips, “you’re gonna have to get in line. I have a date with some pizza slices before I give myself over to the fans.”
Siobhan’s hands folded beneath Krys’s jacket. “Happened to see you on the news. Pretty cool what you did.”
Krys shrugged. “Just another week in Paradise. Could as easily say that your job is cool as hell. Saving those big animals and all.”
“Little ones too?”
“I don’t wanna step on Dr. Global’s toes when his office is a five minutes’ walk from here.”
Siobhan smiled. Was that one of her genuine grins? The kind that conveyed any and all mirth lurking in her hardened heart?I must be pretty special if I’m getting those kinds of smiles out of her.“Seeing you on TV reminded me that I needed to give this back to you.” Siobhan held out the jacket. “Didn’t realize I was still wearing it until I got home after the movie the other night.”
Krys stepped forward and picked the jacket out of Siobhan’s hands. “No worries. This is my spare I keep here in my locker for days like today.”
Did Siobhan’s eyes linger on Krys’s chest?Again?Thank God she worked out, huh? “Thank you again for inviting me to the movie. It was nice.”
“Come on. Admit it. You hated the movie.”
Ah! Another smile! “It was fine to watch at least once.”
“Speaking of going out…” Krys waited to see if that smile would completely fall. This was, after all, a woman who had neglected to contact her since Saturday night. Krys had assumed things weren’t going anywhere, although she certainly appreciated the hope that there might be another date soon. “My friend Lorri – you know, the one from the hardware store? – is having a dinner at her place tomorrow night. Turns out I’m gonna be the only one there without a date, because Jalen had to go and bring her girlfriend.”
“And…?”
Krys chuckled. “You could be the date of the only woman in town who knows how to use the Jaws of Life. Oh, and Lorri’s wife makes someamazingfood. Like… your tongue will melt out of your mouth and you’ll be gone to Heaven. Not to be confused with the café.”
Siobhan tilted her head. Was she still thinking about it? Or had she made up her mind long before she came to the firehouse?I like to think she came here for the sole purpose of talking to me. Yes. I really will play myself up like that.Only if she could get away with it. Krys often could.
“That might be nice,” Siobhan mused. “Neither my aunt nor I are fantastic cooks, but we get by. Haven’t had a real homecooked meal in a long while.”
“So is that a yes? I don’t even have to trot out the celebrity you’ll probably get to meet? I mean, she’s nice and all, but if you ask me, my friends are way funnier.”
“I don’t know much about the celebrities, but if you insist…”
“I’m not insisting,” Krys said. “I’m asking if you want to come. Oh, and asking for your number, because it’s killing me to not be able to text you when I’m thinking about you.”
That was the first thing to make Siobhan’s face slightly fall.Great. I pushed it way too far. Good job, Krys.“Is this thinking happening late at night?” Siobhan asked.
“All hours of the day,”
“Now you’re lying.”
“Is it really so hard to believe?” Krys picked up the pizza box and opened the lid. “By the way, you should have some of my celebratory pizza.”
“First pretzels, now pizza. I really am joining the firehouse diet.”
“So is that ayesss?”
