Page 12 of Instant Heat
Turning my face to the window, I took in the yard beyond it. Bright yellow rays reached through the branches, illuminating small spots where it kissed the grass. I couldn't hear them, but I just knew the birds were happily singing their morning song.
"One night of hot sex doesn't mean I'm suddenly taken." I gave Lacy a quick glance before returning my gaze to the outside.
"No, but that look on your face means you want to be." There was a short pause and then,"When are you seeing him again."
I pulled my shoulders to my ears before letting them fall."I don't know. I kinda snuck out this morning."
"What? Why?"
The sigh blowing over my lips was way too heavy for this early in the day."I don't even know." How could I explain to her, without sounding like I belonged in the cuckoo's nest, that the enormity of what I felt when I woke up next to him was what drove me out of his bed in the first place?
Of course my friend thought it was something else. Reaching across the table, she covered my hand with hers."Oh sweetie, not all guys are like Rob. He's in a douchewaffle class all by himself." She squeezed my fingers reassuringly.
"Yeah, I know." I chewed on my lip."I did leave my number though."
"Good," Lacey drawled as she pushed to her feet."If he knows what's good for him, he'll call… soon."
I got up too and after throwing the yogurt container in the bin and rinsing my mug, Lacy and I headed out. With a quick hug, we went our separate ways. As usual, my first stop of the day was Mr. Bishop's room."Good morning, Mr. B," I chimed. Walking over to the window, I drew the curtains back allowing the morning sun entry.
"You know," Mr. Bishop said, his voice sounding every bit as shaky as his seventy-four years."One of these days you're going to call me by my first name. Especially once we're married and all."
My grin was wide as I got his wheelchair from the other side of the room—which was really more of a mini bachelor flat—and rolled it over to his bed."Maybe I'm just saving the name-calling for our wedding day." I batted my lashes very dramatically before helping him into his chair.
His bony elderly fingers sought mine out but couldn't quite make it to where I was holding onto his wheelchair. Taking pity on him, I reached over his shoulder and took his hand in mine."You're very sweet to indulge an old man."
I felt the squeeze I gave his hand all the way to my heart. Mr. Bishop didn't have anyone left. His wife had died two days before her fiftieth birthday, and his only son was killed in a bike accident a few years after that.
I understood the pain of losing not one but two people you loved. At least I still had Thatcher. He'd made the passing of our parents… not easier but rather more manageable. I could even imagine all the kinds of messed up I would have been if it hadn't been for my brother.
That was why if Mr. Bishop needed a few jokes to get through his day, I was definitely going to indulge him.
Once I brought his chair to a stop in front of the window, I locked the wheels in place before moving to crouch in front of him. Placing my hand on his knee, I told him,"I'll be back with your breakfast in a bit. When you're done eating, I'll take you for a ride through the garden and we'll talk more about this wedding of ours." I pinned him with a stare."But only if you finish all your food and take your medicine."
His glassy blue eyes sparkled as much as they could and his deeply lined mouth stretched into a shaky smile."Got it."
I pushed to my feet and grinned right back."Back soon."
As I headed out of Mr. Bishop's room, my back pocket buzzed. I reached for my cellphone so fast, one would think I was going for a world record. The excitement buzzing in my veins quickly vanished the instant I read the text.
Thatch:Just met the new guy, he's a dick.
6
GRIFFIN
Hands clasped behind me back, feet spread wide, I stood next to the Fire Chief as he introduced me to Station Sixty-Three. By the looks on their faces, most of them weren't too pleased I was there.
Our Driver Engineer, Thatcher Brooks, the least pleased of them all.
He was also the guy who'd given me thatwarmwelcome earlier. When I found out his position at the station, I knew why though. It was common knowledge that a DE advances to Lieutenant, especially one that has been with the station for so long.
So, yeah, I didn't have to be happy about it, but the guy had a valid reason for being ticked off. Hell, that first time Adam got passed over for a promotion, he'd run his fist through the wall much to Angie's dismay.
Shite, I had to stop thinking about the past. The trouble was, if I wasn't thinking about Adam and everything he'd lost, me mind kept replaying the night with me sexy little brunette. And thinking about Rae and her curves in the middle of a meeting—or anywhere out in the open, for that matter—was only going to embarrass me.
I shoved the thoughts to the back of me mind just in time to hear Chief Abbott say,"I think that covers it."
Bloody hell. All the mindless thinking had caused me to miss most of what the chief had said. Eyes bouncing from person to person as they busied themselves with their normal routine, I tried and failed to recall the chief's instructions.
