Page 30 of Instant Heat
Her lips twitched like she was attempting to smile as she finally loosened her grip on me wrist. She didn't let go though. Not even when the EMTs arrived five minutes later. She still held on to me when she was rolled to the waiting ambulance.
Before we pulled away, I told Nathan to have the rig pick me up at the hospital. I just hoped Thatcher didn't pull another stunt on me.
***
Fuming, I stomped into the station. The first person I saw also happened to be the one I was having murderous thoughts about. Thatcher was busy cleaning the rig. With every step I took, rational thought and calm left me.
"What's your damn problem?" I gritted out when I reached the idiot.
Brooks straightened; his mouth stretched into a grin. I curled me fingers into a fist. It took all me restraint not to ram it through this piece of shite's skull.
"Thought you might like the fresh air."
Tick. Tick. Tick. I was one tick away from bloody exploding. I took a step forward and got right up in his face,"This little tantrum you're throwing is exactly why I am lieutenant and you're not."
"Screw you!"
Me blood was burning hot with anger and frustration. So much frustration."I should be writing you up. Shite! If it wasn't for—" by some miracle I managed to stop before I mentioned Rae's name. Shaking me head, I took a step back."This is your last warning, Brooks. Next time you disobey orders, it's your head."
As I turned and marched to me office, I spotted Chief Abbott. His contemplative gaze flitting between me and Thatcher.
Shite! How much worse could this bloody shift get?
14
RAELYN
"We don't have to do this," I said softly.
We were sitting in front of the bar, ready to meet up with Lacy and Brie. But Griffin seemed miles away. I'd suspected something was off when I went over to his place to get ready and he didn't even attempt to get me into bed first.
The way he was just staring at the entrance had me convinced something wasn't right. Nervous tension licked its way down my spine. I shoved it aside and scooted closer to Griffin and placed my hand on his thigh.
"Let me call them and schedule for some other time."
His big hand covered mine, tangling our fingers together. Draping his free arm over my shoulder, he gently brushed his fingertips back and forth over my bare skin. My body shuddered. "I want to meet your friends."
"You're sure? 'Cause it's okay if you don't."
The hand on my shoulder slid up and up until his fingers pushed into my hair. "They'reyourfriends; of course I want to get to know them." He pressed his lips against my forehead before resting his head against mine.
An uneasy feeling sparked at the base of my skull and worked its way through my veins. "You promised me honesty," I whispered. "I can tell something is going on."
He pulled back, those soul-searching eyes of his roaming all over my face. "I have a lot on my mind,acushla. I want to tell you it all, but this is not the time nor the place." Griffin lowered his mouth to mine in a kiss so achingly sweet it made my heart squeeze. "Tonight, we have fun, hmm?"
After one more bone-melting kiss, we finally headed inside. I adored how he immediately laced our fingers together and kept me close. After a quick scan, I spotted the girls sitting at the same table we'd occupied the night I'd met Griffin. A small smile tugged at my lips. I squeezed his hand and motioned to Lacy and Brie. "There they are."
He followed my gaze and grinned. "You go ahead while I get the drinks."
I pushed through the patrons only to be met with squealing when I reached my friends. "Oh my goodness, Rae," Lacy wrapped her fingers around my wrist and yanked me into the chair next to her. "You guys look so stinking cute together. And—" she gestured toward my outfit. "I'm loving this."
I adjusted the top of my baby-blue tube dress and smiled sheepishly. Normally I was a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl, but I wanted to look nice tonight. When I saw this dress in the store window this afternoon, I just had to have it.
"She's wearing a dress so she and Mr. Irish can sneak off and have a quickie in the bathroom." My gaze snapped to Briana, who was looking way too smug for my liking.
"I can hear it now," Lacy added. "Oh yes, Griffin, do it. Take me now with your big Irish—"
Yeah, it was then when I realized this was a bad idea. A very, very bad idea. My gaze skittered from one friend to the other. "You two better behave or else I am disowning you."
