“Oh, you will.” His gaze was glued to mine, daring me to look away if I dared, but I couldn’t. Not when he was being playful and sexy and kind of brooding.
“Dammit.” He laughed again and leaned forward, brushing a soft kiss against my lips that pulled a shudder from me and my hands automatically went to his chest.
“I know, it’s becoming a problem isn’t it?” He spoke the words against my lips and I could feel his smile, at odds with his words.
I pulled back and looked up at him with a confused frown. “What?”
“Keeping our hands to ourselves.” To prove his point, Rafe let his hands roam down the last few inches of my hair, to my back and down to my ass. “See? A problem.”
Damn he was right again. “Yeah,” I agreed on a breathless sigh. “A really big problem.”
Rafe leaned in once again and tilted my head up to meet him, but the universe had other ideas.
“Yoo-hoo! Chief Montgomery are you around here?” Eddy’s smoky voice rang out loud, echoing in the space between Tulip’s two fire trucks. “Chief?”
My eyes went round and I looked up at him, trying hard to fight the laughter that was building inside of me. “Eddy,” I whispered and Rafe immediately put a hand over my mouth.
“She can hear you,” he mouthed and motioned his finger around the large cavernous area that held the trucks.
Crap. “We can’t stay up here all day,” I mouthed back, pleading with my eyes for him to do something. Anything.
The mischievous smile he flashed meant trouble but I only realized it too late. “Up here Eddy, I’ll be down in a second.”
My eyes went even wider, this time in outrage. “Why?”
He shrugged. “Why not?”
“What are you doing up there? Don’t you have those hot young newbies to clean the truck for you, Chief?” I smirked at Eddy’s horrible attempt at innocence. “Need any help?”
“No ma’am. I was just doing a bit of community service,” he told her as he climbed down, reaching for my light and camera before he disappeared from view. “Janey wanted to give you girls some skin and she convinced me to do a few shots I shouldn’t.”
Eddy beamed a smile at me, but quickly turned her attention back to Raf’s bare chest and rippling muscles. And boy did they ripple. “Our Janey is quite persuasive when she wants to be.”
“Morning Eddy.” I flashed a quick smile and hurried towards my equipment before…well before anyone managed to say anything at all to me. I was being paranoid, I knew that, but the matchmakers had earned their reputations.
“Morning Janey! Actually I stopped by to see you Chief, it’s a personal matter,” she told him and pitched her voice low. Not so low as to not be heard, only low enough that I had to strain to hear. “I’ve found another woman for you and she is even more perfect than the last. A pediatrician so you know she likes children.”
Despite that little zing of something in my chest, I couldn’t help but smile at Eddy’s tenacity. She was determined to match Rafe before any of the others and made no secret of it.
Thank goodness I don’t want to keep him for good.
“Eddy I don’t want or need you to help me find a woman.” His gaze slid past her shoulder and connected to mine, as if he was speaking the words to me instead of her.
She folded her arms defensively. “You got a woman I don’t know about?”
Rafe crossed his arms and gave her his best I’m Chief look but she was undeterred. “Maybe I do. And maybe all this talk,” I tuned out the rest of their conversation and loaded my equipment up so I could carry it all in one trip.
There was nothing I needed to hear that would do me any good. Rafe and I were sex buddies and we’d formed some kind of friendship, that was all. He was free to date and fall for gorgeous and sophisticated pediatricians who wanted to have his ridiculously hot babies.
Completely and totally free.
Nope, not my business at all. That’s what I told myself when I floored it out of the parking lot without a thank you or a word of goodbye.
Rafe
“Are you gonna stand there sulking and ruining the good vibes I got going over here or are you planning on telling me what’s wrong?” Reese glared at me but the effect was ruined by the flour on the tip of her nose.
But she was my best friend and she wasn’t wrong. The problem was that I didn’t even know what was wrong, only that something was wrong. After the photo shoot with Janey and that hotter than hot kiss on top of the fire truck, she booked out of there like her ass was on fire. A sigh escaped that was as frustrated as I felt. “I don’t know what’s wrong and that’s the damn problem.”
Reese sighed but she never took her focus off the big square of biscuit dough on the table in front of her. She rolled and sighed, rolled and sighed, before lifting her gaze to me. “Janey?”
“What makes you say that?”
She huffed out a laugh and shook her head, freeing a few tendrils of hair from under her cap. “Besides the fact that I know you and have eyeballs? Well, how about the way you two were eyeballing each other before that smoking hot kiss at the lake?”
The lake? Holy shit. “The lake. Who took a photo?”
Reese barked out a laugh. “Right? I mean, I think we all assumed Janey was the ninja photographer behind all those photos on the Tulip Facebook page.” A small, amused smile crossed her face. “Crafty old birds.”
“Wait. Go back. What photos?” I remembered that kiss by the lake and what came after, but I damn sure would have remembered someone snooping that close by.
“Nope.” Reese shook her head and picked up the biscuit cutter. “You know the drill so look it up yourself and pretend to be shocked the same way we all have.”
She was right so that’s what I did and dammit, Reese was right again. The photo, no the photos of Janey and I played out like a comic strip. At first we were just talking, smiling and laughing, possibly flirting. Then we were closer and closer still. But the photo right before I held her face and kissed her was hot enough that my fingertips started to warm up against the screen. “Damn.”
“I know!” Reese tossed her head back and laughed, long and so hard that her petite frame shook. “I mean, damn! Now I see it’s not just your pretty face that makes the girls go crazy for you, Rafe. That look almost made me jealous.”
“Reese.”
“Sorry,” she said not looking the least bit sorry. “It is really hot thought. Maybe I’ll see if Jackson will let me recreate it.”
“Stop. Please.” I was happy for her but I didn’t need to hear the details of her and the Jackson’s sex life. “Okay yeah, it’s about me. And Janey.”
“You don’t say!” She feigned shock as she went about her business, sliding several trays into large ovens and pressing the cutesy timers that were so unlike her but staples in both of Reese’s kitchens. “Now tell me what you did to screw it up.”
“You assume it was me?”
She shrugged. “You’re a guy, a nice guy but still a guy, so it’s a pretty solid assumption. So?”
I spread my arms wide and dropped my shoulders. “Seriously. No idea.”
“Okay,” she sighed and nodded. “Tell me what happened. Everything.”
She was the only person I could talk to about this but dammit, I didn’t need relationship advice. “It’s not a relationship.”
Reese snorted. “Whatever you need to tell yourself lover boy. But you’re here talking to me because something is off in your non-relationship.” Her brows lifted, skepticism written all over her face. “So?”
“Okay fine.” I told Reese about the firehouse photo shoot.
“Sounds hot. I wonder if the matchmakers got any photos.”
“The match…son of a bitch!” It all came tumbling out then, that damn kiss that had made me forget where I was and who I was. The way Janey moaned and arched into me, into my touch. The way her tongue slid against mine in an erotic dance that the old ladies had interrupted. “Eddy showed up ta
lking about some woman she wanted me to meet.”
“And you seemed eager to meet her?”
I frowned at the question. “I told Eddy I wasn’t interested and that I didn’t need her help.” And I looked right at Janey as I spoke the words so she would know. And understand.
“I think you have your answer right there. No girl wants to hear about some super perfect model that’s perfect for the guy she’s having a relationship with…or not.”
Now that it was all laid out like that, yeah it made sense. “But I told Eddy I didn’t need her help.”
Reese’s eyes lifted towards the sky and she raised her hands. “Lord save us all from oblivious men!” I tried not to be offended even though I sent her a glare to let her know I didn’t appreciate being lumped in with all the stupid men in the world. “Okay Rafe, my beautiful best friend, I’ll level with you.”
“Please do.”
Her features softened when she looked at me and I braced myself for whatever well-meaning insult was about to come my way. “You’re a good guy, a really good guy actually, but you’re not exactly a safe bet for a girl looking to settle down.”
“Who said anything about settling down?” I pushed off the wall with a scowl and folded my arms over my chest.
“See?” She pointed the wooden spoon she used to stir one of her incredible barbecue sauces in my direction. “Look at how fast you distance yourself from any and all talk of commitment.” To prove her point, Reese stuck the spoon back in the pot and did an impression of me. “You couldn’t say louder that you’re not interested. And that’s fine.”
“Not this again. When I find a woman I can’t live without, then I’ll settle down.” Janey might or might not be that woman, she definitely intrigued me and the sex was incredible, but it was too soon. “If I’m such a bad relationship bet, why is she pissed?”
Reese shrugged and rolled her eyes playfully. “We’re complex creatures, what can I say?”
“Yeah, thanks for nothing.” Reese laughed at my tone, turning back to the stove and yet another simmering pot on yet another burner. “What smells so good?”
She laughed again. “It was only a matter of time, Rafe. That’s what I love about you.”
“My handsome face and smokin’ hot body?”
“No, dummy. Your simplicity. It’s always food or women with you, two things right up my alley.” She flashed a smile, unaware that her compliment sounded like an unintended insult.
Was I really so shallow that women and food were all I talked about? No, the answer came immediately. “You want to hear about my job?”
“Nope. But I also don’t want to hear about Ty’s job either. I love you both and the work is dangerous. And that’s scary.” Reese tilted her head and flashed that sympathetic look that women seemed to master by high school. “I didn’t mean in a bad way, you know that don’t you?”
I nodded because I knew Reese would never insult anyone on purpose. “Still, is that what she thinks too? If so then maybe she’s right to keep her distance. This thing is doomed.”
“Oh my god you are such a drama queen!” Her outburst startled me and Reese laughed. “Don’t be scared Rafe. Feelings are scary things, believe me I know, but you either have to confront them and move forward or just move forward. Alone.”
Alone. Right now, that wasn’t an option. I wanted Janey and I knew she wanted me. It was too soon to talk about commitment and forever, but it wasn’t too soon for a little romance. “Think you can whip me up one of your famous picnic baskets?”
“Absolutely. Come back in thirty minutes and it’ll be ready.”
I flashed a smile and crossed the kitchen to wrap her small frame in my arms, squeezing tight. “You’re the best. I hope you know that.”
“I hope you know if you don’t get your hands off my woman I’ll throw you under the jail.” Jackson’s voice boomed behind us and I turned with both arms still holding Reese tight.
“Detective. She’s decided to run away with me and there’s nothing you can do about it.” His look was thunderous and I laughed, happy to see someone else as off kilter as I was and over a woman. “Tough luck, man.”
Jackson barked out a laugh and shook his head. “Maybe if you looked at her the way you looked at Janey, I’d believe you. Now get your paws off my woman.” His features softened as they drew closer, kissing like they hadn’t seen one another in weeks instead of a few hours.
“On that note, I’m gone. Please don’t have sex on anything you use for the basket, but have fun.” Jackson flipped me off and I waved before I hurried out of the kitchen before I saw something I couldn’t unsee.
Reese was working on the food which left everything else up to me, now I just had to figure out what the hell to do about it.
Janey
Finally. The project that was the Hometown Heroes calendar was finished. Complete. Done. Over. The only thing left to do was get approval from the mayor’s office, which meant Nina or Penny, and then it was off to the printers. Luckily for me, shipping them was someone else’s job.
There was still work to be done where the calendar and its proceeds were concerned, but for all intents and purposes, the Hometown Heroes calendar was complete and that meant I could turn my focus back to my own art. And my latest project.
And not at all on Rafe Montgomery, the last bachelor standing in Tulip, and the man currently taking up too much real estate in my mind. I hadn’t seen him since I flew out of the fire station and I wasn’t sure if I would hear from him again. And I hadn’t yet decided if that was okay or not, mostly because I didn’t know.
I liked Rafe. I liked sleeping with him and spending time with him. I liked the way he smelled and the way he always smiled before he kissed me, like it was a pleasure to put his lips to mine. Okay, I just plain liked the guy and that was a problem. A me problem that needed to be fixed. Immediately.
Hence my keeping my distance in a big way. So far it had worked.
If I could keep it up, I would be fine. Better than fine, I would be perfect. And when Rafe moved on to his supermodel pediatrician girlfriend, I wouldn’t even be affected. Not even a little bit.
Eventually.
Since thoughts of Rafe wouldn’t go away as easily as the man, I shook those thoughts free and closed my laptop before standing to stretch my tense muscles. An activity that brought forth more thoughts of Rafe and how I could really use a naked workout session with him. “No more! Stop.” If my mind wouldn’t help me in this matter then I would have to be strong enough for the both of us. “Think about art. About finishing the calendar. About anything else, girl. Sheesh!”
The doorbell rang and it was just the distraction I needed from thoughts of Rafe, unless of course it was the matchmakers again, in which case I would run up to my room and hide out until they got tired of waiting. Then again, maybe they had finally realized that I was also single and, maybe, interesting in snagging a man of my own.
I froze two feet from the door. Did I really want the guy those ladies thought would be perfect for me? They’d probably choose someone boring like an accountant or a librarian, because that’s what they thought of me.
“I can see you in there Janey.”
I frowned at the familiar deep voice, unsure if my mind was playing tricks on me or if Rafe was really on the other side of the door. There’s only one way to find out, Janey. True, but a quick look down and I realized I wasn’t dressed for company, not in my finest work from home yoga pants and too thin Trivia Night tank top. The supermodel pediatrician probably didn’t wear anything so grubby even when she was home alone, heck probably even when she was home with the flu. But I wasn’t her. I was me.
Janey Matheson. If that wasn’t good enough for Rafe or anyone else, then good damn riddance. With that thought I squared my shoulders and wrapped my hand around the doorknob, pulling slowly until the full impact of Rafe stood before me.
As gorgeous as he ever was, only today there was something different about him. The same deep
blue eyes and dark hair, the same playful smile. But there was an earnestness about him as he stood there in a plain gray t-shirt and faded well-worn jeans that highlighted his slender physique to perfection. “Rafe. What are you doing here?”
His dark brows dipped low. “We really have to work on your greetings Janey.” His smile flashed, flirtatious and unstoppable and before I could think better of it, I was smiling back at him. “What’s up?”
“Shouldn’t that be my line?”
“Right.” His next smile was sheepish and he raked a hand through his thick hair and stood a little taller. “You busy now?”
I looked down at my clothes and then back up at Rafe. “Kind of?”
His deep laugh came slow and rumbly, pulling a matching smile across my face. “How about lunch?”
Lunch was a bad idea. Lunch was what people did who weren’t just sleeping together. Maybe the matchmakers were right and Rafe did need a sophisticated woman like the pediatrician, one who could separate sex and feelings. One who wanted what he wanted, which was nothing. “I’m not dressed to go anywhere and I don’t think that’s a good idea anyway.”
He frowned. “Why not? We’re friends.”
Yeah, we were and it was my own stupid words that had now bit me in my backside as I searched for a way out of this invitation. “Lunch is too much like a date, I think.”
Rafe stepped inside with a playful grin as he invaded my personal space. “What if I told you that you were dressed perfectly for lunch?”
My nipples beaded at his deep voice and the sexy intent in his blue eyes. “Then I’d say you’re stretching the definition of perfect by at least a mile.”
“Nah, you look great. Especially in that tank top.” His gaze heated and immediately my arms went up to cover my braless state. “Really great.”
“What’s going on Rafe?”
“Lunch,” he said simply. “I haven’t seen you in a few days and I guess I’ve gotten used to having you around.”
That Hot Night: A Firefighter Romance Page 10