She was just a woman. There were plenty more like her, so he— No. There weren’t any others out there like Josie. She was it for him. No matter what Hannah said, he didn’t believe in destiny. Cooper made his own choices in life. He’d found his soul mate all on his own, and not two days, two weeks, or two months would make a difference in how he felt about her.
Granted, they needed to learn more about each other, but they had time. That’s if he hadn’t screwed up too badly with his “accusation.” He still thought the issue was loony. The woman had met with a guy, and he’d wanted answers. So maybe he’d assumed the worst. He frowned. What if a woman stopped by the house and Josie saw her talking to him? According to her, she’d be curious but not upset about him being with a stranger.
Great. Now I’m thinking like she does, in some kind of weird female circular logic that makes little sense.
He wished he could take back last night for a do-over. He’d come inside, ask about her day, fuck her senseless, admit he really cared about her, and they’d have spent the rest of the evening together. Instead, he’d opened his big mouth, stuck his foot in it, and now missed her like crazy.
He had nothing he wanted to do but spend time with Josie, so he washed his car, did some laundry, and caught a movie by himself. An action movie where a lot of things blew up and the guy got the girl.
“So stupid. It’s just an argument. We’ll get over it.” It wasn’t even their first blowup. He’d have thought that in just a few short weeks since they’d been together, they’d have been blissful and argument-free. But like him, Josie liked to debate. They’d had a few fights, but nothing that lasted.
Like this wouldn’t last. Determined to make amends, he called Josie and got her voice mail. He left a message and waited.
She called him back an hour later. “Hello, Cooper?”
“Hi. It’s me.” Just suck it up to make peace. “I’m sorry.”
She sighed. “So am I. I think I made a bigger deal out of our argument than I should have. And to be honest, if I found you with some other woman, I’d be jealous. Yes, I’d wait for you to explain things to me, but I wouldn’t like the idea of you being all chummy with some woman I didn’t know.”
“See? I’m not such a caveman. When you’re with someone, it’s okay to be a little possessive.”
“Okay, okay. You’re right. It’s just…we’re so new, and my emotions are all over the place. I’ve known you forever, but I haven’t really known you, if you get my meaning.”
“I do.” And that was another reason he lov—liked Josie so much. She wanted to know him, in more than the carnal sense. “I didn’t mean to flip out on you. I like you a lot, Josie. And it’s messing with my head.”
She laughed. “Me too. You’re in the blood, Talbot. Burning me up inside. I have a feeling you won’t put out that fire.”
“Nope.” He grinned, relieved they still had a future together. One they created—not Hannah’s stupid fate.
“Look, I’m hanging with a few friends for one of those home parties. We took Miranda’s car. Want to come pick me up?”
“Sure.”
She gave him the address. “Is seven okay to get me?”
“I’ll be there.” He hung up, pleased his life was back on track. Then he fiddled around until the time came to collect his girlfriend, his lover—his future.
Chapter Eight
Josie looked around her, not quite sure what had happened. One minute she’d been sitting in Diana’s house looking at naughty lingerie, the next they’d moved four doors down for a joint bachelorette/ sex toy party.
Game to enjoy it even if she’d rather have her own stud strip for her, she clapped along with her friends, laughed as Miranda got a free bump and grind from one of the dancers, and flushed when another of the buff men dragged her with him to dance.
The music turned suggestive—well, more than it had been—and she giggled, feeling a bit tipsy as the evening wore on. She knew she had to head back to Diana’s house for Cooper to pick her up. God knew if he’d been alarmed over a movie night with her brother’s buddy, he’d throw a hissy to see her dancing with half-naked men who weren’t by any stretch of the imagination gay.
Rafael, her new “friend”, did not stuff his shorts with anything but the real thing, as she’d seen up close. His leopard print loincloth left nothing to the imagination. And she might be in love with Cooper, but she was woman enough to admit Rafael looked amazing slathered in oil.
“You know, I really do love him,” she told Rafael, who rolled his eyes and turned to dance with the bride-to-be. He’d already heard her blather about Cooper, the love of her life, during the last dance.
So she decided to share with Miranda again as they joined the others with a festive line dance. Twenty women and four male strippers howled and rocked the house as Diana’s niece spent her last two days before becoming Mrs. Brown.
Josie leaned closer. “I’m in love with Cooper.”
“What?” Miranda cupped her ear, then shrieked when Billy the Dick—not Billy the Kid, as Josie had mistakenly read his ass—tossed her over his shoulder and started to walk away with her.
Worried for her friend, Josie followed Miranda out of the house into the backyard, then realized Rafael had followed her as well.
“Hey, baby. You’re missing the party. Come back inside,” he said with a suggestive leer. He seemed fascinated with her breasts for some reason. Then she realized half her shirt had become unbuttoned, exposing her pink lace bra. When had that happened? And where had Josie and Mr. Dick gone? She hurried to refasten her blouse.
Before she could answer Rafael, Cooper walked through the side gate and stopped short when he saw her.
She blinked and tried to focus. “Cooper?”
“Must be the boyfriend.” Rafael sighed. “Lucky bastard.” He shrugged, glistening under the back porch light while the music grew louder and more women shrieked. Then he left her to walk back into the house.
“I’m here,” Cooper said unnecessarily, not mentioning the half-naked man who’d been attempting to lure her away.
“Yes, you are. And I’m glad.” She gave him a sincere thumbs up, not sure why he laughed at her. “Aren’t you going to accuse me of sleeping with Jungle Man?” She frowned. “His name is Rafael, actually.”
“Honey, I’m sure you have a good explanation for all this.”
She understood he’d been listening to her before. He’d really heard her. A ball of emotion exploded inside her. “Oh, Cooper. No wonder I love you.”
“You what?”
“You’re handsome, smart, sexy, funny, and you’re learning to trust me. I’m so happy.” She wiped a tear from her eye. Then confusion set in. “Wait. Why are you here?”
“You called me.”
“I called you from Diana’s house. 1149 Lobo Avenue. This is 1145 Lobo Avenue.”
“I have the wrong address?” He paled.
“What’s wrong? You sound funny.”
“N-nothing.” He coughed. “I just… You sure this is the wrong address?”
“I haven’t had that much to drink.”
“Well, nine and five sound the same. I just followed the mass of cars to a logical conclusion.” He nodded. “Nothing weird about that. Makes perfect sense.”
“The cars stretch down the block. We started at Diana’s. Then somehow she convinced us to join her niece’s bachelorette party. That’s why Rafael and Billy the Dick are roaming around half dressed, along with two other guys. They’re pretty, but they’re not as pretty as you are.” She blew him a kiss, then shrieked with laughter when he hauled her into his arms and swung her high in the air.
“Cooper!”
“Baby, you kill me. I know it’s too soon for all this emotional bullshit, but I’m falling for you. Hard.”
“Goodie. It’s not just me.”
“It’s not just you.” He rubbed her nose with his. Then he kissed her. And kissed her again. “Fuck. I want you.”
�
��You sure? I was pretty mean to you the other day.”
“I probably deserved it.”
They stared at each other and said at the same time, “No I didn’t.” “No you didn’t.”
She grinned. “I should probably make it up to you. Ever had car sex?”
“Truck sex, actually, and not since high school.”
She frowned. “You really were precocious, weren’t you?”
“You English teachers and your big words.” He took her hand in his. “Why don’t you show me what that means in my big bench seat, Ms. Young?”
She let him lead her out front, where Harrison had parked his car with its flashing lights. He had Billy on the ground and Miranda giggling next to him. Josie yelled to Miranda that she’d be leaving with Cooper.
Miranda cheered then stuck her tongue out at Harrison.
“Hi, Harrison,” Josie said with a smile.
He glowered.
Coop shook his head. “You know, I think Harrison has trust issues.”
“I agree. Must be a Talbot thing.”
“That or he’s not pleased with Billy the Dick trying to run off with Miranda.”
“There is that.”
Cooper laughed and tugged Josie with him. They drove back to her house in his truck, singing aloud to a country crooner with pals in low places. She sobered up along the way, and he parked in her driveway, turned off the vehicle, then opened up his pants.
“You guessed it, sweetheart. I’m hard and hurtin’. Now make it all better.”
Josie licked her lips and went to town, having him moaning and bucking into her mouth in no time. Before he could come, he yanked her off him, pulled off her pants and panties, then drew her over his erection.
Already wet, she eased over him without a problem.
“Oh wow. You are so big inside me,” she said on a breath. Then she gasped. “No condom?”
“You on that pill yet?” he asked as he rocked her over his tip, his grip tight on her waist.
“Yes, but—”
His voice was gravelly when he asked, “Is it safe?”
She’d been on it for two weeks, syncing into her cycle to avoid pregnancy, according to her doctor. “Yes, but—”
He stilled. “Do you trust me?”
She stared into his eyes and smiled. Then she kissed him. “Yes, baby. I do.”
He groaned and settled her over him until she rested against his pelvis, the whole of him inside her.
“Oh.”
“Yeah, oh.” He rocked her over him and rubbed her clit with callused fingers.
She felt her body tighten, knew the sensation of bliss rocketing from her core throughout her system, and let it go, trusting Cooper to hold her tight.
He kissed her, and she felt him go liquid inside her. He jerked as he spent, her lover taking his satisfaction with the woman who loved him.
“Oh hell. I love you too,” he groaned as he finally stopped coming. “It’s too soon.”
“Yeah.”
“We have a long way to go in this relationship,” he added, breathing hard.
“I agree.”
“Being a firefighter’s girl is no picnic.”
“Being a teacher’s boyfriend isn’t easy. Sixth graders can be vicious.”
They both sighed.
He hugged her, then leaned back to watch her. “I think we can agree on one thing though.”
“What’s that?”
“No more condoms. Ever.” He squeezed her tight, and she squealed with laughter.
“Fine, fine. No more condoms.”
“And we never tell Hannah how right she was or she’ll be impossible to live with. You have to swear.”
“How right she was?” Josie stared into his gray eyes, into the eyes of her soul mate.
“She told me where to find you.” He explained what Hannah had said, and Josie got goose bumps.
“Really?”
“Now don’t get all weird. It was just theatrics and a case of a mistaken number. I told you five and nine sound alike. I made a lucky guess finding you at that house.”
The house numbers had been confusing, she could admit. But what Hannah had said about Josie’s soul mate now made sense. It had been Cooper all along. Josie couldn’t thank the woman enough.
“Fine,” she said. “We’ll keep our secret about the house numbers.”
“Okay.”
“But I’m getting Mephisto his own bag of treats. If you hadn’t tripped over him into me, we might never have gotten together.”
Cooper kissed her. “Fine. I’ll get him some more catnip.”
“Some more?”
“So maybe I credit him with our connection. But not Hannah.”
Josie grinned. “You are so stubborn.”
“Which makes me perfect for you.”
“You got that right. I’m on fire to have you again.” Josie winked at him.
“That was just terrible,” he said on a laugh. When she elbowed him, he cleared his throat. “But I’m sure you just need the right big and burly firefighter to save you. Let my hose put out your fire.” He wriggled inside her and groaned. “Oh yeah. My hose is filling up again.”
Josie grinned. “Then I guess it’s time for me to drain it.”
“If we don’t get inside the house and find your bed, I’m afraid the bad puns might just kill me.”
“Then who would rescue me from our burning love?” She scrambled off him, straightened her clothes, and laughter so hard she cried as he chased her inside, then showed her just how a firefighter truly saved the day.
About the Author
Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.
Other Contemporary Romance Releases
The Troublemaker Next Door
How to Handle a Heartbreaker
Ruining Mr. Perfect
What to Do with a Bad Boy
A Major Attraction
A Major Seduction
A Major Distraction
A Major Connection
Bodywork
Working Out
Wetwork
Tied and True
Reaper’s Reward
Satyr’s Myst
Willa’s Wish
CONTROLLED BURN
By Desiree Holt
Copyright © 2014 by Desiree Holt
All rights reserved.
www.desireeholt.com
Montana Wade was home after writing off the past ten years of her life, but she needed one more night of courage before she faced her family. Boone Crider, hotshot firefighter, was burned out form the rash of malicious fires. They thought one night as strangers would cure them both, but the fire they started between them soon became a barely controlled burn.
Dedication
To my very good friend Michelle Boone, who bid in the Pearls Inner Goddess Auction for the right to name a character in one of my books. Montana Wade and Boone Crider are the result of her generosity. Michelle, I hope you enjoy their story.
Chapter One
Montana Wade pulled her travel-dusty car into a parking space at the end of the lot, turned off the ignition, and leaned back. The neon sign blinking Pete’s flashed its kaleidoscope of colors through her windshield. The name was the same, but she wondered if Pete Bartoly still owned it. He’d be pretty damn old by now.
Stretching away to the right, like a long concrete arm, was the row of rooms comprising The Highway Motel. Montana remembered them as a place where you could get drunk, hook up, and only have to stumble a few hundred yards to the nearest bed. Not that she’d ever been a patron, at least of the motel. She and her friends had spent many wild nights at Pete’s,
though, especially the last one when they were all going their separate ways.
She hadn’t meant to stop here. Her parents’ ranch was less than an hour away, and she should have pushed on through the night and been done with it. But all the invisible baggage she’d dragged with her on the drive from California had exhausted her, and she needed something to give her the courage to unload. Ten years of her life down the drain. Fourteen, counting college. Could she have been any more stupid?
She couldn’t get rid of the feeling she was coming home with her tail between her legs. A little liquid courage would be a big help before she was forced to tell her parents what a fool she’d been. Not to mention she had no idea what she was going to do with her life beginning tomorrow. And if she drank too much courage, well, The Highway Motel offered a place to sleep it off.
Yeah, that’s what she should do. Spend the night and drive to the ranch in the morning, when she was fresh and her brain was working. And she’d found the inner resources to answer all the questions.
Sighing, she climbed out of her car, walked to the door of the bar, and pulled it open. The interior was as dim as it had always been, the only light coming from more neon behind the bar and small lamps on the walls. Montana supposed it was originally intended to create an intimate atmosphere, but Pete’s was a hundred miles away from anything even close high class. It did, however, create an ambience where the light was so muted anyone could look good and, after a couple of drinks, the stranger next to you began to resemble the star of your dreams.
Half of the tables were filled, some with couples, others with groups. The jukebox was blissfully silent at the moment, so only the buzz of conversation filled the room. Montana spotted an empty stool at the bar, choosing it rather than one of the small tables. She wasn’t there to get comfortable, just to wash away ten years of bad memories and fall into bed. Alone.
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