And she’d paid the price. She’d fallen through the damaged floor onto concrete, somehow managing to twist so that she landed on her stomach rather than her back. Though she’d limped away from the old Haggerty farm mostly intact, she’d changed that day.
No one had guessed, not at first. Even she hadn’t. The long weeks of rehab on her knee had only given her more time to think. Risking herself she could accept. But taking chances with people she loved required more than she had left to give. What if she messed up again?
They’d all tried to talk her out of leaving. Everyone but Dash and her father. The two men that mattered most.
More than once she’d wondered about their reactions. Were they angry or simply indifferent? Her conclusions changed by the hour. Her daddy still loved her as much as he always had. At least it seemed that way. Maybe he’d been relieved that she’d taken herself out of harm’s way. She’d find out for sure when she had it out with him tonight.
But Dash…he’d always been the wild card.
Tonight her amazingly sexy, infuriating lover had laid it all on the line. He’d pushed every button he could to get her to see the truth that was staring her in the face. Even if it meant losing her.
She smiled, thinking of honey and ants. And his weenie. He didn’t know how lucky he’d gotten. But he would.
A shiver stole through her and she stroked her arms to warm them. He also owed her a coat, since she’d given hers up to the snowman cause. Maybe by the time spring came, she would get it back.
Idly, she dropped her hand into her pocket and dug out the shiny gold key she’d swiped on impulse off his nightstand. Or maybe her coat would be in his hall closet, where it belonged.
With one last look at the laughing skaters, she climbed back into her car and started the engine. It was time to get home. She had phone calls to make, and a life to reclaim.
Chapter Seven
“Hey pal, you want the usual?”
Dash didn’t look up from the sports mag in front of him on the break room table. “Nah, I’m good, Billy.”
“Seriously? You’re gonna turn down Leoni’s finest? Three inches of slow roasted pork, finger licking good barbecue sauce, a layer of mozzarella, then the thickest, freshest, warmest bread a man’s ever tasted. For real?”
Dash grinned, shaking his head. Billy stood in the doorway with his watch cap pulled down to his white-blond eyebrows and a thick scarf wrapped over his mouth. He claimed his British ancestry had thinned his blood to the cold. Cool he could handle. Outright frigid like today meant the full winter treatment, including knee high boots. Wellies, he called them. He refused to stop wearing them no matter how much ribbing he took from the guys. Englishmen, apparently, came from stubborn stock.
“You do know that I’m the one who introduced you to Leoni’s, right?”
“Thought you might’ve forgotten, now that you have your girl back.”
“Riiiight.”
Katie might’ve been back, but she definitely wasn’t back with him. Not by a long shot. In the two weeks she’d been on the job again, they’d barely spoken beyond what they had to for work. She definitely hadn’t told him she loved him too.
He reached for his mug of hot cocoa. Sometimes risks didn’t pay off. This one hadn’t, at least not with her and him. But she’d come back to work, and that was all that mattered. The light was back in her eyes. Everything else…well, he’d get over her. As he had several times before. One might even say he was an expert at it.
One might also be full of shit.
“Well, she is back. At the station.” Billy pulled his scarf down long enough to grin. “Made my whole damn year.”
“Mine too,” Dash replied quietly, his fingers compressing around the handle of his cup as the subject of their conversation sailed into the room.
She’d piled her hair on top of her head, leaving a few pieces to fall down to frame her face. And those eyes, dark and huge and destructive. He’d sell his soul to watch them glaze over with passion again. Just once more.
“Hello boys,” she said, her tone so breezy that Dash banged down his mug.
How could she act like everything had just gone back to normal? There was a part of the puzzle still left to fit. Too bad she didn’t seem to notice. Or care.
“You’ll want a sub,” Billy said, beaming at her like a teacher would with a favorite student. “Roast pork all around? What do you say?”
“Nuh uh.” She rubbed her stomach. “Just ate something from vending. I’m full. I’ll catch you tonight though.”
“Strike two,” Dash said cheerfully. “Good luck with the rest of the clowns.”
“More for me,” Billy said with a grin as he shut the break room door behind him.
Dash rose and picked up his magazine. Looked like he’d be spending the rest of his break in the locker room. “See ya,” he said, not glancing her way.
“Hold it, Carlton. We need to talk.”
His heart began that irritating skipping thing it liked to do when she was around. Especially when he could smell her clean, lemony scent. Tart with a bit of sweet, just like her. “About?”
“Hmm.” She tapped her forefinger on her chin. “Seems to me I remember some guy giving me a key to his house and writing I love you in the snow. Or was that all part of your snowjob too?”
“Snowjob?”
“You know, all the nonsense you tossed at me to make me pissed off enough to come back to work. Were the key and the pretty words part of that?”
He wanted to yell at her for even asking something so silly but her lips were trembling again. “No. They weren’t.” He cleared his throat and went for broke. “I do love you. You’re my rock. Home’s in your eyes, in your smile. When we’re together and I’m inside you.”
For once she said nothing. Had he really made her speechless? Her eyes filled but she shook her head when he took a step toward her.
She whirled away to grip the counter. “No, wait. Stay there. Let me get it all out.”
Forcing out a breath, he nodded. “Listening.”
“I didn’t quit because I was scared of getting hurt again. That’s something you learn to live with early on or you get off the squad. What I couldn’t handle was if someone else got hurt on my watch. If I spaced and the one who fell through a floor next time was Mitch or Greg. Or you.”
“That’s complete bullshit. You’re an amazing firefighter. No one—not one of us, Katie—is perfect. But you stand up. You do the job.”
“I didn’t. Not that day.”
“You made a mistake. No one died. Your knee’s a little wonky now but you’re okay. File it away and move on, sweetheart.”
Her head swung toward him, eyes going wide. Okay, yeah, he hadn’t expected the sweetheart either. It had just slipped out.
Shit. He’d gone softer than the marshmallows in his cocoa.
“I’m trying. I’m here, aren’t I? I came back.”
“Yeah.” He cleared his throat again at the sudden pricking behind his eyes. That wasn’t a sign of him getting soft. It was a sign that he adored her, and she fucking amazed him every minute she was in his presence. “You did. I’ve never been more proud of you.”
Never loved you more.
“So you want me to use this key then,” she said shakily, digging it out of the pocket of her snowpants. She’d been outside shoveling for the last hour, claiming she needed the exercise. She’d started limping not long into her task but he hadn’t said a word. Not his business. Or was it? Was she finally going to let him in?
“Yes. As often as you want.”
“So let’s say I wanted to hang out and watch your big screen when you weren’t around. Cool?”
“Absolutely.”
“And if I eat all the food and drink all the drinks in your well-stocked stainless steel fridge—including the occasional Harp—is that still cool?”
He jerked a shoulder. So she wanted his stuff. Yippee. “Yeah. Go for it.”
“And sleep in yo
ur big soft bed.” Her voice quivered. “How about that?”
Now they were getting somewhere. He met her gaze steadily. “Am I in it?”
“You bet your fine ass. Since I just happen to love you too.” She marched forward and grabbed hold of his shirt, yanking his mouth down to hers in one swift, graceless move. She kissed like she did most other things—fast and hard. He wasn’t about to complain, since he had weeks of longing to make up for and a kiss full of tongue and clashing lips seemed like a great way to start.
She moaned as he gripped her butt and tugged her against him, wanting her to know the extent of his need. One kiss blended into another, going on so long that he feared he’d need the oxygen tank himself anytime now. But he couldn’t pull away. The rightness of having her in his arms overshadowed any pesky concerns about suffocation.
“Thank you,” she whispered when she finally eased back.
“For?” he asked, brushing away the dark curl clinging to her swollen lips.
“For knowing exactly what to say. For being there. Even for freezing me out for so long that I was like a lost little puppy, driving down your street that night. Like I’d done before.”
“You had, huh?” His momentary pleasure ended with a snort. “Oh, and by the way, the freezing out wasn’t part of some larger plan. I was just trying to get by without you here. It fucked me up.” Understatement of the year. He stroked her cheek and smiled when she turned her face into his palm. “You belong here, Katie.”
“I know.” Her throat bobbed up and down. “There’s somewhere else I belong.”
He didn’t take a breath. All the oxygen seemed to have vacated his body. His cells were starving, waiting for her answer. “Where’s that?”
“With you. In your life. In your bed.” She tilted her head, mouth curving. “Anywhere you want me, Carlton.”
Now he breathed, in a huge gulping gasp. If she thought that odd, she didn’t comment. Maybe she’d give him a one day grace period before she started razzing him again.
He couldn’t wait.
“Why don’t we start with everywhere and take the rest as it comes?”
“Sounds like a plan.” With a happy sigh, she snuggled against his chest. “I do have one question though.”
“Only one? Wow, today is my lucky day,” he said, laughing when she pinched his arm.
“If I hadn’t driven by your house that night to save your life,” they both grinned, “would you have just let me go?”
“When you go home, check your answering machine,” he suggested. “You know, the one that goes with the phone.”
She blinked quizzically. “I have an answering machine?”
“Yeah, I bought it for you when you moved in since you took so long to get a cell. You insisted landlines were better, remember? Look under the piles of clothes on your dresser. Then press play a bunch of times.” He shook his head, unable to fight a chuckle. “You’ll see how willing I was to let you go. Eventually I would’ve manned up and showed up at your door.”
“Oh. Hmm. An answering machine. That was nice of you. Now that I have a cell, I never check messages on there either.”
“I know, Queen of the Obvious. You forget I’ve been your partner for five years.”
She framed his face in her hands. “Five’s a nice start. Let’s try for life now,” she murmured, laying her lips on his.
Titles by Cari Quinn
Lost in Oblivion: Twisted (with Taryn Elliott)
Lost in Oblivion: Rock, Rattle and Roll (with Taryn Elliott)
Lost in Oblivion: Rocked (with Taryn Elliott)
Lost in Oblivion: Seduced (with Taryn Elliott)
Drawn Deep
Proving His Worth
Guarding His Heart
Protecting His Assets
Shadowboxer
Jingle Ball
Tempted By His Best Friend
No Romance Required
Nailing His Target
Dirty Distractions
Love Bites
Melt
Need Me
Test Shot
No Flowers Required
Virgin Territory
Heart Signs
No Dress Required
Unwrapped
Hot Text
Bad Kitty
Provoke Me
Insatiable
Reveal Me
Personal Research
Ex Appeal
Full Disclosure
About Cari Quinn
USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn saves the world one Photoshop file at a time in her job as a graphic designer. At night, she writes sexy romance, drinks a lot of coffee and plays her music way too loud. When she’s not scribbling furiously, she’s watching men’s college basketball, reading excellent books and causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.
Visit Cari at www.cariquinn.com to sign up for her brand new newsletter! Also, visit the Word Wenches on Facebook, her fun, sexy reader group with Taryn Elliott!
INTO THE FIRE
A Five Alarm Alpha story
By Shelli Stevens
Copyright © 2014 by Shelli Stevens
All Rights Reserved.
www.shellistevens.com
Shannon has always prided herself on holding her own in the male dominated field of firefighting. She likes to be in control. Until she strikes a bargain with a sexy man from her past who makes her give it all up in the bedroom.
Chapter One
The thump of the bass resonated from the bottom of Shannon’s leather boots, up to her gritted teeth. The alternative band wasn’t necessarily bad. They were just on the loud side.
She tightened her grip on the beer in her hand and stared out at the packed floor in front of the stage. Bodies moved to the music, probably fueled by alcohol. Maybe a little weed.
Among the masses were two of her fellow firefighters who also had the night off. Those were the guys who didn’t mind squeezing onto the crowded floor to get close to the girls. The other guys, the ones who weren’t into dancing, sat at the table with her dinking beer. They listened to the band and talked shop between sets.
Relaxed and enjoying her night out, she joined in the conversation now and then. She pretty much lived with these men half her days. They went out on calls together. Cooked at the station together. Worked out together. They weren’t just coworkers, but now some of her closest friends.
If they weren’t, she probably wouldn’t be here tonight. She was more than a little tired with only a few hours sleep after a 24-hour shift. But it was Lucas’s thirtieth birthday, and this celebration had been on the calendar for weeks now.
“Shannon, wanna go down and get close to the stage? Shake your butt a little?” Rodriguez called out from across from her.
“No dancing tonight. I’d probably pass out on the dance floor from exhaustion.” She lifted her beer and took a small swallow. When she tilted the glass bottle back down, her vision landed on a pair of blue eyes watching her from behind the bar counter.
It wasn’t the first time she’d caught him staring. Something about the intensity in his gaze unsettled her. It sent a warm awareness through her body that she wasn’t sure she liked.
He hadn’t made a drink all night that she’d seen, so she was pretty confident he wasn’t a bartender. He had a relaxed, almost predatory air about him. As if nothing bothered him, yet he was aware of everything. Missed nothing.
Unlike the last couple of times she’d found him watching, she didn’t look away this time. She held his stare and then quirked a brow.
His lips twisted slightly, then he lifted a glass of clear liquid to his lips. He didn’t break eye contact as he took a drink, but she did as she let her gaze slide down his square jawline, to the muscles in his throat as he swallowed.
A commotion on the dance floor had her attention snapping away from him. The crowd of dancers fell back and two men came into focus, fists flying.
“Ah shit. What the hell has Lucas got himself into now?” Rodrig
uez muttered next to her.
Crap, it was Lucas. That much registered just as all the guys at her table rushed onto the floor to break up the fight. Or join it. You never knew with these ones. She rose to her feet, fortunately lacking the testosterone that drove the other men to dive headfirst into violence.
She narrowed her eyes, watching from a distance. It seemed the two had progressed into nearly wrestling. Rolling on the floor and trying to get in punches.
A flash of silver reflected under the club’s light and her blood chilled. Oh my god. The other guy had a knife. This was beyond a little fistfight. She leapt forward, heart in her throat, but faltered as the two were suddenly jerked apart. Lucas was held back by one of his fellow firefighters, and the other aggressor was restrained by the same guy who’d been staring at Shannon from across the room a moment ago.
As she watched the two, Blue Eyes grabbed Knife Man’s shirt and nearly lifted him off his feet while snarling something at him.
The club’s bouncers were making their way to the pair, but before they could reach them, the aggressor broke free and sprinted through the crowd and out of the club.
The bouncers turned their attention to Lucas and the rest of their group.
“And here we go.” She shook her head, realizing pretty quickly they were all about to get kicked out.
Lucas shook off the bouncer’s grip and strode out the door unescorted. The rest of her friends seemed to hesitate before following after. Rodriguez paused and glanced her way. He caught her eye and gestured for her to come with them.
“Never a dull moment with these guys,” she muttered and made her way toward the exit.
Blue Eyes stepped in front of her path, but instead of stopping her or making eye contact again, he just seemed intent on getting past.
She took in the hard, clenched line of his jaw. His compressed lips and narrowed eyes. Fury radiated off him, and anyone in his way moved aside.
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