by Renee Roman
“None.”
Blaze gave her an incredulous look. “Really?”
Trinity nodded. “I was an A student through school, then pulled a 3.9 in college. I didn’t have time for romance, and then when I did, I took the first job I was offered and started working even harder to move up the ladder.”
“And your family?”
Trinity winced and played with a bit of cheese. “Not much to say.”
She sensed Trinity’s discomfort and decided to change the subject. They were just getting to know one another, and with any luck, she’d have lots of time to learn more. “So, I take it hiking isn’t a regular activity for you?”
Trinity laughed and the tension of the moment broke.
“Hardly. I barely find time for the gym, and then only rarely. What about you?”
“What do you want to know?”
“No offense, but I pictured you more of a weightlifter than a hiker.”
Blaze cocked her head, not connecting the dots, and Trinity pointed to her forearm.
“Your arms are…big.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. Some women didn’t go for muscular partners. “Yeah, they are. I blame years of sawing and splitting wood. And carving takes a lot of precise muscle use. More than you would think.” She’d taken up hiking when she couldn’t work out and found it was more to her liking than watching egos on stage at the gym. The ones who were there to show off their physiques rather than to keep in shape.
“They suit you,” Trinity said. She held up her much thinner but toned arm. “I couldn’t pull off the look.”
Blaze laughed. “You’ve got curves and…” Shit. Admitting she’d noticed meant she’d checked Trinity out. She waited for the fallout.
“Do I now?” Trinity’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
She glanced from her eyes, to her mouth, to the column of her neck. Trinity’s breathing sped up. God, Blaze wanted to kiss her. “Uh-huh.” She had to get moving before she did something stupid. Something that could possibly push Trinity away. “Now that we’ve replenished a bit, are you ready to keep going?”
Trinity’s expression closed for an instant, then she helped pack up. “I’m ready if you are.”
Their hands brushed as she reached for the bread and she regretted how quickly Trinity pulled away. Once they were back on the trail, Trinity seemed to relax. Along the way, Blaze pointed out an eagle, a red fox and her pups, and a few interesting birds.
“Nature at its finest,” Blaze said. “Too bad some people see them as a nuisance.”
“Do you live close to all of this?” Trinity waved at the vista in front of them.
“Yes. It’s a big part of why I returned after college. I can’t imagine living in the city again. There’s nothing quite like watching the woods come alive with creatures. I try to be respectful of all life, great and small.”
An hour and a half later, they returned to their cars. There hadn’t been much more conversation, but the silence had been comfortable.
“Thank you so much for the invitation. I had a great time and I learned so much about the wildlife, you should be a guide.”
Blaze toed the dirt. “After the accident, I had to find a way to keep in shape and fill the empty hours, and there are so many places in the area for hiking I decided to give it a try. I love it.” She heard a bird singing a serenade and tried to locate the cardinal.
“I can see why.” Trinity tossed her pack on the passenger seat, then closed the distance until they were almost toe to toe. “I enjoyed talking with you, too. I don’t socialize a lot, and this was a nice break.”
“You’re welcome. Anytime you want to get away from the stress, let me know. I’d be happy to play tour guide for you.” Before she could stop, she reached for Trinity’s hand and gave a gentle squeeze.
Trinity squeezed back. “I may just take you up on the offer.”
As Trinity drove away, Blaze glanced at her arm. She still wore the sleeve. The scar was sensitive and the heat of the sun could burn the newly healed skin. The rest of her burned, too. But it wasn’t the sun causing it. Trinity caused desire to flare hot inside of her. She had it bad, and she wasn’t sure if it was good for either of them.
* * *
“We should celebrate,” DJ said.
“It’s not like I won an award or something.” As a result of her latest scan, Carrie had reduced her therapy sessions. During that time, she’d show her how to build up her strength, and maybe after that she could start working again.
“No, it’s better. You could be making no progress at all.”
Blaze had to admit she was more than ready to return to her shop. She was going stir-crazy and was more than a little needy for physical closeness. It was another part of her life that had been put on hold, but no-strings sex didn’t have the same allure it once had. Trinity had called, letting her know she was working split shifts and doing mandatory overtime for the next few days. Her need to tell Blaze provided a glint of hope that Trinity might be interested in getting together again. Blaze had a gut feeling it was best to take things slowly. She didn’t want to give Trinity any reason to disappear again. “What do you suggest?” With Trinity unavailable, she may as well do something.
“Want to go barhopping?” DJ asked.
Inwardly, Blaze groaned. In so many ways her best friend had never grown up. She hadn’t been barhopping in more than a decade and she had no intention of starting now. “No.”
“Gee, okay. What the hell is wrong?”
“I’m sorry. I just…I want to do something, but not that.” She cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder. DJ was only trying to help get her out of the funk she’d been in for the last few weeks. It started when she read her hometown paper online and found out two of her classmates had died. One of cancer, and the other of a heart attack. Although she was almost forty, she’d believed she had her whole life ahead of her. Finding out that might not be the case was sobering at best. Depressing was more like it. Even though DJ would entertain her, Blaze couldn’t stomach the thought of going from place to place only to wake up hungover. Hiking with Trinity had been way better than going to a bar.
DJ preferred to get into relationships that eventually ended for one reason or another, rather than wait for someone who complemented her. Blaze wasn’t interested in a messy relationship or one destined to end, just so she could be with someone. If that’s what having one meant, she needed to reconsider where her future was headed because she didn’t think she could handle the drama. “What about a movie?” Blaze suggested.
“We aren’t that old.”
She blew out a breath. “Then you decide.”
“Okay, but I can only come up with one more idea, so you have to say yes.” DJ huffed.
She wasn’t quite begging, but Blaze knew the tone, and she didn’t have the heart to disappoint her. Since her accident she’d promised to help DJ get over her last relationship, and so far, she wasn’t doing such a great job. “Okay. You win.”
“Yeeesss.”
Blaze could almost picture DJ fist-pumping. She laughed. “So, what are we doing?
“Dancing!”
She dragged her hand over her face. She had two days to mentally psych herself up for the impending outing, and she would do her damnedest to make sure DJ had a good time.
“Great.” She knew she sounded less than enthusiastic.
“If you get any more excited, you’ll strain something,” DJ said. “It’s just what you need, and it will be good for me, too.”
Blaze swallowed her pride. She hated being a downer. That wasn’t who she was, and she needed to figure out what to do to move forward. “I’m sorry I’ve been a bit off of late.”
“Hey, you know I’m just giving you a hard time. Anything I can help with?” Concern laced DJ’s tone.
She didn’t need DJ to take on any more than she already had on her plate. DJ could be a pain in the ass, but her heart was always in the right place. Unfortunately, DJ rarely let
anyone else see that side of her, including love interests, and it was likely a reason her relationships failed. “I’ll be fine. Just a cycle. Maybe it’s PMS.” If only. Based on her mom’s history, she would be approaching menopause in the next few years. Something else to look forward to.
“We both know you don’t PMS. You never have. Whatever it is, there’s nothing a night of dancing can’t cure.” DJ loved to dance.
“True enough.” Blaze stared at the stack of invoices. She needed to get back to her normal life. “I’ve gotta go. What time do you want me to pick you up Friday?”
“I’m not riding on that beast between your legs.” DJ giggled, and Blaze couldn’t help joining her.
“I’ll drive the Wrangler.”
“Good. Let’s go for a quick bite first. How about seven?”
“Seven it is. Later.”
They made kissy face noises and Blaze ended the call. She tapped her pen on the stack of papers and contemplated her upcoming trip to EroZone. For the past few years, going had been almost a weekly occurrence. Her frequency had greatly decreased recently, and she hadn’t been back since the night she’d met Mindy.
Having accepted her fate, Blaze had to admit she was looking forward to going out with nothing on her agenda but having some laughs and hitting the dance floor, though she wished she’d be going with Trinity. But DJ was a great dance partner, and inviting Trinity would be stepping on DJ’s toes. They’d been dancing together for years. Friends ribbed them, saying they might as well be a couple, but she couldn’t go there. They’d tumbled into bed together at college, but it had been a byproduct of the loneliness they’d both been feeling, nothing more. Blaze wasn’t into DJ that way, and had she not been homesick, it never would have happened. They’d agreed it had been a mistake and, luckily, had been able to keep their friendship intact. In fact, they’d grown closer, and she’d always been grateful for DJ’s friendship.
Yet, here they were. Blaze had no prospects for a long-term relationship—though she wished she had a chance to prove the theory wrong, and maybe she needed to start thinking about that more seriously. Conversely, DJ kept jumping into them, only to be disappointed. Maybe she was beginning to understand DJ’s constant need for more than casual. DJ was honest in saying she didn’t want to grow old alone. Blaze had to admit she’d been thinking the same thing of late.
She flexed her fingers, staring at the scar that would be a constant reminder of how fragile life was. One minute she was enjoying her comfortable routine, the next she was waking to pain and confusion. The one good thing had been meeting Trinity. The hike had been great, and the quick texts here and there made Blaze smile, but none of it felt like they were dating.
Maybe Trinity was only interested in friendship. There wasn’t any denying Blaze’s magnetism to her spring green eyes and a body shape that commanded attention. It was also possible Trinity was straight and what she thought was mutual attraction was only sexual curiosity. Blaze was used to women, straight and gay, who liked the side of masculine she played on, and the size of her bike attested to her physical strength.
The stiffness in her hand and the uncooperative muscles in her arm were finally starting to recede. Cassie said she might never be one hundred percent, but she could live with ninety, if she got there. The thing she needed to focus on was getting clearance from Dr. Jonas so she could return to doing what she’d loved her entire life—carpentry. Then she’d concentrate on figuring out where the rest of her life was headed. The problem was, she wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted yet, and whether Trinity was meant to be a part of it.
Chapter Twelve
Trinity hopped up on a stool and looked around the crowded club. She’d given in after Kelly’s badgering and let the crew drag her along for a night of dancing. She’d almost contacted Blaze, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to expose her to the antics of their group. They could get a little out there when they all got together. She still felt a bit guilty.
“Hey, want to dance?” Kelly shouted across the small table.
She shook her head. “Go ahead. I’m gonna chill for a bit. Have fun.”
Kelly looked like she was about to protest, then her eyes softened as though she understood what Trinity was feeling. “Okay. Join us when you’re ready.”
Swinging her legs on the high barstool reminded Trinity of sitting on the wall of the playground when she was much younger. She sipped her beer and slowly took in the crowd of women gathered in groups surrounding the huge dance floor. The variety of sizes, shapes, and ages was a wake-up call. There were days she felt like she was too old to waste time on frivolous activities like dancing, yet here she was, and she wasn’t the only one. She would bet money many of the women were doing the same thing she was—unwinding after a hectic day.
Trinity stopped cold when she saw a familiar face. Blaze. She was smiling and laughing at the woman across from her. When the woman turned her head, Trinity’s heart sank, and she dreaded the thought of DJ and Blaze out together. She’d been doing so much overtime the only contact they’d had since their hike were a few random texts. Now she regretted not having found the time. Unable to look away, Trinity studied Blaze, knowing she hadn’t noticed her and likely wouldn’t, not in this crowded space. Blaze’s form fitting jeans showed off her muscular thighs and a tight rear she hadn’t had the pleasure of noticing before since she’d worn loose hiking shorts. The sleeves of her white oxford were rolled up to reveal her impressive forearms. Trinity’s imagination ran a bit wild as she pictured the many ways Blaze used those muscles to have them so well developed. The right one bore the compression sleeve, but no brace. A good sign, from a medical standpoint. But Trinity’s thoughts were anything but professional right now.
Kelly and a couple of the other nurses plopped into seats, out of breath and laughing.
“Wow, I must be getting old. Two songs and I need a break.” Kelly swallowed half her drink and smacked her lips.
She dragged her gaze away long enough to comment. “We are not old. We simply expend all our energy saving lives. We just need to work on our cardio.”
“Ha. I thought we did that horizontally.” Kelly bumped shoulders with her.
“You are so bad.” Trinity finished off her beer. “Anybody want another?” She took their orders and conveniently headed to the bar the same time Blaze did, wanting to get closer to see if she noticed her. She found a spot at the bar with an empty stool between them.
“Another round, Blaze?” the bartender asked between opening beers and juggling dirty glasses.
“Might as well.” Blaze glanced in her direction while she waited. Her expression changed from bored to surprised.
“Hi,” Trinity said.
“Hey. Did you get the night off?” Blaze asked.
Blaze looked unsettled and she wondered why. “Yes. The first one not following a twelve-hour shift in a while.”
Blaze nodded, then tossed money on the bar and picked up the drinks. “I need to get back to DJ. Enjoy your evening.”
The response felt cold. Nothing at all like their previous interactions. “Are you upset with me?” The statement got her attention and Blaze turned, her eyes traveling over Trinity’s body like a seductive caress.
“I’m not.”
“Sure sounds it.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry. My mood hasn’t been the best lately.” Her tone held regret, but there was something else revealed in her expression that Trinity couldn’t decipher. Blaze leaned close to her ear. “You’re very beautiful and I’m glad you’re having fun.”
She hadn’t expected the compliment, but her body reacted, and she was able to get out a “Thank you,” before Blaze walked away. She hoped the heat in her face hadn’t been visible. Still, though, she didn’t have a clue what might have soured Blaze’s usual upbeat mood. She pushed her credit card forward to pay for the drinks.
Trinity signed the paper, then slid her card into her back pocket. On her way to the group, she couldn’t he
lp glancing over her shoulder. Blaze stood alone at the table looking lost in thought. Trinity glanced around until she found DJ on the dance floor rubbing up against a tall brunette. Her gaze returned to Blaze and Blaze smiled, tipping her bottle in Trinity’s direction. Maybe she was working through whatever was bothering her and Trinity couldn’t resist smiling back. She got to the table and Kelly helped keep the bottles upright.
“Why are you flushed?” she asked.
“No reason.” Trinity took a long drink. She could feel Blaze’s eyes on her, and a flash of heat shot to her core.
“Oh. I know that look. Who is she? Where is she?” Kelly looked around like an eagle scanning her surroundings for prey.
“Stop it.” Trinity sighed. “You promise not to make it obvious?”
“Cross my heart.”
She sighed. Kelly would be relentless if she didn’t tell her. “The gorgeous hunk in the white shirt and jeans at eleven o’clock.”
After a few long seconds, Kelly’s hand moved to her hip as though sizing her up. “You mean the one with her arm around the waist of a willowy blonde?”
Her head snapped around. Sure enough, DJ stood next to her, her arm waving in the air as she talked. “The one in jeans is Blaze Carter and the woman waving her hands around is DJ.”
“Really?” Kelly continued to stare, and she was about to nudge her when three more of the group came from the dance floor to grab their drinks.
“Hey, what are you two up to?”
Kelly tipped her head. “Watching the hot butch across the way in the white shirt.”
“That’s Blaze, and she’s definitely hot.” One of her colleagues gave a knowing smile.
Trinity wasn’t sure if she should be jealous or use the opportunity to pump her for information. Blaze was the type of woman she’d like to get to know better.