Smoldering Heart_Fleming Brothers [Book 1]

by Jennifer Vester

  “We all know the Crawford girls. I can do that for a while, hell, I’ll probably have volunteers that would do it off duty.”

  I ground my teeth together thinking about that statement. Other men hanging around my girl just didn’t feel right.

  Mine.

  That thought skittered across my brain and came up short. She wasn’t mine, and that made me even more angry. I wasn’t her type. Not in the least. Everything in my body screamed that she belonged to me, though.

  Regardless, I couldn’t worry about it right now. I had to get my skip back, and hope that the local PD would take the information they had seriously. At least until I got back. Because when I got back I planned on keeping my end of the dating bargain.

  He added, “I really don’t think it’s necessary, but we’ll keep an eye on the ladies.”

  Fucker.

  “That’s all I’m asking. I’ll be by as soon as I get packed. One more thing, how big is that fire on the ridge?”

  Sargent. Biggs cleared his throat. “Three building gone from what they’ve said, and a few acres. They’re reporting that it’s big, but nearly under control. Our boys don’t mess around when it gets up into the tree line. We’ll see you soon, Mr. Fleming.”

  “Okay,” I responded and hung up.

  Maddie reappeared, and I turned towards her.

  “I have to leave. They’re handing over Russell, and I’ve got to drive him back to Texas. Is there someone you can stay with?”

  She looked confused. “Why? I’ll just head to the shop. I wasn’t planning on it, but there’s some paperwork I need to get to. I talked to a friend at dispatch and they said the fire was controlled.”

  Grabbing her hand, I hauled her behind me to the guest bedroom I had been staying in.

  She let go as soon as we were inside, and I started repacking my bag.

  “Look, Darren, has a record and I think he may have been casing the shop. I don’t want you to go back up there without someone else with you. I can’t prove anything, but this guy is bad news and he’s probably still in the area.”

  “I’ll be fine, Owen. I doubt he would come back up there knowing that half the police are probably looking for him.”

  I shoved a pair of jeans in my bag and glanced back up at her.

  “Can you just trust me? This guy has assaulted people before, and he’s also known for setting stuff on fire. He's a whack job and I don’t want you up there alone.”

  “Why?”

  I moved closer to her and she backed away. When her back hit the wall I stopped and leaned in.

  “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  She let out a deep breath and bit her lip. Her eyes slid down to my mouth for a fraction of a second then popped back up to mine.

  I smirked. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back.”

  “I wasn’t worried. You need to get back to your life, and I need to get back to mine.”

  I frowned at her. “What scares you about dating me?”

  She looked alarmed. “What? I’m not. I mean, we’re not dating, so why does it matter?”

  “We are dating. I plan on coming back, and you are going on those dates you owe me.”

  “Technically the house isn’t painted yet.”

  I leaned in closer and my lips brushed against the skin of her cheek. “But it will be. What scares you?”

  “Nothing,” she whispered.

  My hand slipped behind her neck and I pressed my solid body against her soft one. I could feel her breasts against my chest and the rapid beat of her heart.

  “I think I scare the shit out of you because I don’t fit into the box you’ve built.”

  “What box?” she asked. Her eyes closed as my lips brushed against hers.

  “The one that holds the type of guy you think you want. I’m not that guy and we both know it. I’ll never fit.”

  “Probably not,” she responded as she opened her mouth to me.

  I took advantage and slanted my mouth over hers. My tongue dipped in and tasted her. She was intoxicating, and it was something that I would never forget.

  My body naturally pressed harder against her, and she whimpered. One of my hands roamed down her side. I could feel the bulge of her ample breast as I skimmed it and made my way down to her waist.

  Her hand slid up my chest and brushed against my piercing accidentally. My knees nearly buckled from the sensation. I pumped my cock against her once to let her feel what she was doing to me.

  I wanted her. She was like a drug and I was already addicted.

  If she had been any other woman I would have stripped her bare and fucked her against the wall until I had my fix. But she was Maddie, and for some unknown reason I felt like this thing between us was so much more important than what I wanted right now.

  “I want you,” I said against her lips. “You’re mine.”

  She broke our kiss, then looked up at me as I leaned back slightly.

  “I’m not yours. You’ll get home and things will go back to normal.”

  “The fuck you aren’t. I’ll be back, Maddie and you better be ready.”

  She frowned up at me with a hazy look in her eyes and swollen lips.

  “For what?”

  “For me, sweetheart. You’re going to understand just how much you’re mine when I get back.”

  She scowled at me for a second as I stepped back from her. But for a brief instant, I saw curiosity flash in those blue eyes.

  I smirked. That’s all the encouragement I needed.

  Chapter Eleven

  ~Madison~

  Two weeks. Okay, two hours if I was being honest with myself. That’s how long it took for me to miss Owen.

  Damn him.

  After our kiss, he'd packed up completely, and escorted me out to my car. At which point, he had made me promise that I wouldn’t go to the shop and would head straight home. When I'd nearly refused, he'd kissed me senseless, and threatened to take me with him to Texas if I didn’t comply.

  The man knew how to get his way.

  I did go home. Then I paced around the house cleaning. I wasn’t used to the time off or the lack of something to do. Even worse, about two hours into my pacing, I realized I actually missed the guy. Then, every time I stopped doing something I just thought of Owen.

  I wasn’t the most expressive person, I knew that. Verbal, yes. Talked to myself, yes. Just not entirely sure about how to deal with someone like him.

  When I called my friend Jane, to talk to her about it, my hearing was forever damaged by the loud squeal of excitement she screamed over the phone.

  Then there was the list of questions. Some more squealing. Then more questions. Then there was a three-way call with my friend Megan, who just damaged my other eardrum.

  My dad called when he had a chance and confirmed what I already knew about the fire. Owen had also texted him before leaving and filled him in on what he suspected about Darren. He was equally as worried about Rachel and me.

  I didn’t know why and still couldn’t quite explain it, even to myself. But he said he would be back, and that had left me with hope.

  Hope. A stomach flipping thing where it excited me that he would be back but also disappointed me that he didn’t call. We'd exchanged numbers. Yet he didn’t call or text. And I was stubborn about being the first one to reach out.

  On the third day, I noticed a patrol vehicle on my block for forty-eight hours. The officer had waved at me one morning, and I'd asked what he was doing.

  Following me of course. Because of Owen and his paranoia about Darren.

  Then there were the other visitors through the shop that week. Police and firefighters. It was kind of sweet that both my dad and Owen worried about us.

  But still no call or text from the idiot after five days.

  So, I huffed and sulked at the same time. Trying not to miss him which lasted about an hour one day until I saw a car that looked similar to his drive down the street.

  Then the visitors st
opped, and so did the surveillance on my block. Which was just as well because I was ready to strangle Owen Fleming if he ever did show up again. Killing him in front of the police would be hard to explain in court.

  For two weeks I missed him, but I wasn’t going to text him or call him. I wasn’t going to chase him. That’s not how love should work.

  And that awful word kept creeping through my mind. Love. I might have entertained the thought the first or second day but not now.

  He wasn’t coming back, and I had to get over it. Get over his stupid smirk. His stupid green eyes. His stupid mouth.

  Those stupid, stupid kisses!

  “Hey, when you’re done mutilating the arrangement for Dr. Sparra, can I have the floral tape? I can’t find any extra ones.”

  I looked up to see Rachel cautiously eyeing me then looked down at the awful arrangement I had been putting together. There was a semi-dead carnation hanging off to one side and a sprig of willow branch that looked like it was ready to take out an eye.

  I threw up my hands.

  “I can’t do this today. It’s not happening.”

  Rachel moved the scissors away from me on the table.

  “Why don’t you go home. I’ll finish the last two up and try to fix that. Whatever it is.”

  I took off my smock in a huff and laid it over the chair near my desk.

  “Why don’t you just text him?’ she asked.

  I sighed. “Because if he wants whatever he wants, then he should have texted me. Or called. Or just said he didn’t want anything in the first place.”

  I glanced over at her as she took everything out of the vase I had been arranging and started over.

  “It’s not like you gave him any clues that you were that interested, Maddie. The guy said he wanted you and you were like, no, no, no, can’t happen. Then you’ve been miserable ever since he left but it’s not like he knows that either. Cut the guy some slack. He’s probably wondering if you would even take a call from him.”

  “I wasn’t giving clues? Just because I don’t tell him that I feel something for him during the first few days that I've known him? It’s not the point. He should have done something by now, and he hasn’t. That’s it. It’s done.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You are like the world’s best at avoiding a relationship. Did you actually tell him that you liked him? Or that you were interested? Because I haven’t heard you say anything when you talk about it.”

  “Well, no, I didn’t outright say it. I just—he didn’t give me a chance.”

  “So, call him! Easy peasy.”

  I grimaced.

  “You’re being stubborn. I can see the stubborn look on your face.”

  “Fine. I’ll text. That’s it. One text. But I’m just going to tell him that I think what he did sucked. And that I’m not interested anymore.”

  I picked my cell up off my desk and glared at it. Text or call? Maybe I should call him and yell at him for being an asshole.

  Rachel laid down the floral tape and turned to watch me.

  “In private, thank you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “It’s not like I can see what’s on your phone.”

  “I’m calling. Easier just to tell him I hate him.”

  “Gawd, you’re difficult. Tell the man you love him, Maddie. This is so freaking ridiculous! Everyone can see it.”

  “I don’t love him. I met him, he bled on my floor and we had a lunch date. Love doesn’t happen that quick.”

  She gave me a small frown and started in on the arrangement again.

  “I think it can,” she said absently.

  “What?”

  “I think that it can be instantaneous sometimes, and that if your heart tells you it’s the right thing then maybe it is. If you feel something for someone, if it’s powerful enough to make you miserable when they’re gone, then I think love must be the cause. Even if you just spend an hour with them and they don’t even talk to you that much, I think love can sometimes happen that quickly.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “Are we talking about me or you? What’s up?”

  She shrugged. “Nothing. I just think if you have a guy that’s telling you and showing you that he cares, then you should reciprocate if you feel anything!”

  She stabbed at the floral tape a few times before she put the scissors down.

  “I’m going up front for a few. Make the stupid call, Maddie. You’re making me miserable at this point.”

  I sighed as I watched her exit toward the shop.

  “Fine,” I muttered to myself. “Call him. It’s not like it can get any worse at this point, then you can move on.”

  I thought about what I wanted to say and hovered over the dial button on my phone.

  “Hey, Maddie.”

  I jerked in surprise when Patrick walked in the back door.

  “Uh, hey, Patrick.”

  He gave me a sideways look then stopped.

  “You okay?”

  I waved the phone around dismissively.

  “Was just going to make a call. Forget it.”

  I put the phone on my desk and turned back to him.

  He smirked at me. “Still no contact?”

  I gave him a scowl. “What do you know about it?”

  He shrugged and leaned against the work table.

  “Just that Mark lost the bet already that you’d be dating, and I’m still in the game. If you want me to win the money, wait until the twentieth. That’s ten days.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  I heard something that sounded like a man talking. I hadn’t heard the door chime in the store, but Rachel frequently turned it off when she was working.

  He smiled. “The betting pool on when you and Romeo will get back together.”

  “What? WHAT?”

  He looked a little guilty for a moment. “Well, I thought it was pretty much over that day he was kissing you at Lola’s diner. Which would have made James over at Station Two the winner of the dating bet, but since Romeo left, that means the majority of us are still in the running.”

  “Patrick!”

  He raised his hands in peace. “All in good fun.”

  I closed my eyes and rubbed one of my temples. I could feel a headache starting to work its way into the back of my skull.

  “What’s the bet?” I asked.

  “That you’ll be dating someone officially by a particular day.”

  “That’s stupid, Patrick. What’s the money up to?”

  “Two thousand.”

  My eyes popped open. “What the hell?”

  “Yeah, well, a lot of people got in on it. But none of the fire stations are allowed to sway the date or ask you on a date, of course. That would be weird anyway. So, we’ve pretty much all made a bet.”

  “Patrick, I don’t care how bored you are, this isn’t funny.”

  He turned to the table and started checking the delivery sheets.

  “We’re not exactly bored anymore. A lot of fires lately. Even if they’re just dumpsters.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  I heard the distant rumble of what sounded like a male voice again. It must have been from the shop. Rachel would handle it.

  He grabbed a crate, filling it with several orders that were due to be delivered this afternoon.

  “It’s all in good fun, Maddie. It’s not like we’re betting on where the next dumpster is getting lit up.”

  He turned around and blinked at me. “Hey there’s an idea.”

  “No. No. And no. That’s not funny at all.”

  He shrugged. “Was just an idea. Anyway, the twentieth. Hold off until then and I’ll win the money.”

  I growled and raised my voice, hoping he would actually hear me this time. “My love life isn’t funny either. Dating someone, anyone, isn’t anyone’s business. I can date when I want to and who I want to, anytime, anywhere! You guys need to stop acting like the gossip hotline and go get new hobbies. Or I’ll tell D
ad that you need extra training or something. Don’t tempt me!”

  He loaded the last arrangement and turned to me.

  “We’re getting plenty of training already. Just go date someone on the twentieth and break up afterward. I’ll buy you a drink and some flowers to make up for it.”

  “Are you asking me out? Wouldn’t that violate the betting?”

  He gave me a wink. “Not if it happens after the bets are closed.”

  “I’m not dating you.”

  I heard the male voice distantly shouting now but couldn’t pinpoint the direction.

  “Do you hear that?”

  Patrick looked around and nodded. He finally turned to my desk and pointed at my cell phone.

  “Think you have a call.”

  Oh, shit. Who?

  I sucked in a breath. “Owen.”

  Patrick looked at me. “What?”

  I leaned over my desk and heard Owen yelling.

  “I’ll kick his fucking ass if he ever asks you out again!! Pick up the fucking phone, Maddie!”

  My shoulders slumped. Great, what a way to have a nice talk and end things. Now he was already pissed, and all I wanted was a nice break from him.

  I grabbed the phone and looked at Patrick. “Better get going. Don’t want those to be late.”

  He nodded at me, then exited the back door with his deliveries.

  I grabbed my purse and headed out after him. I hit my key fob and unlocked my car doors just as I put the cell to my ear.

  “Hello?”

  “What the fuck is happening? Did that guy just ask you on a date?”

  I turned my car on, then backed out of the parking spot.

  “Look, I must have hit the call button on my phone for you. I’m leaving work. That was my driver at the shop. It’s a long story, and I’m just really tired. I don’t know why you’re upset about it in the first place.”

  “Why the hell wouldn’t I be?” he growled. “You’re my girl, Maddie. No one, and I mean no one, will ask you on a date while we’re seeing each other.”

  I growled and turned left out of the parking lot, heading toward my house.

  “We’re not seeing each other! You never even called! I was going to call you today and just tell you it’s okay if you changed your mind. It’s not like we even know each other. I mean, I like you, and things might have been really good, but you’re clearly not coming back. So, it’s fine to just let go, right?”