“Enough,” I bark. “All of you.”
They scatter, still grinning.
Briar covers her mouth to hide her smile. Fails miserably.
I narrow my eyes. “You enjoying this?”
“Very much,” she says sweetly.
“You shouldn’t.”
“Why? Because you’re terrifying?” she teases.
I step closer, forcing her backward until her spine meets the side of the engine.
Her breath stumbles.
Mine almost does.
I drop my voice. “You said terrifying. You sure that’s the word you want?”
Her lips part. “Maybe.”
She’s trying to look unaffected.
She’s failing.
I let my gaze trail over her—slow, deliberate. “You bring your class here to learn about fire safety, or to test mine?”
Her cheeks burn. “I didn’t—I’m not testing anything.”
“Funny,” I murmur, “you say that every time.”
Her breath shakes.
I hear Rowan across the room whisper, “Holy shit, the captain’s flirting.”
I don’t even look. “Boone, Axel, Ash, Rowan—engine check. Now.”
Four men scramble away like startled raccoons.
Briar laughs softly. “You really terrify them?”
“Only when they deserve it.”
“What did they do?”
I take a slow step closer.
“They distracted me.”
Her throat bobs. “From what?”
“You.”
Her hands grip the strap of her bag like she needs something to hold onto.
“Saxon—”
