He did. In the past it hadn’t bothered him. He almost enjoyed knowing that someone cared enough to know a little about his life.
Now that he had someone in it and something he didn’t want to share, he wasn’t so sure he could accept the nosiness.
They turned to go back to work and the alarms rang.
Everyone made a mad dash for their gear, throwing it on and hopping in the trucks.
He couldn’t let the woman who’d been on his mind way too much take up space now.
Last night was awful enough when he was snapping at her and everyone else to get out of the building.
Then her reaction to him wanting to go back and check on people without his gear.
She’d told him not to consider it. He wasn’t prepared.
As if she was scared for him. Then said his job made her nervous.
Just another thing they’d have to talk about or would have between them. Would she not be able to handle his job?
Life never used to be this complicated.
24
MASK HER CONFUSION
Complication seemed to be the word of the day a week later when Jocelyn showed up at Chance’s apartment on Sunday. He’d gotten out of work at seven that morning, slept until one and told her to arrive at two.
It was a nice apartment complex not too far from her place or his job at the firehouse. The pub was a few miles farther.
“Hi,” he said, opening the door.
Things were back on track. Somewhat.
The underlying conversation they’d had prior was lingering worse than microwave fish in a small office.
“Shoes on or off?” she said.
He shrugged. “I’m fine either way.”
She slid them off since he had nothing on his feet. “Show me around.”
If he seemed uncomfortable that she was here, she was shoving it back into her closet of insecurity. She was going to remind herself of Rhea’s words. To give Chance time.
The question was how much time she had.
“Not much to see,” he said. “Much smaller than your place. Two bedrooms, one bathroom.”
She looked at his living room that went into a small eating area, and she assumed the kitchen was on the other side of the living room but opened toward that table. She moved in that direction and saw she was right. Just a wide galley style.
“Not much on decor, are you?” Even his furniture was pretty basic in gray, no throw pillows or blankets on the back.
He snorted. “I save it all up for the pub,” he said. “I actually had some pictures that are there here, but moved them when I got my inspiration.”
“Can I see where all the action happens?”
“You want to see my bathroom?” he asked, his face serious, his eyes anything but. “That’s a first.”
She gave him a nudge with her hand and he pulled her close to his chest, his mouth covering hers.
