The atmosphere wrapped around her instantly.
Salt air. Wood smoke. Beer. Laughter. Firelight dancing across smiling faces. Sheraton Beach at its absolute best.
“Well, damn.”
Johanna turned toward the voice.
MacKenzie stood beside one of the coolers wearing ripped jeans, sneakers, and a Ravens sweatshirt beneath an oversized jacket. Her hand rested absentmindedly against the curve of her stomach and amusement danced openly across her face.
“You came to spend time with your boo tonight?”
Johanna sighed heavily. “Why is everybody in this towncommitted to embarrassing me?”
“Because we’re happy for him.” MacKenzie handed her a drink before leaning closer conspiratorially. “Also, Blaze has been pacing for twenty straight minutes.”
Heat rushed to Johanna’s cheeks.
“He has not.”
MacKenzie simply pointed toward the shoreline.
And there he was.
Heaven help me.
Blaze stood near the water talking with Ryan and several firefighters. Dark jeans hung low on his narrow hips while firelight flickered across his broad shoulders covered by a black hoodie.
The hoodie should’ve been illegal.
There was honestly no other explanation for why one man needed to look that good standing still.
Johanna’s stomach tightened the second Blaze lifted his head as if he sensed her before he even saw her. Then those warm brown eyes locked onto hers across the beach.
Everything around her blurred slightly after that.
Ryan glanced toward Johanna next, then slowly grinned at Blaze with immediate understanding. Blaze ignored him completely because his attention stayed fixed exactly where it belonged.
On her.
And then he started walking toward her.
Calm confidence rolled off him with every step through the sand. He moved like a man completely secure in himself, and somehow that masculine steadiness affected her more than arrogance ever could.
The terrifying part… her body reacted instantly.
MacKenzie smirked knowingly before disappearing like the emotionally manipulative fairy godmother she clearly enjoyedbeing.
Blaze stopped directly in front of Johanna.
Close enough for his scent to wrap around her immediately and disturb her peace.
His gaze traveled slowly over her face, then lower, taking in the cream sweater, fitted jeans, boots, and loose curls spilling around her shoulders.
Appreciative. Intentional. And Lord help her… that somehow felt even more intimate.
“Well,” Blaze said finally, his voice low and rough around the edges, “I knew you’d come.”
Johanna’s breath caught embarrassingly fast. “You say things entirely too smoothly.”
