Page 50 of Burning For You

“Okay. I’ll look into it if for no other reason than to relieve your mind and see if others were questioned or seen there that night. I highly doubt either of these fires is even closely related. Nothing ties them together. And not with thirteen years between them and nothing else happening since.”

“I know all those things. Like I said. Just looking for that closure.”

And when he finished with his plate five minutes later and stood up to bring it to the sink, she took it out of his hand and carried it in with hers.

“I’ll help you clean up.”

“I’m not going to say no,” she said.

She didn’t have a dishwasher, so she washed and he dried.

When the dish towel was dropped on the counter, he was positive she was going to kick him out, but he pulled her back into his arms and held on tight.

She didn’t let go. Didn’t even attempt to wiggle away.

Not bad for someone her brothers always said never liked to be touched or hugged.

“What’s this for?” she asked, looking up at him.

Her blue eyes were wide. He saw the arousal behind them. The yearning that he was feeling just as much.

“You looked like you could use it. You’re tense now.”

“I’ve got no reason to be tense. You’re making that up.”

“I’m not, but I’ll let you think I believe you.”

She was still in his arms, making no attempt to leave them, but leaning back against his laced fingers on her back.

He went with his gut. It hadn’t bit him in the ass yet.

It might now, but he wasn’t one to walk away either.

He dipped his head down. Just to place a chaste kiss on her lips. Kind of a friendship one.

But the minute his lips touched hers, all thoughts of friendship flew out of his brain.

And when her arms went up and around his neck, then her mouth opened under his, her tongue sliding in.

Yeah, there was no stopping him from kissing her back just as hard. Just as fast.

Nor hiding the way his body was responding.

When she finally pulled back and said, “Corbin doesn’t need to know about this either.”

He knew he was in trouble.

14

SOMEONE WAS ESCALATING

The minute the bells went off the next night, Ash was already moving.

The covers flew back as one, all bodies rolled out of their narrow bunks in the shared room. There were no words. No wasted motion as hands reached for pants, boots, shirts. Muscle memory took over while sleep still clawed at the edges of their brains.

In the garage, gear was thrown on, helmets grabbed. Then they were off and running.

They hit the truck hard, the metal rattling as doors slammed and bodies piled in. The bay doors lifted and the cold November air knifed through them, sharp enough to wake the dead as the engine roared to life, the siren blasted and the lights flashed.