Page 60 of Burning For You

“I don’t know what to think. We can handle it better than any of the volunteer departments.”

“You’d be called in anyway, but yes, it’s not the same. Not as fast. I’d like to keep it where it is if it’s not stopped right away.”

“I’m hoping whoever it is will be sloppy now. That email was a joke. Why do that? It’s like this person is taunting her. She’s putting herself at risk now. For what? A fucking story.”

There went Ford’s head nodding again. “You’re getting worked up. You never get worked up. What’s really going on with you and Skye? And don’t forget, you’re pretty easy to read. I remember you had a thing for her years ago. Not that she had it back. Or is it that?”

He blew out a breath. “That would be a dick move if it was that. If it had to be with her rejecting me. And she didn’t reject me. I mean, she was going through a lot of shit back then.”

“And most likely still is now,” Ford said. “She’s your best friend’s sister on top of it. You’re talking to me about this and not him. How come?”

“Just ask what you want to.”

Ford laughed. “This is much more fun though. I haven’t seen you squirm in a long time.”

“I’d hardly say I was squirming.”

“Not from my perspective. Do you still have a thing for her?”

“I don’t know that I ever stopped having one,” he admitted.

“And now that is the biggest problem and why you came to me. Because I went through this with Reenie.”

“Yeah. But we are only friends. I think. I don’t know. We had dinner at my place and she cooked me dinner at hers. And no one knows that but you.”

“Got it. My best advice is to keep her close. Keep in her ear, but don’t tell her what to do.”

“That’s a bit hard when I think she might be putting herself in danger.”

“Which is why you stay close. She’s got brothers doing the same. If Tate knows, the rest will find out. She’s going to need backup, not another person standing in front of her. Think that way. You’ll win more points. And you’ll get closer to her without being obvious that way.”

“That’s almost sly. I didn’t expect that of you. I’m impressed.”

“I’ve got a couple more years on you and know how to work people.”

His smile dropped. “I’m not working anything.”

“Sure, you are, but you’re just feeling guilty about it.”

Which wasn’t a lie either when his phone rang in his truck thirty minutes later as he headed home.

No surprise it was Corbin.

He answered without hesitation. “How badly did you light into your sister?”

“She hung up on me,” Corbin said. “So I need the facts from you since you were at her place when Tate arrived. And don’t think we won’t get to that part either.”

Aw, fuck. There was no hiding anything from anyone it seemed.

“Are you on site?”

“Yep. I stepped away to make this call. Be at my place in thirty. I’m heading there now.”

He couldn’t dispute it because his best friend had hung up on him.

All he could hope for was that when he pulled in, it was only Corbin there and not the rest of the Lancaster brothers.

He stopped to pick up subs first. Might as well get on his buddy’s good side.