Page 4 of Holiday Flame

“Fair enough.” With a nod, he slams a twenty-dollar bill on the high-top table. “I’ll take that bet.”

Smirking, I shuffle two darts into my left hand and line up my shot with the right. With the target in sight, I pull my fingers back.

Just as I’m ready to release, Maverick says, “Did I tell you Jade is back in town?”

My heart leaps at the mention of her name as I flick my wrist and send the dart sailing. It strikes the poster of Santa Claus next to the board.

“Damn, bro.” Maverick lets out a low whistle. “You weren’t even close.”

“That’s because you distracted me.” Gritting my teeth, I stalk to the wall and tug the dart out. The tip breaks off and I frown. “You also broke my tip.”

“Remington with a broken tip.” He shakes his head and chuckles. “You’re going to disappoint a lot of ladies if you don’t get it working again soon.”

I snort on a laugh. I can’t stay mad at Maverick. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let him off easy.

I grit my teeth. “To answer your question, no. You didn’t tell me Jade was back.”

“Well, she’s back.”

“I know.”

His brow furrows. “You know? How?”

“Because you just told me.” Not to mention the fact that I clocked Jade the second I walked into the bar. I’ve always had a sixth sense where she’s concerned. Like, I can somehow always sense she’s around or that she’s sent her brother a text message.

Of course, I’ve kept that notion to myself. Mav is my best friend. And even though I jump out of planes and helicopters to fight fires, I don’t have a death wish.

“Oh.”

Maverick looks around until his eyes land on his sister’s table. It’s a table I’ve been watching a little too closely myself. Especially after the flush cheeked, bright eyed look she gave me not too long ago.

It’s a good thing I quickly found an empty seat. The table hid the tent I was pitching in my pants.

I wonder if she flushes anywhere else on her body. What I wouldn’t give to peel that top and jeans off of her body and bury my face between her thighs to see how pink she gets down there.

I clear my throat and shift my stance to avoid pitching another tent. Fuck me. I can’t keep having thoughts like that about Jade.

With thoughts of plunging into icy waters in my head, I hold one of my darts to Maverick. “Double or nothing I can make it on this next shot.”

He’s interrupted from taking—or rejecting—the offer by Calloway, our smokejumper crew leader, who comes bearing a fresh pitcher of beer and a scowl.

“Your ex,” he says through gritted teeth, “called our emergency.”

“My ex?” I frown. “What ex?”

“She said her name was Leanne. Or Lanie.”

“Well which one was it?”

Maverick chuckles as steam practically bursts out of Calloway’s ears?

“Which one is it?” he parrots in disgust. “You expect me to keep track of your women when you can’t be bothered?”

“For the record, I know the names—first and last—of every woman I’ve had.” Not to mention knowing just about everything there is to know about the one woman I want more than anything, but will never have. “I’ve never dated a Leann or Lanie.”

Calloway scowls. “Then why is she on my phone asking to talk to you?”

I shrug. “Wishful thinking.”

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