Page 8 of Some Like It Hot

“I’m just saying that I don’t just put out fires. I can start them. And keep them going…”

She closed her eyes.

“Or I can be just a friend, if that’s what you need.”

She took his hand, pulled it close, wound her fingers through his. The sky had turned a deeper shade of blood red, the clouds deeply bruised, purple and black.

“No, Riley, I don’t think you can. But right now.This.It’s enough.” At least until the dawn broke as she had to face another sunrise.

Because tomorrow he’d be right back in the fire.

And she couldn’t love another man who wasn’t afraid to run into danger.

Two

“McCord—get up. We have a start.”

The words jerked Riley out of the semidarkness caused by the shades at the windows, and he emitted a groan as he opened his eyes to spot Tucker in the lighted crack between door and frame of his room. “There were a few bets that we should look for you down at Larke’s place…apparently you’ve lost your game.”

Tucker ducked away from the flying boot Riley scooped off the floor. It hit the wall beside the frame.

“And your aim. Listen—Jed took off last night, and I’ve been promoted to Jump Boss. I’m headed up to the lodge for a sit-rep. Get your backside in gear. I need you.”

He shut the door as Riley leaned up and groaned. Rotated his shoulder and gulped away the fire that shot down his arm, through his core. Okay, a couple ibuprofen and he’d be golden.

Really.

Probably it was a good thing that Larke hadn’t woken up to seeing him bite back a little pain-control breathing.

I’m not a hero.

Whatever.

Yeah, that had gone right to his heart, and he’d meant his words.I can be just a friend, if that’s what you need.At least, at the time.

And for the next couple hours as he’d watched the sky turn from golden to burnished, as Larke, surprisingly, fell asleep in his arms beside him.

He’d wanted to pick her up, to carry her inside her cabin, but not only would his shoulder have given out, but he intended to mean his words. And with the midnight sun turning her blonde hair into white gold, her eyes so sweetly closed, as if she might be dreaming, yeah, he sort of didn’t trust himself.

Or his crazy emotions. She’d curled up next to him, her hand right over his heart, and shoot, the rush of strange emotions had him a little off-balance.

He didn’t do relationships or commitment or anything that had to do with slowing down to consider the man he’d once wanted to be. That would mean letting his father catch up to tell him all the ways he’d failed.

Which meant he’d just had a hiccup last night with Larke. Let her in a little further than he’d intended.

That was then.

This was today. And today he had a fire. Something to focus on, dig into, fill the hollow place.

Maybe it would also burn off the residue of desire that lingered after he’d left her on her cabin doorstep, kissed her sweetly, her face in his calloused hands, still trying to be the good guy, and hiked back to his lonely, quiet room.

He was out before his head hit the pillow, but the memory of her warmth against him still lingered. The sense that maybe…

No.

I don’t just put out fires. I can start them. And keep them going…

Whatever.

---