Page 6 of Burn for You

Teagan grinned with a wink. My stomach swooped. I wrenched my gaze away, walking a little faster to my car in a desperate need to distance myself from this man who was setting every nerve in my body on fire against my will.

“You know,” he said. “I’d be happy to give you a call if the fire department finds out anything else about this arsonist. In the name of sharing information of course.”

I kept my gaze straight ahead, locked on my car, and my inevitable escape. Teagan’s long, confident strides and his boots gave him the advantage of sure footing on the pavement. My damned heels didn’t make for a quick getaway.

“Wouldn’t that be against the law?” I pointed out. “Sharing evidence with an outside party before going to the police?”

Teagan flashed a devastating smile—a hint of golden-brown scruff, a dimple peeking out from his right cheek, and mischievous eyes that swept over me from head to toe. This man knew how to flirt and he did it well.

“It can be our little secret,” he replied. “All I need is your number.”

By now, we had finally reached my car—a black Jaguar polished to a mirror-like shine. My ex hated it, so I had nointention of getting rid of it, even though it did look out of place amid the muddy pickup trucks and sedans in the parking lot.

I retrieved a business card from the pocket of my blazer and slapped it against Teagan’s chest—totally copping a feel in the process. I couldn’t stand staring at the tight stretch of his shirt across his pecs any longer without putting my hands on him.

Yep. Firm muscles. Warm body heat. Built like a brick wall.

Fuck, this man meant nothing but trouble.

“My receptionist’s number is on that card,” I said. “Don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us if you’re interested in some real estate, Mr. Teagan.”

I opened the door of my car and climbed in. Teagan chuckled and shook his head.

“If you’re going to hate my guts, you might as well call me Seth. Being on a first name basis makes that animosity a little more personal.”

He wedged his body against the door, preventing me from closing it. Bracing one arm on the roof of my car, he leaned in.

I didn’t like this—positioned lower than him, so I had to look up into those brown eyes that sent heat prickling up my spine and a familiar ache between my thighs. I caught the scent of his soap, sharp and citrusy, mingled with a hint of smoke. I would have preferred to be standing. In my heels, we were nearly the same height, and I would have been nose to nose with him…pinned against the car…with his arms bracketing me…

I stuffed that thought into a dark corner of my mind.

“I don’t hate your guts,” I said, jutting out my chin in defiance. “I’m a professional, Mr. Teagan. That’s all. I’m just doing my job.”

That infuriating, attractive smirk reappeared. He hummed in thought.

“You’re determined to shut me out in the cold,” Seth said, his voice pitched lower, quieter. “You can act like you despiseme, Miss Jenkins, but your eyes give you away. Your pupils dilate every time I get close. Big and beautiful and so dark.Aroused.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. Before I could form a protest, Seth laughed softly and shut my door. He stepped back, kissed my business card, and slid it into his pocket. I clutched the steering wheel with a death grip as I watched him saunter away, the smug bastard.

It wasn’t fair that his pants were a snug fit, providing the perfect view of his ass. For a brief instant, an image flashed through my mind—digging my fingernails into his ass with Seth’s hot breath at my ear, praising me every time he thrust deep.

Look at you. Blushing and speechless, taking every inch of my cock like a good girl. I knew you wanted this the moment we met. My gorgeous, filthy little—

“Nope,” I rasped, shaking my head. “No, no, no. Absolutely not. Don’t go down that road.”

As I started my car and drove out of the parking lot, my gaze strayed to the rear-view mirror, hoping for one last look of Seth Teagan. Romeo was a small town. I’m sure I couldn’t avoid him forever. And he seemed determined to chase me, no matter how far or how fast I ran.

A smile twitched at the corner of my mouth.

I pressed my lips together, stifling it. The last thing I needed was a charismatic asshole like Seth toying with my heart, no matter how much my body wanted him.

Chapter 3

Seth

On such a pleasantly warm morning in mid-May, the apparatus bay was open to let in the breeze and the sunshine. While Davies swept the floor and scrubbed down Truck 7, I sat on a chair with my feet propped up on an empty box.

“Wouldn’t kill you to grab a sponge and lend a hand,” Davies called.

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