Page 32 of Too Much Heat

But looming over all his emotions was fear. If this incident was aimed at him, he could be endangering these four people.

When the chief finally finished and left, the group started to rise. Joe said, “Wait a second. I want to say something. The days off are a good thing. You all got injuries that could be worsetomorrow. Then there’s the shock of the blast that might cause some delayed reaction. Finally, you got time off. Try to enjoy it.”

“Will do,” Gage said. The others agreed.

“Is that all?” Danny asked. “I need to lie down.”

“I’ll drive you home,” Abe put in. “You shouldn’t be behind the wheel.”

“Get your things, everybody, and go. I’ll lock up.”

When they left the fire house, he locked the front door, closed the blinds and went back to the kitchen doorway. What a mess. The stink of burning metal stung his senses.

“Joe, can we talk?”

Lara. Damn it. He hadn’t seen her leave but assumed she’d gone with the others. He circled around. “Yeah, sure.”

“Let’s sit in the common room again.”

After Joe sat on the couch, Lara dropped down close to him. She angled her body to face him and put her arm up on the couch’s back. He could see the little lines that marred her forehead. She pulled the tie out of her hair. The lilac scent of it…affected him. Just her nearness did. Shit, not again.

“What is it, Swanson?” His voice came out husky.

“I overheard you and Chief Thomas talking.”

He tried not to react. Not to give clues if she was fishing.

“Somebody’s stalking you?”

He blew out a heavy breath. “I think so.”

She grasped his hand. “I’m sorry. What are you going to do about it?”

“The police will investigate, but I already filled in the holes and seeded them with grass and the broken glass from my window was cleaned up. Whoever told the fire chief about us is a suspect, I guess, but how do we ask him about that?”

She shook her head and her hair swirled around her shoulders. “You were being kind when you learned about Sammy and now you’re paying for it!”

“I wouldn’t change anything,” he whispered, squeezing her hand.

She leaned in close. “Me either. But you know we can’t have a relationship. Even if we wanted one.”

He stared at her for a few seconds. Then he said quietly, “I know. But for the record, I want one.”

She swallowed hard. “I do, too.”

He couldn’t let her go after that. He took her hand and linked their fingers. Damn it. Seeing her every day was excruciating. Somewhere along the line he’d begun to care about her. A lot.

The hell with it! He drew her to him, right there on the couch in the firehouse. She came to him easily, naturally. Her breasts crushed against him. He lowered his head and took her mouth. Teased open her lips. Explored her with his tongue. She tasted like peppermint.

She cupped his neck. Explored him back. Even bit his lip. He didn’t know how long they claimed each other. At one point, his hand went to her breast and kneaded her. She moaned.

Heat flared between them. Too much. Finally he broke the kiss. She opened her eyes. They were filled with desire. His probably were, too.

He threaded his fingers through her hair—it was thick and heavy—and met his forehead with hers.

Neither spoke. There was nothing more to say.

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