Page 74 of Clean Out of Luck

Iknewa fire was going to blow up and cause a stir.

I just didn’t expect it to be Scarlett.

It’s only a few minutes before my shift ends when she comes flying into the lounge room, a flurry of legs, sparkling bracelets, and a bike helmet.

Scarlett has never been to the station before, and I can’t help but stare in shock as she walks into my familiar territory.

She’s followed by Jack and Linus. They look smug, Scarlett looks angry, and I just feel like someone has sucker-punched me in the gut.

She’s so beautiful, even when she’s angry—especially when she’s angry.

“You tattler!” she accuses me as she marches toward me, shaking her finger. “You called Phoenix! He’s threatening to come home. If he does, it will ruin everything.”

“Don’t you miss your brother and want to see him?” I ask with a smile. That ought to make her mad.

She looks like she’s about to rip that bike helmet off her head and throw it at me. I would love it if she would. It means she at least has strong feelings for me.

I’ll take her anger if it means she’ll stop ignoring me. Because I can’t stay trapped in this hell of watching her date other men. I’m greedy, and I want her all to myself.

The helmet strapped under her chin makes it a little harder to take her tirade seriously, though. She looks too cute and adorable to be angry.

She clenches her hands at her sides and marches toward me. She lowers her voice as though she’s just realizing we have an audience, and says, “This is my one chance at a relationship that will work. Phoenix isn’t here to butt in and ruin it. Don’t you understand? I have to find someone to date and marry before my family comes back.”

My mouth falls open at that statement. “You mean—what?”

Scarlett’s cheeks flush, and she looks down at the ground for a couple of seconds, then looks back at me.

“You thought you would find someone you liked and convince them to marry you in that short of a time frame?” I’m horrified. Doesn’t she realize any guy would be a fool not to want to be with her? She could end up with a Class-A jerk because she hadn’t taken the time to get to know him.

“I don’t want to be alone forever,” she grinds out.

I can’t resist. She doesn’t realize she’s still wearing the helmet, so I reach up and pat the top.

Her eyes look up abruptly, and she mutters something about hat hair. “That’s it.” She unclips the helmet and pulls it from her head, and her hair falls loosely around her shoulders. I want to reach out and grab handfuls of it, but I don’t think that would be wise right now. “What I’m trying to say is I have a short window of opportunity here, Wade. And you’re trying to ruin it for me. Don’t you dare! You hear me? Don’tyou dare ruin this, ruin my dates and my chance at finding someone who actually wants me!”

“You can stop looking now because you’ve found someone,” I say quietly.

She scowls up at me. “What do you mean by that?”

“I meanme. What did you think that kiss was?”

She looks stunned. “You’re going to bring that up? In front of people?” She gestures behind her to Jack and Linus.

“Of course I’m bringing it up. It rocked my world. I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I think if you want to be with someone, you should at least givemea shot. I know you.”

“I don’t think that’s going to work in my favor! You can’t possibly think I’m good enough for you.”

I snort. “You have such a low opinion of yourself, and I don’t know why. You’re smart, kind, gorgeous, and so good with people that you are more concerned about their well-being than your own. You’re the most selfless person I know. Whoever gets to spend their life with you will be the luckiest person on earth.”

She shakes her head. “This is why I didn’t want to talk to you about it. You’re not being reasonable. No, there’s no way. We cannot. You’re not really attracted to me. It was a pity kiss. It was because you felt bad about my date. You didn’t actually want to kiss me—I forced you into it, and you felt bad?—”

I don’t let her say another word. Scarlett is not a pity kiss. She’s my everything. I take two big steps across the distance and pull her tight against me with my left hand.

I plant a firm kiss against her shocked lips. I love the way her body immediately softens against mine. It’s like we were made for each other and finally found that last missing puzzle piece.

When I finally pull back, she’s staring at me with a stunned face. “Wade!”

“I wanted to do that. You weren’t forcing me to do anything.” I stare down into those burning eyes. “That was not a pity kiss, I can tell you that.”

---