Page 20 of Protect

Jacob turns his attention back to the TV with what I’m pretty sure is a hint of a smirk. “Mmkay,” he mumbles.

I grab my purse and sling it over my shoulder, not bothering to correct him on where I’m going. I’m already nervous enough, I don’t need to hear him razz me about going out with Rowan…on a date. A fake date just because I lost a bet and he wants to see me sweat throughAnnabelle.

It took me way longer to settle on my white eyelet lace sundress and faded jean jacket than it should have. I never used to wear dresses but the self-confidence blog I’ve been following has really encouraged me to embrace my curves, so here we are, embracing my curves. Although I’m paranoid Rowan is going to get here, take one look at me, and say there’s not a chance he’s going to take me to the movies, even if he did win the bet.

Elk Creek had more hydrocarbons and pesticides than Petersburg by almost double. After some further investigation we determined that run off from a local farm was contaminating the creek. I think we’ll get bonus marks for figuring that out.

“So, you’re going to take samples for pollutants…in a sundress?” Jacob asks as my dad comes into the living room with his new iPad and a snack, ready to relax after having just come home from work. He’s still in his clean Sky Ridge uniform, a black T-shirt and his greens. Fire season hasn’t really got off to a busy start, but he still has to work a daily shift. Every day he comes home clean, I can breathe a little easier. When I was young, sometimes he’d take me with him to organize equipment or help him wash the service truck the guys use to stock the base, just to show me his job wasn’t always dangerous. I’ve always had a fear of him getting hurt in the field, ever since third grade when one of my classmate’s dad died. He was a hotshot just like mydad. It was the first time I understood that my dad was at risk and anything could happen to him.

“You look nice, Vivi,” he says, kissing me on the top of my head. He smells like motor oil and heavy-duty cleaner.

“Cleaning the equipment room today?” I ask, wrinkling my nose.

“How’d you guess?” He grins.

I smile up at him, noticing for the first time a few threads of silver in his blondish hair. My dad is getting older, but he has to stay in shape as part of his job. He reminds Jacob every chance he gets that he could still kick his ass.

“She’s got a date—I mean, homework—with King.” Jacob snickers.

My dad looks at him, and as he does, I give Jacob the death glare. My dad is unfazed. He looks back at me and shrugs.

“I know.”

My head snaps up from searching for my favorite bubble-gum lip gloss.

“You know?” Jacob and I both ask our dad at the same time.

He nods. “Yeah, Rowan called me and told me he was taking Vivi out. Said he won a bet and that she was gonna hate every second of it.” Dad grins, and I want to die.

“What??”I groan at the same time a heavy knock sounds at the front door.

Dad and Jacob are still laughing when I swing it open to find Rowan wearing black jeans, a white T-shirt that fits him perfectly, and his staple black boots. His wavy hair sits perfectly, just touching his forehead and his tan is deep, making his intense blue eyes seem even more piercing.Shit. What was I mad at him for again?

His eyes rake over me slowly, from my strappy white sandals, over my dress to the snug fitting top, he pauses and swallows, and then his gaze continues to my face. Something about theway he looks at me makes me feel like I’m going to overheat. My hormones are just out of control around him. When his eyes meet mine his lips part slightly, and I’m wondering if I’m overdressed. Since I’ve never been on a date before, I have no basis for comparison and my only friend good enough to call for advice is away with her family for a week.

I clear my throat and Rowan blinks, then runs a hand through his hair.

“So…” He smirks. “Ready to hide behind your fingers all night?”

“You should take the blanket you hide behind when we watch scary movies here, Vivi.” Dad chuckles from the sofa, turning up the Mariners game Jacob is watching.

Oh yeah, now I remember why I was mad. He called my dad.

“I looked it up,” I say to them both defiantly. “It’s not even going to be that scary. I’ll be fine.”

My dad, Jacob, and Rowan look at each other, and at the same time all of them start laughing.

I narrow my eyes at Rowan

“Whatever, jerks,” I say awkwardly to my dad and Jacob, which makes them laugh even harder. As I storm out of the house past Rowan and onto the porch, I pause hearing Jacob speaking low to Rowan just inside the door. I turn back to them just as Rowan pats Jacob on the shoulder and nods.

Weird.

I hear him call out “She’ll be home by ten” to my dad before adding, “Go M’s.”

“Got that right,” Dad echoes. The one thing they always have in common is their love for the Mariners.

Ugh…if Rowan wasn’t so annoying he’d be pretty close to perfect.

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