Page 9 of Burned By Love

West pressed his lips together.Jonathan had no business being this adorable.“I didn’t realize you lived in the area.”

“Oh, yeah.I do.”

“I’ve never seen you before.”

“I keep weird hours.I’ve never seen you before, either.”

West grinned.“I keep even weirder hours.”

Jonathan laughed.“I can only imagine how hard it is for you.”

West shrugged.He liked how light the conversation was.He’d expected Jonathan to turn to run as soon as he saw him.He didn’t want to waste this opportunity, but he had no idea how to make sure that Jonathan would stick around a bit longer.“You get used to it after a while.I’m not saying it’s great, but it’s not as awful as most people think it is.”

“I don’t know about that.I can’t think of anything worse than having to stay at work for forty-eight hours.”

It almost sounded like Jonathan had researched firefighters.West wanted to tease him, but he didn’t dare.He was pretty sure that Jonathan would bolt if he tried.Besides, he might just be curious after what had happened with that guy who’d fainted.It probably had nothing to do with West.

Jonathan kept glancing around as if looking for something—possibly the closest exit.West wanted him to be able to leave if that was what he wanted, so he pushed his cart to the side.West wasn’t going to stop him.

Jonathan started walking past him.West sighed in dismay because he’d really thought this was a sign from the universe.If the universe hadn’t wanted West and Jonathan to date or at least talk, it wouldn’t have pushed them together again, right?

Jonathan paused next to West.He was wearing a pair of dark jeans and an oversized cream-colored hoodie with rodeo cowboys on it.He looked comfy, and for some reason, West wanted to drag him into his arms and bury his face against his neck.

Yep.He was officially a creep.

Things didn’t get easier when Jonathan leaned closer.West had no idea what Jonathan was doing, but he stayed still.He felt a bit like he was in front of a rabbit and that if he moved or breathed too hard, the rabbit would bolt.

It was ridiculous how much he didn’t want Jonathan to leave.He barely knew this man.He’d only met him once, and West had barely said two words to him.What was West thinking?

“I know,” Jonathan whispered.

He quickly leaned back, but West grabbed his arm so he wouldn’t leave.“What are you talking about?”

Jonathan glanced around again.“About your secret.About what you are.”

It was as if West had eaten rocks for lunch.“What?”

“You know.”

West opened his mouth to say that hedidn’tknow because he had to be sure of what Jonathan was insinuating before he said anything, but the fire alarm cut him off.

His body moved on instinct.He was used to being interrupted by the fire alarm.He got into firefighter mode, glancing around to find out what was going on.Maybe a kid had pulled the alarm or something.West couldn’t help but hope that was the case, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t.

“What’s going on?”Jonathan asked.

West sniffed the air.He thought he knew what Jonathan had been insinuating, but he didn’t understand how Jonathan would know because he smelled human.He hadn’t found out from West or Austin.Maybe he knew other dragon shifters?West wanted to ask, but he had other things to do right now.He had to find out where the fire was and what was happening.

And Jonathan had to get his ass out of the store.

* * * *

JONATHAN STARTED PANICKINGas soon as the fire alarm went off.His first thought was to run for the exit like everyone else was.He turned to do just that when a woman ran past him, knocking a cart into him.He winced because fuck, that hurt.

A strong hand on his arm distracted him from the pain.“All right?”West asked.

His expression was serious, and his eyes were full of concern that Jonathan didn’t feel he deserved.

“I’m fine.”

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