Page 29 of Steamy Dreamy Hearts

CALEB

The air still had toxins; arsenic and lead were dangers. So, nothing was over, not completely. Precautions were going to be needed for weeks. So far, eighteen hundred acres were scorched, and more than eight hundred firefighters had fought it. A small fire still blazed in the Canyon area, but Smack and I were ordered home. Our part was done. The fire was weaker than before and soon to be controlled.

Fire changed water, air, soil—everything. But that was for the government agencies to figure out, not me and Smack.

We packed the truck in silence. Smack rechecked our gear like a gazillion times while I scrambled into the front seat. I stiffened when he finally got in beside me.

I stared at him.

He stared back, equally hard.

The sexual undercurrents were threatening to pull me under.

“So?” I croaked.

“So…” Smack didn’t make a move to drive away.

I faced him. “Should we talk about last night?”

“I’m a little nervous to discuss it.”

My eyes darted to his in surprise. Smack was nervous? Or more surprisingly, he was being open about his nerves? Smack was always a bit guarded.

“The thing is, it was unexpected. At least for me.” Smack bit his lower lip. “Fucking hell…I’m not sure of anything.”

I nodded vigorously. “Same.”

He hesitated, then reached out to touch the top of my head to my neck.

I began to lean forward, but Smack pulled away, tugging on his seat belt. “We shouldn’t. There are good reasons we should consider stopping. “

My eyes narrowed. “Like what?”

“Like you just got out of a relationship?—”

“It was months ago and had been coming for a long time.” I went still. “And I agreed to stop wasting my time on Tanner or the past.”

“I know. And that’s good. But…it doesn’t give us the excuse to cross so many boundaries.” There was an odd pleading in his voice.

Chewing the inside of my cheek, I didn’t give in to it.

“I’m also your boss,” Smack added after a moment. He cleared his throat. “You wouldn’t be concerned to date your boss?”

I paused at that. “I can be professional. Keep it separate.”

We locked eyes.

Smack shook his head. “We shouldn’t risk it.”

I picked at my nail cuticle and shrugged. “I suppose we shouldn’t.”

Smack swore.

“What? I just agreed with you.”

“I was hoping for the opposite,” he admitted, rubbing the side of his neck.

“Then why are you fighting so hard to deny us?”

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