Page 33 of Burning Justice

“You should’ve gone for it.”

“Because you’d have gone for it too?”

He had offered to teach her in the offseason so that she could have easily passed smokejumper training.

Maria said, “Just because one of us does something, doesn’t mean the other has to do it too.”

“I’m not protecting you if I’m miles away, fighting a different part of the fire.”

Maria didn’t even know why she was pushing this right now. But she couldn’t let it go. Things weren’t better, not for all the trying they’d done. All the months of searching. Fighting militia guys. Looking all over the area for her dad. Nothing had changed.

Maybe she needed it to.

“I’m picking a fight with you.” Because he wouldn’t leave, no matter what. She knew it, but that didn’t mean she should actively push him away.

“Ask the question.” He turned at the door to face her, stopping her from going inside.

Closing her in, like he did. Forcing her to make a decision. To stick with him—because she had to admit that was what she wanted.

“I want to tell you the answer.”

Maria wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it. Especially not when he looked at her with those green eyes and that brooding stare.

“Ask me.”

Maria swallowed. “Why aren’t you a smokejumper?” He should be one. He would be amazing at it.

“Because you’re afraid of heights.”

She gasped. “You weren’t supposed to know.”

He tugged her around so her back was to the wall and stepped close to her. “You think I didn’t notice? I notice everything, Maria.”

She bit her lip.

This morning had taken a turn. It was out of control.

Was she dreaming? This was awfully close to some dreams she’d had. Where he closed that gap between them, his body pressed up against hers, and he kissed her.

Like he’d always wanted to.

Like he wanted nothing else.

“If you’re scared, I want to know.” His face lowered, far too close.

She could smell the mint on his breath.

“I’m not afraid.”

The corner of his mouth curled up. Oh boy. They were in dangerous territory.

She should’ve told him that she had no idea what she was doing. Between the CIA and the hunt for her father, she hadn’t had much time for dating. Except that one inkling of a…Yeah, that had been a disaster.

Someone cleared their throat.

Maria looked around Kane’s shoulder. “Mack!” Her voice was far too loud. “Good morning.”

Kane chuckled, but he didn’t step back. She squeezed out from between the building and his body and pulled the door open like this was completely normal.

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