Page 40 of Controlled Burn
Then one of his hands lifted. Slowly. Like it took everything he had. He cupped her jaw gently. His thumb brushed her cheek once.
It was nothing.
It was everything.
Her breath hitched.
“We crossed a line,” Dean whispered.
Talia nodded. “Then we need to be careful.”
He stepped back like it hurt him.
“This thing between us,” he said, “it’s not going to stay hidden much longer.”
She gave him a sad smile. “Then maybe it’s time we stop pretending we don’t want it.”
He didn’t answer.
He didn’t have to.
She left first, quiet as a secret.
The door clicked shut behind her.
Back at her locker, the black hair tie still circled her wrist.
A reminder.
And a warning.
Chapter 16
The Proposition and the Inspection
Talia
She was restocking trauma bags when Jake cornered her—same smile, same stink of arrogance, same damn game.
"Hey, rookie," he drawled, leaning a shoulder against the doorframe like he owned the space. "You don't have to play the good girl all the time, you know."
Talia froze mid-step, pulse ticking in her throat. "Excuse me?"
Jake Reid smirked. He always smirked — like the whole world was a game he'd already won. "I'm just saying. You and Maddox pretending nothing's going on? Cute. But you're wasting your time."
He stepped closer. Too close. The wall was at her back. His cologne mixed with the sharp scent of antiseptic and rubber.
"I can give you what he won't," he murmured, voice low and cocky. "What he can't."
Talia's heart hammered — not from flattery, but fury. She squared her shoulders and met his eyes with ice. "Thanks," she said coolly. "But no thanks."
Jake's smirk twitched. "Don't be like that."
"I said no." Her voice cut like glass.
For a second, his eyes darkened — something sour behind the frat-boy charm — but he shrugged it off. "Suit yourself."
She didn't turn her back until he walked away. Only then did she exhale, fingers clenched around the strap of the med bag until her knuckles went white.
