Page 16 of Burning Love
Jace hated when comments were made like that toward him.
That stupid calendar and other promotions to raise money. Five years ago, someone had taken a picture of him after a fire. He’d been standing out by the truck, his helmet and mask off, his face had ash on it. It was ninety degrees out, not to mention the heat of the fire they’d just battled and he had the jacket of his suit off and was in a white T-shirt clinging to his body, suspender straps off his shoulders.
The caption of “Hotter Than Hell,” had more than one meaning in several eyes. Many being the women.
From that point on, he’d gotten his ass busted on, and a lot of numbers thrown his way.
He took some of those women up on them, the ones that wanted a good time and nothing else back then.
He’d make sure Talia was aware of that too.
He didn’t give a shit who her family was; he wasn’t changing a damn thing of who he was for anyone.
6
WHERE DO WE START
It had taken Wonder Woman strength to play it cool with Jace yesterday.
No, he wasn’t cute, as her mother had said.
He was devastatingly sexy.
Those deep, shadowed eyes—blue or brown, she couldn’t quite tell—held her in place. She wanted to step closer, to find out for sure, but crossing that distance felt like crossing a line he hadn’t invited her to.
When he was showing her the fire hoses, she almost asked him to spray her down because she was positive her panties were on fire.
She sure the hell felt as if she was sizzling.
Since she wasn’t positive he felt the same as her, she’d give him something to look at tonight.
“Don’t you look nice,” her mother said when she came downstairs to Talia’s apartment. Talk about invading someone’s space.
Not that it was her space since it was her mother’s house.
She’d hoped to avoid her, but that wasn’t always possible with her mother free to go where she wanted.
“Thank you. It’s not too much?”
Talia wore a denim skirt that rode the line just enough coverage to keep it tasteful, not so short it screamed for attention or risked flashing someone if she bent over. Her white and red sleeveless top was slightly blousy, casual without trying too hard. Not every outfit had to shout she was looking for a man.
She’d slid her feet into a pair of nude heeled sandals. Not of the variety many would call sex on a stick, but still fashionable with a hint of fun.
“I don’t think so,” Aileen said. “I guess it depends on what you’re doing tonight.”
“Meeting a friend out for drinks.” Her mother didn’t need to know it was a man. Talia often went out on a Friday night to dinner and drinks with one or more friends. And she dressed just like this.
“Be careful,” her mother said, like she always did.
“You know I will.” She’d kept her hair down and tousled it a touch. Her makeup was slightly heavier around the eyes. A little more black but not much else. She picked up the red lipstick. Why not?
“Now you’re ready to let everyone know you’ve arrived.” Her mother sighed. “I miss those days.”
She snorted and turned to her. “I’m not sure I want to know about your days going out and partying.”
“I never went out to party,” Aileen said, indignant.
“Really? Because it wasn’t that long ago we all found out that you might have been pregnant when you married Dad rather than dating for six months and getting married. You knew him for weeks. You lied to us all.”
