Page 23 of Flirting With Fire
“What’s going on between you and Dex?”
Thank goodness I wasn’t actually eating, or I’d have ended up choking just like Dex had the night before. “Nothing,” I protested. And that was the truth. Nothing was going on between us as much as I wanted it to.
Mom fixed me with the stare that I’d gotten when I was five, and she caught me with my hand in the cookie jar. “Don’t you lie to me, Meyer Jones.”
“I’m not lying,” I protested. “Nothing is going on between us. I’ve been back two days, is all. You’re his friend, not me.”
“He’s been a good friend,” Mom agreed.
I pushed down the now familiar jealous feeling. I was going to have to get over it. “I’m glad you’ve had a friend, Mom. You needed it. But that doesn’t make himmyfriend. You saw him last night. Everything I said he bit my head off. He’s like a porcupine. All prickles. I should call him that.” I smirked at the idea of calling him Prickles. He’d hate it. I expected her to come back with a comment about me not being nice enough to him, but instead, she looked smugly satisfied for some reason.
“He’s not normally like that,” she said. “Everyone likes Dex.”
Of course they do. I clutched my cup tighter. I was getting mighty sick and tired of hearing about Saint Dex. I took a deep breath. I knew I was being ridiculous. I looked at my watch. “I’ve got to get ready, Mom. I don’t want to be late on my first day and upset Captain Brannigan.”
She gave me another ‘mom’ look, then nodded her head. “I hope it goes well. Your lunch is on the counter.”
“You made me lunch?” That was so typical of my mom.
“I did. It’s your first day. Don’t get used to it.’
I grinned at her. That was typical of her, too. “I won’t.” I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Mom. You’re the best.”
She fluttered and preened under my attention. “Go on, get out of here. You don’t want to be late on your first day.”
I showered and changed, picked up my lunch from the countertop, and headed into the garage to collect my bike, relieved to see the tires had stayed pumped up overnight. Mom waved me goodbye from the stoop as she always had. At least this time, she didn’t tell me to ‘Be good,’ but I bet it was on the tip of her tongue.
I cycled to the end of the cul-de-sac to find a familiar chestnut mare waiting patiently. I looked up at Dex, wishing I could push his hat back and see his face properly. “Are you visiting with Mom?”
“Not today,” he said. “Lindy has Pilates at ten.”
I scowled. Once again. of course he’d know that.
Dex continued as if he didn’t see my scowl. “I was merely passing by.”
I narrowed my eyes. You couldn’t pass by the cul-de-sac. It wasn’t on the way to anywhere. But I didn’t call him out on it.
“I was exercising Junie and visiting the bakery. I saw you cycling toward me.” Dex squinted at me. “Are you late for your first shift?”
I shook my head. “I start later today. I ought to get moving, though.”
Had he waited for me deliberately? The thought warmed me. I didn’t want to make any assumptions, but the lack of hostilities was a welcome change.
“We’ll go with you. There’s a path at the back of the firehouse which leads back to my ranch.”
“Can you keep up?”
His eyes lit up at my question. “Is that a challenge?”
“Maybe.” I wrinkled my nose. “Maybe not today. Knowing me, I’ll do something stupid, fall off the bike, and break my leg. Mom would never let me forget it.”
His laughter pealed out in the morning air, and it was good to hear. I smiled at him, and he returned my smile, sending sparks of heat racing along my veins.
“Come on, we’ll get you safely to the firehouse.”
There was little traffic at this time in the morning, and Dex kept the horse at a steady trot as I cycled toward the Spanish-style two-story firehouse on the outskirts of the town. I was aware of the amused looks shooting our way from people walking along Main Street, but Dex seemed oblivious, or perhaps he didn’t care. I sighed. How long would this take to get back to my mom?
“Juniper doesn’t seem bothered by the bike,” I said right before we reached the firehouse.
