Page 46 of Enemies with Benefits

“I now pronounce you a member of the fire department. Use this badge wisely.”

“I will.” Billy smiles wide.

I make it through the entire line, then turn around and smile. “Ms. Fischer, your turn.”

“Oh, I’m okay—”

“Take the badge!”

“Do it, Ms. Fischer!”

Thankfully, the class backs me up. I walk up to her, close enough that our shoes touch. “Come on, Ms. Fischer, you don’t want to disappoint the kids, do you?” I reach out, and my knuckles graze her breast as I clip the badge onto the pocket of her blouse. Pulling my eyes up to hers, I murmur, “I now pronounce you a member of the fire department.” Being this close, I can smell her perfume, which triggers every damn memory of her near me. The back alley of Jimmy’s. My apartment. The damn hotel she deceived me in. The kids start clapping, and I step back, needing the space.

I agreed to be friends, but that’s the farthest thing from my mind. My intentions today were harmless. A good deed with the bonus of getting to see her. An innocent moment where I could bask in her beauty, then head to the gym and work out the tension. Fuck if this isn’t blowing up in my face.

“Go out with—”

“Okay, class. Let’s thank Captain Wallace for coming in today.” Makayla claps her hands together, dismissing me. The kids yell their goodbyes, and I take that as my cue.

“Thanks again, Captain Wallace,” she says, her tone sugary-sweet.

“Any time, Ms. Fischer.”

I walk out, feeling in worse shape than when I entered.

* * *

Makayla

“This place is packed,” Jenny says as we walk into Jimmy’s Bar.

“It’s a big game. Do you see Hannah?” I ask, looking around. When I got off work, I had a voicemail from Hannah inviting me out to watch the baseball game.

Knowing I’m a huge fan, there was no way I was missing it. Not to mention, I could use a drink.

“No. Oh, wait. There she is. Waving at us.”

I spot Hannah at a full table.Crap.The chair next to her is occupied by Ben. I was hoping he wasn't part of the group she mentioned going. Today messed me up. I’ve been fighting to get him out of my head, needing to stop this silly fantasy where he’s the main act. I couldn’t go a measly second without thinking about him. In the shower, his hands replaced mine as I brought myself to the hottest orgasm. Daydreaming at stoplights of his lips grazing my inner thighs. I officially put myself in time-out when I found myself aroused at the grocery store as I passed a stand of Flaming Hot Cheetos. Flaming went to fire, fire went to hot firefighter, then I was envisioning his tongue and hands and—gah!

This nonsense has to stop. Pursuing anything with Ben is a no-no. Out of the question. Not happening!And why not?Because it’s crazy! He’s been my nemesis since I was thirteen.He’s hot.I’m nowhere near ready to date.He’s well-endowed. He makes my skin boil.That’s called arousal, girlfriend.He’s probably not even into me.Oh, he’s into you.The way he looks at you. . . he’s more than into you.

Not doing it.

He may be all those things, but he’s also a headache I don’t need right now. I need to focus on myself and starting over.

And how’s that going?

Great until he walked into my classroom, looking all fine and delicious. The way he was with the kids melted my heart. The way he looked at me melted my panties. Like a good girl, I pulled it together and shut him down. I had no idea what he was about to say, but for a second, I would have agreed to anything he was asking. Thank God I snapped out of the trance he always seems to put me in.

Until now. I watch him take a sip of his beer, my eyes trained on his neck as he swallows.Hot. Well-endowed—“Oh, shut it.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

See, nowI’mthe crazy one. “Sorry, I was thinking out loud. Let’s go.” We head over to Hannah, and she stands, giving me a hug.

“Yay, you guys made it.”

“Yeah, hope you don’t mind I brought Jenny.”

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