Nice? Sweaters and puppies were nice. Potpourri was nice in a weird, grandma kind of way. Kisses weren’t supposed to be nice. They were supposed to be hot and intense and raw. And dirty. Instead of saying all that to him and giving away my own emotions, I shrugged. It was…nice.” Nice was such a mild way to explain a kiss that had shot fire through my veins that it took everything I had not to be offended.
His black brows dipped into a low vee as he pushed off the counter to his full height. Arms still folded over his chest and shoulders squared so he would’ve towered over me if we were closer, his scowl deepened. “It was a damn sight better than nice,” he growled at me, making me smile.
My lips twitched against the urge to laugh and I shrugged, showing Jase that he wasn’t the only one who could be indifferent.
Somehow, his scowl darkened. “Maybe you need a refresher.” Gone was the offended scowl a second later, replaced by a look that was pure heat and mischief. He took a step forward and I took an ill-advised step back and found my back pressed against the fridge.
“Don’t be crazy, Jase.”
He smiled, like the predator who’d trapped the prey and took a final step forward, just close enough that I could smell the scent of him, man and musk and sandalwood mixed with just a hint of sweat, damn him. “I’m not being crazy. For the first time in a very long time, I think I’m being perfectly sane. Perfectly logical.”
I shook my head to clear away the vision of his predatory smile, that hint of laughter shining in his green eyes. “And you think it’s sane to want to kiss me? Bo? Your oldest friend?”
He nodded but to his credit, Jase didn’t look confused or conflicted by it. “I’m as shocked as you are, but not because you’re not smoking hot. You are. But there we have it, I do. What do you say?”
“What do I say?” I say he’s out of his mind. “What am I supposed to say about what, Jase? Your sanity or the kiss?” Did it matter what he was talking about if I didn’t know what I wanted? Did I know what I wanted?
Rarely ever.
“The kiss. Us.” His smile was wide and vulnerable. Expectant.
I shook my head, feeling overwhelmed and confused. “Explain. Now.” Was he actually suggesting that we try to be an us as in a couple or was this more of a hookup proposition? And was I even interested in any of those options?
“Well,” he began and put one hand on either side of me, trapping me between his arms. “It’s like I said.” Jase leaned in and I held my breath, knowing that those soft, kissable lips surrounded by the barest hint of stubble felt like, tasted like. His warm breath fanned my face and grew warmer as he drew closer.
His phone rang before I could get another sweet taste of those lips and I didn’t know whether to be grateful or disappointed. “You’d better get that.” My voice came out breathy and husky. Too affected by our closeness.
Jase pulled the phone from his pocket and groaned. “It’s Rafe. I gotta answer,” he said, taking a step back to answer the phone. “Yeah?”
I half-listened to one side of the conversation while my heart thundered against my chest and beads of sweat slid down my back. Did I almost just kiss my best friend? On purpose? Hell yes, I did.
“Shit. I’m on my way.” He ended the call and turned back to me with regret shining in his eyes.
“You have to go,” I said without emotion.
“Yeah. There’s a fire at the old paper mill but we’ll pick this up. Later.” His gaze held a promise I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to keep.
I shook my head at his words. There was no need to pick this crazy conversation up later. “This was all crazy talk anyway, Jase. Brought on by too much sun and street food. This is the best possible outcome.” I wasn’t even sure if I believed that, but one of us had to be the voice of reason and for some reason, it had to be me. “Next time we see each other, this will all be water under the bridge.” I hoped.
“Bullshit,” he said and closed the gap between us, trapping me in his arms once more, but this time when I looked up into those big green eyes, they were heavy lidded and as dark as the forest outside my door. And then his lips were on mine and there were no crowds cheering, no phones ringing and no unnecessary denials coming from my mouth. Just air, breathless air as his mouth devoured mine in a slow, sensual kiss that sent my temperature soaring into the triple digits.
Then he stepped back, far too soon. And smiled. “I’d say we have plenty to talk about.” His gaze landed on my mouth, which tingled from his kiss and I knew was pink and swollen. “Soon.”
Then Jase was gone, walking down the hall in slow steps that echoed on the hard wood. The door opened and shut, and I stood there, fingertips pressed to my still tingling lips.
Jase
“No wonder you needed me, this fire is a beast.” It had taken three hours and the entire Tulip Fire Department, including volunteer firefighter like Nate, to get it down to a few smoking embers. “Any clue how it happened yet?”
Rafe shook his head and smacked a hand against the bright red rig. “Fuck if I know. Dammit, this is no good.” He was stressed out and I couldn’t say I blamed him. A fire this big didn’t get started by accident, but we were all hopeful.
I nodded, wishing I had something to offer that would make any of this better. I didn’t. “There were no signs of an accelerant as far as I could tell, but we were more focused on putting the fire out.”
“Of course,” he added absently, staring at the large building that was no mostly just black smoke. “The investigator will have to sift through it all and figure it out.” He shrugged like it was no big deal but even under nothing but the lights of the rigs I could see the stress lines around his puckered lips and frowning eyes. “Sorry we had to pull you away from your mayoral duties.” Despite the tension and stress the fire had created, Rafe’s lips twitched with amusement.
“No big deal, I was done anyway. Had to bring Bo a nacho burger.”
His brows rose in surprise. “Heard that was a kiss worth remembering at the kissing booth.”
Of course he’d heard. I was pretty damn sure that the half of town who hadn’t witnessed the kiss had heard about it before Bo had made her escape home. “It was memorable, that’s for damn sure.” Too bad I had no damn clue how she felt about it. Her usual stoicism had been in place earlier and it left me unsure. I hated feeling unsure.
“So what’s the problem?” Those wise eyes missed nothing and that’s why he was the guy in charge.
“Hell if I know. Bo is hard to read and honestly, this all kind of snuck up on me.”
“Seriously?” His gaze scanned all the guys lining the street in front of the old mill, half stripped out of their turnout gear, most of them had come from the festival or other off-duty events, rushing here to do their part. “You’re clueless.”
“I’m not the only one. Bo thinks this is just some strange sun and food induced situation.” It was half insulting and disappointing as hell that she didn’t think I could tell the difference, but it didn’t surprise me at all.
“Is it?”
“No,” I answered right away and paused. Was it? That kiss had shocked the hell out of me but I’d be lying if I said it was the first time I’d thought about kissing her. It wasn’t the first or even the tenth, but I had enough respect for our friendship to keep it to myself.
“You sure? ‘Cause you don’t sound all that certain.”
I frowned at Rafe. “Shouldn’t we be trying to figure out the source of the fire?”
Rafe grinned and straightened himself up to his full height. “Can’t do a damn thing about that until the investigator gets here and your drama is a damn sight more interesting.”
“Thanks,” I grunted and snatched a bottle of water from his hand. “Think it could be squatters?” I nodded towards the building because I couldn’t spend another moment stressing about Bo until I was alone and could think straight. Rationally and logically.
“In Tulip? Unlikely.” This was your typical small southern to
wn in that we took care of our own because we cared and because it was good for the town. Anyone down on their luck would get the help they needed which meant if it was a squatter, they were from out of town. Most of the crime here was drunk and disorderly and speeding. “But shit, I hope it was set by someone trying to stay warm.”
“I’ll ask the guys if anyone saw any signs that the place was lived in while you go deal with the perks of being Captain,” I told him and nodded to Jackson and Mayor Ashford as they stepped from their respective cars and ambled our away.
“Shit,” he bit out and rubbed a hand over his face. “What the hell are they doing here?”
“A fire this big would’ve made the gossip rounds even faster than usual. And if it’s something other than an accident, a detective and a mayor might want to know as soon as possible.”
He nodded, knowing I was right even though he was unhappy about it. “Well then I guess I better go be Captain. Go home after you talk to the guys, Callahan, I expect you to be on time for your shift tomorrow.” The smile on his face took the sting out of his words and his twitching lips said he was only half serious.
“I’ll be there bright and early. Me and Kavanaugh are carpooling in together.” My laughter followed him and Rafe gifted me with a middle finger behind his back and out of view of the mayor.
I waited until we were back at the firehouse to talk to the guys, taking notes on everything they said for Rafe to review in the morning. No one had noticed anything out of the ordinary but a few mentioned having seen a few items of clothing discarded around the upper level where the offices used to be. “Anyone remember anything else?”
Johnson raised his hand and I resisted the urge to give him shit because the kid was so damn young he still raised his hand like we were in a classroom. “I thought I saw a pair of sneakers by the back entrance but I thought I was just seein’ things, man.” The kid raked a hand through his thick blond hair and shook his head. “I looked around for a person but when I didn’t see anyone, I figured it was something else.”
I jotted it down and shook my head. “Don’t worry about it Johnson, Captain Montgomery will have the investigator look in to it when they arrive.”
He nodded and walked towards the fridge, grabbing a cola when I knew what he really wanted was a beer. It was what we all wanted, but only a few of us who were off duty would get. “Thanks, Callahan.”
I nodded and made my way towards the parking lot because it was getting late and there was a forty-eight hour shift in my immediate future. That gave me just enough time to think, okay obsess, about how in the hell I would get my stubborn best friend to even consider that we could be more. Bo was a tough nut to crack and she had a right to be given all she’d been through in her life, but that didn’t make me feel any better about my chances.
But as I fell asleep that kiss kept replaying in my mind and I knew, without a doubt, I had to do this. Had to risk it because…hell, because.
Bo
“This isn’t mine.” I tried to keep my annoyance with the delivery guy to a minimum but he was determined to get on my nerves and it wasn’t even nine o’clock in the morning yet. I looked down for the third time at the giant boxes of bulk food that I definitely had not ordered and then back at the source of my annoyance. “I’m not signing for it.”
“Look lady,” he sighed and put his hands on his hips as if that was supposed to bother me, “this is the address where they’re supposed to be delivered.” His brown eyes glared at me like I was the idiot. “Your boss around?”
“Yeah, you’re staring at her. I own this place and I order the stock so I know for a fact that I didn’t order this. It isn’t addressed to me personally or my business which means, I am not signing for it.” He continued to stare like I was some irrational woman and I was half-tempted to prove him right. Instead, I took the high road. “I don’t want to have to call your supervisor but I will.” He shrugged like it didn’t matter so I took him at his word and snatched my phone from my back pocket and dialed.
“Once it’s off the truck, it’s not my problem lady.” The way he said lady, like it was a bad word told me everything I needed to know about this needle dick and I didn’t bother hiding my disdain.
“Well it’s not my problem at all. Someone who isn’t me is expecting you to deliver these boxes to them. Leave it here and it’s going to the women’s shelter.” Finally the ringing stopped and a chipper female answered the phone. I explained my problem to her before she transferred me, twice, and I had to explain it again. Two more explanations later and I had an answer. “Thank you. It’s good to know that not everyone at your company is incompetent,” I told the man as I glared at the man in polyester shorts.
“Well?” He sounded annoyed and that made me smile. “You gonna tell me what he said?”
“Why should I when you’ve been so unhelpful? I mean you are a delivery driver, right? So it’s your job to know where packages are supposed to go and get them there, right?”
He glared at me and I folded my arms, leaning against the door frame as if I had all the time in the world, which I kind of did. This time of morning on the weekends, most of the customers would be fishermen looking for bait, beer and sandwiches for a long day on the water, tourists looking for breakfast before a day of sightseeing or those picking up special orders. So really, it was no skin off my back. “Just tell me where it’s going.”
“The firehouse.” I could have prolonged it but that would have only extended my own torture and as it stood, I was about five minutes away from stuffing this guy in the deep freezer and selling him for fish bait.
“Maybe you can get them to come here?”
“Maybe you can do your damn job since I already have one.” Before I could give him a proper tongue lashing, the bell sounded in front the way it did when anyone entered the store. “You can’t miss the building in the middle of town, if you do, I hear Google has an excellent map application.” I didn’t bother waiting for his response, turning on my heels to give him my back and shake off the annoyance before I greeted my customer. Or…not. “Eddy. What can I get for you?” I tried not to let my surprise show but her smirk said I’d failed.
“Good to see you too, Bo.” Her sarcasm wasn’t lost on me but I let it pass. For now. “If you got a thirty year old with six pack abs, I’ll take that. Otherwise I just came to get a few bottles of that blueberry wine if you have it.” She shook her head, gray curls bouncing easily. “Weird stuff but damn tasty.”
It wasn’t the first time I’d heard that exact sentiment. The wine had initially been met with skepticism and disgust, but a few bottles had made an appearance at so-called book club and it had become a standing order for more than a few townsfolk. “I just got a new case in this week.”
“You’re a damn sight better businessman than your daddy ever was, rest his soul.” Eddy was about the only person in town with enough balls to talk to me about my daddy and she wasn’t wrong. “Don’t look so uncomfortable girl, I’m just tryin’ to tell ya that you’re doing a good job.”
“I’m not uncomfortable. And, uh, thanks.” I didn’t know what else to say so I went back to retrieve two bottles of the blue stuff, hoping the annoying delivery guy had taken those boxes and left me alone. “Here you go, Eddy. Two bottles.”
“Thanks, honey.” She pulled a folded wad of cash from her bra and handed me two twenty dollar bills with a wide grin. “That kiss between you and Jase was hot enough to make me blush. Betty too if you want to know the truth.”
It would be rude to tell her just how much I didn’t want to know that truth. I may be an adult now, but I would never be old enough to hear about my friend’s parents getting busy, thinking about getting busy and not especially fantasizing about getting busy. Nope, no thanks, I’ll pass. “It was a kissing booth.”
I woke up this morning to find nearly a dozen messages, all of them links to the Tulip social media pages and the photos—and video—of Jase and I locking lips in front of about a h
undred hooting and hollering festival goers. Eddy leaned in, resting her elbows on the counter with a conspiratorial smile. “Sure you toned it down because you were in public, but I’m sure you two kiss like that all the time. Right?”
If not for the sparkle in her eyes, Eddy would have gotten the truth out of me. Her mischief filled smiled was a dead giveaway. “A lady doesn’t kiss and tell,” I told her haughtily and Eddy tossed her head back and laughed until she was red in the face and clinging to the counter to stand upright. “It’s not that damn funny.”
“Oh but it is. Kids today, you’re too damn stubborn to see what’s right in front of your face and it’s a shame. I wouldn’t let anything stop me from getting another kiss like that,” she said soberly. “Anything.”
It had been a pretty great kiss and my lips tingled, my body sizzled just thinking about going in for another kiss. My body tightened thinking about the way he’d taken control of my mouth up against the fridge, it was raw and hungry and it had a kind of intensity I didn’t know Jase possessed. “Well since we’re seeing each other, nothing does stop me from kisses like that. Whenever I want them.”
“Good to know.” The sound of Jase’s voice behind me startled a half scream out of me and I whirled on him.
With a glare Eddy couldn’t see, I let Jase see my scowl. “I’ve told you not to sneak up on me like that. Honey.” The words came out through gritted teeth even though it was damn good to see him, especially in his firefighter blues. They weren’t as sexy as his turnout gear, but they were a close second. At least that’s what all the women in town said, anyway.
Jase flashed a wide grin and folded his arms over his chest, showing off the flaming firefighter helmet on his bicep and perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth. “Sorry, babe. I thought you heard me stomp in through the back door.” Before I could say another word, he pulled me in close by the waist and wrapped his arms around me, lowering his head to mine until our lips connected. The kiss wasn’t the same as the previous two, this one was sweet and affectionate, especially thanks to the way his thumb brushed back and forth against the strip of skin between where my jeans and t-shirt met. “Good morning,” he said when he pulled back, wearing a heart stopping smile that was filled with amusement.
Kissing My Best Friend: A Friends to Lovers Romance Page 6
