by Charity West
“What if it’s Price?”
“Then he’s about to get his ass arrested.”
I could hear a siren approaching and breathed a sigh of relief. Even if they didn’t catch him, at least they would scare him away for now. I heard shouts coming from the front of the apartment and stared at the bedroom door, wondering if someone was going to burst through it at any moment.
“For fuck’s sake,” Zarek muttered.
“What? What is it? Is it Price?”
“It’s my idiot brother. He wanted to meet you and didn’t know I’d had locks added. You can come out, Kaycee. Go let the moron in.”
With trembling hands, I twisted the knob on the bedroom door and made my way to the front of the apartment. I unlocked the front door and swung it open. A redhead with green eyes stood glaring at a cop. Neither of them looked very pleased.
“Miss Witherspoon, Mr. O’Donnell has assured us that this person is his brother and has a right to be here. Are you all right with us leaving him here? We can take him in for questioning.”
“I had a key, asshole,” the brother growled.
“It’s fine,” I said. “Thank you for coming out.”
The officer nodded and went back to his car.
“I’m Seamus O’Donnell,” the brother said, holding out his hand.
I gripped it and gave it a shake. “Kaycee Witherspoon.”
Seamus brushed past me and into the apartment. “The moment Mom heard that Zarek had someone staying with him, she sent me to investigate. It’s not every day the golden boy of the family can surprise our mother.”
“Your mother knows I’m here?”
He nodded. “We figured it must be serious if he was moving you in.”
“I think you have the wrong idea. We aren’t dating. I’m just staying here temporarily … in the guest room.”
He smirked. “Sure you are.”
I rolled my eyes and closed and locked the door before returning to the living room. Let the jackass think what he wanted. It seemed Zarek had left out a few important details when he’d told his mom about me. Not that being his girlfriend would be horrible. I’d probably like it a lot. But Zarek needed someone who had her shit together, not someone like me with a psycho ex on her doorstep. Slashed tires and the break-in were just the beginning. I didn’t know what Price had planned, but it wasn’t good.
“You can believe whatever you want. So, now that you’ve seen me, how long do you plan to stay?” I asked.
“Oh, feisty! I can see why Zarek likes you. Don’t worry, princess. I’m not going to overstay my welcome.”
“Too late.”
He smirked.
“Shouldn’t you come visit when your brother is here?” I asked.
“Now, what would be the fun in that? No, the element of surprise is much better. Besides, if he’d known I was coming by, he would have had time to hide you. Mom would like to invite the two of you to dinner. She knows he’s working tonight, but she expects you to both be at the house tomorrow. Six o’clock sharp. Zarek knows the punishment for being late.”
Punishment? Who are these people?
“And before you say no,” Seamus said. “Be warned that Mom always gets what she wants. If you don’t come to her, she will come here. And you don’t want that. At least if you go to her house, you can leave when you want. If she comes here, you’ll never get her out of the apartment.”
I swallowed the knot in my throat. Meet his mom? Have dinner with his family? Those were the kinds of things a girlfriend would do, but we weren’t dating. Hell, we barely knew each other. I didn’t know what else to do, so I nodded, and Seamus gave me a little salute before letting himself out. I locked up behind him and then tried to lose myself in movies again. If the fear of Price hadn’t been enough to keep me awake, the thought of meeting Zarek’s mom certainly was.
Somehow, I managed to fall asleep on the couch shortly after one in the morning. The next thing I knew, I felt someone’s fingers sliding down my arm. I blinked sleepily and looked up at Zarek, still in his fire department uniform. God, he looked sexy. No man should look that good so damn early in the morning.
“Morning,” he said. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s okay. I don’t need to sleep the day away. Just tell me there’s coffee or I may be spending the rest of the day in jail.”
He laughed. “There’s some in the pantry. I have a Keurig. I think I have three different flavors in the cups that go with it. Help yourself. Mugs are to the right of the sink.”
I froze mid-step to the kitchen. “What time is it?”
“About 7:30.”
I screamed and ran into the bedroom. Zarek followed me with a perplexed look on his face.
“I’m late,” I yelled as I dug some clothes out of the closet.
“Kaycee, calm down. The captain isn’t going to fire you for being late while Price is on the loose. He knows you had a scare last night. I assured him that after you were properly caffeinated, showered, and dressed, I would bring you to work. Just take a breath and go to the kitchen.”
“I won’t get fired?”
“No.”
I exhaled and went to the kitchen for that much-needed cup of coffee. I sat at the table with my French roast and sipped on the dark brew, hoping more cobwebs would clear from my poor, sleep-deprived brain. If I didn’t get at least eight hours, I was a nightmare to deal with. By the time I’d finished my coffee, Zarek had made scrambled eggs and toast, setting down a plate for each of us. My stomach turned a little at the thought of eating, but I knew I’d be ravenous before lunch if I didn’t at least try to eat something.
It took me nearly an hour to eat, shower, and dress, but I was finally ready for work. Zarek changed clothes and drove me to the fire station, promising to pick me up for lunch. I knew he had to be exhausted from working all night, not to mention my freak out. I was going to be a little sad to see him go. It was my first day working with a new crew of men, and I’d have been lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.
The captain made the introductions and then gave me a stack of things to take care of for the day. It was business as usual, despite my late arrival. When I went to get a cup of coffee, I realized I hadn’t brought one with me. I opened the cabinet and took down the mug Zarek had loaned me before, promising myself I’d wash it when I was done and put it back, and that I would definitely bring my own the next day.
My morning was pretty boring, and when Zarek came to get me for lunch, the tension in my neck eased a bit. When he was around, I didn’t have to be on guard quite so much. There was just something about Zarek that made me feel safe and cared for. Not that I needed to rely on a man to keep me safe. I’d taken some classes after Price had gone to jail, but I’d just as soon not have to test my skills. Running away sounded like a much better option.
Zarek pulled into a space in front of a small diner and we went inside. A waitress waved to us and said we could seat ourselves anywhere, so we chose a booth by the window. Menus were already on the table and I perused the choices.
“What do you think of the other crew?” Zarek asked.
“They seem nice.”
“What did you think of Reese?”
Reese. Which one was Reese? I must have looked puzzled because Zarek laughed.
“That’s priceless.”
“I don’t understand.”
Zarek smiled. “Reese is the bad boy of the bunch. And something of a ladies’ man. He claims there isn’t a woman out there who can resist his charm.”
“I honestly have no idea which one he is.”
“Good.” Zarek’s smile broadened.
“What are you going to do the rest of the day?” I asked. “I thought about staying an extra hour since I was so late this morning.”
“Let me know if you do. I’ll come pick you up whenever you’re ready to come home.”
“It won’t interfere with your plans?”
He shook his head. “I took a nap this morning
, and I’ll probably run some errands after I take you back. I do, however, need your apartment keys. The guys and I need to start packing your stuff so we can move everything out tomorrow afternoon. Did you find a storage place?”
“Crap. I forgot.”
“I’ll take care of it. A buddy of mine manages a place over on Elm. I’m sure he’d give you a discount.”
“Thanks, Zarek. You’ve helped me so much. I feel like such a burden.”
His hand covered mine. “You’re not a burden. I’m helping you because I want to.”
A waitress came over and took our order and then left us in peace. Being with Zarek was easy. I liked talking to him and just being in his presence. I found out that he was only a year older than me and had applied for the job at the fire station right after he graduated from high school. He said he’d always known he wanted to do something important with his life, and saving people was pretty damn important.
“Do you get scared going into a fire?” I asked.
“The first few times I was scared as hell, but now it’s just another day at work. I’m not going to say it’s not dangerous, because it is, but we’re trained to know how to react in different situations, and we’re all super careful. The captain says he doesn’t like show ponies, so we do everything by the book. Well, most of the time.”
“Have you had to break the rules before?”
He nodded. “Last year there was a house fire involving a family with three kids. One of the kids, a three-year-old, was trapped in an upstairs bedroom. I could see her in the window and knew I had to get to her. The captain forbade me from entering the home because the whole thing was about ready to collapse, but I couldn’t leave her there. I reached her just fine, but the fire was closing in fast. I had to kick out the window, and the guys had to swing the ladder over to get us.”
“You’re a hero.”
“I don’t know about that. Captain reamed my ass good though. I’ve tried to keep the heroics to a minimum. But it’s kind of part of the job, you know? We’re there to save buildings, people … you never know what you’re going to find until you get on scene. Sometimes a call about a kitchen fire can end with a house completely burned out, and someone’s family pet is dead. And calls about arson can mean nothing more than scorch marks on a building. Every situation is different, and until you see it with your own eyes, you don’t know what you’re going to find, or what you’ll have to do.”
“Well, I think what you do is awesome. I just shuffle papers around.”
“Don’t. You’re just as important, Kaycee. Do you think the captain could do his job without you? You’re essential to the fire station, to us. You have no idea how bad things were before he hired you. Never feel that you aren’t important.”
I smiled, feeling hopeful for the future.
We ate our lunch and Zarek returned me to the station. But no matter how much paperwork I had to wade through, after my talk with him about work, I felt lighter and more important than I had before. It gave me a renewed energy to attack every task like it was the most important thing in the world. The rest of the day passed quickly, and before long, it was time for Zarek to pick me up. Except he didn’t show up, and he didn’t answer his phone.
Unease skittered down my spine as I wondered and worried.
After my calls went to voicemail three more times, I finally asked the captain if I could have a ride home. He didn’t seem as concerned about Zarek’s absence, but I just knew something bad had happened. At the apartment, I locked up and paced the living room, wondering where he was and if he was okay.
By the time he came home two hours later, my stomach was in knots, and I thought I might throw up. I’d convinced myself he was lying in a ditch somewhere because Price had tried to kill him. And the jerk just strolled through the front door like it was no big deal.
“Where the hell have you been?” I asked, wincing at my tone. “You didn’t pick me up, and I couldn’t reach you. I’ve been worried sick that something happened to you.”
“Crap. I’m sorry, Kaycee. I was at your apartment with the guys, getting your stuff packed up, and something came up. I should have called, and I’m sorry you were worried about me.”
“What came up?”
He shrugged.
“A date?” I asked, hating how jealous it made me feel.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
“No. And for the record, we missed dinner at your mom’s. I’m surprised she didn’t send her minions over to abduct me.”
He cracked a smile. “Not Mom’s style. She’ll come for you herself.”
“Thanks. That makes me feel so much better.”
“I guess I might as well tell you. I’ve spent the last hour or two dealing with a situation at your apartment.”
“He came back?”
Zarek rubbed the back of his neck. “I think the sabotage was done when he was in there the other day. But I can’t be sure. There were poisonous snakes hiding in your drawers, your closet, in the couch cushions. A bite from one wouldn’t have been fatal, but he’d packed the place with enough of them to ensure your death. If they were already there, you were damn lucky not to get bit when you packed your bag.”
I gasped and sank onto the sofa.
“I’m not trying to scare you, Kaycee, but I don’t want to lie to you either. Even by omission. This bastard is sick and twisted. I want him out of your life as soon as possible.”
“You and me both,” I muttered.
“I had to wait for the cops and animal control to come and take a statement before we could get rid of the snakes, then we finished packing your place. All we have to do tomorrow is move everything. I didn’t think about you being worried, or I’d have called.”
“It’s okay. Thank you for taking care of everything.”
“I don’t want you anywhere near that apartment again. Once we have everything loaded tomorrow, I’ll turn in your keys and get your deposit back for you. If that asshole manager thinks he’s keeping it, he’d better think again.”
“Don’t worry about the deposit. If he doesn’t want to give it back, I’m not going to fight him over it.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
Why did that sound a lot like I’ll take care of you? Or maybe I was imagining things. Zarek was a great guy, and I could certainly have done worse, but I didn’t know if he saw me that way. Was I just the stray he’d brought home? Or did he see me as a desirable woman? Nineteen was too young to give up on men, even if I did have a good reason to do so.
“You have to be exhausted after working until this morning and then dealing with my apartment this afternoon.” I nibbled my bottom lip. “What if I made dinner? I haven’t eaten yet, and I’m sure you haven’t either.”
“I have a better idea. Why don’t we order some pizzas and watch TV for a while? We can sit on the couch and just relax for the rest of the night. Put on PJs and kick back.”
I arched a brow. “You own pajamas?”
“Well, I own pajama pants. Does that count?”
Holy Jesus, was he seriously going to run around without a shirt? Because I wasn’t sure my hormones could handle it. The hint of muscle I could see through his t-shirts was enough to make me drool. I didn’t think I could handle bare skin. Although, it would be a nice distraction from my problems, as long as I could keep my hands to myself. I wasn’t going to make any promises, though. A shirtless Zarek might be too much temptation.
He smirked, and I realized I was staring like an idiot.
“You just pictured me shirtless, didn’t you?” he asked with laughter flashing in his eyes.
My cheeks flushed. “No. Of course not.”
His grin widened a little, and he shook his head, clearly not believing me.
“If you tell me what you want on your pizza, I’ll place the order while you get comfortable.”
“I knew you were anxious to get me out of my clothes.”
My whole face felt like it was o
n fire. Before I could embarrass myself further, I bolted from the room and went to get a drink from the kitchen. I’d made a fresh pitcher of sweet tea last night and hadn’t touched it yet. By the time I’d poured myself a glass and returned to the living room, I could hear the shower going. I set my glass down and went to change into a tank and sleep shorts. They were old and comfortable, but they showed enough skin to be considered sexy. Do I want Zarek to see me as sexy?
I’d thought we would be roommates, co-workers, and nothing more. But the more I got to know Zarek, the harder it was to resist him. I’d felt that instant spark when we’d met at work on Monday, and I had to wonder what that spark would feel like if our lips touched. Would I feel the zing all the way to my toes? Just being near him was enough to make me tingle with awareness. I thought about him in the shower and wondered if he was as sexy dripping wet as I imagined him to be. I gave myself a mental slap, changed into my pajamas, and then returned to the living room. I couldn’t order the pizza yet since Zarek hadn’t told me what he wanted on his. I hadn’t paid close attention at work when the crew had ordered enough pizza to feed a small army.
I heard the shower shut off, and a few minute later, he wandered into the room.
My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, and I nearly choked on my own spit as he sank onto the sofa next to me. Holy hell, he was hot as fuck! His broad chest was well-muscled and his abs … I nearly fanned myself. As I whipped around to face the TV, before I got caught staring, I absently wiped at my chin to make sure I hadn’t been drooling.
“What do you want on your pizza?” he asked.
I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, trying not to be tempted to stare again. “Ham and pineapple okay?”
“It’s my favorite. I’ll order two, so there’s plenty. We can snack on it all night and have a movie marathon.”
“Um, I need to sleep at some point. I still have to work tomorrow.”
He mumbled something I didn’t quite catch and then called to place our order. While he was busy, I flicked through the channels on the TV, trying to find something to watch. One of the premium channels was having a Star Wars marathon, so I clicked on it. All guys liked Star Wars, right? I hadn’t browsed much of his movie collection yet to get a real feel for what Zarek liked and didn’t like.
