“Well,” Dona said, her voice rising a little as she looked at Jenny. “I’m hoping you and Manny can go back to the park tomorrow and make sure all of our equipment is secured.”
Jenny’s gaze bounced off Greg and took in his expression. He looked surprised at the other woman’s request.
“I…uh…” Jenny stammered, a little startled by the woman’s request.
“I’ve got a ton of things to do yet at the house. I’m not coming into the office until I get things sorted there. I need you to take care of things at the park and then man the office the rest of the day.”
Jenny considered telling the woman to go jump in a lake, but figured that wouldn’t be good for her continued employment.
So instead she said, “Okay.”
Donna made a wave and flashed a smile at Greg before opening the curtain. “Call me with progress reports tomorrow.”
With that, the woman left and snapped the curtain back in place.
Greg looked stunned for all of a second, then he walked around the end of Jenny’s bed and peeked between the curtains. He returned to the side of the bed and gripped the railing around the bed. He leaned forward a little and spoke in a hushed voice.
“Is she for real? I mean…” He shrugged. “That’s your boss?”
She sighed. “Yep. She’s the director of public relations. We’re the only two in the office.”
He pulled a face. “Do you guys have a good relationship?”
Jenny couldn’t resist smiling. “We have a reasonable working relationship, which means she gets her way most of the time. I can’t afford to lose this job right now, so while I’m looking for another one, I keep the peace. When the weather started looking threatening, I called her to let her know we wanted to take down the booth. She said no.”
He shook his head. “That’s crazy.”
“Everything about today is crazy. I’m trying to give her some slack because she’s going through a divorce. Her soon-to-be ex-husband is a nurse at another hospital. It’s been an ugly situation.”
“You shouldn’t walk on that ankle tomorrow. I’ll go to the park and see if we can round up the PR stuff.”
The nurse walked in with paperwork before Jenny could object to Greg’s idea. Within minutes Jenny was officially released and while Greg stood beyond the curtain, she put her blouse and blazer back on. She sat in a chair and slipped on one pump, while Greg volunteered to carry the other.
“I hate to ask anymore of you, but can you take me back to my car in the park?” Jenny asked.
“I was going to take you home, then get Jax or Dane to drop me off at the park and bring your car back to your place. If that’s okay with you.”
Jenny felt dumbfounded. Greg had turned on the charm and the uber helpful, firefighter-to-the-rescue personality and frankly it impressed her. If he’d bragged or showed a hint of arrogance she would’ve written him off in a heartbeat.
She gnawed on her bottom lip a second. “I probably couldn’t drive with this ankle anyway. Thank you so much.”
* *
Greg drove the now dark streets of suburban Dallas with Jenny beside him in his SUV, and he didn’t understand the crazy emotions running through him.
Protectiveness. Concern. Flat out attraction. For a woman who was practically a stranger.
He needed to get over it, because he wasn’t in the market for a fling right now. His last girlfriend had broken up with him not long before he’d left Camp Pendleton. After that he preferred being a monk for awhile to a meaningless fuck with a woman who got off on the idea of a Marine between the sheets or a firefighter in their bed. He hadn’t slept with a woman in a year, and maybe that’s why his hormones had kicked in so fiercely when he’d seen Jenny Hannigan sitting in that booth. What else explained the instant lust other than horniness needing a quick fix?
“You don’t live that far from the park,” he said.
“Fifteen minutes in good traffic. Today it looks like twenty-five.”
They’d had to take an alternate route to bypass a traffic wreck and some downed trees.
“Well, thanks again.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“All this from an EF1 tornado?”
Her voice had a smoky quality that made him wonder what she’d sound like having phone sex.
Oh, Christ.
“We could go to my place. I could put you up.” The words came out of him before he could engage his brain.
He glanced over at her for a second at the same time she looked over at him, and he caught the surprise in her moss green eyes.
“Uh…thanks Greg, but…”
He held up one hand. “It’s okay. Stupid suggestion.”
Yeah, dickhead. What are you thinking? Oh, yeah. With your dick. They hadn’t gone far before another police roadblock meant they had to take yet another different route, but Greg took it in stride.
“I’m really sorry,” she said, “that you got caught up in this.”
“In this what?”
“Driving me around, looking after me. I could’ve called a cab.”
He snorted. “Hell, no. I’m delivering you to your front door.”
She smiled and dropped it, and her genuine concern about inconveniencing him only added to her appeal. But it didn’t matter. Jenny didn’t seem like the type of woman who flirted much less invited a man she barely knew to sleep with her on short notice. Especially not after she’d survived a tornado and had a twisted ankle. No way he’d take advantage of her that way, and he’d never pressure a woman into doing anything she didn’t want.
So much for a relaxing couple of days filled with reading, watching some sports and kicking back with a beer.
Although he had the holiday off this year, he hadn’t planned on seeing the fireworks at the park. He’d forced himself out his place and decided he’d cowboy up for his firehouse, Station 58, with their display booth if they needed the extra help. Jax and Dane had asked him to stop by, too. When he’d spied Jenny at the booth, he’d been drawn to her fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders and her big smile. When she’d lifted her sunglasses and stared at him, he’d made a bee line for her without another thought. Then he’d reminded himself to lay off. He would buy the onesie for the hospital drive, drop it off with the red-head, and move on.
Yeah, like that worked well.
“Turn right at the next light,” she said. After he’d made the turn, she asked, “So do you regularly rescue damsels in distress?”
He laughed. “I was in the right place at the right time.”
Yep, he’d been at the right place at the right time to tackle her when that gazebo had exploded into daggers of wood. He’d done his job as a firefighter to try and keep her safe. Riding along with her in the car right now, he had to admit he could’ve done quite a few things differently and still performed his duties as a firefighter. No, this…whatever this was had snagged him and refused to let go. His gaze dipped down to those long, beautiful legs encased in stockings. When he’d tackled her to the ground near the gazebo, he’d gotten a glimpse of her pale thigh above the top elastic on the stockings. He didn’t think women wore those things anymore—especially not to serious professional events. His cock hardened a little at the thought, and he shifted in the driver’s seat to ease the pressure. Shit, he didn’t need this. Jenny cleared her throat, and for a crazy second he wondered if she had figured out what he was thinking.
He swallowed hard and tried to ignore the thought of what it would be like if her legs were wrapped around his hips while he fucked her.
“This next street turn right,” she said.
He’d been in the neighborhood a couple of times, so he couldn’t say he knew it well. Newer apartments and older homes competed for space. Everything lined up close together, but the streets were clean, the homes looked well taken care of, and the trees and yards appeared well-maintained. He liked it. She directed him to her house, a nice looking bungalow painted green like her eyes. H
e pulled into the driveway.
“I’ll help you to the front door,” he said.
Her warm, slim hand touched his forearm and he froze. “Greg, you don’t have to.”
He put the car in park and turned off the engine. When he swung toward her, he drew in her scent, something delicious and spicy. It was subtle but drew him like a bee to honey. With dark circles forming under her eyes, and with that small bandage on her right temple, she looked vulnerable as hell. His gaze wandered to her full mouth and an almost impossible to ignore desire to kiss her hit him square in the gut. Her eyes widened a little, and for a second he thought she’d moved closer. The sizzle inside him strengthened, but he wasn’t going to do a damned thing about it. He needed to get his life in order before he dated again, and just because she was pretty, smart, and nice didn’t mean she’d want to date his ugly ass.
“Okay.” He smiled. “No more helping the damsel in distress. I’ll sit here and watch while you juggle those crutches and the steps.”
She glanced over at the porch and laughed softly. “Okay, you’re right. It’s only three steps, but I need your help.”
“Almost forgot. I’ll need your car keys if you want me to bring your car back to you tomorrow.”
“Oh, crap. I almost forgot.” She almost looked as if she’d refuse, then smiled again and wrestled the keys off her key ring. She winced, apology written on her features again. “Donna wants me to turn up tomorrow morning which means if I’m not there at eight and she finds out about it…”
She told him what kind of car she had and where she’d parked it.
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring it back tonight before ten o’clock if that’s not too late?” he asked.
“That would be great.”
He helped her navigate the steps and unlocked her door for her. He handed her the key. “Take care, Jenny.”
She stepped into her house. “Thanks again, Greg.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll go back to the park and see if I can get any of your stuff from the booth. If I find anything, I’ll let you know.”
He went down the steps and to his vehicle without a backward glance, determined to forget her and everything that had happened today. Yet as he drove back to the park, he realized he hadn’t gotten her number. If he found any of the public relations things that had been tossed around in the tornado, he’d need to deliver it to the hospital. Yeah, that’s what he’d do. He’d deliver it to the hospital and wouldn’t have to see Jenny again.
Chapter Three
The next day Jenny’s blood pressure spiked as she left the office for the day and limped toward the elevator. She’d ditched the crutches in favor of the elastic bandage, athletic shoes, and fancier-looking jeans with a short sleeved green blouse. She’d piled her hair back into a neat braid, ready to make the professional appearance she strove for every day at work.
Everything about today had started rocky. Donna had called Jenny the night before and reiterated her insistence that Jenny go into work the day after the tornado. Not once had the woman asked how Jenny was, but Donna’s dismissive, cold behavior never surprised Jenny. Just as Jenny finished the call, Dane and Lexi had turned up with her car instead of Greg. They’d explained that Greg had been snagged for some cleanup work at the park, which still closed after the tornado.
Jenny had been so backed up with work, she found she didn’t think too much about how disappointed she’d been when Greg hadn’t come back to her house with her car.
Face it, girl. You really, really wanted to see him again.
But when she did think about him, her mind went straight into the gutter and back to that moment in Greg’s car July fourth when he’d been so close, and when he’d looked at her mouth in a way that made her wonder what his kiss would be like. She’d wondered again when those dark eyes of his had smoldered and made everything inside her ache to explore his hard body. She’d even dreamed of his arms around her, and how his finely-honed muscles had cradled her close. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was dying to see what he looked like naked. Heat flamed inside her at the thought.
The elevator opened and speak of the devil, Greg stood there with a box in hand.
“Hey.” He stepped out of the elevator and smiled. “I meant to bring these earlier. Brochures we found at the park today. Time got away from me.” His eyebrows went up. “No crutches?”
She rotated her ankle and winced. “I can’t get anything done stumping around with those crutches. Plus, they’re killing my underarms.”
“I get it. They’re not comfortable, but it’s doctor’s orders, right?”
She had an idea, an impulsive one she could’ve ignored. Instead she took a chance.
“I can’t carry that box, I don’t think. If you help me take this back to the office, I’ll take you to dinner. My treat. And I’ll use my crutches to walk.”
His smile widened. “Deal. I can probably fix the crutches so they don’t hurt your arms. We can wrap some padding around them. A trick I learned when twisted my knee a few years back.”
“That would be great. Where would you like to eat?”
“Have you tried Santos? Best Mexican food I’ve ever had.”
“Haven’t tried it, but I’d love to.”
* *
Jenny followed him to the restaurant in her own car, using her GPS to make sure she didn’t get lost. She’d heard of Santos, and as they entered the restaurant, the delicious smells reminded her that the salad she’d eaten for lunch had worn off a long time ago. The old southwest and Spanish colonial decor had an authentic ambiance, and the low-lighting promised intimacy. Spanish guitar music played unobtrusively in the background. The place already rocked with people.
The hostess at the front greeted Greg like she hadn’t seen him in ages. A gorgeous, thirty-something woman with long dark hair, she also welcomed Jenny warmly. Yet Jenny noticed the well-dressed hostess had a special look in her eye that said she appreciated Greg as a sexy, virile man.
“Can we have that booth in the back if its free?” Greg asked after introducing the woman as Maria Santos, daughter of the owner.
The hostess winked. “For you, anything.”
The booth in the back had a high leather back seating which added to the secluded feeling. After handing them their menus, the hostess left and a waitress took their drink orders. Cold brew coffee for Greg and a strawberry iced tea for Jenny. Quiet surrounded them for a moment before Jenny spoke.
“How do you know the Santos family?”
He took a sip of water. “They go way back in Dallas. This restaurant has been here fifty years, and they love firefighters. We’ve had a lot of banquets here. Quite a few wedding receptions. They’re very supportive of first responders and they’ve also done a lot for Station 58.”
“Maria really likes you.” As soon as the words came out, Jenny cringed internally.
He smiled and shrugged. “She likes firefighters. I keep thinking she wants to marry one.”
Before Jenny could comment, their waitress came with their drinks and a basket of tortilla chips and took their meal orders. Jenny selected an enchilada platter, while Greg ordered chimichangas.
“Ever been married?” Greg crunched a tortilla chip after dunking it in a generous scoop of salsa.
Surprised by the question, she almost choked on her tea. “No. You?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
Okay, you got yourself into this one, Jenny.
“Handsome firefighter? What else is there to add?” she asked.
He laughed softly, the twinkle in those eyes warming her all over.
“Contrary to rumor, not all firefighters have a ton of women hanging around,” he said.
“All of my friends drool over firefighter calendars. The ones with half naked guys carrying puppies or babies.”
“Do you?”
Heat filled her face. Damn, she just dug a deeper hole every min
ute. To avoid answering right away, she grabbed a tortilla chip.
“I appreciate a good-looking man.”
He nodded. “Yeah, but the reality is that most firefighters don’t look like those guys in the calendar.”
“Very true. Is there something in the water at Station 58, though? Dane and Jax are great-looking guys and…” She almost said that Greg was the most amazing-looking man she’d ever seen. Instead she crunched another chip. “And I’d better stop before I get myself in trouble.”
When she laughed, he joined her. “It’s okay. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t flattered by the attention I get sometimes for being a firefighter. It’s nice to be appreciated.
Oh, I think you’d get a lot of attention no matter what your occupation.
“True. Very true.”
Silence gathered around them, but it was a comfortable feeling that didn’t require constant talking.
Her curiosity about him, though, wanted to know more. “You’ve been a firefighter for how long?”
“I was an Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Specialist in the Marines for several years before I got out and joined Station 58.”
Ah, a Marine. A hot firefighter and former military man explained why she’d felt that dark and dangerous vibe coming from him the first moment she saw him.
“Why did you leave the military?”
His expression darkened, the seriousness and sadness entering his eyes making her wonder if she shouldn’t have asked the question.
“It’s a long story.”
“I’m sorry. You don’t want to talk about it?”
He scrubbed the back of his neck, his mouth twisting a little. “It’s still a little raw.”
She reached out to touch his hand, a gentle press of reassurance. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
He hesitated, then covered her hand with his, returning her touch before letting her go.
“It’s okay. I don’t have anything to hide. My parents were in their forties when they had me. I grew up on a working farm near Flower Mound, and when my mother died of MS about ten years ago, Dad kept the farm going anyway. I joined the Marines at eighteen and loved it.”
All Fired Up Page 3
