Setting Off Sparks (Jupiter Point Book 4)

by Jennifer Bernard

Sean lifted his eyebrows. “Sounds like you know more about her than the McGraws do.”

  “I doubt that. They interviewed her, didn’t they?”

  “Sure. She gave them all her credentials, and everything checked out. She’s way overqualified. The Dean quizzed her hard about why she wanted the job. She said she wanted something temporary and slower-paced than the ER. It sounded like she had some kind of bad experience and that’s why she left.”

  A bitter sensation gathered in the pit of Finn’s stomach. Sure, Lisa had kissed him. But she hadn’t given him more than crumbs of information about herself. “That’s definitely more than I know.”

  Sean shot him an amused look. “Running into some roadblocks?”

  “You could say that,” Finn muttered into his beer. “Electrified roadblocks.”

  “That’s new and different for the Mighty Finn. You’ve never had to work for a woman’s attention before, have you?”

  Finn glared at him, and Sean put up a hand in surrender.

  “Changing the subject now. Back to where we started. You were saying that the hot nurse gave you some exercises and…”

  Finn allowed himself to relax. Usually he didn’t mind getting teased about his love life, or anything, really. But with Lisa, everything was different. “They’re helping. I’m probably about eighty-five percent now. I’m aiming for ninety.”

  “Eighty-five percent of Finn Abrams is still a damn good firefighter.”

  Finn let the compliment wash over him like a warm ocean wave. “Thanks.”

  Sean put down his tankard and speared him with a hard stare. His green eyes looked even smokier than usual in the dimly lit atmosphere of Barstow’s. “You know, Finn, you were always a standout. I never saw you lose your nerve. And I was watching because you were the first rookie I was ever responsible for. I paid close attention. You were smart, you kept your head, you worked hard. We all thought you’d be the spoiled type, coming from your background. But you weren’t. And then…”

  Here it was. The moment he’d been dreading for months. “Yeah. Then I lost it. Look, Sean. I don’t want to make excuses. Anything I say is going to sound like some kind of lame justification.”

  “Don’t worry about how it sounds. You know how it is out there on the fire lines. We have to trust each other. It’s life or death. How can you work on my crew if you don’t trust me?”

  Finn stared at the crew leader, thunderstruck. Did Sean really believe that Finn had panicked because he didn’t trust him? “It had nothing to do with trust. It wasn’t about that. Ah, Christ.”

  He scrubbed a hand through his hair. Every time he remembered that damn flashback, his head pounded.

  “I was hoping I’d have more answers before I told you all this. But there’s still a big fat blank spot.”

  “What blank spot?”

  “Me.”

  He told Sean the entire story. It took two more Guinnesses to get through it. Sean absorbed every word without any sign of calling for a psych consult.

  “Damn, Finn. That’s some story. So you still don’t know anything about your origins?”

  “Nope. The latest lead from the PI is another dead end. Every other day he has something new, but they never pan out. I’m starting to think I might never know. I had this idea that if I remembered everything, if I knew who I was, I could guarantee that nothing would sneak up on me again the way it did in Big Canyon. But I can’t say that. I'm ashamed of how it went down. I want to get back out there and, I don’t know, redeem myself.”

  Sean gave a slow nod. “I appreciate your honesty.”

  Fuck. That sounded like a windup to a “no.” Finn looked down at his beer. He could try another crew. Anywhere but Jupiter Point. Someone, somewhere, would want his skills.

  “We start training drills in mid-March. Why don’t you join in and we’ll see how it goes? I’ll have to talk to Vargas about it, but I can probably keep a spot open for you. But I want daily reports. Twice daily.”

  “No problem.” Finn could barely believe this was happening. A grin threatened to take over his face. He tried to keep some kind of stoic tough-guy attitude going, but it just wasn’t his nature. “Woot!” He hooted out loud, causing heads to turn. “I’m back.”

  Sean laughed and lounged back in his seat. Since getting married, he looked more relaxed than Finn had ever seen him. “You’re lucky I just got back from my honeymoon and I’m feeling generous. Don’t expect any more breaks.”

  “Don’t want any.”

  “You’re a lot tougher than you look, Hollywood.”

  Finn pointed at his own face. “Hey, I got a face full of ugly-ass scars now. No one calls me Hollywood anymore.”

  “Really? When did that happen?”

  “Might have been when Annika dumped me. I don’t know, but I’m glad it’s gone.”

  “If you get on the crew, they’ll probably come up with a new one.”

  “When, Magneto. When I get on the crew, not if.”

  Sean grinned and lifted his tankard to click it against Finn’s. “Sing it, brother.”

  13

  Finn didn’t know Lisa’s phone number or where she lived, but he did have one piece of information. He managed to pry her schedule out of Sean—Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. At least until she left town.

  So the next afternoon, after an especially punishing workout with Tim Peavy, he drove out to the airstrip where Molly’s favorite wildflowers grew. He picked a big armful of bachelor’s buttons and Queen Anne’s lace, then drove to the McGraws’.

  At the sight of Lisa’s Mercedes, relief so strong it felt like exultation filled him. She hasn’t left yet.

  He rang the McGraws’ doorbell, feeling like a teenage boy showing up for prom. When Lisa opened the door, her dark eyes widening, his heart did a slow, happy somersault. God, it was good to set eyes on her again. Her hair was caught up in a clip and she wore a casual fitted hoodie. Warmth rushed through his body as he remembered how she’d felt pressed against him as they kissed.

  He cleared his throat. “Hi. I brought these for Molly.”

  She dropped her gaze to the flowers. “Very pretty.”

  “She likes wildflowers best.”

  One corner of her mouth lifted. “Yes, she told me you always bring her the best flowers. She’s a big fan of yours.”

  He grinned. At least Molly was on his side. That counted for a lot.

  She let him in and he followed her into the living room where Molly spent most of her time. Along with the hoodie, Lisa wore crushed velvet leggings and Vans sneakers. Either she liked to dress comfortably when she worked or she was hitting a yoga class after this. Either way, he wasn’t complaining. The way those leggings hugged the curves of her fine, fine ass was a sight to behold.

  “Apparently you have a not-so-secret admirer, Molly. Does the Dean know about this?”

  Lisa tossed a teasing smile over her shoulder at him. She seemed more relaxed here with Molly, not worried about putting up that electric fence. Maybe the wildflowers were working on her too.

  Or maybe she was more relaxed because she was leaving. His stomach tightened at the thought.

  “The Dean’s gotten used to me and my flowers.” He handed Molly the bouquet and dropped a kiss on her cheek. She sat in her recliner, a blanket over her knees. Her hair was damp at the hairline from a recent shower.

  “F…Finn!” Her delighted tone made his heart warm. “These are lovely.” She buried her face in them, even though the petals trembled in her shaking hands. “I know what you’re up to, you d…darling boy.”

  “You do?” Was it that obvious that he was practically stalking Lisa?

  “You’re celebrating. You’re J-Jupiter Point’s newest hotshot.”

  Lisa lifted her eyebrows at him. “What happened? Have I missed something?”

  “Finn is joining Sean’s c-crew.” Molly’s face dimpled. “Lisa, my dear, will you bring some of that c-cake from the kitchen? Finn, you help her.”

  Yup, it w
as definitely good to have Molly McGraw on his side. Finn hid a grin as he followed Lisa again, this time into the kitchen. He reached for the high shelf where the McGraws kept the vases. When he turned around again, Lisa was frowning at him, her arms folded across her chest.

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

  “Flowers live longer in water,” he said mildly as he filled the vase.

  She rolled her eyes, even though that smile tugged at the corner of her mouth again. “I mean being on the crew. Do you really think you’re ready?”

  “Believe me, Sean will make sure I’m ready.” He put the yarrow in the vase and arranged the pretty blue Bachelor’s Buttons just right. When he looked up, she was watching him, her face lit with amusement.

  “You know your way around flowers, don’t you?”

  “Your point being?”

  “Nothing. It’s kind of cute, that’s all.” She opened the refrigerator door and took out a domed cake platter.

  Cute. That didn’t sound promising. Better change the topic back to firefighting. “I’ll have to pass a battery of tests before I go out on a fire. I’ve been training like a demon so I’ll be ready.”

  “Have you been doing those exercises I gave you?”

  “Oh yeah. They bring back all kinds of good memories.”

  Color washed across her face and she looked away. His heart sank. This woman was never going to let him in. The fact that she’d let down her guard so much last time—that she’d kissed him with all that fire, that she’d been so obviously turned on—none of that meant anything. She was still just as cautious as before.

  God, he wished he could shake this fucking infatuation with a woman who was so determined to shut him out.

  He picked up the vase of flowers and headed back toward the living room.

  “Wait.” Lisa’s voice stopped him halfway to the door. “Why are you walking like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “Like your legs hurt even more than your side.”

  He turned back to see her staring at his lower half. His cock stirred. Don’t get excited, buddy. She’s in nurse mode right now. “I told you, I’ve been training.”

  “It looks like you’re overdoing it. What’s the rush?”

  “The rush is that I’m not about to sit out another fire season. I’m a firefighter, that’s what I do. I’m ready to go back.”

  “As your physical therapist, I highly recommend against it.”

  His smile dropped. First she blew him off for two weeks, now she was going to dictate his career decisions? “We had one session, Lisa. Then I didn’t hear from you.”

  She flushed even more deeply. “I’ve been busy with Molly. But I didn’t know you were already joining the crew. You should think about this seriously, Finn.”

  “I’ve been thinking about it ever since I got out of surgery. I need to get back on the job. Anyway, why do you care? Sean said you’re leaving town. I thought you might already be gone by now.”

  She stared at him. He couldn’t make out her expression. Surprise? Hurt? Guilt? “I…well, obviously I haven’t left yet.”

  Yet.

  So she was intending to leave, and she hadn’t even tried to say goodbye. What was the point of this? Time to hand off the flowers to Molly and get to the gym. He could get his ass handed to him by a hundred pounds of iron instead of a prickly nurse.

  He shrugged and turned to go again.

  “My shift’s almost over,” she said abruptly. “If you wait, you can follow me back to my place.”

  “Your place?”

  “All my stuff is there.” Irritation edged her voice. “If you’re going to be fighting fires, I want to make sure you’re in peak condition. It’s a public safety issue.”

  The second her meaning sank in, a huge grin spread across his face. “Absolutely. An urgent safety issue.”

  She shot him a wry look, then brushed past him with the cake plate.

  He stood for a moment, inhaling the sweet fragrance of the yarrow.

  Flowers. They worked every time.

  She must have lost her mind completely. What was she doing, inviting Finn back to her private sanctuary?

  Stupid, stupid, she chanted as she drove her Mercedes into the campground, Finn following in his dark green Tahoe. She should have left Jupiter Point the minute Evie came back from her honeymoon. Before she laid her eyes on Finn’s sexy self again.

  His sexy, sore self. As soon as she saw how gingerly he was walking, her resolve melted away. He needed her help and she couldn’t turn away from that.

  Okay, so that wasn’t the only reason she’d invited him back. Ever since their kiss, she’d lain in bed fantasizing about every inch of Finn Abrams’s body. She’d pictured his smile, she’d replayed some of the funnier things he’d said. She’d come up with brilliant responses she hadn’t thought of at the time. She’d relived every moment of that unforgettable kiss.

  When Sean and Evie had returned from their honeymoon, she’d fully expected to give her notice. Every time she walked through Molly’s door, she intended to say the words. But they never came.

  Face it, she didn’t want to leave Jupiter Point. She didn’t want to leave Molly. And she didn’t want to leave Finn.

  And why should she, when nothing else suspicious had happened? No other armed weirdos had been spotted in Jupiter Point or around the tower. She hadn’t gotten any strange phone calls or emails or Facebook messages. There was no reason to be paranoid.

  All the sleepless nights in the motorhome were lonely. What was the harm in having a little fun? Finn wanted her, she wanted him. There wasn’t a single photographer snapping photos of him anymore. Why couldn’t she indulge herself for a short time with a handsome, sexy, charming firefighter who set off fireworks inside her?

  They both parked along the main road that circled through the campground. She led the way down the short footpath to the clearing where the motorhome was parked. Now that he was about to see her home away from home, she actually felt nervous about it. What if he had the same reaction her family would probably have? Hysterical laughter?

  “It’s a pretty small spot, and there isn’t really room for cars unless I move the picnic table,” she explained. “That’s why I park out there. As you can see, the motorhome takes up half the space, even though it’s only twenty-two feet. Sometimes I wish I had one of those big Airstreams, but this is perfect for me.”

  Finn wasn’t laughing at all. Hands in his pockets, he eyed her little motorhome with appreciation. “I practically lived in my car during my first wildfire training. I never got around to buying a tent, so I kept crashing in my backseat. Believe me, this is luxury compared to that summer.”

  She unlocked the door and stepped inside, sniffing to make sure no strange smells had accumulated during the day. Nope—nothing but black coffee and the sweet candy smell of the chocolate croissant she’d had for breakfast. She stepped aside to let him mount the stairs. “I bought this motorhome from a woman I knew in Galveston. She was an artist who used to travel around painting watercolors. She said every woman ought to live alone at some point in her life and answer to no one.”

  Was she babbling? She folded her lips together to make it stop. Finn stepped into the tiny strip of space between the pull-down table and the cushioned love seat. He had to bend his head to fit inside. He looked out the window at the tall pines moving in the wind, a shifting wall of deep green.

  “I love it,” he said sincerely. “I really love it. How long have you had it?”

  “About eight months.” She beamed at him. “I’m glad you like it. It’s not exactly the kind of home you usually show off. I can pack up and leave in about five minutes, give or take. The gas mileage isn’t great and I’ve broken a few mugs that I forgot to stash somewhere safe. Otherwise, it’s been just about perfect.”

  He flattened his palm against the motorhome’s ceiling as he looked around. And suddenly his proximity was almost too much for her. His wide shoulders seemed
to fill the space, or maybe it was the magnetic energy he carried with him. She took a little step toward him before she even realized it. Then she caught herself.

  Aiming for professional, she cleared her throat. “I didn’t really think this through. The only place I can work on you here is in the bedroom. I mean, on the bed, which is back there. But I don’t want you to think…”

  “I get it. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it appropriate. I’ll control myself, even though those leggings of yours are practically killing me.” He flashed her a rueful, one-sided smile.

  Her knees went to Jell-O. If he had any idea what that smile did to her insides… When she was around him, none of her higher functions seemed to operate properly. She got all impulsive and spontaneous and…well, stupid.

  “It’s actually not you I’m worried about.”

  At her words, he glanced up sharply and the space between them seemed to evaporate. They stood in exactly the same positions, with the same eighteen inches between them. But those seemed to have shrunk down to a sliver of space vibrating with sexual tension.

  “I see.” His voice scraped like sandpaper. The intent look in his eyes made her chest tighten. Want rocketed through her system, starting with her heart. Whatever this pull was toward Finn, it was much more than physical.

  But the physical part was what made her step toward him. That’s what made her pulse flutter and her breathing hitch.

  “Hi,” he said softly. The way he looked at her, as if she were some kind of sixth wonder of the world, made her shiver.

  “What…” She trailed off, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.

  He reached for her hand. As soon as it slipped into his warm grip, a sweet sensation flooded through her. She wanted to wrap herself up in him, let him surround her with all his strong, funny, charming Finn-ness. It was like being hypnotized.

  “What are you thinking when you look at me like that?” she whispered.

  “That it’s only, what, ten steps to your bed?” His answer came so promptly she had to laugh, and the mood between them shifted from intense to teasing.

  “Probably about five steps for you, with those long legs.”