Second Chance Summer(60)

“Busted,” he said, not looking the least bit embarrassed or sorry.

“You could have just asked for a wash,” she said.

“Nah, this was way more fun.”

She opened her mouth but his radio went off again, and though his eyes remained on her, he was clearly concentrating on the radio and the garbled words she could barely make out.

Then suddenly he stood, all joking and good humor gone from his gaze. “Gotta go,” he said.

“You’re still wet.”

“No worries.” He shook his head like a big dog and then, shoving his hand into his pocket, came up with cash.

Lily pushed his hand away. “No.”

“I pay my debts.”

“Not this time,” she said.

His eyes landed on hers as one of his hands slid to the nape of her neck. “Think of me.” Lowering his head he gave her one quick, hard kiss. “Later,” he said against her mouth, and then he was gone.

“Good sweet baby Jesus,” Jonathan said from the hall behind her.

She turned to find him fanning himself. “It’s not what you think,” she said.

“Are you sure?” he asked. “Because what I think is that man is sex on two legs. He wears that firefighter uniform like nobody’s business. Well, except maybe his brother Hudson. Cuz Hudson looks pretty damn fine in his as well. I mean, when he strides toward me with that gun on his hip …” Jonathan gave a full body shiver.

“Going back to work now,” she said with an eye roll, and did just as Aidan had suggested—thought of him.

That night, back at her place, Lily found herself on edge. Did Aidan’s “later” mean tonight? She had no idea.

Normally her after-work routine consisted of a hot shower and PJs, but she stayed up late in her sundress, makeup still on. No need to scare the man unnecessarily.

But Aidan didn’t show, and this left her torn between relief and unease.

Unease won, and she called his mom. “I know it’s late,” Lily said quickly, “but I—”

“Oh, honey, I got the styling cream,” Char said. “Thank you so much for that. I should’ve called you, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not calling about that, I was wondering …” She grimaced. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course. My hair’s so much better than okay, it’s fantastic. Marcus can’t keep his fingers out of it—”

“I meant with Aidan,” Lily said. “He got called away today on a fire and he didn’t get back. At least, I don’t think he did.”

“No, you’re right, he’s still out. I got a text from Gray.” Char paused, softening her voice. “You should know he’s often out for days without a word. We just have to trust him, Lily. He’s the best at what he does.”

“I’m not— I mean, I don’t—” She blew out a breath. “It’s not what you think,” she said for the second time that day. And for the second time that day she got the same response.

“Are you sure?”





Chapter 21


The fire started out on a 10,000-acre horse ranch, which backed up to the base of Mt. Hennessy. This meant it threatened hundreds of thousands of acres of forestland if they couldn’t contain it quickly.

By noon the following day Aidan, Mitch, and the rest of the crew still didn’t have a handle on it thanks to an unseasonably hot day and forty-five-mile-an-hour winds. When the flames jumped the highway and started to climb the mountain, they called in reinforcements.

Aidan ran into Hudson at the incident command post. They’d arrested the arsonist, who was currently cooling her heels in county on a million-dollar bail.

Which isn’t what Hudson wanted to discuss. Nope, he wanted to discuss their dad. Perfect. Just what Aidan wanted to do.

“He called Gray,” Hud said, pissed. “He couldn’t even bother to call me. What the hell?”

“Told you, we don’t need him.”

Hudson stared at him. “Is that what you told Gray when me and Jacob appeared in Cedar Ridge? That you didn’t need us?”

“How is that anything close to the same thing?” Aidan asked.

“You’re all about family unless it doesn’t suit you. Hypocrite much?”

“Hud, he dumped you guys like you were a bad habit, just like he did us. How are you defending that?”

“I’m not. At all,” Hudson said. “I just think he should have to come back and help us fix his mess.”

“No,” Aidan said flatly.

Hudson let out a long breath of frustration and stalked off. But he only went a few feet before he whipped back around. “You just picked a fight and let me walk.”

“No, you picked the fight. If you want to pout and sulk, who am I to stop you?”

Hudson strode back, eyes narrowed, steam coming out of his ears. “You’re misdirecting.”

“Nice to see your night psych class is coming in handy.”

“And now you’re trying to piss me off.” Hudson stood firm. “Tell me what I’m missing.”

“Drop it,” Aidan said.

“Can’t. You’re my brother,” Hudson said simply.