Firefighter Phoenix (Fire & Rescue Shifters 7)

Not ever again.

Nonetheless, Rose was oblivious to his presence. He could only see the back of her head, over the wall of the booth ahead. If he’d been anyone else, she would have sensed him watching her—but he knew her empathic abilities didn’t work on him.

That was his fault too.

She stirred, and he tensed, ready to duck behind his menu—but she only tipped her head back, laughing at something her companion had just said. Her spiraling curls bounced with the motion, floating in a black halo around her head. He hadn’t seen her wear her hair in anything other than a plain, practical bun for years.

She’d quite literally let her hair down.

Ash stared at his menu, and concentrated very hard on not incinerating it.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man opposite Rose laugh too, white teeth gleaming in an charming, roguish grin. Even Ash had to admit that he was dismayingly handsome. Although he must have been in his mid-forties, his artfully-tousled hair was thick and dark, without a hint of gray. He sat with the spread-legged, relaxed confidence of a man who knew he looked good, and wanted women to notice too.

Rose was certainly noticing. Ash didn’t need to be able to see her face; he could read her body language. Her tilted head, the way she kept toying with her hair…she was attracted to the man.

Ash clenched his hand around a fork, so hard that his fingernails bit into his own palm. He was not Rose’s mate. Why shouldn’t she smile and flirt? She deserved to find someone who could make her happy.

If he was truly her friend, he would leave her to enjoy her date in peace.

He stayed.

“You did not,” Rose was saying. No—giggling. When was the last time he’d heard her voice ripple with girlish laughter like that?

“I most certainly did.” Her date leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, exposing sculpted muscles emphasized by black tribal tattoos. “Looked him in the eye, laid down my cards, and picked up the keys to his Lexus. I thought the old man was going to have a stroke on the spot.”

“But you didn’t really keep the car, did you?” Rose sounded half-appalled, half-tickled. “I mean, he clearly shouldn’t have gambled it.”

“It’s in the car park out front now.” The man’s voice dropped to a low, intimate purr. He ran one finger over the back of Rose’s hand. “Beautiful things belong with guys who’ll treat them properly.”

“Sir? Um, sir?”

In his distraction, he’d slipped up and allowed a waitress to become aware of him. She’d frozen next to his booth, her gaze riveted on his hand.

Ash glanced down. His fork had melted into a white-hot puddle of steel, gleaming against his weathered skin.

“I am not quite ready to order.” He flicked away the molten metal, hiding it under his menu. “Would you be so kind as to bring me another fork? This one appears to have…malfunctioned.”

“Right away, sir,” the waitress said faintly.

He was going to leave her a very large tip.

Rose’s date was still leaning forward, his hand covering hers. “Tell you what. How about we quit this joint and go have some real fun? I’ll take you for a drive.”

“Oh.” To Ash’s relief, Rose drew her hand back. “But we’re having a lovely evening here. And we’ve both been drinking. This wine’s nearly gone.”

“Nah, I’m still fine. I’ve hardly had any.”

This was true. The man had barely touched his drink. It also hadn’t escaped Ash’s notice that he had been quietly topping up Rose’s glass at every opportunity.

“Come on, you know you want to.” The man winked at her. “You may have described yourself as ‘mature’ in your profile, but I think there’s a secret part of you that’s still wild and carefree.”

“Oh, no.” Rose toyed with her wineglass, her head lowering. “Maybe in my youth, but that was a long time ago. I’m afraid that if that’s what you’re looking for, you won’t find it in me.”

“Maybe I can see you better than you see yourself,” her date murmured. He reached out, this time drawing a finger seductively down her bare arm. “Forget being grown-up and responsible for one evening, Rose. Live a little.”

Ash concentrated on his breathing. He lifted his hands away from the table, before the linen could burst into flame.

“I…have to pop to the ladies’ room.” Rose stood up abruptly. “Excuse me for a moment. I’ll be right back.”