Ignite (Wildwood 1)

But West said he was at the station. He hadn’t been called out on a fire. So maybe . . .

Want some company? Or are you not allowed visitors?

Hitting Send before she chickened out was the only way to go. She sat on the edge of the bed and chewed on a fingernail while she waited for his reply. Where had her it’s-just-sex attitude gone?

Right out the freaking window.

Yeah you should stop by and see me. If you want. No shower time though.

Harper smiled, liking how he added the if you want. Please. She so wanted. But she needed to play it cool. Not behave like an overeager slobbery dog.

I could stop by for a little while I suppose.

There. That was perfect. Making the offer but not saying please let me move in with you! That would just reek of desperation. And she didn’t want to move in with him. Despite the fact that he was living in her former home and she’d give anything to crash the spare bedroom there so she wouldn’t have to deal with her grandma kicking her out on a Saturday night so she could entertain her gentleman friend.

Otherwise known as her grandma’s hookup. Yikes.

Her phone dinged.

You suppose? Sure it wouldn’t put you out to come all the way out here?

The station was on the opposite end of town, but she was willing to drive all that way to spend a little quality time with West, even if it wasn’t private.

I’m sure.

She hesitated, then decided to go for it.

Plus I’d like to see where you work.

Meaning she’d like to see him, if only for an hour. Sitting around in his uniform. Looking sexy. Offering up one of those secret smiles that drove her a little crazy with wanting him.

He didn’t hesitate answering her at all.

Then come by around eight.

Smiling, she tapped out her two-letter response:

Ok. ?

Chapter Twelve

HARPER TOOK A shower. She washed her hair, spent almost thirty minutes blowing it dry, and even curled the ends with her two-hundred-dollar curling iron. Yeah, that silly curling iron had been a huge expense but well worth the purchase. Her twice-a-year excursions to Sephora were some of her favorite shopping experiences.

Taking into consideration the weather, her outfit was chosen with care—white denim shorts and a red tank top that clung to her boobs nicely, if she did say so herself. Subtle makeup and a slick of that same red lipstick she’d worn last night to seduce him completed the look.

And her efforts proved worth the time. The moment she exited her car and West first saw her, his appreciative gaze started a warm, downright manic flutter in her stomach.

“Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” That slow, syrupy drawl of a voice washed over her as he swept her into his arms. That she was plastered up against her car made her want to laugh. He hadn’t let her get two steps before he had her pinned.

She rested her hands on his chest, momentarily preventing his lips from settling on hers. “What if someone sees us?”

He frowned, a little crease appearing between his eyebrows. That was so cute. Pretty much everything he did was cute, even when he looked put out. “Who cares? They’re all inside anyway.”

His casual who cares remark threw her, allowing him the kissing advantage. He settled his mouth on hers, slow and easy, her eyes sliding shut as he proceeded to kiss every rational thought out of her brain.

Oh, boy. This could become a real addiction, real quick.

Admiring his uniform shirt, she ran her hands down the front of his chest when he broke away from her lips. There was a shiny gold name badge pinned on the right side of his chest, right above the pocket. She slowly traced the letters, could feel him watching her, and it made her feel shy.