Feel the Fire (Hotshots 3)

“I bet. I just meant... I like watching you work.” Tucker’s cheeks went pinker than exertion alone would warrant. Damn. He was so appealing when he went shy and honest like that.

“Thanks.” Luis stepped away before he could be tempted to do something foolish like kiss Tucker’s cheek. It might be that professional respect was his newest turn-on, but he couldn’t go there, even if they were alone in the middle of nowhere. He might be able to convince himself that only the trees would know, but he would know. And he would want a hell of a lot more than a peck on the cheek.

So, he kept it professional and responsible as they made their way back to the Jeep. They talked Luis’s arson suspicions until they were back at the main road, when Tucker’s phone rang from its spot in the console, flashing a picture of a smiling kid.

“It’s one of the boys. Could you put it on speaker for me?” Tucker asked. “Wish this old vehicle had easier hands-free tech.”

“Sure.”

“Hey, Dad!” A youthful voice filled the car, and Tucker’s answering smile was another checkmark in the “too cute” column as the guy really did seem to love his kids.

“Wade? You’re on speaker. I’ve got a coworker with me.” He glanced over at Luis, pained expression on his face.

Luis had had to handle family stuff in front of coworkers before too, though, and tried to give him a reassuring smile.

“Yeah, it’s Wade,” the kid answered.

“Is this an emergency?” Tucker demanded in a hurry-up sort of tone, but not mean either. He did concerned dad well.

“Not exactly emergency, but I’ve been trying to catch you. I need the car. Walker’s got a date with Mary Anne—”

“You know you’re supposed to work out sharing your car with him, not me.” Tucker groaned, the sort of long-suffering sound of someone who’d had this conversation a few hundred times.

“Yeah, I know. And I’m sorry. I really am.” Wade sounded contrite, but also barreled ahead on his apparent mission to sell Tucker on his plan. “But the guys want to go watch this rodeo tonight, and your car holds more people. Is there any way you could catch a ride home with Garrick or something? Walker can take me to pick up your car then he can have that one and I can have yours. Easy, right? We’ve done it before.”

“Easy huh? I’m not back at the office yet, and I’ve got another stop before I’ll be free. I’m not sure what time Garrick’s working to either.” Eyes still on the road, Tucker scrubbed at his hair one handed before returning it to the wheel.

“Please. I’ll owe you big time.” The kid was good at the hard sell.

“You already do.” Tucker’s voice was stern, but the slackness in his features said he was close to caving. “Let me call Garrick and get back to you, okay?”

“I can give you a ride.” The words came out without permission from Luis’s brain. Bad idea, bad idea, abort! No way did this end well, but he also couldn’t recall the offer, especially once Tucker gave a crooked smile.

“Seriously?” Relief was clear in his eyes.

“We’ll be at the air base.” Luis was trying to talk himself into this as much as Tucker. “It’s not that much trouble to head into Painter’s Ridge, drop you off wherever. I can return the car as easily as you. No big deal.”

Except for the part where he’d told himself he might not have to go back into Painter’s Ridge at all. And the whole more-time-alone-with-Tucker thing straining his already shaky resolve. No big deal. Right?

“Well, in that case...” Tucker was already nodding, no time for second thoughts. “Yeah, okay. But Wade? You owe me and my...coworker now, you hear?”

Tucker’s hesitation over what to call Luis wasn’t lost on him. Could they get back firmly into friend territory? It was ill-advised and not one of his smarter impulses, but he still couldn’t stop the tug of longing in his gut.

“Thank you. You’re the best, Dad!” Wade crowed, cutting in to Luis’s churning thoughts.

“Tell me that when you come home safe. By curfew, okay? I want text updates from the rodeo too.” Tucker was back into concerned-dad mode now, full of several other reminders that Wade took in stride before ending the call.

“Thanks. You didn’t have to offer. I appreciate it.”

“No problem,” Luis lied with a smile because he had gotten himself into this mess. But surely he could survive a trip to Painter’s Ridge with Tucker. All he had to do was drop Tucker off, after all.

“You’re a lifesaver.” Tucker smiled then, wide and easy, and somehow Luis knew, deep in his bones, that he was already screwed, but hell if he could see any way out of the coming calamity.

Chapter Seven

There was nothing weird about getting a ride home. In a two car/three driver household, it happened, way more than Tucker would like. Garrick probably would have been happy to provide a lift had it come to that. Luis playing taxi shouldn’t have felt any different, and yet, the whole time they were at the air base, his neck tightened every time he thought about it. Which was often because there was plenty of downtime as Luis peppered the smoke-jumping team with questions and handled the inquiry expertly, clearly in his element. He’d been right that he didn’t need Tucker along, but Tucker was happy for the chance to see him work.