First

The noise escaping me may be a word. I’m not really sure. She takes it as confirmation which, of course, it is.

‘Did you plan for that to happen?’

I’m back out of the chair. This is too complicated to talk about while sitting. ‘No. Of course not.’

Although I’ve been wanting to jump his bones since I met him.

‘We were at the same bar. He saw my ex bothering me and took care of it. Then we talked and had a few drinks and one thing led to another …’

Like the best night you’ve had with a guy.

‘Did you want to repay him for helping you out of an awkward situation?’

I stop, concentrating. ‘Okay, that never entered my head until you just said it. So I’m going to say no.’

She nods and puts her pen down again. ‘Do you intend to see each other again?’

My laughter is strained. ‘We have to see each other again because of Catherine. But if you mean will we have sex again, no.’

‘You seem very sure of that.’

‘Damn right. It was …’ Amazing. Mind-blowing. Perfect. ‘A mistake. A really big mistake. We both agreed on that.’

‘And if you change your minds?’

Something low clenches at the thought. ‘Umm …’

The pen raises again. I throw a desperate look to the clock. I’ve got another ten minutes in this session. Doc’s a bulldog. She won’t let this go, not now that she knows what’s actually bothering me.

‘Maya?’

I groan. The chair beckons. Might as well settle in …

***

My muscles ache as I climb into my truck and start it up. Late last night our crew got a call about a small fire at an abandoned house. Turns out it wasn’t so little. Once we’d put it out, it took a while to get back to the station and pack away the equipment. I took the time to clean up so I didn’t smell like smoke when I showed up to meet Cat.

The radio warns me I’m a half hour late to Cat’s brunch. I call while driving towards the small café she picked, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel while I wait for her to pick up.

A deep, masculine rumble greets me. ‘What the fuck do you want, asshole?’

‘Shut up, you prick. Put Cat on.’

My best friend and roommate, Dallas Miller, gives a bark of laughter. A second later, Cat’s breathy voice asks, ‘Jake?’

‘Just left the station. Sorry I’m late.’

‘Were you on that fire last night?’

‘Yep.’

‘You’re safe?’

The worry in her voice hurts. She tries so hard to pretend like she’s okay with my job but I know she gets scared every time there’s a fire televised.

‘I’m fine. It was a little one. No injuries.’

She breathes a sigh of relief. ‘Good. Dally wouldn’t let me watch the newscast.’