Warnings and Wildfires

“I’m fine.”

“Do you need a ride?”

“My sister’s supposed to pick me up on her way home.”

He glances at the front door again.

“I can wait outside,” I say, grabbing my stuff from under the counter.

“No,” he says quickly. He motions for me to follow him. “Let’s set you up with your own locker.”

I follow him into the locker room and he throws his arms wide, turning in a half-circle. “Your pick.” He hands me a lock and a card with the combination.

“Thanks. Now I feel official.”

He reaches out and squeezes my shoulder. “You’re very official.”

The second he touches me, my body trembles. Maybe he notices, I’m not sure, but he hurries out of the locker room.

Rattled, I stumble to the first locker in front of me and slip the lock in place. I practice opening it a few times to make sure the combination works, then head outside.

My sister’s near the entrance talking to Sully and smiles as soon as she sees me.

“Why didn’t you call?” I ask, hurrying over.

“I finished early.” She glances at Sully. “I wanted to say hello to your new boss and make sure he’s taking good care of you.”

Even though Celia’s teasing isn’t meant to hurt, it makes me feel about five years old.

“I’m fine,” I mumble.

“She’s terrific,” Sully says, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “I’m lucky she had time in her schedule.”

Celia beams and my anxiety spikes. I hold up my bag. “I’m ready to go.”

“Bro, what are you still doing here?” Jake calls out from the back entrance. “Oh, hey, Aubrey.” His gaze shoots to Celia and lingers. “And hello to you too.”

He slows down and adopts his usual cocky swagger, and I groan. While I find Jake charming in a harmless-flirty way, my sister has no patience for overconfident player types.

Jake’s danger radar must be defective because he circles my sister like a shark until Sully gives him a not-so-subtle shove. “You’ll have to excuse my brother, Celia. I dropped him on his head a lot when he was little.” He wraps an arm around Jake’s neck, dragging him closer in what looks like a brotherly embrace until you notice Jake’s eyes bugging out from lack of oxygen. “This is Aubrey’s sister, Celia.” He gives him one final warning squeeze before releasing Jake.

Jake coughs but shakes off the choke-hug quickly. “Now that your sister works here, you’ll have to stop by for some classes.”

“Do you teach any?” she asks.

He hands her his schedule and she folds it up without reading it, stuffing it in her back pocket.

“Maybe I’ll try your Sunday class, Sully. Aubrey says she gets a lot out of it.”

“Any time,” Sully says.

“I don’t teach that one,” Jake says.

“I know,” Celia answers without looking at him.

Sully ducks his head and cough-laughs.

“Good to see you again, Sully,” Celia says, grabbing my arm and tugging me toward the door. “But my feet are killing me.”

“Night, girls,” Sully calls out. “Thanks, Aubrey.”

“Nice meeting you, Celia,” Jake says.

“Did you have to be so rude to my boss’s brother?” I ask once we’re outside.

She rolls her eyes at me. “I’m sure his ego survived. Besides, Sully seems to know what his brother’s about.” She gives me a more serious look. “Be careful around him.”

“Jake?” I open my car door and slide in, waiting for her to get in her side. “He’s harmless.”

“He’s got smooth-guy written all over him. I deal with jackasses like that all day long at the salon.” She shimmies her shoulders. “Ones who ‘accidentally’ shove their face between your boobs when you’re cutting their hair.”

Now she’s being ridiculous. “You don’t even know him.”

“Neither do you,” she points out.

“I love you, but the over-protective big sister thing is super annoying.”

She rests her hand on my leg. “I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow it, so just deal.”

“I think I’m in love,” Jake mutters.

“Shocking,” I grumble, locking up the front door and flipping off the lights.

“She’s a taller, older version of Aubrey. And that a—”

“Don’t,” I warn, cutting him off before he starts singing the praises of Celia’s ass.

“She picking Aubrey up every night?”

“I don’t know.” I cock my head and study him for a second. “Stay away from her.”

“Why?”

“Seriously? Her sister works here now. I don’t need you charming her into bed, then never calling her again.”

“I gotta be honest, bro—”

I hold up a hand, cutting him off. “Stay. Away.”

“All right, all right.” He throws his hands up in surrender. “But if she moves on me, I’m not turning her down.”

“I won’t hold my breath.”

Jake’s not insulted. He never is.

“You coming over for dinner?” I ask.

“Is Mom cooking?”

“Yes,” I answer in my don’t-be-a-moron tone.

He ends up following me home, parking in my driveway and walking over to our mother’s house with me.

I’m sure Mom had dinner hours ago, but she’s used to us coming and going at all hours.

“Give me a few minutes,” she says after greeting us at the door. “I had to run to Stewart’s for more milk.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask, following her into the kitchen. “I would’ve stopped at the store for you.”

She clucks her tongue. “I’m not an invalid, Sully.”

“Never said you were.”

She waves me away. “Go sit at the table.”

“Sully’s got a girlfriend,” Jake announces.

I shoot a glare at his end of the table, but he ignores it.

“Oops, I mean, he hired a girl to work at Strike Back,” Jake amends.

Mom raises her eyebrows. “What’s her name?”

“Aubrey,” I answer before Jake starts up again. “It’s only a few hours a week.”

“That’s good. You work too much.” It’s a common complaint of my mother’s even though she knows if I don’t keep myself busy, I’ll go nuts.

My mother turns to Jake. “What about you? Keeping out of trouble?”

“I haven’t knocked up anyone if that’s what you’re asking,” he mumbles, shoveling a fork full of mashed potatoes into his mouth.

My mother leans over and whaps him with a dishtowel. “That’s not funny.”

We talk about other stuff throughout dinner and my mother yawns as we’re clearing off the table.

“Sorry it’s so late.”

“It’s fine, Sullivan. I have to be up early tomorrow, so I might head to bed in a few minutes.”

“Sure. I’ll clean up.” I take her arm, stopping her. “Doctor?”

She blows out a frustrated breath. “Yes.”

“One of us should go with you.”

“It’s just a regular exam,” she says, tapping her cheek right below her good eye. “Same thing I do every month.”

I let out my own sigh. Years of guilt, I suppo

se. “I still feel better if you don’t go alone.”

“I’ll go,” Jake says, joining the conversation. “Where am I going?”

“Dr. Kersaw’s.”

Jake’s never seemed to remember the incident that left our mom blind in one eye, so I doubt the same wildfire of anger, fear, and guilt blaze through him every time Mom has to go for her check-ups.

“Same time as usual?” Jake asks.

Mom confirms the time and gives both of us a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to bed.

Jake stretches and twists. “I’m gonna crash at your place since I’ll just be back early in the morning.”

“Yeah, no problem. That’s why you have a room, jackass.”

“Sullivan!” my mother shouts from the other room.

Jake sticks out his tongue and points at me like a deranged five-year-old and I roll my eyes.

Some things don’t change all that much.

CHAPTER SIX

In general, I enjoy people-watching, so I expected to be entertained working at Sully’s place.

And it’s definitely been entertaining. I mean, wow. Strike Back is a magnet for hot guys.

Unfortunately, some have more muscles than manners.

Sully’s quick to rectify that situation each time it comes up.

Other than chasing off guys who stop to give me inappropriate uniform tips, Sully’s a man of few words. Which has been weird, because I’m used to him barking out instructions during class. But when he’s not teaching, he doesn’t say much beyond “Yes,” “No,” and “Thanks” in response to my questions. He might be short on words but he’s polite.

The men I know from my job at the coffee shop love to talk about themselves, so I find Sully’s silence both relaxing and intriguing.

His brother, Jake, is the exact opposite. Always talking. Always flirting.

Always determined to annoy his big brother.

While Jake’s fun to be around, he’s also exhausting and I’m relieved that most afternoons he leaves to work at the gym he owns with Wrath and one other guy.

Jake’s been gone for a few hours and I’m about to take my break when the front door chimes. I glance up, smile in place, ready to help whoever it is.

Apparently, today is leave Aubrey tongue-tied day. Two muscular guys around my age saunter inside. My gaze slides over the one on the left, who’s busy scanning the room. He has close-cropped red hair and the faintest hint of auburn scruff covering his chin. His friend has dark, curly hair and determination brewing in his brown eyes. Unlike the majority of the clients, they have a presence that commands attention. No goofing around from these two. They’re both serious and focused.