All Fired Up (Hometown Heat 1)

“Mick got the water shut off. Aria is mopping up the mess, and I’m making three dozen cookies to help everyone feel better.” She makes a shooing gesture. “So go, have fun, and come back ready to sign checks because I’m hiring a plumber and an electrician.”

Naomi’s shoulders relax away from her ears. “Hallelujah!” She turns back to me with a smile brighter than the sun reflecting off the gold streaks in her hair. “Let’s go. Hurry, before something else falls apart!”

She skips past me, tugging me along until I laugh and break into a jog beside her.

Running away with Naomi is much better than running away from her.

So much better.

Chapter Fifteen

Jake

“I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.” Naomi moans as she falls onto her back on the thick, woven blanket I spread out for our picnic.

“I’m proud of you. A lesser woman would have quit halfway through,” I say, grinning as she laughs, then moans again.

“Oh God, I wish I had. I’m going into a food coma.”

“All part of the fun.” I glance down at her face, so content I’m pretty sure I could stay here on this blanket with her for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.

With the last of the winter wheat in the field waving gently around us, it’s like we’re in our own little world, adrift on a golden sea in a ship made for two. The sun is giving off enough heat that I’ve stripped down to my T-shirt and Naomi lifted her gauzy dress to sun her legs as we ate.

And now, with her lying beside me, her arms up over her head and her eyes closed to soak in the warm rays, she looks good enough to eat.

To…devour.

All I want is to cover her body with mine and let my lips play down her throat to the top of her sleeveless dress. Then, I’d use my teeth to tug away the thin fabric, baring those gorgeous breasts I haven’t seen in far too long.

I can almost feel the way her nipple would tighten beneath my lips as I draw the tip of her into my mouth and trap it there, teasing her with my tongue until her breath comes fast and her fingers fist in my hair. I can imagine the way she would moan and spread her legs, inviting me to slide my hand beneath her skirt, up her bare thigh to where she’d be as hot and wet as she was last night.

I take a deep breath and bite down hard on the inside of my cheek, hoping the flash of pain will distract me. If I don’t stop thinking about the way Naomi’s body gripped my fingers, the way she clutched at my shoulders and sighed as her head fell back as I fucked her with my hand, I’m going to roll over and take her right here, within fifty feet of County Road Fifty-Six where a dozen people we both know could drive by at any moment.

But would they really be able to see anything with the blanket surrounded by wheat?

The thought is sufficiently crazy—and tempting—that I know I need to get off the blanket. Now.

“Let’s go for a walk.” I bounce to my feet, ignoring the tight feeling behind the fly of my jeans. “Help banish the food coma.”

Not to mention my raging case of mid-afternoon lust.

“Don’t you need to get back to work soon?” Naomi asks, shielding her eyes from the sun as she reaches a hand up to me.

I help her to her feet, waiting as she slides into her silver flats, even that innocent flash of skin making me want to pull her back down to the blanket and kiss every one of her toes.

“Not really. I usually get off at noon on Saturdays.” I clear my throat, willing myself to get a grip. “I’ve been hanging around a little longer the past two weeks, but unless we have a big call, I shouldn’t have to go back. The crew can handle most emergencies on their own. The chief is only vital for dealing with the fire board and city council. And email. Lots of email.”

She smiles as she takes my hand again and we start across the field. “That’s pretty impressive. I’m proud of you.”

“For wrangling email?” I ask with a wink.

“For making chief so young. Aren’t there a lot of older guys still with the department?”

I shrug. “A couple, but once my dad retired, most of the guys he worked with followed not long after. Kevin and Harry are the only ones left from the old guard, and they didn’t have any interest in a promotion. They preferred to go on volunteer status and let someone else step up to chief.”

“I get it,” she says, nodding. “Some people would rather follow. I’m like that.”