Playing with Fire (Hometown Heat 3)

All the more reason to try harder, genius. She’ll be more inclined to trust you to be good to Maddie if you play nice with her now.

“Thank you,” I say. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m doing fine.” I meet Naomi’s gaze and smile, a real one this time. Almost instantly her expression softens, and a hopeful light enters her eyes.

“Can I get you two anything?” I ask, finding it easier to let down my guard than I expected. “More coffee or a waffle or something? I think Kiki’s getting ready to open the serving line.”

Jake shakes his head. “Nah, I’m good. I’ll wait until everyone else is through. I already had first breakfast with Faith earlier. She couldn’t wait.”

Naomi laughs. “That girl must have a hollow leg. She eats like a horse.”

“I heard that,” Faith says from the next table over, where the tall, athletic blonde is entwined with her own Whitehouse sibling, Mick. They’ve been joined at the hip since New Year’s Eve and living together for almost as long.

So far, however, there doesn’t seem to be any trouble in paradise, and Faith is happier than I’ve ever seen her.

“Does that mean I’m uninvited to dinner tonight?” Faith asks. “Or should I just eat a snack first to fill up my hollow leg before I come over?”

Naomi laughs again and leans over to assure Faith she’s still more than welcome to dinner. I take advantage of her distraction to ease away from the table and through the crowd. The clock on the wall says it’s nearly ten, and I have somewhere important to be.

After snagging a large mug of coffee with extra cream, a waffle drizzled with syrup and covered in crushed walnuts, and two forks, I duck into the hall and make my way through the weight room and out the back door.

Outside on the grass, abandoned balls lie where kids left them when they were called in to eat and a row of bikes glint in the sun. It’s the kind of warm, sunny morning that practically begs you to come have your meal outdoors. But thankfully, so far I’m the only one to answer the call.

Balancing the plate on top of the mug, I climb the fire-escape ladder and continue up two rows of stairs to the roof. As soon as I step onto the cracked asphalt I smile—now the morning feels complete.

Maddie’s sitting in one of the chairs I spirited up here earlier this morning, dressed in a red sundress that barely brushes her knees, with a ring of white daisies in her hair.

“I see you got my note,” I say, grinning as she turns to glance over her shoulder, her eyes lighting up when she sees me coming.

“I did. But it’s a good thing Lucy’s back at work, or I wouldn’t have been able to come.”

“You think I’m an amateur?” I settle into the chair next to hers. “I knew she’d be at work, and what time she was coming in.”

Her brows lift as she accepts the coffee I extend her way. “Impressive.” She takes a sip, sighing in pleasure. “Mmm…extra creamy, just the way I like it.”

“I knew that, too,” I say. “I’ve done all my detective work.”

She grins. “You’re clearly wasting your potential fighting fires. You should have been an international man of mystery.”

“Or a mob boss,” I say.

“Or a high-class male escort,” she says, giggling when I shoot her a hard look. “What? You’re discreet, romantic, and your love-rod is absolutely worthy of a thousand dollars a night.”

“It’s not a love-rod, it’s a cock,” I say, though I secretly love that she’s nicknamed my dick. “And it’s not the cock that’s worth a thousand dollars a night, it’s the man who knows how to use it.”

“And to think I get it all for free,” she says with a naughty wink. “I’m a lucky girl.”

“You are,” I agree, cutting a bite of waffle and offering her the fork.

She slips the bite into her mouth with a sexy little purring sound. “Hmm…this is delicious. My compliments to the chef.”

“I can’t take credit for that, sadly.” I cut myself a bite. “Kiki brings the waffle mix. I’ve tried to get her recipe, but she won’t tell anyone what she puts in it.”

“Cinnamon and ginger for sure,” Maddie says, squinting up at the blue sky as she considers. “And maybe nutmeg, and something a little unexpected. I’ll need another taste to sort it out, but I will.”

“Think you can crack her code?” I ask, impressed.

“You’re not the only one with spy potential.” She hands me her fork. “Load me up. A few more bites and I’ll have it all worked out. I might even make you a batch tomorrow morning if you’re lucky.”

“You’ve decided to let Lucy open on Sundays, too?” I cut her another bite.