Wildfire - Jo-Anne Joseph Page 0,24

and proper. Let’s just say I have my suspicions.”

“You can’t keep that shit from her. Meghan is a loose cannon. She could be dangerous, man.”

“She’s just acting out. She’ll simmer down.”

I wasn’t too sure about that, but I trusted Kyle to handle the situation.

“So, how are things with you and the Nightingale?”

I let out a growl. “I don’t know. She comes to visit, you guys know that, but she’s distant, and I don’t know how to approach this thing. I’m not used to any of it. I’m giving her space. I think that’s what she wants.”

“Aidan, women want a lot of things, but avoiding the elephant in the room ain’t one of them. You guys have some shit to talk about.”

He is right. “I’ll swing by her place tonight, if she isn’t working.”

“Now that, my friend, sounds like a plan.”

“What the hell does she like to eat?”

“Beats me. Trial and error. It’s worked for me.”

10

Ocea

“He’s an asshole. I shouldn’t be losing sleep over him, but I am.”

“That’s ’cause you’re falling for him, hun,” Tamara tells me. We’re relaxing on my couch, halfway through a bottle of wine.

“What he did that night was unacceptable, and he didn’t call me for two weeks. It’s like what happened meant nothing.”

“Babe, you said yourself that he was open that he had commitment issues.”

“That was before he asked for more than just that night.” I gulp down my wine and pour another.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you really like him, and he obviously wants you around. He said he missed you. That counts for something, right?” She shrugs.

“I don’t know anything when it comes to that man. I panicked when I heard he was hurt. I barely slept those two days. And now, I don’t know. I just feel like being around him is just confusing me more than anything. He looks like he wants to kiss me, then he pulls away. He wants to talk, and then he shuts down.”

“He’s giving you whiplash.” She smirks. “But he’s hot as fuck.”

“Trust you to say shit like that. What about you? Things with Josh still tense?”

“He’s an asshole. I’ve come to terms with that. Can we not bring up douchebag tonight? I’d much rather talk about hot firefighters that you and Moira seem to have bagged. Isn’t there one for me?”

I roll my eyes. “Trust me, I have bagged nothing. Bedded yeah, bagged, no way.”

“I’ll settle for anything right about now. My vagina is growing cobwebs.”

That throws us into a fit of laughter. Tamara was there for me when I lost my aunt Sam. I like this, just chilling with her and chatting, complaining about guys. Darren and Kiran are my best friends, but this girl right here is proof that not all women are bitches.

A knock on the door startles us both. She stands. “I’ll get it. Pour me more wine.”

She makes a show of modeling over to the front door, and I giggle.

“Well, hello there,” she purrs, and I know instantly it’s a man. It must be a delivery. I look at the time. It’s dinner time, hardly likely.

I walk over to the door, and I’m taken aback to see Aidan on my doorstep. He looks like sex on two legs with his white button-down shirt rolled up at the sleeves and dark jeans. His hair is freshly washed and hangs over his eyes.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt. I didn’t know you had company.”

“Oh, I was just leaving,” Tam, the traitor announces and disappears inside the house. I stand with my arms across my chest, glaring at him, not saying a word. She returns a few minutes later with her bag and keys.

“You two have fun now.” Kissing my cheek, she brushes past Aidan with a wave.

God, this man smells like heaven. “Can I come in?” His voice is pensive, and I narrow my eyes at him. He’s grown a few days of stubble, which makes him even more of a hazard. My fucking traitorous hormones.

“Sure,” I say, turning and walking inside. The door clicks behind me.

“Wow,” he says. “It’s strange being here.”

I remember he said he lived on this property. My aunt purchased the land and built this house about fifteen years ago.

“Is it anything like your home?”

He smiles in that lost-in-thought kind of way. “Not really, but it’s beautiful.”

“Thanks.” I notice the bags in his hands. The smell is sinfully good.

“Oh, I thought I’d bring us dinner. I wasn’t sure what to get, so I asked Darren for some help.” He smiles