Playing with Fire (5 page)

Her breath hitched, snapping her to attention. She sincerely hoped he hadn’t heard that.

She sucked in oxygen until her lungs were full, and let it out slowly, quietly.

“Tell me about the fire,” she said softly.

Just like that, he tensed. She could see and feel the change even though he was facedown. She figured she’d just screwed up a good half hour of work. But she refused to take back the question. “Dare?”

It took an eternity for him to say anything. “Not going there.”

“Why?”

Okay, not the brightest question, but that’s what popped out. Anything to get him to say more. She hated this helpless feeling, her inability to do him any good.

He rolled to his side and started to get up, sending her to the floor. “It’s time for me to go.”

“Derek, wait. I’m sorry.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “No more questions. Just let me finish your massage. I’ll see if I can undo the damage I just caused.”

He studied her unhappily.

“Or are you afraid you’ll end up admitting how good it feels?” The corners of her lips betrayed a half smile.

Her challenge had the desired effect. After he narrowed his eyes, he lay down on his stomach again.

“How ’bout those Astros?”

Derek gave what could almost be considered a chuckle. “Smart girl.”

“That’s the nicest thing you’ve said to me since I’ve been here.” She tried to make her tone light. “So what’s up with Gus? What’s his story?”

“He’s my dad’s brother. He and another guy opened The Shell Shack fifteen years ago.”

“What happened to the other guy?”

“He followed a woman to the West Coast. Handed his half over.”

“And now the whole thing’s yours.”

She went to work on his upper arms, not allowing herself to consider how hard they were, how sculpted.

“God, that feels good.”

She smiled to herself in victory. It was all she could do not to say she’d told him so.

After several minutes of silence, Derek said, “When I came here, I agreed to help Gus.”

“Help him?”

“He had to close the bar down when he moved into assisted living. It was killing him to watch it sit there and rot.”

“So you agreed to reopen it.”

“I shouldn’t have. It’ll be worse for Gus when I run it into the damn ground.”

She stopped massaging. “You’re not going to run it into the ground.”

Derek rolled over and sat up. He reached for his shirt and put it back on. She actually saw him shutter his expression. “I need to get home, let you sleep.”

It was after three and she couldn’t hold back a yawn as she stood. “
You
need to get some sleep, now that your muscles are untied.”

He stood up in turn and nodded. “I owe you one, Mace.”

“Maybe I’ll hold you to that.”

As she saw him out, she did her best to fight off the images of the ways he could make it up to her. What a lousy friend she was if she couldn’t keep her mind off her own pointless desires long enough to just be there for him. She’d have to do a lot better at keeping her thoughts under control than she’d done tonight.

She had two hours before work, so here she was, standing in front of the mirror on the back of her bedroom door, trying to get up the nerve to walk out to the apartment complex’s pool in her new swimsuit. It was a steal—$15.99 at one of the stores screaming out to tourists with five-dollar T-shirts advertised in the windows.

She didn’t normally do bikinis. In fact, she’d started with one-piece suits in the store, but a very persuasive, good-looking male employee had acted as if she was about to commit a major sin. He’d steered her to the two-pieces. A bright orange-and-yellow suit with gold metallic designs on it had caught her eye, and since it was five bucks cheaper than the one-piece suits, she’d somehow been suckered in.

And now here she stood. Unused to having so much skin showing. The sales guy had said it was a modest suit, but he wasn’t the one who had to wear it.

Shaking her head, she tied her new beach towel around her waist and went to the door. On her way out, she picked up a can of pop, her new novel and a bottle of SPF 50 sunscreen. Red wasn’t her best color.

The second she stepped outside, she knew. The two men dripping testosterone in the deep end of the pool were the firefighters she’d been hoping to meet. Turned out the property-management woman had understated the situation. These guys weren’t “hunky.” That was like saying today’s 102° temperature was “warmish.”

There were a handful of other people enjoying the pool and deck, but it’d be impossible to miss the two firemen even if there’d been a huge crowd. Both had classic all-American good looks—they could almost be brothers with their short dark hair, suntanned faces and legions of muscles—and that was just what she could discern above the water’s surface. Vibrant energy seemed to surround them.

Macey had to will herself to turn her attention away. She scouted the deck for an available lounge chair, spotting one to the left, at the far end of the pool. As she walked toward it, she could feel their eyes on her. She reminded herself the guy at the store had sworn the bikini looked “delicious” on her and that she was tired of being the plain girl, but she tingled with self-consciousness.

Keeping her eyes forward, which took some effort, she sat sideways on the lounger and unloaded her things, stalling, trying to summon her courage. Approaching guys like them wasn’t her usual MO but it’d be worth it to know someone in the local fire department. Such a hardship, she thought to herself, and stifled a grin.

By the time she stood, their attention was elsewhere and they’d moved to the shallow end, which gave Macey the opportunity to inconspicuously sit on the near side of the pool and dangle her feet in the water.

Suddenly the guys were both speeding toward her end in what appeared to be an all-out freestyle race. They touched the wall, one on each side of her.

“I won,” the one on her right said as he surfaced noisily.

“About time. I was starting to feel sorry for you.” The man on her left lifted himself effortlessly out of the pool and sat a couple of feet away from Macey. “Hello.”

“Hi,” she said, deciding he was the type who likely got any girl he wanted. Besides the extreme self-confidence that spilled over into cockiness, and the already noted biceps, he had startlingly blue eyes and a smile full of confidence-inspiring charm.

“He didn’t beat me by more than an inch, did he?” he asked.

“Evan, let her be. I’m sure she has better things to do than massage your bruised elephant-size ego.” The guy on her right remained in the water. His hair was a few shades darker, almost black, and he had dreamy chocolate eyes and a square chin. His manner was plenty tinged with testosterone, but she determined instantly that he was more laid-back than his friend.

“Evan Drake,” the one sitting next to her said, holding out a wet hand. “That’s Clay Marlow. You must be the new neighbor.”

She shook his hand. “I’m Macey. Which apartment is yours?”

“Opposite end of the second floor from you.”

“How’d you know which one’s mine?”

“He has a built-in single-woman radar,” Clay said. “You’ll have to forgive him for being so obvious.”

“I just pay attention,” Evan said. The smile he gave her was openly flirtatious but it didn’t have the desired effect on Macey. Her type, if she had one, leaned toward more down-to-earth. His forwardness scared her off. She assumed, whether rightly or wrongly, he was only interested in one thing, and that wasn’t Macey’s scene at all.

“Are you new to the island?” Evan asked.

“Just visiting, actually. For a few weeks. What about you two?”

“Permanent residents.”

“Beach bums?” she asked, smiling, knowing full well they weren’t.

“We work for the fire department.”

Just the opening she was looking for.

“A good friend of mine was a firefighter in Dallas. Now he runs a bar here.”

“Dallas, huh? Cool. Does he want to get back into it?”

“Maybe someday. He’s pretty busy right now. Is the station nearby?” She’d heard sirens a couple of times during the night, but hadn’t been able to tell where they’d originated.

Evan nodded. “On the beach about half a mile south.” He pointed in that direction. “We like this place because it’s close and cheap.”

“And furnished, too,” Macey said. “Plus the minuscule view of the ocean.”

“Our view is the pool, which seems to suit his purposes,” Clay said, gesturing toward Evan.

“You make it sound like keeping track of the local females is a sin,” Evan complained.

“More like an art, in your case.”

“Just a pastime.”

“Everyone needs a hobby,” Macey said, surprised to find she was enjoying herself with these two.

“What’s yours?” Evan asked, and she found herself momentarily stumped.

“Good question. I need to find one. I’ve been in Thai land for two years and didn’t have the opportunity for hobbies.”

“Thailand?” Evan asked.

Macey nodded. “Peace Corps.”

“Whoa. Never would’ve guessed,” he said. Macey tried not to take the comment personally. She couldn’t help it, though. She looked plain and boring and not at all like the type who would take off on an adventure on the other side of the world.

“What are you doing on such a long vacation?” Clay asked as he treaded water several feet in front of her and Evan.

“Recuperating from the Peace Corps and starting a nonprofit organization.”

“Is that all?” Evan asked with a sexy grin that would win over ninety percent of the female population in a nanosecond.

Macey realized suddenly that she had no idea how long she’d been talking. She hopped up and walked over to her belongings and checked the time. “Actually, no. I’m also helping my friend out at his bar. The Shell Shack. I need to go shower if I’m going to be on time.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Macey,” Evan said, standing.

Clay nodded politely, and she waved as she hurried from the pool deck to her apartment. Part one of her mission accomplished: she had some friends in the local fire department. That, undoubtedly, was the easy part.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said, barely looking at him as she grabbed a cup and filled it with orange soda.

“You’re two minutes early.”

“That’s late.”

Derek shook his head and proceeded to take an order from the couple who’d just come in.

The next hour and a half sped by. The three of them—Macey, he and Andie, in back—were developing a good rhythm, although Macey still had to ask what went into a drink every few minutes. He knew she’d learn. Macey was smart and caught on fast. His hesitation in hiring her had nothing to do with her competence. When they’d been in high school waiting tables at Grace’s, he’d always looked forward to sharing shifts with her because she pulled her weight without fail.

The lunch rush eventually died down to a steady flow. Macey joined him at the back work area as he mixed a vodka sour.

“There’s a guy I want to interview for a position waiting for me outside. I’m going to see how far I can get before you’re buried again.”

“Someone to hire?” he asked, looking beyond her, trying to spot the individual.

“Hopefully. The past hour’s been insane.”

Insane, possibly. A way to pass the time without a chance to think about things you didn’t want to think about, definitely.

“Macey’s been here two days and already doing what you couldn’t manage in two months.”

Derek didn’t flinch at the gravelly voice. He grabbed a cup and poured whiskey, then served it to Gus.

“This straight?” the old man asked.

“You know it is. I tried to dilute it once,” he said to Macey. She smiled as she headed out to do the interview.

“You learned your lesson, didn’t you?” Gus said smugly.

“Isn’t there a nurse somewhere who wants to coddle and nurture your obstinate ass?”

“They all do. I needed a break.”

Derek cracked a smile. “Want anything to eat?”

“Some chips is all. Had a steak for lunch.”

“Remind me to move in with you when I get a chance.”

He grabbed a bag of salt-and-vinegar chips—Gus’s favorite—and tossed it on the counter in front of him.

“They wouldn’t take you even if it wasn’t just for old farts.”

“They’d see I have the same last name as you and lock the doors, I reckon.”

“So the amazing Macey is going to save your butt, it appears.” Gus took a good-size swig.

“It appears.” Derek kept his tone bored, unwilling to show his relief.

He’d never had a head for business. Never needed to. In school, he’d studied exercise science and avoided any thing business related. The thought of budgets and suits and ties had always made his eyes glaze over, and when he’d agreed to take the bar from Gus, he hadn’t been in his right mind. Hadn’t thought about much beyond pouring a drink here and there.

Andie came out of the back room, crunching on a tortilla chip.

“You want to go home for a couple hours?” Derek asked.

“Doesn’t matter to me. If you can pay me for working straight through, I’m game.”

“I can pay you. Do you do anything besides work and sleep?”

“You should talk.”

“Do you?”

“Since when are you concerned about what I do when I leave here?” Her tone was light, but he sensed she wasn’t going to answer his question straight. Andie had been tight-lipped when he’d hired her, explaining only that she didn’t stay anywhere for long, but that she’d be a reliable employee while she was here. Maybe not his first choice in people to hire, but back in April, there hadn’t been anyone else falling into his lap, so to speak, and he hadn’t been able to face hunting for employees, regardless of Gus’s nagging.

“Just trying to be friendly,” Derek said.

“I didn’t recognize it. You snarl so much better.”

Gus cackled from his chair, reminding Derek he was there and had pretty good hearing for an old dude.

“I could fire you, you know,” Derek told Andie. “I have another employee now. Maybe even two if Macey works her magic.”

Andie grinned. “Fire away, baby.”

“Nah. No one flips burgers quite like you do.”

“Keeping this one in line will take both you girls,” Gus interjected.

Andie acknowledged Gus’s comment with a nod and returned to the back room just as another group of people stepped up to the counter. She preferred to work behind the scenes whenever there was a choice, though she could serve drinks just fine.

Derek was still taking orders and making drinks when Macey returned a few minutes later. She set some papers in the kitchen, under her purse. Derek watched the guy she’d been talking to walk off, and wondered if he was old enough to work in a bar.

“Well?” Derek said, delivering the last of an order as she came back into the bar area.

“Done deal. Starts tomorrow.”

“Has he hit puberty yet?”

“He’s twenty-three. Needs money.”

“Shouldn’t I have met him before you hired him?”

Macey set her drink under the counter. “Derek. You told me I could hire people. I just hired one.”

He stared at the back of her head as she greeted a guy at the counter and took his order.

Gus tipped his head, drawing Derek over. “I thought you trusted her.”

“I do.” No hesitation on that.

“Then get over it. Go make a drink.”

“I’m over it.”

“I’d take a refill.” Gus pushed his empty cup toward Derek.

“In your dreams.” Derek tossed the cup in the trash.

“How ’bout some nachos?”

“If this place doesn’t make a profit, you’re entirely to blame.”

“I can live with that,” Gus said. “Long as I get my nachos.”

Andie was standing in the doorway to the back room. “Gotcha covered.”

Derek shook his head at her uncharacteristic willingness to please, then turned back to Gus. “What is it with you and women? They act like your groupies.”

“I’m handsome,” Gus said.

Derek choked as he took a drink.

“I smile at ’em. You should smile more. Then they’ll pay attention to you.”

“You assume I want their attention. Things are much easier without it.”

“Maybe. But not nearly as fun,” Gus said.

Damn good thing Derek wasn’t looking for fun.