Burn (L.A. Untamed #2) by Ruth Clampett Read Free Book Online Page B

neck and the whiff of his aftershave have sparked a throb between my legs and I squeeze my knees together tightly. Suddenly I’m feeling extra alive.
    Needless to say, the training session on disabling hybrid cars in an emergency becomes a hopeless cause due to Joe distracting me. It’s all blah, blah, blah . . . propulsion system . . . blah blah blah . . . live ignition recognition.
    Considering how many hybrids we have in L.A. with all these do-gooder ‘anything to help the environment’ folks, I really should learn how to extricate one of these kale munchers out of their toy cars in the case of a pile-up.
    Sorry environment, but give me a beefy pick-up truck any day, so when one of those do-gooders rear-ends me while texting on the 101, it’ll be their car folding up like an accordion while their battery explodes, and I’ll have a few scratches on my bumper.
    I look over at Joe and he’s taking notes and asking pertinent questions. It pisses me off. I’m squirming in my seat imaging sitting on his lap and kissing him, and he hasn’t glanced my way once. I remind myself it’s likely that all I am to him is a piece of land he can park on until he’s ready for greener pastures.
    Yes indeed, I’m a piece of land . . . and a drought parched, barren one at that.
    When I let out a long, sorry sigh, Scott looks over at me and gives me a stern look. I narrow my eyes at him until he turns back around.

    I practice a pretend conversation with Joe in my head a few times so that by the time I follow him into the office, I’m as cool and contained as an unskinned cucumber.
    “What’s up?” I ask, plopping down into the chair facing him.
    “Chief gave me the A-okay,” he says.
    “A-okay for what exactly?” I reply with an arched brow.
    “To park at your place until I can find something else.”
    “And he’s not worried about us being inappropriate?”
    He shrugs. “It never even came up. He must not be worried about it.”
    My eyebrows furrow together. “Should I be offended?”
    “Why would you be?” he asks with a confused expression.
    “That I’m not appealing enough for someone to be inappropriate with?”
    He shakes his head. “You’re over thinking this. Damn it must be exhausting to be you.”
    “You have no idea,” I grumble.
    “So you’re still okay with this?”
    I nod. “Sure.”
    He lets out a deep breath. “Good. We’re both off tomorrow, can I land my rig late morning?”
    Land my rig?
    It takes everything I have to keep my voice light. “Sure thing. I’ll be around if you need anything.”
    “Thanks.” He gives me a big smile like he’s genuinely happy, and I realize it’s the first time in a long time, maybe ever, that I’ve seen him smile like that.
    I did that. I made him smile like the sun had just broken through the clouds, and not to be a softie or anything, but I feel pretty awesome about it.

Chapter 6: The Muffin Lady
    She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say ‘when’. ~ P.G. Wodenhouse
    Late the next morning, I’ve settled back into my home routine after two days at the station. I’m rolling the full trashcans out to the street when Joe and his tiny house come slowly roaring down my street. My heart starts thumping wildly. This is really going to happen. All of a sudden my life feels wild and out of control, and I like it.
    I’ve already opened the wide gate on the right side of the property when he pulls up in his truck with his house, and motorcycle hitched to the back. His tiny house is a grand sight, all wood and rustic looking, and as soon as he notices me I wave widely.
    He rolls down his window.
    “Hey! You ready for me?”
    “Ready as I’ll ever be,” I reply. “I’ve got the gate open. Do you want me to help direct you in?”
    Maneuvering rigs is a particular skill of mine, and it’s frequently put to good use at the station when the guys have to back the truck into the apparatus bay.
    He points at me, and we