Burns So Bad (Smoke Jumpers) by Anne Marsh Read Free Book Online

handful
    of regulars propped up the bar. She caught Mimi’s eye and waved as Rio steered
    her toward the door. Don’t need a ride she mouthed and Mimi shot her a thumbs up.
    It was just a ride, but she
    appreciated the vote of confidence.
    Rio didn’t say anything else as
    they crunched their way across the parking lot gravel. The night air cleared
    her head some, although she still was better off riding shotgun. Rio’s truck
    was a big black sleek beast—parked next to hers. She hesitated, but she’d
    come back for the vehicle tomorrow.
    Rio reached around her, popping open
    the passenger side door. The heavy weight of his hand burned into the small of
    her back as she grabbed the roll bar and swung up. He was probably afraid she’d
    fall on her ass in the parking lot. She considered the possibility and decided
    it was still on the table.
    Damn tequila.
    Rio’s truck was a mid-range with
    plenty of power. The tow rig said he meant business, but all the stuff in the back
    was neatly organized in milk crates. That he’d labeled, for crying out loud.
    She didn’t know anyone even made label makers anymore. That kind of
    organization effort was superhuman. She tried not to stare while she buckled up
    and got comfortable. Moments later, he dropped into the driver’s seat and
    started the engine. While she pretended he was the Strong taxi service, he
    drove them out of the parking lot and down Strong’s one main street, headed for
    the base camp where the jump team had a row of summer cabins. Since she didn’t
    need to provide directions, she had plenty of quiet time to stare at him.
    His hands on the wheel, big and
    sure, effortlessly guided the truck down the road and over the occasional rut.
    He drove well, like he did everything. Which got her to thinking about what
    else he might do well.
    And that was trouble she didn’t
    need to borrow.
    As soon as they reached the cabins,
    she opened the door and jumped down before Rio could come around and get the
    door for her. She could feel him looking at her, but this wasn’t a date and she
    didn’t wait for a guy to lend her a hand when she had two perfectly good ones
    of her own.
    There was probably a bad sexual pun
    in there, she thought muzzily as she fished in her purse for her key. Maybe she
    should borrow Rio’s label maker, because the bag needed a CDC intervention and
    her key was definitely not surfing the top layer of crap.
    He plucked the bag from her hands
    and, wouldn’t you know it, found her key immediately. At least she wouldn’t be
    sleeping on the porch.
    “Home sweet home,” she said. “You
    didn’t even make me walk.”
    He grinned and bumped her shoulder
    with his, subtly steering her towards the porch of her cabin. She hadn’t
    bothered turning the light on before she’d left, so the front was pitch black.
    “I can be a gentleman.”
    “So I’ve heard.” Sometimes. The
    whispers promised Rio was a wild man in bed.The stories he told around the campfires
    were nothing compared to the rumors. He was big. He was bad. He was a damned
    Donovan, with the sensual creativity and drive to match. He also liked being in
    charge, if what she’d heard was true. Very, very much in charge.
    Gia didn’t give up control.
    But Rio tempted her.
    He fell into step beside her, heat
    radiating from him. Yep. Definite temptation.
    “You shouldn’t listen to gossip,
    Jackson.”
    He’d called her Gia earlier. Now she was clearly back in
    the partner bucket.
    “But it’s really good gossip,” she
    pointed out and clomped up the stairs. When she jabbed at the lock with her
    key, she missed. Definitely too much tequila.
    “Let me.” His hand closed around
    hers and took the key away.
    That sounded perfect. There were
    all sorts of things she was ready to
    let him do.
    “Okay.” She leaned in toward him.
    The key snicked in the lock and he
    opened the door with a flick of his wrist. “Gia? You might prefer sleeping
    inside.” A grin tugged the