Flame (Firefighters of Montana Book 5) by Victoria Purman Read Free Book Online Page B

were gathered. There was something about the smokejumpers. There was an expression in their eyes that hinted they had seen things, had experienced dangers no one else could imagine. It gave them all a softness under the hard edges, even though they might not have wanted anyone to know. Every time those men and women climbed up into a plane to fight a forest fire, there was the chance they wouldn’t come back. That had to change a person. Not to mention their partners, who waited, keeping hearth and home together while their loved ones were away. Cady shivered at the thought of what they must go through.
    After the ceremony, a group of people drove from the station to The Drop Zone to share food and company. All Cady’s donated cakes, as well as food prepared by the bar’s staff, were lined up on the long wooden bar. As soon as Cady had walked in, Hugh Ferguson had motioned her over.
    “Nice work on the food, Cady.” He pulled her in for a huge hug.
    She went willingly into the big man’s arms. Hugh was like a father figure to the smokejumpers and ever since she’d returned to Glacier Creek and had been supplying her trail bars to the crew, he’d treated her as part of the firefighting family. She didn’t deserve that but, given she had no family left, she took it with warm gratitude.
    “Really, Hugh. It was nothing. It’s the least I can do. We’re all so grateful for what they do.”
    He let go and held her at arm’s length. There was a twinkle in his wrinkled eyes. “You must have been slaving over a hot oven for weeks.”
    “Oh, it was nothing.” She smiled. “Did you see the red velvet cupcakes? I know they’re your favorite.”
    He laughed. “Damn right they are. I’d better go grab one before they all disappear.”
    There was already a crowd gathered around the food and she could hear groans of delight. That was what made her truly happy. The way food could comfort, could help heal, could gather people together in this way. She saw it in Cady’s Cakes everyday—for happy occasions, for breakups, for sadness, and for joy. Life’s rich pageant was always better with cake.
    “Nice spread.” She stilled at the words. She’d heard his voice in her dreams every night for the past week. A tingling sensation buzzed up her spine and clenched her throat. Dex was next to her, his eyes fixed on the feasting crowd.
    “Hello, Dex.” She managed to say and then turned to him.
    Which was when one of her dreams came back to her in vivid high-definition. Dex had been in it. Naked. Well, not naked at first. Shirtless, standing in the doorway to her bedroom, eyeing her up and down like she was smeared head to toe in chocolate frosting, and then he strode to her, pushed her back down on her bed, and…
    Oh, God, the man looked almost as good in the flesh as he had in her dream. No jeans and T-shirt today, he was dressed in a navy suit, narrowly cut, which emphasised his wide shoulders and his slim hips. A white shirt set off his deep tan and his tie, a deep purple, drew her attention to his chest. He had meant the suit to be a reflection of his respect for Russ Edwards, and it was all that and so much more. It turned him from rugged smokejumper into international spy. Cady suppressed the urge to reach her fingers around his silk tie and frisk him for weapons.
    Dex looked at her with a serious expression, his blue eyes hooded, taking in her outfit. She’d worn one of her special occasion outfits—a green wraparound dress, which smoothed over her curves and swayed when she walked. She’d chosen a delicate silver necklace and matching earrings and a pair of heels, a big concession for someone who lived in chef clogs.
    He cocked his head towards the food. “It’s good, what you’ve done.”
    A compliment from Dex McCoy? Well, well. “It’s my way of saying thanks. To the smokejumpers, I mean.”
    “Your trail bars are a big hit.”
    Cady smiled. She hoped Dex wasn’t moonlighting as a food reviewer. All