Playing with Fire by Amy Knupp Read Free Book Online Page A

neighbors. That’s all.”
    “Don’t be naive.”
    She shook her head as if he was out of his mind, and hurried to the cash register. Maybe he was out of his mind. That they were firefighters was about the only thing keeping him from asking them to leave. Most firefighters were honorable guys, but still, he knew plenty who enjoyed reaping the benefits of the firefighter image. They went through women faster than most people went through potato chips. Macey wasn’t like that, had never been the type to date casually. Come to think of it, he hadn’t ever been aware of her dating at all. She hadn’t had any long-term relationships that he remembered. All the more reason the guy at the bar needed to leave her alone, honorable or not.
    The two stayed until closing. When Derek and Macey walked out and he locked up, they were sitting at one of the outdoor tables.
    “Aren’t you guys out past your bedtime?” she asked, smiling.
    “We’re waiting for you,” Evan said. “Thought we’d walk you home. Keep you safe.”
    Derek didn’t need to look at him—he could hear the guy’s grin.
    “I’ll walk you home,” he told Macey.
    “I’ll be fine,” she replied. “You live the other way.”
    “I want to. I owe you from the other night.”
    “You don’t owe me anything…but suit yourself.”
    Damn straight he would.
    He double-checked all the shutters and shoved the keys into the deep pocket of his cargo shorts. He and Macey joined the other two. She started toward the sand.
    “We could take the street, you know,” Derek said. “It’s a shorter route.”
    “But it has no view.” Macey sounded energetic, as if she hadn’t been working for the past fourteen hours. “How can you live on an island and not want to take in the beach every chance you have?”
    He knew his answer—that he barely noticed the beach—wasn’t what she wanted to hear, so he just followed her and the others down the stairs.

    D EREK WAS ACTING SO strangely tonight. Macey knew he was concerned that she shouldn’t trust Evan and Clay, but she was a good judge of character. They were reliable. Safe. They wouldn’t hurt her. Evan was a flirt, yes, but that’s just how he was. Clay was more straightforward. Both were friendly, and she liked listening to their banter.
    She supposed she should be glad Derek took notice of anything, even if his opinion of her neighbors was off base. His interest tonight was much better than his ongoing apathy and weariness. She also couldn’t deny the thrill she still got from his protectiveness, even though it was only meant in friendship.
    “So how long you going to do the bar thing?” Evan asked Derek as they walked along the sand in a widespread row.
    “As long as I need to,” he said. “My uncle signed it over to me, but he’s there every day checking up on things.”
    “Are you done with firefighting for good?” Clay asked.
    Derek didn’t answer right away. “Done with it for now. I needed the break.”
    Both Clay and Evan nodded as if they understood, and Macey wondered if they’d ever suffered a tragedy anything like Derek had. What were the chances of trying to fight the fire that killed your girlfriend? She knew firefighters saw too much loss, more catastrophes than any person should have to witness, and she couldn’t imagine what it took to handle that. She certainly didn’t have it in her. Their job made living in an underdeveloped country seem like child’s play.
    “Well, if you ever change your mind, give us a call, man,” Evan said.
    “I’ll keep that in mind. I’ve got my hands full trying to keep Gus happy for now.”
    “I know a little bit about trying to keep the family happy. They can be pains.” Evan’s affection for his family came through despite the complaint, though.
    “Families are right up there alongside women for being pains,” Clay said. “No offense, Macey.”
    “What do you know about women?” Evan asked. “You haven’t been on a date in