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

ages.”
    “I grew up with a houseful of sisters.”
    “You should ask the Harley girl out,” Evan said.
    “Not interested. I need a Harley girl like I need another sister.”
    “You sure checked her out a lot for not being interested.”
    “Here we are.” Macey broke in as they crossed the street to their building. “Home sweet home…away from home. Anyone need a drink or a Ding Dong?”
    “Ding Dongs? That’s my cue to call it a night,” Clay said. “Nice to meet you, Derek.”
    “I never mix beer and Ding Dongs myself,” Evan added.
    Macey laughed and waved as they headed to their apartment. “So?” she asked Derek, trying hard not to care if he said no.
    “I’ll take you up on the drink. You can keep the junk food.”
    “Like your meals at the bar are so much healthier. When’s the last time you had a home-cooked meal?”
    “Couldn’t even tell you,” he said in a disinterested tone.
    “I’m no gourmet, but maybe one night I’ll cook and force it down your throat.”
    “Promises, promises.”
    “The challenge would be prying you from your hidey-hole at the bar.”
    “It’s not my hidey-hole. It’s my job.”
    Restraining herself from arguing, she unlocked the door and he followed her inside.
    “You really didn’t have to do the manly man thing, walking me home.”
    “Wanted to.”
    “Why didn’t you tell them why you’re taking a break?” she asked as she went to the kitchen and got him a glass of ice water, since she still didn’t have anything else. She helped herself to her chocolate fix and carried the glass to the living room.
    “Why would I?”
    She ripped the plastic off the Ding Dong and shrugged. “Because they can relate? Because they would understand?”
    He set the glass aside, untouched, and paced away from her. On the other side of the small room, he faced the wall, rubbed his temples. “It’s hard as hell to admit out loud that I’m not up to the task of saving people, Mace. But I’m not. So damn…not.”
    Macey had to fight the urge to go to him, to touch him. His posture told her to stay away, and she knew him well enough to recognize how hard it had been for him to say that.
    “Have you ever thought that maybe it would be good to force yourself to go back to it? Maybe the extreme focus firefighting demands would help you.”
    “I don’t have it in me to focus on anything other than a drink here and a hamburger there. That’d be a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
    She set her chocolate cake down on the end table, unable to stay away from him any longer. When she put her hands on his shoulders, though, he flinched.
    “Don’t.”
    Macey jumped back, startled by his harsh tone, even though she’d known full well he wouldn’t want her to try to comfort him in any way.
    “Please.” He turned, but still didn’t look at her. “I have to go.”
    She closed her eyes and let him walk out of her apartment.
    No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t push the sting of his rejection away. What was she doing here? Why was she fighting this battle when he didn’t want her help, didn’t want her around?
    Maybe they’d both be better off if she just went back to Dallas and got on with her life. This mission of hers seemed more ill-advised and hopeless every day.



CHAPTER SEVEN
    M ACEY’S PITY PARTY was over by the time she popped out of bed at seven the next morning. She had too much to do to feel sorry for herself for long. And when she stepped back from her conversation with Derek the night before, she knew he hadn’t intended to hurt her. It was nothing personal. It was all about him and the grief and sadness that were burying him.
    She threw on some capri sweats and a comfy old tee and drove to the coffee shop she’d spotted several blocks away. Normally she’d walk, just to enjoy the day, but she wanted to get started on work for her nonprofit this morning. She was also tossing around ideas for a business plan for The Shell Shack, even though Derek