Wildfire by Lynn James Read Free Book Online Page A

back to her truck when his voice stopped her. “Hey, Cap?”
    “Yeah?”
    “Be careful up there.”
    She gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I will. You do the same.”
    She slowly drove back up to the cabin. She would need to check the fuel level in the generator and restock her supply of wood. The food that Donovan had given her would last her for quite awhile. She glanced at what he had brought and smiled. Along with the canned goods, he had made sure to bring plenty of meat. The box included the customary ground beef and deli-sliced lunchmeat, but also included two choice New York Strip steaks and a few pork chops. She was particularly surprised to find that he had even remembered to include applesauce, which she loved to eat with her pork chops. She wasn’t much of a breakfast person, although she loved her morning coffee and he often preached to her about the importance of eating breakfast. She wasn’t terribly surprised to find that he had made a point of adding turkey sausage, eggs, instant oatmeal and bagels to her order of coffee. Real subtle , Donovan. He had even added fresh fruits and vegetables. Leave it to Donovan; she would certainly be eating well! Too bad her meals would be unaccompanied.... Oh, hell, she was thinking about Devon again.
    She stopped the truck and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She couldn’t remember ever being attracted to Grace or any other woman, the way she was attracted to Devon. Her hands shook slightly as she held the steering wheel. Even now her body warmed as she thought about Devon. Her body’s response frightened her.
    She allowed herself a smile, though, as she thought about Devon’s parting words. Devon had known that she was there the whole time and hadn’t let on. She had been stunned by the flirtatious smile that Devon had thrown over her shoulder. Damn, that woman has a wicked sense of humor, but I still have to apologize for the Peeping Tom act I pulled .

    She reached Devon’s camp early the next morning. Everything was quiet and she wasn’t sure if Devon had left already or if she was still asleep. She was flustered by the situation, wanting to apologize and leave as quickly as possible. She was humiliated enough as it was, she didn’t want to have to seek out the other woman in order to accomplish her mission. She couldn’t just stand here and imagine Devon asleep on the other side of the tent wall, hair mussed, face relaxed.
    She had decided the only thing she could do was leave, but had gone only a few feet when she spied Devon kneeling on a large rock just up the river. She couldn’t quite make out what the woman was doing, but it certainly looked as though Devon was about to go headfirst into the water. Elaine didn’t think as she instinctively ran toward her.
    Devon was reaching for her clipboard as Elaine clamped down on her leg. She swiveled her body around and nearly shouted, “What in the hell are you doing?”
    Elaine shook her head. Great, now the woman probably thought that not only was she a peeping pervert, but that she was inclined to accost women as well! She quickly released her leg. “You looked like you were about to fall in.”
    “I’m perfectly fine, thank you very much!”
    Devon’s angry frown suddenly changed into wide-eyed panic. She wobbled, flailed for Elaine, clipboard clattering down between the rocks.
    Elaine grabbed her leg and again shifted her weight back to stop Devon’s forward descent.
    “Twist around here and give me your hand.”
    Devon did as she was told. Her shirt had slipped up and a fair amount of her stomach was exposed.
    Elaine had a flash of her in the pool and damn near dropped her.
    Devon looked alarmed again. “Are you sure we aren’t both going to go tumbling in?”
    “Do you doubt me?”
    Devon looked back at the water and then back at Elaine, who was now kneeling between Devon’s legs. Her disorientation faded into a teasing smile. “Seems like I’m in no position to doubt