Page 134 of Hearts Storm

The table lets out a collective groan.

All eyes swing toward me. I glance down at my cards, then up at Logan.

Jeez. His face might as well be carved from stone.

Yup, he’s definitely trying to psych me out.

“Call,” I say, tossing in my chips, keeping my voice even as I bare my teeth.

“Better get your stretching in, boys,” Brex tuts as he leans back in his chair. “Cuz I have a feeling you guys are going to be riding a pole.”

Another chorus of grumbles erupts.

“Dick,” Kurtis mutters, shaking his head with a grin. “My wife is gonna kill me.”

“You can bring her too,” I tease.

“No fucking way I’m gonna let my wife see me like that.”

Brex shoots me a wink before settling back to watch the show as the rest of the table goes silent in anticipation.

Logan’s grin comes slowly, and I swear I can feel the heat it’s giving off from my nipples all the way to the tips of my toes.

Faking a bored sigh, I say, “Show your cards, Captain.”

His left eye twitches. And there it is. That’s when I freaking know. I’ve won.

Logan lays his cards down, fanning them out. A pair of kings, a seven, a three, and a deuce. Not going to cut it.

“Suck it,” I announce, spreading my cards with dramatic flair.

The room erupts into chaos when everyone sees my royal flush.

“No fucking way!” Dave slams his palm on the table, causing the pile of chips to jump.

Taylor’s mouth hangs open. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“My wife is going to murder me,” Kurtis says, shaking his head with a reluctant grin.

All I get from Alan is: “Damn, that was hot.”

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles up from my chest as I wrap my arms around the mountain of chips. “Better start practicing your spins, boys.”

“You cheated.” Logan huffs, crossing his sexy arms over his even sexier chest.

“The fuck you say!” I protest, stacking up my winnings into neat little piles.

Brex chuckles, flashing a shit-eating grin. “You’re going to look so pretty riding that pole, Lo.”

fifty-nine

The alarm blares, cutting off whatever comeback Logan was about to fire at Brex. Overhead lights flash red, and everyone at the table scrambles as we all jump to our feet and rush down the stairs to the engine bay as a dispatch operator’s voice echoes through multiple walkies.

“Station Eleven, be advised: Wildfire on Mount Cascade. Coordinates: 44.3 North, 121.5 West. Fire is approximately four hundred acres and growing. Wind direction is south by southwest at fifteen miles per hour. Structures threatened in the Cascade Pines subdivision. Evacuations in progress. Station twelve, fourteen, and the Forest Service hotshots are also responding.”

“Let’s go chase a fire, boys!” Kurtis barks, already grabbing his gear. “Engines One and Three rolling out in five.”

Logan locks eyes with me from across the room as he shrugs on his gear, and my stomach flips, warmth spreading through my veins as the adrenaline kicks in.