Page 35 of Slow Burn

Anna raised her hand. “Sophie and I did. Sloane said he needed to make some friends.”

Sophie put the menu down and stared at Nash. “He’s so sexy. I met him at the school’s curriculum planning session, and I basically drooled when he walked in.”

“Did I mention I have a date tomorrow night?” Nash responded.

Sophie rolled her eyes. “Should I write her a sympathy card?”

Nash only smirked.

Their server interrupted the showdown, and they all ordered breakfast. Once she walked away, Anna picked up the conversation.

“I think George will like Dane.”

“When was the last time you dated?” Nash gave Georgia a curious look. “And please protect my sanity. I’m not asking about sex. I’m talking about dinner or a movie.”

Georgia sipped her coffee. “I went on a date last week.”

Nash’s laugh burst out of him. “That’s right, with Adam.”

“How do you know?” Sophie’s voice sounded like venom was laced in it.

Their food arrived, and Georgia bit into her egg wrap. Once Sophie and Nash got into it, all the fun was over. Georgia was more excited to finish breakfast and go home to read than to listen to her best friend and brother fight.

“Elijah told me.” Nash dropped the bomb, as if it were completely acceptable that the man she craved had told her brother she was out with someone else.

Georgia swallowed her big bite. “Why would he tell you?”

“Because he was giving me shit about not screening your dates before you went on them. That asshole said I needed to step my game up as your big brother.”

“There are lots of things you need to step up on.” Sophie swiped at him.

Anna put her fork down. “But what made him bring up Adam?”

“What she said.” Georgia took another chomp of the wrap while pointing at Anna, loving her detective work.

Nash shrugged. “He was in a shit mood, and after twenty minutes of me nagging him, he mentioned George and her date. Elijah had a point, though, because Adam is the worst.”

“Adam wasn’t awful.” Georgia tried to give the guy a little credit. “He was nice.”

“Nice doesn’t get a second date,” Nash replied with a cocky smile. “Not when all he talks about is high school. Do you know he stopped at the station to see if I wanted to help him plan a reunion? The guy got all pissy with me because I said no. It’s not even like it’s our twentieth anniversary since graduating. It’s only been eighteen years. He about lost his mind and left, saying I had no respect for the good old days.”

Georgia cringed. “Wow, that is bad. On the bright side, my next date with Dane will be a step up.”

“Just don’t let Elijah know,” Nash warned her. “I don’t want to get yelled at for not talking to the guy before you do.”

Georgia and her girlfriends laughed because that was exactly what she wanted to happen.

Operation: Break Elijah was coming along just fine.

SLOANE WILLIAMS WAS one of the best paramedics Elijah had ever worked with. She was quick on her feet, able to solve complex issues, and never let her emotions show. They’ve worked together for five years, and not once has she lost control or behaved over the top.

Today, though, it was like she drank five gallons of coffee. She was all over the place.

“If you pace again, I’m going to have you wash the trucks,” Elijah cautioned her as she walked by his office for the hundredth time.

Sloane nodded, hesitating by his door.

That was when he caught it. Sloane wasn’t the cheerleader, smiley type, but she also wasn’t the type to sulk. However, that was exactly what she was doing.