Page 40 of Phoenix


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“I own a Harley too, but I didn’t think you’d want to arrive to a fancy dinner on the back of a motorcycle.”

“You’re not just a smokejumper, are you?”

“I’m many things, but I love fighting fires.”

“It’s dangerous.”

When he turned his head, I could swear he was undressing me with his eyes. “Anything worth having is worth risking the danger. There’s nothing more exhilarating than facing the beast, flames eager to consume everything in its path. Once you’ve looked something like that in the eyes and beaten it, then you know you can do anything.”

The guttural sound of his voice ignited my pulse and suddenly my mouth was dry. “You’re a danger junkie.”

His deep chuckle returned, the sound reverberating in my ears. “As I said, I’m many things, but it would seem we have something in common.” Then his tone changed. “As far as fires, I do it because I need to stand in front of the beast.”

“Why do you call it a beast?”

Phoenix thought about what I was asking, the lights from outside flashing through the windshield allowing me to see his expression was completely different.

Another wave of tension crackled the air, my mind trying to think of anything to talk about instead of gawking at him. He was infuriatingly handsome, his aftershave tickling all my senses.

“Because it’s living and breathing and if you dare take your eye off it for even a split second, it’ll eat you alive.”

“I don’t understand how you do it, Phoenix. That sounds terrifying.”

“It is.”

He said the two little words as if facing the beast was a penance of some kind. I had no idea what to say to him.

“Where’s the rehearsal?”

Exhaling, I folded my arms, shivering for about a bazillion reasons. “There isn’t one, just the sanctimonious dinner. Protocol, you understand.”

“Then why no rehearsal?”

I was exasperated, with no desire to endure the long evening. “The wedding is being held in the backyard of my parents’ house. My father doesn’t feel it’s warranted.”

“And you and your sister always do what your father says?”

He had me there. “It’s not my wedding and my sister is still living in my father’s house.”

“So you’ll do it your way.”

“Don’t worry. I’m never getting married!” I made the statement with far too much emphasis.

“What a shame.”

“Oh, really? You don’t seem like the marriage type or having kids for that matter.” Why did he suddenly look so uncomfortable with my accusations?

Phoenix shifted in his seat, rubbing his index finger back and forth across his sensuous lips. And I couldn’t stop watching his every action.

Bad girl.

Bad… girl.

“I ain’t into marriage,” he admitted.

Well, at least that was off the table. Whoa. What was I thinking? We were only compatible in bed, nowhere else.

“What do you want me to call you?” I finally asked as I threw Phoenix another quick look.

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