Saved By The Firefighter. Rachel Brimble
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Название: Saved By The Firefighter
Автор: Rachel Brimble
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
isbn: 9781474064248
isbn:
“I don’t know if she’ll be there or not.” He stepped toward her and then stopped as though he changed his mind. He shoved his hand into his dark hair and held it there. “Doesn’t the fact that you two aren’t talking show you something is seriously wrong? You need people around you who care. Work doesn’t do what a hug can.”
She frowned. “A hug? You think a hug is all it will take to get rid of this pain?”
“No, but it will go a damn sight further than making another bundle of money will. Just take a break.”
Izzy glared. She’d made more money in the last few weeks than she ever thought possible. Her phone was ringing nonstop with assignments. It seemed the photography world, and collectors, relished pictures leaning more toward the dark than the dazzling. It was true the money had done nothing to alleviate her grief, but the work provided her with something to stop her thinking about her dead brother.
He cleared his throat. “You need something to take your mind off Robbie.”
She blinked. “I have that.”
“Let me guess...work.”
Asshole.
Their gazes locked until Izzy weakened under the weight of his glare. She spun away from him and headed to her desk. “Fine. I’ll come to the party.” She met his relieved gaze and ignored the way her heart lifted to see that her agreement had banished his rare and unwelcome anger. “I’ll go to the beach and I’ll eat, drink and be merry if you think that will fix this, but believe me, nothing will scratch the surface of what I’m feeling. Nothing. You’ve got what you come here for, so just go.”
He strolled toward her and came around the desk, standing so close she was forced to tip her head back to meet his eyes. Her heart picked up speed as she resisted the urge to inhale the musky, male scent of him. “What?”
He leaned down and brushed his lips over her cheek. “I’ll see you later.”
Her body paralyzed, yet her heart beat out of control as he turned and walked toward the door.
Only when the studio door swung shut behind him did Izzy drop into her chair and finally cry. She wanted to hit him. Hurt him. Inflict some of her physical pain onto Trent’s wide incapable shoulders and see what the hell he would do about it.
Tears rolled down her cheeks like water releasing from a dam, yet all she could think of was how it would feel to have Trent hold her. Now. At this moment when the pain came and hurt so damn much.
TRENT TIPPED HIS beer bottle to his lips and icy-cold lager slipped down his parched throat. Dance music thumped from the speakers and a hundred or so semiclad people yelled, screamed and danced on the sand. What had he been thinking asking Izzy here? This was the very last place she should be. Why hadn’t he insisted on cooking for her at his place? A glass of wine, some of that classical music she liked...
“You’re an idiot,” he murmured. “A class-A idiot.”
“I couldn’t agree more, but since I’m here, you can start by getting the first of many glasses of wine I intend to have tonight.”
Relief swept through him and Trent smiled. Izzy. She came. He slowly turned and the smart comeback he had in mind froze on his tongue. Holy crap. She’d twisted her long blond hair to the side in some sort of fancy plait, the tip brushing her right breast. Her eyelids softly shimmered, the lashes thick and dark, making her blue eyes bigger than ever.
Trent blinked. “You look...you look...”
“Underweight according to Kate. I know.” She lifted her shoulders. “Losing a brother can do that to a girl. How about that wine?”
He swallowed against the dryness in his throat and he was relieved when he opened his mouth and words actually emerged. “I admit, I’d be more than happy to see some more meat on your bones, but I was actually going to say you look amazing.”
Their gazes locked for a second before she looked to the beach behind him. “Thanks.”
He took her hand and pride washed through him when she didn’t pull away as he’d expected. “Let’s get you that drink.”
People stared as they passed on their way to the makeshift bar and Trent stiffened his shoulders. As much as he’d loved living in Templeton Cove these past four years, there were still times when a guy couldn’t be blamed for wanting the anonymity of a city.
He tightened his grip on Izzy’s hand. When her fingers clenched his in response, it was all too clear she felt the heat of the town’s curiosity too. He stopped. “Do you want to get out of here?”
Her eyes darkened with determination. “And why would I want to do that?”
“Come on, Iz. You know why. If I had known people were going to—”
“Stare? Pity me? Then that’s too bad, because I’ve thought of little else since you stormed into my studio and gave me no choice but to come tonight.” She eased her hand from his and lifted it in a nonchalant wave. “Well, I did as the big alpha male commanded and I’m here. I want to dance and get drunk. Now, you either stay and look after me, or I’ll find someone else equally as capable.”
She brushed past him and he stepped back, his gaze falling to her perfect ass in a short black skirt. Hope rose inside him and he smiled. Whether Izzy realized it or not, she was already showing signs of her old self. Long may it continue. He was more than happy to deal with whatever she had in mind to throw at him—he was strong enough, liked her enough to take her punches. He was a patient man and would wait for her to come to the conclusion that they were great together, just as he’d thought she had done three months before.
He sidled up to her at the bar, where the barman filled a large glass with white wine. The guy’s gaze slid back and forth between the V of Izzy’s shirt and the glass he filled. Trent cleared his throat. “And a bottle of beer when you’re ready, my friend.”
The barman lifted his gaze. “Be right with you.”
Trent narrowed his eyes as the guy moved to the fridges behind him.
“What’s your problem, Firefighter Trent?” Izzy laughed. “You think he’s edging in on your territory or something?”
Rare heat hit Trent’s face. Worse, it matched the heat of the protectiveness roaring behind his rib cage. “’Course not, but you being hit on wasn’t part of the deal tonight.”
“Part of the deal?” Izzy grinned and sipped her wine. “The deal tonight will be whatever I choose it to be.”
He tossed a glare at the barman. “Is that so?”
Her fingers touched his chin, turning his face to hers. The spot where her fingers lingered simmered with a frisson of electricity. He met her gaze and fought the urge to kiss her. “What?”
“Once you have your drink, we’re going to dance.”
Trent СКАЧАТЬ