Hot As Blazes. Dani Jace

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      Later in the evening, Sarah squeezed Bobby’s shoulder. “You ready to go home, baby?”

      “He won’t be much longer.” Jo smiled.

      Bobby teetered on his seat, barely able to carry on a conversation with the cop next to him. “I’m fine.”

      She winked at Sarah. “Sure, tiger. Have you heard from Ray tonight, or is he on shift?”

      “What do you care?” He scowled. “You had your chance. He doesn’t need your shit when he’s got a hot ER nurse after him.”

      So much for brotherly love. Her badass surfer side fought an urge to lean across the bar and punch him square in the nose. But he was right and she was woman enough to admit it.

      Sarah grabbed him by the elbow. “Come on, baby. Let’s go home. I’ll fix you something to eat.” She mouthed sorry and dragged him outside.

      The cottage sat eerily silent when Jo arrived home. She bumped around the kitchen a few minutes with Bobby’s words stinging her pride. Minutes later, her feet led her downstairs and onto the beach.

      Usually the surf eased her tension. Not tonight. She plucked her cell from her pocket and checked the time. Two-thirty AM. The call would hit his voicemail. With shaking fingers, she pressed Send.

      “I know it’s late,” she whispered, “but I couldn’t wait till morning. Not after hearing about Stan.” She sounded like a chump now.

      “I was wrong to blame you. You’ve always been there for me.” She should have accepted his offer to come to California when he sensed things were off. She’d played tough and where had it gotten her? “I’m sorry. I’d like to give you a face-to-face apology and breakfast, but if you’re done with a damaged surfer, I understand.

      “Love you, blue eyes.”

      The screen went black and she stood alone in the darkness with whitewater foaming at her feet. A warm breeze stirred giving her hope.

      Chapter 9

      Early the next morning, Jo shot a perfect curl atop a fifteen-footer when a shrill chirp yanked her from her blue heaven dream. “Lo,” she answered and then cleared her throat.

      “Wake up, sleeping beauty.”

      She envisioned Ray’s sexy stare while sinking into her pillow. “Are you still at work?”

      “Just returning to the station after a major call. Found your message on the ride back. Nice. I especially liked the blue eyes bit.”

      His husky voice caressed her in the predawn hour, making her slippery between her thighs. If she could keep him talking, her fingers might afford her some physical relief. “So can I buy you an apology breakfast, or have you got your day planned?”

      “Meet me at Sammies’ at seven-thirty.”

      * * * *

      After the grizzly accident scene, Jo’s message improved Ray’s mood. Did she really believe he’d chuck their friendship because she’d been angry with him? Maybe he expected too much by pretending she was the same Jo who left the Outer Banks as a girl. A lot in her life had changed.

      He almost drove to the house instead of calling, but followed her lead for breakfast.

      Sipping coffee at the counter of Sammies’, he’d lost count of breakfasts he’d eaten with Cappy, Bobby, and Jo at the fisherman’s hangout. The wooden floored, shaker-shingle house held iconic status in Nag Head as did the fish pictures on the walls.

      Jo slid onto the stool next to him and the waitress poured her a cup.

      He offered a half smile as she took a long swill without adding cream or sweetener. “Do you need a pain reliever to go with?”

      “I didn’t drunk call you.” She leaned in and pecked his cheek with a kiss.

      He inhaled her clean scent. It reminded him of the ocean and the sensual kiss they’d shared on July Fourth. So many times, he’d rehearsed her homecoming in his mind. In every scenario, he made love to her the very first night. Here he sat weeks later like a horny teen.

      “I’m sorry, I put everything on you.” Chewing on her bottom lip revealed her concern.

      “I’ve got big shoulders.”

      “That you do.” She appraised his physique. “But it wasn’t fair.”

      “You felt betrayed by the people you trusted most. I knew you’d come around when you were ready.” He brushed his shoulder against her.

      “We even?” Her voice cracked.

      “Hardly, Dahlin’.” He narrowed his gaze and chucked her chin with his knuckle.

      Their food came and he ate while she picked at her eggs. “What’s wrong?”

      “Nothing. How’s work?” She finally glanced at him.

      “Working extra shifts when I can. Summer’s always busy you know. Are you still bartending at Harley’s?” He tried to suppress the irritation in his voice.

      Jo shrugged. “Lifeguard season is nearly over and until I come up with a new career plan, I gotta do something.”

      “They’ve got a lot of turnover at the hospital.” Anything to get her away from Harley.

      “Don’t think I’m cut out to be a nurse.” She wrinkled her nose.

      “No bedside manner?” He raised a brow.

      “Hmmm, I’m sure you know all about nurses’ bedside manners.”

      Ray frown while snapping a piece of bacon between his fingers. “What makes you say that?”

      “I doubt your reputation has changed since high school.”

      “You might be surprised?” He reared back in his seat before glancing about the restaurant. “So tell me.”

      “Fast hands, faster tongue.”

      He nearly choked on breakfast. After swallowing some coffee, he said, “Yikes, you chicks talked like that?”

      Her eyes lit up and a smile followed.

      “You don’t believe everything you hear, do you?” God, he hoped not.

      “Actually, I think the fast hands comment was a misnomer. Remember at the beach the night of the fourth?”

      His face heated at her words.

      “Well, they were slow and very skilled.” She cleared her throat and stared at her plate.

      “Do you have to remind me, now?” He suppressed a groan.

      She skimmed her hand along his thigh and winked.

      “Brat.” СКАЧАТЬ