Blaze: A Small Town, Nerdy Girl, Opposites Attract, Protector Romance (Ghost Ops Book 1)

Chapter 31

Chance slunghis duffel bag over his shoulder as he locked the door of Emma’s apartment and dropped the key into Blaze’s hand. Chance moved a little stiffly, but he didn’t complain.

Not that Blaze expected him to.

“This about last night? My injuries?” Chance asked as they walked down the back stairs.

“No.”

His teammate eyed him. “Then why are you so pissed off?”

Blaze ground his teeth together. “It’s my fault. I lost my shit with her earlier.”

Lost his shit and pushed her farther away than ever. He’d told her he liked her but they couldn’t have anything deeper. Even though it’d killed him to do it. Wounded him somewhere deep inside that he hadn’t known existed.

He’d hurt her when he’d said the words. He’d seen it in her face before she’d told him she’d had enough of men and pasted on her fake smile.

“I’m not so sure. She was mad when she did my stitches.”

Blaze shook his head. “Nope, it was all me.”

He’d already explained that Emma had gone down to the office to use the treadmill. He’d also said that Emma wanted her space back. He hadn’t elaborated.

“Damn, dude. What did you say?”

“I told her it was a stupid thing to do and not to do it again.”

It was way more than that, and he knew it. It was everything about last night. Chance’s wound, Blaze’s nightmare. His unwillingness to talk about any of it.

She was mad because she’d shared deeply personal things with him and he wouldn’t do the same.

When he’d wanted to pull her close and hold her tight, he’d pushed her away. When he wanted to sink into her body and not come up for air, he pretended an indifference he didn’t feel.

For the first time in forever, he’d met a woman he liked enough to want to spend time getting to know. And he fucking couldn’t because the mission took precedence.

What he needed was to head over to Huntsville one of these nights, meet a woman in a club, and take her to a hotel so he’d stop thinking about what Emma would look like when he hooked her legs over his shoulders and licked her until she screamed.

Except the thought of going to a hotel with a random stranger didn’t do it for him. Not since he’d met Emma. She was the one he wanted, which meant he was fucked. And not in the way he wanted to be.

“Gonna give the key to Emma,” he said when they hit the bottom floor. “Meet you outside.”

“I’m going over to Kiss My Grits for coffee and a biscuit. Want anything?”

“Yeah. Coffee, three creams, and a sausage biscuit.” He reached into his pocket for money, but Chance shook his head.

“I got this. You go talk to the doc.”

“Thanks, brother.”

Blaze pulled his truck keys from his pocket and tossed them at Chance, who caught them one-handed. It was understood that Blaze was driving this morning since Chance needed to take it easy on the arm.

Chance went outside and Blaze took out his phone and texted Emma. He could have knocked on the door, but her dad might have answered. Or Brenda.

He wanted to see Emma. Needed to see her. He didn’t know what the fuck he’d say, but he was doing it anyway.

Got your key. Standing in the hall outside.

It took a moment before he saw the three dots.

Emma: I’ll be out in a second.

It was more like three minutes, but finally, the door opened and she stood in the entry, dark hair pulled back in her signature ponytail, blue-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, expression mildly annoyed. She wore a white lab coat over a cream V-neck sweater and a pair of black pants tucked into black ankle boots.

Blaze held out the key. “It’s up to you what you choose to do, Emma, but I advise sticking to the plan we had before. Don’t go anywhere alone, and always wait for an escort until Marsh is found.”

She nodded as he dropped the key in her palm. There were two spots of color in her cheeks as she drew her hand back. “I’m not stupid, Blaze. I know Simon is still out there. The only thing that’s changed is I’m going home to my apartment when you go to yours.”

“Call me if you need me for anything.”

“I will.”

He looked past her toward the interior of the medical practice. “Thanks. For last night. Fixing Chance.”

Her jaw tightened. “Of course. I won’t tell my dad, in case you’re wondering. Brenda keeps track of the supplies, but I’ll apologize when she notices and make up an excuse. If it happens again, I won’t cover for you. Just thought you should know.”

“Much appreciated. How’s your arm?”

“Strained, but it’ll get better. No shooting or self-defense classes for a couple of weeks, I think.”

“We’ll start again when you’re better.”

She nodded with her lips pressed tightly together.

There was nothing more he could say, though he wanted to stay until she smiled at him. Which wasn’t happening anytime soon, he guessed.

“See you tonight then.”

“Yep.”

“Can’t leave until you lock the door, Sunshine.”

She frowned as she stepped backward then shut the door harder than was probably necessary. He waited for the twist of the lock, then turned and walked out the door without looking back.

The air was cool and crisp, but the sun shone bright. He took a deep breath and felt like he’d be happy if not for the woman in the building behind him.

If he could wake up in this place and kiss her good morning—kiss all those babies her mother wanted her to have good morning—that would be perfect.

The thought stunned him, made him hesitate.

He’d never wanted kids, not after the way he’d been jerked around from place to place, living in uncertainty. Wondering if he’d have enough to eat, a bed for the night.

But with Emma Sutton?

He shook his head and took the steps down to the parking lot. It was sparse with cars at this time of the morning, but that was because it was early and not everybody was open yet.

The Dawg opened for lunch and stayed open until midnight most nights, aside from Sunday and Monday. They didn’t do breakfast, but Kiss My Grits did.

Chance wasn’t at the truck, so Blaze went over to the cafe where he picked up coffee and breakfast most mornings. Chance had discovered the pleasures of Wendy Cochran’s coffee and breakfast sandwiches while staying next door for a few days. No wonder he’d looked so dejected when Blaze told him he had to clear out.

Blaze went in the back door and halted at the sound of raised voices.

“You’re so wrong, Chance Hughes,” a feminine voice grated. “Ole Miss is not better than Alabama. Eighteen national championships. You have three.”

“Yeah, but Nick Saban retired, darlin’. Y’all are sunk without him. He made the team.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about. And don’t you even breathe Coach’s name in my presence, you hear me?”

“Hotty Toddy, baby.”

“Roll Tide. Now go away and stop bothering me.”

Chance snorted. “Bothering you? I’m just ordering breakfast. You’re the one who walked in here with a chip on your shoulder.”

“Argh! You’re so irritating!”

Blaze strode into the cafe. Chance and Aurora Harper were facing off by the counter. Rory’s hair was pulled back in a glossy ponytail, and she wore workout gear. A gray zip-up sweat jacket that read Roll Tide and had an elephant with a big A on it was paired with black yoga pants and pink tennis shoes. She had lipstick on though, which didn’t say workout.

“Yeah, and you’re annoying,” Chance said. “All I said was nice jacket, and you attacked.”

“It was the way you said it,” Rory grated. “I know sarcasm when I hear it.”

Chance raised both hands. “Babe, I didn’t mean a thing by it. I was serious. Looks good on you.”

Blaze had to admit it did. Rory had a great rack. Not that Blaze cared because he didn’t.

But she filled out the sweatshirt in all the right places. No doubt that’s what Chance had noticed because, who wouldn’t?

“Hey, Rory. Do I need to step between you two or what?” Blaze asked with a grin.

Rory turned flashing eyes on him. They softened as she smiled at him. “Hey, Blaze. Not at all. I would not deign to lay a finger on your slimy friend.”

“Hey,” Chance said. “I am not slimy. I showered and everything. Want to check?”

Blaze groaned. Chance’s mistake was arching his eyebrows and wiggling them up and down at least twice.

“Jerk.”

Rory promptly forgot her vow not to touch him when she hauled off and punched him in the arm.

His bad arm. Chance sucked in a breath as his face paled.

“Jesus,” he hissed as he clasped a hand over his wound.

Rory looked confused. “Are you faking that I hurt you? Because I didn’t hit you hard and you know it.”

“Yeah, I’m faking. Little thing like you?”

Except Chance’s face was still pale, and Blaze knew he was feeling that blow.

“Stop antagonizing her,” Blaze growled. “Chance tangled with some barbed wire out at the range. He’s got stitches in his arm, and you just landed a punch dead center.”

Rory slapped her hands over her mouth. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. Are you okay?”

“Fine,” Chance said between clenched teeth. “Just need a minute.”

“Need to see if it’s bleeding again,” Blaze said. “Maybe we should go see Emma.”

“Just give me a fucking moment and I’ll look.”

“I’m so, so sorry, Chance. I didn’t mean to hurt you.” Rory’s face was pale now, too. “I shouldn’t have hit you. No matter what you said to me, I shouldn’t have let my temper get the best of me.”

“I’m not going to die, Rory. You don’t have to be nice to me.”

“I know that, you idiot. And I’m not being nice. I’m apologizing for crossing a line, which is something you wouldn’t know how to do if the line bit you on the ass.”

Blaze took out his phone and dialed Emma as he stepped away from Chance and Rory. He was reasonably sure they wouldn’t come to blows now that Rory knew Chance was hurt, but he kept an eye on them anyway.

Emma answered promptly. “Yes?”

She sounded cool. He hated it, but that was the way it needed to be.

“Hey, I’m over at Kiss My Grits, and Rory just punched Chance on the arm. That arm. Don’t know if it’s bleeding yet but he’s in pain.”

“Rory punched… Oh for heaven’s sake. What is wrong with her?”

“I don’t know,” Blaze said truthfully, though right now she looked miserable as she stood next to Chance and frowned up at him.

“Bring him over. Brenda is here but my dad isn’t. I’ll have a look.”

“Thanks. Be there in a few. Want anything from the cafe?”

“No thanks. I’ve got a protein bar, and Brenda made coffee.”

Before he could say another word, she hung up on him. Blaze sighed as he tucked his phone away. He deserved that, probably, but it bugged him anyway.

“We’re going over to the doc’s office,” Blaze said to Chance.

“Christ, you’re as bad as a mother hen, you know that?”

“Better to have it looked at now than get halfway to the range and have to turn around.”

“It’s five miles away.”

“Yeah, and it’s my gas we’re using, so I’m opting for getting it checked now.”

Their order was called. Chance grabbed the bag with one hand while Blaze got the coffees. Rory still looked miserable as she waited for her order.

“I’m really sorry, Chance. Come over to the Dawg later and I’ll give you dinner on the house.”

Blaze elbowed Chance in the side when it took too long for him to respond. “Dude, accept graciously before you put your foot in your mouth.”

“Thanks, Rory. You don’t have to do that. It’s not your fault.”

“It is my fault, and I know I don’t have to. I want to.”

“Not sure I’ll get over there tonight. Maybe.”

Rory looked chastened. Maybe Chance was enjoying it.

“Okay, well, the offer stands. I’m so sorry.”

Chance grunted.

The door opened and a man walked in. He was stocky with reddish-brown hair, a scruff of a beard, and he wore a ball cap that said Roll Tide.

Of course he did.

He saw Rory and smiled. She smiled back.

“I have to go. See you guys later.”

She went over to join the man. He gave her a peck on the cheek, and they took a table in the corner. He sat with his back to them, but Rory was visible. She looked animated, happy.

Chance watched her with a frown. And, whether he realized it or not, longing.

“Take the dinner,” Blaze said. “She feels guilty enough to be nice for a while, so maybe you can talk to her without pissing her off for a change.”

“I don’t try to piss her off. Just happens.”

“Yeah, you open your mouth and bullshit comes out. Stop teasing the woman about her football team for starters.”

“It’s a friendly rivalry. Ole Miss and Alabama have always been that way.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t go to college, and you don’t actually give a shit about a school.”

Chance gave him a look as they headed out the back door to the parking lot. “You don’t have to go to a school to love the team. I was raised in Mississippi. Ole Miss is in my blood, even if I never spent a moment on campus.”

Blaze rolled his eyes. “Yeah, fine. But if you want to end the war and maybe have a shot at getting her between the sheets, and I think you definitely want that, you’ll zip it about the Hotty Toddy stuff. What the hell does that even mean anyway?”

“It’s part of the school cheer. Like saying Roll Tide for Alabama, God forgive me for letting those words pass my lips. And what makes you think I wanna get with Rory? She’s pretty, but there’s lots of pretty women around here.”

“So go find one of them and get laid. Stop antagonizing Rory Harper for the hell of it.”

They strode across the parking lot, Chance grumbling the whole way. “I just said the jacket was nice. She’s the one who got prickly.”

“Like I said, lay off that Old Miss shit and she won’t be so annoyed.”

“Ole Miss. Not old.”

“Whatever.” Blaze reached the back door of the building and pulled it open. Chance went inside and Blaze followed. Emma was waiting for them at the door to the practice.

“Pissing off Rory again?”

“I wasn’t trying. Must be PMS or something.”

Blaze cleared his throat as Emma’s eyebrows climbed her forehead.

“What?” Chance said. “That’s not a thing? I thought that was a thing.”

“Get in here and shut up,” Emma said, holding the door open.

She didn’t seem angry though. Instead, Blaze thought she was trying not to laugh. He missed that laugh now that she seemed determined not to be friendly with him. They’d laughed a lot at dinner last night.

Hell, was it just last night? Seemed like a lifetime ago, but they’d gone to dinner and then she’d learned about the break-in when they were at the range. After dealing with that, Ghost Ops had gotten the call to move on Royal Shipping.

Yeah, a lifetime ago and everything was different.

Chance shoved the bag of food at Blaze. He caught it in the crook of his arm as Chance reached for one of the coffees. Blaze didn’t know if it was the right one or not, but Chance didn’t seem to care as he slugged it back.

“My arm hurts like a sonofabitch, but I know she didn’t mean it.”

Emma directed him to an exam room and followed him inside. Blaze trailed after them, half expecting her to tell him to get lost. She didn’t, though. He leaned against the door jamb as Emma took Chance’s coffee and set it on the counter. Then she directed him to remove his jacket and shirt.

He grumbled and winced, but he got it done. The stitches were intact, but blood leaked from the wound. Not a lot, but enough that it was clear Rory had probably caused it when she’d hit him.

Emma tutted and made sympathetic noises as she cleaned the wound. “You know, I’ve known Rory my whole life. She’s passionate and headstrong, no doubt. She’s quick to anger and slow to forgive. But all that passion and anger hides a vulnerable heart.”

“If you say so, Doc. All I know is she hates me.”

“I seriously doubt that. I think, if you got to know her, you’d find out she doesn’t hate anyone. She’s suspicious, sure. Wary. But maybe if you don’t press her buttons so hard, you’ll find out she’s a good friend to have.”

Chance looked slightly militant, but he didn’t argue. Dude wanted more than friendship with Rory, that much was clear. Maybe Rory was the kind of woman who’d be up for a few nights in the sheets with no strings. Blaze didn’t think Chance was going to find out, though. Not when he couldn’t seem to help putting his foot in his mouth whenever he was near her.

And not when she’d seemed to be into the dude who’d met her at the cafe just now.

“Still,” Emma said, “she shouldn’t have hit you, no matter how mad you made her.”

“She hit many people?” Blaze asked.

Emma didn’t look at him. “Not to my knowledge. She seems especially annoyed by Chance if I’m being honest.”

“I don’t know why,” Chance grumbled.

“I don’t either.”

“It’s his face,” Blaze joked. “He’s got one of those faces you want to punch.”

Chance snorted. “Thanks, bro. Appreciate it.”

“Anytime, bud.”

Emma shot him a look, their gazes tangling for the first time since he’d walked in. Blaze found himself wanting to reach for her, tuck her against his chest, and tell her everything was going to be okay.

She broke the eye contact first, bandaged Chance’s arm, and peeled her gloves off. “All good. Try not to get into any more fights today, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Chance said, reaching for his shirt and tugging it on. “What do I owe you for patching me up?”

Emma blinked. “After everything y’all have done for me? Not a damn thing.”

“Thanks,” Chance said as he stood and picked up his coffee again. “But you don’t have to do that.”

“Not negotiable.” Emma’s chin lifted in what Blaze recognized as her stubborn look.

He shifted upright. “We appreciate your help. I’ll let you know when I’m headed this way again. Rory invited Chance to the Dawg for a meal on the house, so I figure I’ll eat there too. If you want to join us.”

“Hey, I don’t know that I’m taking her up on that tonight,” Chance interjected.

“You definitely are. She felt terrible and she wants to make it up to you. You have to go.”

Blaze didn’t take his eyes off Emma. She’d folded her arms over her chest and looked at him coolly.

Something about that lab coat got him going anyway. He wanted to muss her up, make her look less like a medical professional and more like a woman who’d been thoroughly kissed.

Wasn’t going to happen though. Not now. Not here.

“I’ll go,” Emma said. “But I’m sitting at the bar and talking to Rory while she works.”

“Understood.” He headed for the door behind Chance, then stopped and held her gaze. “See you later, Sunshine.”

She stiffened but didn’t shift her stance. “Yep, later.”

Blaze turned away.

“Y’all be sure not to walk onto the range while you have shooters in the bays this time,” she called. “There are some things I can’t patch up, no matter how hard I try.”