Chapter 10
10
“ Y ou don’t have to carry me.” Amber laced her fingers behind Garth’s neck. Her words might have been in protest, but the rest of her gladly let him lift her from his vehicle.
“The doctor said you should stay off that leg for a day or two.” He hip-checked the truck door, adjusting her body in his arms. His keys dangled from his finger.
She glanced down the street. A couple neighbors stood in a driveway while their children played in the yard. “People are staring.”
“I noticed. Those two are busybodies. I wouldn’t be surprised if they either show up at my door in thirty minutes pretending to need something that can’t wait until their husbands get home so they can try to figure out what’s going on.”
“I’m not sure they like me much,” she said.
“They're a bit on the cliquey side. Don’t take it personally.”
“I might, considering I’m sure they can see my bandaged leg. They should come running to my doorstep, asking what they can do for me.”
“They should. But right now, all they are focused on is the fact that my hand is dangerously close to your ass.” He winked as he stepped onto the front stoop. “We should really give them something to talk about.”
A slow burn tickled her lips. She blinked a few times, trying to break from his mesmerizing gaze. He held her eyes captive like a cobra preparing to strike.
“Kiss me. I dare you,” he whispered, tilting his head.
“We’ll be the talk of the neighborhood.” She filled her lungs with a deep breath. The thumping of her heart echoed in her ears.
“I’m carrying you into my house. They’re probably already thinking we’ve run off and gotten married.”
“You did not just say that?” She bit down on her fingernail.
He groaned. “It’s so sexy when you do that,” he said with his mouth only an inch away.
In a daring move, she plucked her finger out of her mouth and palmed his cheek as she softly brushed her lips over his. It could barely be considered a kiss, but it sent blood rushing to those things that made her a woman.
“Can you unlock the door?” He rattled the keys. “So I can kiss you properly in private.”
“You started this,” she said with a laugh as she pushed the key into the door. “Suddenly shy?”
He laughed. “Something like that.”
Once inside, he closed the door and quickly sat on the sofa. His tongue darted into her mouth, swirling around hers, finding erogenous zones she didn’t know existed.
He tugged his hand from her leg. A sharp pain shot up from her thigh to her brain. She tried to swallow her painful groan.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” he whispered as he gently placed her on the sofa, tucking one of the pillows behind her back. Then another one under her knee. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It wasn’t you. It just hurts when I move it.”
“Then don’t move it. I’ll go get you some ice.”
She hated to admit it, but she sure as hell could get used to this kind of treatment. She was so used to being on her own. Even when her brother was alive, he wasn’t always present. After he sobered up, his recovery was all-consuming. He went to meetings, and his world revolved around those who didn’t use.
She could understand that, and she never drank around her brother, even when he told her it was fine. But he’d become so busy with his writing and research that he often didn’t have time for his sister. When her parents died, she felt alone in the world. Her boyfriend at the time had turned out to be a selfish prick. After the funeral, he expected her to get on with her life. Parents died. It was expected. Those were his words and while that might be true, their deaths had been tragic and way too soon.
Besides, she’d just buried them. She didn’t want to go on a fucking vacation.
She tilted her head and watched as his hips swayed and his tight ass twitched under his jeans with every step. She let out an audible sigh. When you looked up the definition of hot fireman in the dictionary, you’d find out that Garth Sanford would be the first example.
The only example.
“Are you hungry?” he asked as he strolled back into the living room, handing her an ice pack.
Placing it over her wound, she cringed. “I could eat something.” She bit down on her fingernail. She knew walking would be painful and problematic. Realizing that she would depend on Garth for help twisted her gut. It was one thing to enjoy the idea of being waited on, but an entirely different thing to need it.
And she didn’t want Garth to feel obligated.
“I don’t want you going to any trouble, and really, you should have taken me home. I’ll need to get myself set up in there so I can take care of myself.” The words tumbled out of her mouth. Her hands shook. Someone had killed her brother, and now she believed without a doubt that the same person was after her.
Being alone wasn’t an option.
“You’re staying with me,” he said with an authoritative and protective tone.
God, that irked her beyond belief. She hated being told what to do and how to do it. She was a grown-ass woman who had been fending for herself for a while.
But at the same time, it was nice to have someone give two shits.
She arched a brow, her stomach rolling as excitement lurched to every cell. But she had to stifle her desire and set some ground rules. At least for now. “I don’t appreciate being told what to do like that, and you know it.”
“I don’t think you should be alone,” he said with a tight jaw. “And I know you don’t want to be.”
“I don’t, but I’m not your responsibility, and you can’t be with me twenty-four seven.”
“Arthur is getting coverage for my overnight shifts. The only thing I can’t miss are my fitness tests and mandatory training, but both can be pushed to the last round, and when I can’t be with you, I can arrange to have one of my buddies or their wives hang out with you. It’s not a big deal.”
“Wow, in less than an hour, you’ve got this all figured out.” She didn’t know if she should be flattered or insulted.
Scared or excited.
Enraged or delighted.
He nodded. “You could have been killed today.” He sat on the edge of the sofa. His strong hands cupped the sides of her face. “And I don’t believe for one second your car had some mechanical malfunction, so until we know what happened and the culprit is behind bars, you’ll never be alone. I know I said I deal in facts. The almost dying part is a fact, one I can’t deny.”
She couldn’t decide if she should kiss him to death for caring or smack him for being such a Neanderthal. The entire situation took her on a roller coaster she’d rather not be on, and she liked the exhilarating ride. “Trust me, I understand that, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. Just don’t tell me in that condescending tone. It pisses me off.”
“I’m sorry. I sounded like an asshole, and I could have worded all that differently, but I’m worried?—”
She covered his mouth with the palm of her hand. “I’m scared. My brother is dead, and someone may have tried to kill me. I’m a proud woman. Fiercely independent. I’ve never needed a protector. That said, I’m not too stupid to live. I have no intention of being alone. I don’t appreciate the way you say things and how you don’t really listen sometimes. Like I’m a child and not your girlfriend.”
Shit.
Did that just come out of her mouth? Way to muck up the waters.
He cleared his throat. “First, I never meant to treat you like a child. When Chastity came running into the conference room and told me your car had blown up, so many things went through my mind. I have never felt so hopeless before.” He kissed her temple. “I didn’t like that sensation, and I hope I never have to feel it again.”
“I imagine it was unpleasant.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
A long, awkward pause filled the room. She waited for more, but nothing else came. Sometimes he could be such an idiot when it came to women.
“When someone starts a conversation with first there’s usually a second. ” Since she put it out there, she would find out what he thought. “Unless you want to let the girlfriend comment hang in the air like a thick cloud of smoke.”
“I wasn’t planning on it,” he said. “I like the idea of you being my girlfriend, for the record.” He winked. “I thought we’d already moved from the friend zone to that zone.”
God, he was so adorable sometimes.
“Sometimes we women need clarification,” she said. “I didn’t mean to jump us from really great sex to relationship status. I mean, I’ve been a bitch to you since my brother died, and we really don’t know each other. Probably should take things slow.”
“You sure know how to cover a lot of ground in one sentence.” He scratched the side of his face. “Yes. Slow. I like slow, but slow ended with the quickie in your kitchen. And you weren’t a bitch. I should have listened, and I didn’t.”
“I didn’t have much to listen to until I found my brother’s computer,” she said, palming his cheek. There was still so much she didn’t know about him and so much she wanted to share. He had the kind of heart she knew she could love. The kind of man she wanted to love. “I know I didn’t have anything to go on the night I came over here begging for your help.”
He pressed his finger against her lips. “That’s not the point. And you do now.”
She adjusted her throbbing thigh, groaning.
“I’ll let you rest while I make us some food.”
“Wait.” She tugged at his arm before he could stand and walk away. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
Where to start? She had so many questions, both personal and professional. “Is it possible to make it look like a car explosion was an accident?”
“Truth?” He lowered his chin and arched a brow.
“Yes.” She wanted Garth to tell her the truth, even if it was something she didn’t want to hear.
“Cars don’t usually burst into flames like in the movies. Not even when they catch fire, unless there is a leak to the gas line, so for yours to explode like that, well, something had to have made that happen. While I was getting you some ice, I got a text from Chastity that said the car is with CSI. She’s overseeing everything, but that means they are looking for something.”
“Like a bomb?”
“Exactly.”
“Jesus,” she muttered, swallowing the thick lump of fear that had formed in her throat. Her hands trembled. “That means my car was tampered with while I was in that house.”
He nodded. “Mind you, we have no proof of anything yet. But between the fact that Julia doesn’t exist and your car randomly exploded, which isn’t possible, Rusty is working on the idea that this is a potential attempted homi?—”
“Please don’t finish that statement.” She shuddered at the thought of joining her brother in the afterlife. Steve had more than his share of hard knocks in his lifetime. He’d struggled in high school. Dropped out of college twice.
And yeah, he had done drugs.
But it had been three years and while there had been times Amber didn’t trust that her brother was pulling it together, that hadn’t been the case lately.
“We’re going to figure this out, and whoever did this to you, and your brother, are going to pay.”
Ding-dong.
“First nosy neighbor to stop by.” He rolled his eyes.
“I bet it’s Veronica across the street. She’s a bored housewife with nothing better to do than gossip,” Amber said. “She and Rhonda stand at the corner every morning after they put the kids on the bus and chat about everyone. I once stopped to say hello. I wanted to get the lowdown on the neighbors. While I got some intel, they certainly speak their own language. A lot of inside jokes between those two women. I’ve tried talking to them a few other times, but they don’t want to let me in. When they approach me, I always feel like they have some ulterior motive.”
“They usually do.”
“They did have a few things to say about you.”
“I don’t want to know,” he muttered as he stood.
“Veronica said you were off-limits. Something about you having the hots for her sister.” She twisted her body, trying to get a better view of the front door. “She recently said you and her sister had a thing, whatever that meant.”
“There’s no thing. That’s all in Veronica’s head.” He laughed as pulled the door open. “Good afternoon, Rhonda.” He glanced over his shoulder and cocked a brow. “What can I do for you?”
“I’m sorry to bother you. I couldn’t help but notice you carried Amber inside your home, and she had a bandage on her leg. Is she okay? Can I help with anything? My husband is out of town this week, but I’m happy to bring over dinners or whatever she needs. We can set up a rotation with all the neighbors and bring it to her house.”
“That’s awfully kind of you, Rhonda. But I think we’re good.”
“I’m sure you’re busy at the fire station,” Rhonda said. “Veronica and I can check on Amber. Help her get settled in her home. It’s no trouble.”
“If we need anything, we’ll call, but for now, Amber will stay with me as I have a few days off. Thanks for stopping by.” He closed the door before Rhonda could get another word in.
“I can’t believe you did that. Now the entire neighborhood will be talking about the fact I’m sleeping here.”
He bent over and burst out laughing.
“What the hell is so funny?”
“The hood is already talking. Veronica saw me do the walk of shame the other morning. As a matter of fact, she even stopped me as I made my back to my house. She wanted to know if you were okay. Her way of asking why I was shirtless and shoeless. This morning she saw me too. I waved and smiled, but no words were exchanged, so they are already making assumptions where I’ve been sleeping.”
“I’m not sure if I’m insulted that you’re calling that a shameful walk or horrified that those two crazies are now going to tell everyone you and I are doing the deed.”
“It beats Veronica trying to set me up with her sister.” Garth stood tall, stretching out his back. “Last year at the neighborhood block party, she kept pushing her younger sister on me. She’s a nice girl. Pretty too, but so not my type.” He sat on the end of the sofa, yanking out his phone.
“And what is your type?”
“Tall, long hair, feisty. Lives next door.” He waved his cell. “And likes pizza. You do like pizza because I no longer have a desire to cook.”
She smiled. “I could eat some pizza as long as it’s loaded with extra cheese and meat, and you’ve got beer to go with it.”
“Done and done.” He tapped away on the screen. “It will be here in twenty minutes. We should picnic on the front lawn and play kissy-face for the neighbors. That should keep them going for about a week, and then they can move on.”
“Oh my God. You’re enjoying this way too much.”
He lifted her good foot, setting it on his leg, rubbing her ankle. “Veronica and Rhonda are nice enough. Their husbands are good guys. But they are annoying with sticking their noses in everyone’s business, especially my love life. It’s getting old, real fast.”
“Now, you’ve got to explain that one. I mean, they’ve never asked me about mine.”
“Probably because they don’t have single brothers to fix you up with,” he muttered. “And you never made the mistake of having too much to drink at a block party and mentioning how you wanted to settle down one day, get married, and have kids.”
While that wasn’t big news and she knew that about Garth, it still felt like a big statement. She cleared her throat. “I think I’m insulted.”
“Why?”
“I’m single, and they never once thought of fixing me up with you. How rude.” She opted not to comment on the marriage and kid part of the conversation. She wasn’t prepared to have that discussion.
He chuckled. “You’re not either their sister, cousin, or bestie.”
“They tried to set you up that many times? And you never once took them up on it?”
“Never said that.” He lowered his chin. “I took out Veronica’s sister a couple of times. We had nothing in common, and shortly after, I started seeing someone else. It got serious. Veronica didn’t speak to me for weeks. It was nice. But it all started again when my girlfriend and I broke up.”
“Why haven’t you told them you can get your own dates.” She held up her hand. “Oh wait, don’t answer that. You suck at picking up girls. I’ve seen that firsthand. You get all tongue-tied and goofy.”
“Hey, who slept in whose bed the last two nights?”
“And who made the first move?”
“Fair, but it wasn’t for lack of trying on my part. Besides, you shut me down… Oh, for fuck’s sake. I have no game. I get it.”
She leaned over, taking his hand. “For the record, before I acted like a total bitch, your adorable shyness is what made you even more attractive and you know I was interested. However, you need a lot of coaxing. It’s exhausting.”
“Just what a man wants to hear.” He winked. “Do you want me to get anything from your house?”
“I’ll need some clothes and toiletries. But you can do all that after we eat,” she said. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Coming to the hospital. Taking care of me. Everything. I don’t have anyone, and it’s nice not to be alone.”
He scooted closer. “You have me, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”