Chapter 20
20
DEAN
T he moment her lips touched mine, something in me snapped. I didn’t even think—I just reacted. My hand slid to the back of her neck, fingers tangling in her hair as I pulled her closer. I swore I could feel every ounce of the fire she’d been holding back since the day she showed up in Larkspur Lake.
She tasted like lemonade and something sweet, something I couldn’t quite place. My other arm went around her waist, bringing her flush against me. She didn’t resist—if anything, she leaned into it, her hands pressing against my chest like she was trying to anchor herself. The fireworks exploded overhead, but they might as well have been a million miles away for all I cared.
She kissed me like she was afraid I might escape. I kissed her back like I was trying to forget everything else. The noise of the festival faded into nothing. All I could focus on was the way her body fit against mine, the way her breath hitched when I deepened the kiss. For the first time in years, I felt like maybe I wasn’t just going through the motions. The memory of the other night rushed to the forefront of my mind. I’d been so close to taking her. It had taken a cold shower and a little one-on-one time with my hand to get my body to relax after what she had done to me.
I had been kicking myself since I walked away. This woman was not like the others. I wanted her. I fucking needed her. She was offering me heaven. I’d be a damn fool not to take it.
The kiss should’ve lasted longer. I had every intention in making this kiss last all damn night—preferably at my place. But then I heard it. A loud pop, followed by a sputtering explosion that wasn’t part of the show.
I ripped myself away from Portia just in time to see Seth and his idiot friends near the docks, laughing, scrambling.
Then fire.
A stray firework had hit one of the boats, flames licking up the side, smoke curling into the air.
“Shit,” I muttered, my heart pounding. “That fucking idiot!”
Portia blinked, dazed, still caught in the moment we’d just lost. “What?”
I didn’t wait to explain. I was already moving, running toward the docks, cursing under my breath.
The chaos was overwhelming. People were screaming, shouting. Someone was grabbing a fire extinguisher, but it wasn’t enough. I shoved through the crowd, my eyes locked on Seth, who was standing there like this was some kind of joke.
I yanked him back just as another spark shot too close for comfort.
Seth laughed, his voice slurred. “Relax, Dean. It’s fine.”
I grabbed him by the collar, my patience snapping. “What the hell did you do?”
Seth shrugged, his grin wide. “Just having fun.”
I shoved him back, my voice low and dangerous. “You could’ve gotten someone hurt.”
Seth scoffed, brushing himself off. “It’s fine. No one’s hurt.”
I didn’t respond. This was not fine. People were still scrambling to get away from the beach, the fire spreading faster than anyone could control. Someone was losing their property, which meant Seth and his dipshit friends were responsible for the loss. I couldn’t get a good look at the boat, but it was probably a good ten grand. That was a felony.
I could hear the sirens in the distance. The firetruck was already on the way.
“You’re a fucking menace, Seth,” I snapped. “What the hell were you thinking?”
He was drunk. And stupid. That was a dangerous combination.
I was about to walk away and get away from the perp when I heard a noise. It was a woman yelling. Something in the woman’s voice put me on alert. She was running toward the dock, directly toward the fire. No one would get that upset about a boat.
Down on the dock, there was a kid in a nearby boat, covering his head for shelter while his mother yelled his name from shore. I didn’t hesitate.
I raced across the dock, fireworks and flames shooting out of the burning boat, blowing right past me. Seth yelled at me to come back, but I had my sights on the kid.
I leaped into the boat, the heat from the fire searing my skin. The flames were catching on the dock, and I knew I didn’t have much time. If the fire department didn’t get here soon, it was going to be the whole damn dock that went down, with the kid.
“Hey, kid,” I said, my voice steady despite the chaos. “You’re going to be okay. I’m getting you out of here.”
The boy looked up, his eyes wide with fear, but he nodded. I cursed, unhooking the boat from the dock and shoving off, creating just enough space when the burning boat suddenly exploded. The gas tank had caught fire, and the force of the blast sent debris flying.
I shielded the kid beneath me, my body covering his as the heat and noise roared around us. “It’s going to be okay,” I said close to his ear even as heat seared the backs of my legs and back. “Just hold on.”
When the worst of it passed, I got the kid back to shore, my arms shaking from the adrenaline. His mother was waiting, her face pale with fear.
“Thank you,” she sobbed, pulling her son into her arms. “Thank you so much.”
I nodded, my chest tight. “He’s okay. Just get him checked out.”
As I walked them up the beach toward the food tents where medical help was set up, I noticed Lila snapping pictures with her phone. She had gone into full reporter mode.
“Dean Jackson,” she called, her voice too bright. “Care to make a statement?”
I didn’t respond. I kept walking, fully intent on getting to the tent to see if I had actually been burned or if it was just the heat. My legs legit felt like they were on fire.
“Stay out of my way,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “You can move or I’m going to go right through you.”
She stared at me, her mouth open in shock, but I didn’t care. I had more important things to deal with. I found Seth near the edge of the crowd. His friends scattered but he was still there, beer in hand and looking like the asshole he was.
“You’re a fuck-up,” I said, my voice cold. “And you always will be.”
Seth’s face fell, but he didn’t argue.
“I’m done with you,” I said, turning away. “You’re fucked and I’m not cleaning up after you. You’re looking at serious charges and you deserve every one of them.”
Seth grabbed my arm. “Dean, come on. It was an accident.”
I shook him off, my jaw clenched. “That was no accident and it could’ve killed someone. Grow up, Seth.”
I didn’t wait for a response. I just walked away, my chest heavy with anger and disappointment. I walked toward the medical tent. They were set up to handle bee stings and minor cuts. I saw a paramedic with the boy and was relieved to see he was getting real care.
I walked into the medical tent, my legs still burning from the heat. The boy was sitting on a cot, his mother hovering over him like a hawk. A paramedic was checking him over, running through the usual questions.
“You’re gonna be fine,” the paramedic said, nodding at the boy. “Just a little shaken up, but you’re tough.”
The boy looked up at me as I approached, his eyes still wide but calmer now. “Thanks, mister,” he said quietly.
I knelt down so I was eye level with him, ignoring the sting in my legs. “What’s your name, kid?”
“Ethan.”
“Well, Ethan, you did good back there. You stayed calm when it mattered. That’s not easy.”
He nodded slowly. I could see some of the fear in his eyes starting to fade. His mother stepped forward, her hands shaking as she reached for mine.
“Thank you,” she said again, her voice breaking. “I—I don’t even know what to say. You saved my boy.”
I shook my head. “Anyone would’ve done the same.”
“No,” she said firmly, tears streaming down her face. “No one else helped him but you did. And I’ll never forget that.”
I stood up awkwardly, not sure how to handle her gratitude. “He’s okay—that’s what matters.”
She nodded vigorously, wiping at her tears with the back of her hand. “If there’s ever anything you need—anything at all—please, don’t hesitate to ask. You’ve done more for us than I can ever repay.”
I gave her a small nod. Gratitude like that always made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t the hero type. I just did what needed to be done. “Take care of him,” I said finally, motioning toward Ethan. “He’s a brave kid.”
As I turned to leave the tent, the paramedic called out to me. “Hey, you need to get checked out too. Your legs—they don’t look great.”
I glanced down and saw the angry red patches on my skin where the heat had gotten to me. Burns, not too deep but painful all the same. “I’m fine,” I muttered, brushing it off. “Take care of him.”
“You’re not fine,” the paramedic insisted, stepping closer. “If you don’t let me take a look, it could get infected. Sit down.”
“Thanks, but I’m good,” I said.
I thought I wanted medical attention, but I was suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. People were looking at me. Watching. I wanted to go home, get a drink, and forget the night ever happened. I pushed past the paramedic and stepped out of the tent, the cool evening air brushing against my skin. The crowd had thinned, but there were still murmurs and glances thrown my way. I ignored them all, my focus on putting one foot in front of the other. My legs throbbed with every step, but I gritted my teeth and walked toward the parking lot and then the street.
I didn’t know where Portia went. I didn’t feel obligated to say goodbye. We didn’t come together. She’d find her own way home. I walked fast, taking advantage of my long stride. I ignored the burn and pull I felt. Thankfully, the twenty-minute walk wasn’t too bad.
As soon as I walked through the door, I headed upstairs to my room to strip out of my clothes that smelled like smoke. And then it was a stiff drink.