Flirting with Destiny Page 12
“Dean thought you might’ve been talking to the chief about going back to work—”
“Actually, I told the chief I plan to resign from the department.” Dev punched at the night air with the tip of his cane for emphasis. “What good is a firefighter who can barely get across the room without tripping over his feet? Not that I’m missed at the station. They’ve got themselves a couple of new recruits, Zip obviously being one of them.”
He sounded angry, but Tanya could hear the hurt behind his words. It reminded her of the despair she’d felt when trusting her heart, not to mention her career and reputation, to one person—the wrong person—had resulted in her having to leave a job she’d loved, too.
Although after spending the weekend back home and driving by the clinic a few times, she’d come to understand that she missed the work far more than she missed her ex.
Who would’ve thought that?
“I’m sorry, Dev. I know what it’s like to give up a job that’s such a huge part of your identity.”
“Yeah, well, I’ve got no one to blame for this but myself. I’m just surprised Zip waited so long to step up. We’ve been trying for a year to get him to join.”
“So what did your chief say?” Tanya asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. “About your resignation?”
“He turned it down.”
“Is that allowed?”
“Probably not, technically, but he said he wanted my help...with training.”
Other than what she read in the newspaper or saw on the evening news, she didn’t know much about what it took to be a fireman, but being in top physical condition had to be at the top of the list.
Dev definitely wasn’t anymore.
Could he ever be that way again?
She’d seen people recover from injuries like his, with time and lots of hard work, and come back even stronger.
Then again, recent experience taught her there were also those who pushed themselves too hard, too fast and ended up with a permanent disability.
“What exactly does that mean?” she asked. “Helping with training?”
“Have you ever been to a firefighting competition?”
Tanya nodded. It’d been a few years, but the events were popular attractions each summer back home as teams competed in events that represented their daily lives as firefighters.
“Well, the team from the DFD is competing at the end of next month,” Dev continued, “and the chief seems to think the rookies could use my help.”
Concern welled up inside her. “Dev, you’ve come a long way since the accident, but you’ve still got a lot of recovering to do. A few PT sessions here and there and an hour doing water aerobics isn’t enough for you to be taking on something so strenuous.”
“I know I’ve been lax about my physical therapy over the past couple of months. But all that’s changed. I saw Pete on Monday and we’ve upped my sessions to three times a week.”
Meaning he’d been down in Laramie twice this week, including today, as there was no way his physical therapist would do the strenuous sessions on back-to-back days. “That’s a good start, but you still can’t—”
“Believe me, I’ll well aware of what I can and cannot do.” His tone was sharp and biting, but the deep sigh that followed took away the sting of his words.
She waited, wondering if he was going to bring up the two of them working together. He remained silent and kept walking, and this time Tanya was able to do the same, even if it required her biting down on her bottom lip.
When they got to the town square, they continued on past the gazebo, heading for the next block and the bakery’s parking lot.
Most of the businesses were closed up for the night, their interiors dark except for a few that sported softly glowing lights inside. There were a few people still out and about, but the sidewalks were mainly empty.
As they walked, she put a bit of space between them, unable to stop the professional in her from observing him. Especially after what he’d just told her about working with the fire department again.
His boots offered a steady click against the cement, meaning he wasn’t dragging his feet. There was a hitch in his step, but his grip on the cane was steady, much better than the white-knuckle way he’d held onto it back at the hall.
Her gaze traveled up to his hips, and she leaned back a bit, taking a moment to admire his Wranglers-clad backside.
Hey, she was only human!
The muscles in his arms were tense, standing out in stark relief, and he held his shoulders stiff beneath his cotton shirt, now clinging to his skin thanks to the light rain that had finally stopped.
On a scale of one to ten, she’d bet his pain level was probably a solid six or even creeping up to a seven.
As if finally noticing her gaze, he pulled the brim of his hat even lower over his eyes, making it almost impossible to see most his face, even with the street lights.
Still, the timeless style fit him perfectly and she envied how he wore the familiar Western fixture with familiarity and ease.
She’d never been a hat girl.
Even during the winter, she never liked wearing them, preferring earmuffs or the hood of her jacket. Learning to wear the extravagant headpieces during her showgirl days in Reno, never mind dancing in the darn things, had bothered her even more than the skimpy outfits.
“Why are you staring at me?”
Dev’s question yanked Tanya from her daydreaming and she almost tripped over her feet.
Busted! Deciding not to tell him she was analyzing him, Tanya blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. “Could I ask you a favor?”
He glanced at her. “Sure.”
Oh, this was crazy. “Forget it. It’s not important.”
“Tanya—”
“No, it’s silly.” She couldn’t believe she’d even opened her mouth. The alley leading to the parking lot behind the bakery was just ahead, past the next shop. “Don’t...don’t worry about it.”
Dev stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, this time standing in a pool of light from one of the ornate street lamps. “Tell me what you were going to ask me.”
Tanya sighed. She should’ve known he wouldn’t let this go. “Okay, this is going to sound trivial, but I was looking at you...and admiring your hat. I know it’s hard to believe, seeing how I was born and raised in this part of the country, but I’ve never worn one. Never even tried one on. So I was wondering...”
He bumped up the brim and stared at her. “You want to try on my Stetson?”
Tanya smiled, lifting her shoulders in a little shrug and feeling more ridiculous by the moment. “I told you it was silly.”
He lifted it off his head and held it out to her.
A childish thrill raced through her. “Really?”
“It’ll probably be too big for you, but sure, go ahead.”
She took the hat, surprised at the weight and the warmth of the felt material, despite the dampness from tonight’s weather. “Are there any special instructions?”
That got her a smile, his first since he’d called that last game of bingo. “Put it on the same way I took it off, by the brim. Don’t grab the crown. That’ll only warp the shape.”
Tanya nodded and flipping the hat over, plopped it on her head. But it sat off center. “Oh! Darn ponytail.”
She took the hat off again and with one hand easily slid her hair free of the elastic band. The long strands fell past her shoulders as she shook her head back and forth.
The sound of Dev clearing his throat made her stop midshake. “What?”
“That’s the first time I’ve ever seen you with your hair down.”
“Really?” She thought back to the times they’d spent together. At Mac’s, his physical therapy session and lun
ch afterwards, the fitness center and today. “Yeah, I do tend to wear it up most of the time. Keeps it out of the way.”
“Well, it looks good...down.”
A heated blush filled her face at his words. She was glad she was standing in the shadows. “Thanks.”
Trying again, Tanya put the hat on. Yes, it was a bit too big and as heavy on her as she’d expected. The material had captured Devlin’s body heat, not to mention his scent, and both enveloped her. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the sensation.
“Tanya?”
Her eyes flew open. “Oh! Um, I wonder what I look...”
She whirled around, saw that they were standing in front of Fay’s Flower Shop. She hurried over to the large window, able to see her reflection in the glass. “Hey, this isn’t half bad.”
Turning first to the left and then the right, she liked what she saw. Maybe she should finally get herself one. Not in the dark color of Dev’s, but perhaps one made of straw. She’d seen plenty of ladies in town wearing them.
Not that she’d have much use for it walking the streets of London once she left, but it’d be a nice reminder of Destiny—
“Tanya?”
She blinked and turned around, realizing he’d said her name more than once. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if you’d do me a favor now.”
His softly spoken words sent a shiver through her that she quickly blamed on the night air. “Ah, sure. What is it?”
“Stay away from Zip.”
* * *
As soon as he’d spoken, Dev wished he’d kept his big mouth shut.
It’d been a long night. He was tired, hurting and so damn jealous of his buddy and the way he’d winked at Tanya just before they’d left the church hall, he couldn’t see straight.
Then to learn the man had pretty much taken his place at the firehouse was a blow he hadn’t had the chance to deal with yet. Hearing Tanya say he was in no shape to train anyone, even if it was just for a fun competition, had been the final straw.
Everything she’d told him had been true, but dammit, it wasn’t like he planned to become an official member of the team.
Hell, he didn’t even plan to attend the competition.
He just wanted to be able to walk into the firehouse without needing this damn cane because there was no way he could turn down the chief’s request.
“Stay away from—” Confusion laced her words and colored her features. “You mean Dean? Why?”
“He’s a player. Dates a different woman every month. Every week. Trust me, the man isn’t interested in anything but a short-term fling.”
Her shoulders went rigid and her mouth pressed into a hard line.
Wrong thing to say.
Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire. Hell, he’d just pulled the rookie mistake of walking into a blaze without bothering to make sure he had a full tank of compressed air.
Or in his case, common sense.
Yeah, he’d been stupid to assume that she’d even think about getting involved with Dean. Especially after the way they’d kissed just a week ago.
Even though she’d told him she wasn’t interested in getting involved, the way her mouth had moved under his told a different story—
“Oh, that’s funny, coming from you.” She jerked his hat off her head and held it out to him. “Your family made it clear that you and Zip used to run neck and neck for the title of Destiny’s busiest bachelor.”
He tried to concentrate on her words, but the sight of the long dark strands of her hair whipping over her shoulders took him back to another time.
Another place.
When she’d emerged after changing out of her sexy showgirl costume wearing an even sexier little black dress, her hair had been loose and flowing, even longer than she wore it now. The ends had reached the soft swells of her breasts, curling just enough to draw his gaze—
She shook the Stetson at him, breaking up the memory. He took it, easily flipping the hat over and settling it back on his head, automatically yanking the brim low again.
“I’m not like that. Not anymore.”
“Who says I’m looking for anything? You know, just because a woman is single and unattached doesn’t mean she’s searching for company from a man. Present company included.” Tanya flipped open her purse and dug out her keys. “I have no idea how this conversation went from your health issues to my dating habits, but I think I can safely get to my car from here. Goodnight, Dev.”
She turned away and headed for the alley, but then looked over her shoulder at him, eyes snapping with fire. “On the other hand, I’m only in town for another six weeks. Maybe something short-term is just what I’m looking for. I’ll be sure to keep Zip in mind.”
She made it three steps into the alley before he caught up to her, wrapping one arm around her waist.
Letting out a yelp of surprise, she spun around. Dev used the move to easily pull her up hard against his body.
“Dev! What are you doing?” She grabbed at his arms. “Be careful of your leg!”
“If you’re serious about looking for company, you don’t have to go any farther. My name should be right at the top of your list.”
Tanya went lax in his arms. “We’ve been over this already.”
“Are you telling me that you don’t feel whatever this crazy thing is between us every time we’re together?” He bumped up the brim of his hat with the handle of his cane before dropping it back to his side. With one step, he pressed her against the brick wall before he leaned in close. “From the moment I saw you at Mac’s I knew there was something special about you. And that was long before I kissed you. Again.”
Tanya flattened her hands against his chest, her keys still in her grasp. The heat of her touch through his damp shirt started his heart pounding, and he was sure she could feel his reaction beneath her fingertips.
“Dev, I’m sorry. Sorry about what I said last week in the changing room. I never should’ve just blurted out like that about us in Reno—”
“Are you kidding me?” He cut her off, surprised by her regret. Leaning back in order to look her in the eye, he continued, his voice softer now. “If anyone should apologize for what happened—for what didn’t happen—between us that night, it should be me.”
“Oh, please. It was a long time ago.”
“What about last week?” Dev pressed forward, holding her in place with his body, his hips and thighs lost in the folds of her skirt. He released her waist, moving to sink his fingers into her hair. “I’ll admit I kissed you first, something I wanted to do from the first moment we met, but it didn’t take long for you to kiss me back.”
Tanya’s tongue slipped out to glide over her lips. Was she remembering that kiss?
Dev’s gaze dropped to her mouth and his head dipped lower. A low groan filled the space between them, and he honestly didn’t know if it came from her or him.
He wanted to kiss her again. He wanted to feel the heat of her mouth under his.
Again.
It would be easy.
She was willing, he could see it in her eyes, feel it in the way she arched against his arousal where it surged against her belly.
Then he felt a faint twinge, nothing too bad, but it was enough to make him catch his breath for a moment as it raced across his back. He closed his eyes, refusing to let her see his discomfort, but he was too late.
“Dev, let me help you. I want to do all I can to make that pain go away forever.” Tanya’s words came out in a heated plea, her fingers fisting his shirt. “You might not get back to being a firefighter again, but your life would be so much better. But I’ve told you I don’t get involved with people I work with.”
Pulling a deep breath only filled his head with her sexy
yet sweet scent, but he did it anyway, needing the moment to gather his thoughts.
He then opened his eyes again, relieved to find the sharp stab of pain gone. “I thought we already settled that. I fired you, remember?”
Her mouth dropped open in surprise. “I thought you were kidding.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you.”
There, he said it.
Four simple words that spoke a simple truth.
He hadn’t wanted to be with a woman in a long time, even after he’d been physically able to.
For a while he worried his lack of desire for female company was a side effect of the trauma he’d gone through. He’d even mentioned it to his therapist during one of their sessions when Pete had tried to distract him by talking about his own obsession with an A-list movie star, but the man had assured Dev that when the time was right, his body would respond.
But it was more than a physical reaction.
Something about this woman had touched a place deeper inside of him. It was almost like he’d been waiting for her.
“Oh, Dev, you don’t want me.” Tanya shook her head. “You want a memory.”
“Tanya, I hate to admit this, but the memories of that night in Reno are hazy at best. Snatches really. I remember your dress, your hair.” His fingers, still tangled in the silky lengths, tightened into a gentle fist. “Especially now that I’ve seen it down. You wore it longer back then, didn’t you?”
She nodded.
“Yeah, I remember wrapping it around my hand as I pulled you—”
“Dev, please.” Tanya laid the tips of her fingers over his mouth. They trembled against his lips for a moment before she snatched them away. “I thought...I thought you wanted my help with your recovery.”
He smiled, noticing she hadn’t shot down his assertion. “I want that, too.”
Her lips twitched as if she was holding back a smile of her own. He swore if the tip of her tongue came out to wet those lips one more time, he was going to take another kiss, permission be damned.
“Selfish much?” she asked.
“For three days last year I thought I might die. Being selfish is okay sometimes.”