Chapter 5
“So I imagine you’re going to be on medical leave until that foot is healed. Is it going to drive you batshit crazy?”
The scathing look she sent his way spoke volumes. Dallas didn’t like to be reminded of her inability to sit still. He hid a grin in the form of rubbing his stubble.
“Don’t remind me. I’m still pissed at you.”
“D.J., you cannot blame me for your clumsiness.”
“I can, and I will,” she told him stubbornly, jabbing her fork in his direction.
“Should I apply pressure?”
She snorted and choked. Face red and tears flowing, she made the universal sign of choking. He was quick to jump into action, getting into position and applying the Heimlich maneuver. After she’d expelled her piece of french toast, she batted his hands away. Granted, they’d moved up to cup her breasts once she was out of danger.
“Seriously? Pervert! Do you do this every time you save someone from choking to death?”
“Only the pretty ones. Most are grateful to be alive. Along with the fact they’re the ones placing my hands on their breasts. Now I’m thinking about it, I’m wondering if they weren’t faking the whole time. I’ll have to be careful not to be taken advantage of in the future.” He slid his hands down her sides, gripped her hips, and nuzzled her neck. “I’ll only ever let you take advantage, mi sol.”
Because she didn’t shove him away and seemed amused by his teasing, Gael took it as a good sign.
“Will you take me to see Jared today?”
He sighed and released her to clean up the remains of their meal. “Why is it every time you’re in my arms, you’re thinking about another man? I’m starting to get a complex.”
Her laughter made him feel marginally better.
“I sent a text to Jax this morning while you were talking to Freddie. Jared hasn’t woken up. There’s been no change.”
“You know his name is Eddie, Gael,” she admonished, working to stand on her crutches and get a feel for how to move around.
“Do I? Hmmm.” He dropped a kiss on her brow in passing. “I’ll take you if you want to go, but I doubt us being there will make a difference.”
Dallas paused in her movement and cast him a sharp glance. “Is he not expected to make it?”
“Jax didn’t say one way or the other.”
“Jared’s one of the good guys. I’d hate to see him not pull through.”
Quiet reigned for a few minutes as they silently contemplated their friend’s fate. Because he wasn’t a brooder by nature and needed to take action, Gael was the first to speak up. “Come on. Let’s go see him.”
Her smile was a beautiful reward. “Thank you, Gael.”
* * *
When they arrived at the Parkland Hospital, they met with Captain Stewart, the fire station chief who had been spending the better part of his day watching over his crew member. The news on Jared’s condition was positive, and the mood went from grim to celebratory.
“He woke up about a half hour ago, acting like he’s ready to go home. The doctors are stunned. There could have been a few words like ‘miraculous’ and ‘unbelievable’ thrown in there,” the Captain said.
“Thank God! I know we did everything right that night, but I still felt responsible,” Dallas admitted.
Surprised by her confession, the chief questioned her further. “What more could you have possibly done, Jennings? He was already unconscious when Dane and Jax brought him out to you.”
“I don’t know.” Changing the subject, she asked, “Captain, is there a way to look into an old cold case file from another city? I can’t put my finger on it, but something about these fires is eerily familiar to me.”
Her question had Gael’s full attention. “What are you thinking, D.J.?”
“It’s only a feeling—nothing concrete. But when I overheard the fire inspector discussing the MO, it struck me how alike these recent fires were to the ones in Austin when I was a kid. Of course, I don’t know all the exact details, but enough to think it’s highly coincidental. To the best of my knowledge, the arsonist was never caught.”
“Jesus, D.J.! I had no idea your apartment fire was arson.”
Her haunted eyes met his concerned gaze. He wanted nothing more than to pull her into his arms and protect her from the demons threatening her peace of mind and torturing her soul.
Captain Stewart promised to pull the files before adding, “You realize this could in no way be connected?”
“Yes. Like I said, it’s just a feeling.”
“I’ll check it out. In the meantime, I’d appreciate you two keeping Jared company for a bit. I have to get back to the station.”
“Not a problem, sir.” Gael stepped up to shake the Captain’s hand.
After Captain Stewart left, they slowly made their way to Jared’s room.
“I’m told I have you two to thank for saving my life,” the injured firefighter said, holding out a hand to Dallas.
“No, man. You have both Dane and Jax to thank for dragging your ass out of the building. We had the easy work,” Gael said, shaking Jared’s other hand.
“If you say so.”
“It’s good to see you sitting up. We were pretty worried about you.” Dallas sank down into the recliner and propped up her foot.
“You get that on scene?” Jared nodded to her injury.
Gael couldn’t contain his laughter.
“Not a word!” she warned with a glare.
“Sounds like a good story.”
Jared was fishing for details, and they all knew it. Dallas went so far as to say she stubbed it on the door jam but refused to provide any additional facts. She quickly changed the subject, and Gael realized she was adroit at manipulating a conversation away from herself. How many years had she been skillfully redirecting any discussions so as to avoid getting personal? The idea saddened him.
For a while, they shot the shit before calling it a day and letting Jared get rest.
“Oh, I forgot to ask the chief, but did they get the woman out? I’d hate to think I ended up here for nothing.” Jared’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. There was worry in those blue depths.
Gael exchanged a questioning look with Dallas who shrugged in return.
“There was no one else left in the building, Jared.”
“No one? No other injuries? No… fatalities either?” he questioned, stunned.
“None,” Gael confirmed. “Your team got everyone out. You’re it, man.”
“But I saw her. It’s why I ran in that direction. I would never have gone into a room knowing…” Jared trailed off and shook his head. “It’s not important, I guess.”
“Do you need anything before we go?” Dallas asked.
“Just a kiss.” Jared’s expression was hopeful.
Dallas laughed as Gael scowled. She bent and bussed Jared’s cheek. “Get well soon.”
Both men sighed in unison—Jared in disappointment and Gael in relief. He didn’t care to think what he would have done had she kissed Jared in more than a friendly fashion. She was making him insane. There was no other explanation for wanting to pummel an injured man.
As they started to walk back to his truck, Gael suggested cooking dinner for the two of them at his place. For the longest time she remained quiet. He grew nervous, shooting her sideways glances to try to decipher her mood.
“Stay here. I’ll pull the truck around,” he ordered and guided her to a bench by the entry. If his voice was a little more gruff than normal, well, he couldn’t help it. The sting of her non-verbal rejection made him irritable.
As he turned to go, she asked, “What’s on the menu?”
Back to her, he closed his eyes in relief. Gael spun around, and in a lighter, happier tone, he suggested, “Me?”
“You do realize you are an incorrigible flirt, right?” she called out as he crossed the valet area.
Walking backward, he hollered back, “Who’s flirting?”
A flush tinged Dallas’s cheeks as she pondered the long-term consequences of an affair with Gael. The pros far outweighed the cons. Sex with him would be life altering. Already she loved him. To take their relationship to the next level would be incredible—while it lasted. But like all things in her life, their affair would end, leaving her a little more bruised and battered. How would she deal with his moving on? As his work partner, she would be bound to hear about his new conquests.
Yet she yearned. Yearned to say yes. Yearned to be skin to skin with him. Yearned to feel him touch her intimately. She was an old hand at this yearning bit. She’d been at it for nearly three years. Purposefully, Dallas reminded herself she was better on her own. In the past, seeing him with other women had hurt. With each new date he clandestinely caressed when he thought no one was watching, with each hand he not-so-secretly held within her sight, Dallas’s heart had pinged. And that was before she knew how bone-melting his kisses were.
“What has you so serious, mi sol?” Gael asked as he came strolling up.
“Us.”
The single word surprised them both. He recovered quicker.
“I won’t push for something you don’t want, D.J. But if you do, if you’re willing to take a chance, know I’m all in.”
What did he mean “all in”? The desire for clarification overwhelmed her. But the parking lot, with people casting them curious glances, wasn’t the place or time for this discussion.
“Mac and Cheese,” she blurted.
His mouth twisted in amusement. “Coincidentally, I have just the thing in my pantry.”
“The original powdery stuff. Not that healthy crap you call Mac and Cheese.”
The bark of his laughter turned heads.
Gael whipped her up into his arms and stared into her eyes for the longest moment. His honey-eyed gaze dropped to where her teeth worried her lip. Heat replaced humor. Being chest to chest, with her arms wrapped around his neck, allowed her to feel his heart rate kick up a notch, causing hers to react in much the same manner.
Dallas had never wanted to kiss another person more than right that second. She didn’t care if the whole hospital saw. Tunneling her fingers into his dark, wavy hair, she urged his head closer to hers. He took her mouth as if he were starved for her—dipping again and again, exploring the recesses of her mouth with his tongue. Time and place ceased to exist. Their passion exceeded the boundaries of the mortal world.
Or it did until another individual cleared their throat, clearly uncomfortable by the display.
“Let’s go home.”
Gael’s words reached in and warmed her. For better or worse, she intended to take the next step with him. “Yes. Let’s go home.”
Her meaning was clear and triumph flared in his eyes, along with something deeper—more intense.