Chapter Thirteen
Greer was happy he turned down her offer to let her drive.
They’d gotten up at the crack of dawn to a beautiful pink sunrise and clear sky, picked up the vehicle parts, and headed home. Despite the off-the-charts sex, she hadn’t slept well with the wind and rain pummeling the thin motel walls. Cuddling next to Luke should have helped her sleep, but she’d so enjoyed the feel of his warm body next to her, the pressure of his arm tossed over her chest, and the smell of his skin that she’d forced herself to stay awake as long as possible to savor it.
Dozing in the warmth of sun that shone in her window, she sneaked peeks at him as he drove. His mouth moved, his head swaying side to side as he lip-synched to some pop song on the radio, completely oblivious that she was watching. Drumming one hand over the steering wheel, he wore an intense expression as if he were mentally playing on a stage somewhere. The song increased in tempo, and he ditched the silent act to sing the words in a strained, off-key voice.
She giggled and slapped him playfully on the arm.
He laughed and rubbed his shoulder in mock disdain. “Fake sleeping to spy on me? Pretty low, Lucky.”
“Fake sleeping? Right. No one could sleep through that disaster.”
He looked adorably pretend offended. “You mean art.”
“No, I mean my ears are bleeding.”
The dimple in his cheek deepened as he held back a smile. “Ouch.”
She rolled her head against the headrest to look at him. It was nice to tease him, and for the first time in days, to feel so relaxed. “I really needed this little trip. Thanks for dragging me along.”
“I wanted you to myself, far away where no one we know could hear you while you came.” He nodded like he was satisfied with himself, and turned onto her street. The skin on her arms flashed hot. Of course, he had to bring up the sex and make her regret even more that they were going back to normal.
She was sad to see they’d arrived home already. He’d drop her off and head out to continue the rest of his day, and tomorrow they’d be back to work as usual. Too bad there wasn’t a way to add hot, covert sex to their daily routine, too. Getting out of town yesterday was a great idea, and they’d needed it. Sex aside, it seemed like the foundation of their long-standing friendship was back. The closeness and emotional intimacy had resurfaced.
That place she kept locked away, the one reserved just for feelings about Luke? It had deepened and expanded, threatening to burst to the surface. Why couldn’t they have something more permanent together? A future? Long nights just holding each other, and a life to experience together?
It was time to seriously consider her next career move…possibly feel him out to discover if their desires were aligned. How he felt about her, really felt, could impact the choice she made. Stay or go. Leave EMS, or turn her back on law.
He pulled into a parking space behind her town house and threw the truck into park. He’d just shifted in his seat toward her when his smile fell and his jaw clenched.
“What the hell is he doing here?”
Coss was staring at them through the passenger window. She startled, suddenly very glad that Luke hadn’t leaned in to kiss her. She took a breath and tucked her hair behind her ears before opening her door. Grabbing her purse, she gave Coss a tight, curious smile.
“Hey,” she greeted him.
He was standing so close, she nearly bumped into him as she exited the truck. She pulled up short to avoid body contact and smoothed her hands over her middle as Coss crossed his arms and stood his ground. Luke came around the front of the truck to stand beside her. Coss gave them a once over with a barely contained smirk.
“Where ya been?”
There was a bite to Luke’s reprimanding tone. “Excuse me?”
He moved ahead of her, getting in Coss’s personal space. The older medic smirked and gave a warning shake of his head.
“What do you need, man?” Luke’s voice was neutral, in no way reflecting his rigid posture.
“I came by a couple times to see Greer, but she wasn’t home. Figures she’d be with you. The two of you are pretty cozy, huh?”
Luke nudged forward a bit more and squared off with Coss, face-to-face. “Our friendship outside of work is none of your damn business.”
A sour taste rose in her throat. Had Coss been spying on them? She knew he lived a few blocks away, and she would see him drive by her place now and then. And she and Luke had taken a huge risk the time they’d gotten frisky in the laundry room. She’d been so clouded with pleasure, she hadn’t stopped to think that anyone could have stopped to listen to what was going on behind the door.
“Friendship. Sure thing.” He turned to her and frowned. He didn’t say anything, just stared at her. She had the urge to step back, but fuck him. He gave her the creeps, but she wasn’t going to let him know. Law school had shown her how to deliver a great poker face.
“That kid you talked to at the coffee shop came by the station last night.”
“Brent.”
Coss waved her off. “Whatever. His daddy’s funeral is Saturday at nine. He wanted you to know.”
Luke glanced at her. She hadn’t mentioned her interaction with the young man. Talking about it didn’t feel right, as if it was something just for her. She held back a heavy sigh. Saturday was her mother’s birthday party. She pulled the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder and moved around Coss toward her porch.
“Thanks for stopping by. You could have just texted me, though.”
She was almost across the sidewalk when her partner’s voice caught her.
“You’re going to be called in on a privacy violation.”
She spun. “What?”
“Sorry, kid. You can’t go around talking about calls. I filed a report with legal.”
Oh fuck him! She tipped her head and put on her fake smile. The one she used when her mother berated her for not being pleasant enough when company was over.
“I know the law, Coss. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Just because you’re a lawyer doesn’t mean a damn thing.”
Luke put a hand up, palm out, as if he was going to push Coss back. Instead, he stopped just shy of touching the older medic. Her heart flipped as the two men faced off. She knew the strength of Luke’s body, had traced each firm line with her fingertips. Coss was huskier, his form comprised of the kind of brute strength that those barrel-chested men on fake wrestling shows had. It wasn’t so much his size that worried her; it was the darkness in his expression, as if he really wanted to hurt Luke.
“What the hell is going on?” Luke demanded.
“It’s between me and your girlfriend.” Coss chuckled as if something terribly funny just popped into his head. “You know, I bet the city board would love to hear about your friendship with Greer at my director interview tomorrow.”
Luke’s nostrils flared. “You’re threatening me?”
Both men stepped forward, so close there was no room between them for her to try and stop them from going at it.
“No kid is going to take that job away from me, you hear? I was a medic when you were still sucking your mama’s tit.”
She couldn’t stop the panic fluttering in her chest. If they started swinging, there was nothing outside of calling the cops that would stop them. She’d seen Luke fight. And Coss didn’t seem the kind to quit until someone was dead.
“Knock it off, or I’m calling the police. You both know what happens if you get nailed with a disorderly. Unless you’re willing to lose your licenses. Then by all means, have at it.”
Since they were both up for director, she figured her threat would be enough to break up the testosterone party. The men pushed off of each other.
“Thank God,” she whispered quietly. She nudged her friend to step back even more, but he wasn’t paying her any attention.
“We’re not done,” Luke said, lifting his chin. “Not even close.”
Coss smirked and half turned to go. “I’ll remember that, pretty boy.”
He gave a fake salute, and with a final glance at her, wandered off down the sidewalk.
“Jesus. I mean, there’s a time and a place to be a fucking caveman, but if you’d started swinging you could have…”
“Stay away from him.”
She spread her hands as if to say, obviously. “I wish, but he’s my partner.”
Luke shook his head. “Not for long. I won’t allow it. He’s trouble, Greer.”
She crossed her arms, wishing her pulse would slow. “You won’t allow it? What does that mean?”
“It means that it’s my job to protect you, to watch out for you. I can’t stand by and leave you in harm’s way with that guy. He’s always been off, but this goes way over the line.”
The last vestiges of calm and peace from their trip crumbled away. Coming back to reality was always a bit sucky, sure, but they’d stepped right into a shit show. He was right. Coss was trouble. His threats and his reporting her for some perceived violation didn’t indicate a guy that played well in the sandbox. His sudden aggression took her a little by surprise, honestly. During her orientation, Coss had always been friendly, never showing this side of himself.
The detonator seemed to be competing for the same job.
“Does he come by your place a lot?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve seen him drive by, but if he lives nearby, then it makes sense he’d use this street.” Time to change the subject before this got more out of hand. “Will you go to Eugene’s funeral with me? It’s in the morning before my mother’s party.”
His jaw set hard. “Yes, I will, and stop trying to distract me. I’m talking to Chief today.”
She appreciated her friend’s concern, and he wasn’t wrong about Coss, but she was a grown woman. She’d had enough of her mother forcing her choices. It was one of the reasons she wasn’t in a hurry to make a career decision. She wanted it to be something she wanted for herself; not something everyone else wanted for her.
“I don’t need you speaking for me. I have a voice. I can express my own concerns.”
He waved her off. “It’ll be more effective coming from me.”
“I’m the one personally affected.”
“Right, but Greer, you’re too nice. You don’t get out of shitty situations as soon as you should. Okay? I’m going to handle this and get you reassigned so it gets done.”
Now she was pissed. “You’d better head out before I say something you’ll regret.”
He cocked his head with an impatient look. “This is serious. You’re transferring to House 115. That’s it.”
“Knock it off, Luke” She pulled the strap of her bag higher on her shoulder and moved past him. “I get that you’re pissed at Coss, but don’t take it out on me. I don’t want you speaking on my behalf when I’m perfectly capable.”
“You don’t get it. It’s my job to help you.”
She spun and pointed a finger at him. “No, you don’t get it. We’re not kids anymore. Things have changed, and I don’t need you.”
Her lips tingled as the words crossed over them. She wanted to pull them back in and swallow them down, deep down, so the flicker of hurt and stubborn pride crossing his handsome face never appeared.
He let out a short, hard breath. “You’re right. You don’t need me. Good call.”
The heaviness in her chest got worse as she scrambled for a way to take it back, to explain that she didn’t mean it the way it came across. He walked around the front of the truck, not bothering to even glance at her as he got in, started it up, and drove off.
Mentally kicking herself, Greer opened her apartment door and went in, locking up behind her before going into the living room and tossing her bag on the couch. Her body felt numb.
What a stupid thing to say. Just half an hour ago, she’d been daydreaming about broaching the topic of something more for them, a real relationship. And now she’d stomped on his ego—though, to be fair, he’d done a fair job of stepping all over hers, too.
A dart of sunlight extended from her makeshift art studio and across the living room floor. It spread across the hardwood, taking on an arch not unlike an angel’s wing. The urge to cry had a firm hold on her, but she wasn’t going to give in. She was just tired, and she’d said something she didn’t mean. She was sad she couldn’t attend the funeral this weekend because of her mother’s party. She already missed her friend. Giving in to her emotions wasn’t going to help.
The shape of light continued to slowly change in her mind.
What if Eugene had had an angel on his side when the building collapsed? Maybe he would have gotten out in time. Maybe there would have been something she and Luke could have done.
She went into the art room.
Maybe he could have his guardian angel after all.