“Hey, what’d you get on question twenty-two?” EJ asked.

“You still trying to copy off me?” Cade asked with a laugh.

“Just trying to make sure, dude,” EJ said. “They didn’t tell us training to be a recruit involved so much homework. I should have gone into professional baseball or football or something.”

“Yeah, completely realistic,” Cade said. He finished up the last of the quiz. EJ reached his beer across the old scratched-up firehouse table and they clinked. “Cheers to another day of training done.”

“What? I could have done it. I mean, if I got accepted to be a firefighter—”

“Yeah, I think nepotism had a little something to do with that,” Cade said with a wink.

“Because my dad’s the fire chief? Nah, dude. Totally got in on sheer merit. And because they could really use a boost in the annual hot firefighter calendar.”

“I don’t think that’s a real thing in Salem,” Cade said.

“Not yet, maybe,” EJ said pointedly.

“You guys done?” Chief Hammond called from the doorway. “You’re on kitchen cleaning duty.”

EJ groaned, but they both headed to the commercial-sized kitchen and started scrubbing the chili pots from lunch.

“So, how was the date last night?” EJ asked.

Cade cracked a smile. “A gentleman never tells.”

“I know, but I was asking about your date.”

Cade laughed.

“I saw her sneaking out of our place at the crack of dawn. I’m assuming this wasn’t an innocent sleepover with popcorn and separate sleeping bags.”

“You can do a lot with popcorn,” Cade said with a smirk. “Especially the buttery kind.”

“Okay, Mr. Morningside Manwhore.”

“Don’t throw those high school names at me,” Cade said. “This is 2013, not the North Salem High days.”

“Well, the girl I saw walking out barefoot was brunette. What happened to the blonde from earlier this week? And that poor girl’s shoes?”

Cade shrugged. “She has three roommates. And probably other shoes.”

“So?”

“Well, the brunette from last night is one of the roommates. So … I assume I won’t be seeing the blonde again?”

EJ groaned.

“Hey, I could be wrong. Depends on whether or not she’s the jealous type.”

“Which one?”

“Either, I guess.”

“I’m honestly not sure if I should be proud or disgusted by having a manwhore as a best friend. And roommate.”

“Proud, probably,” Cade said. He paused and pretended to reflect into the distance. “How’s uh … Kelsey?”

“It’s Courtney. And everything’s just like it has been for the last month. Not all of us have a rotating selection of women. Some of us have just one. And she’s doing great. She’s still doing that dressage stuff—”

“You’re still jealous of that hot horse trainer, huh?”

“Not jealous. Just … you know. Concerned for Courtney’s safety.”

“Afraid she might slip and fall on his cock? It happens. Happens to a lot of girls I meet, in fact.”

“She’s not like that,” EJ said and shot him a look.

“I don’t know, man. When we all went out to that bar last week, she was really touchy. With, like, every guy there.”

“She’s just Southern. They’re all like that.”

Cade nodded and scrubbed the pot. He didn’t want to say anything, but he couldn’t forget how many times Courtney had touched his dick through his jeans beneath that bartop table. When her hands hadn’t been all over him, she’d stared at him and the message had been clear. I’m yours if you want me. Cade knew better than to say anything overt to EJ. They’d been down this road before. All that would happen was he’d end up getting blamed for something he never did. Just keep your trap shut, he told himself.

“This is what I like to see. Men in the kitchen.” Cade turned at Lily’s voice and gave her a smile.

“Hey, Lily,” Cade said.

“Hi. EJ, do you have a minute? I wanted to ask you about those scholarships at Oregon State you said I should apply to…”

As Lily grilled EJ about applications, Cade stole glances at her.

Damn, she’s really blossomed in the past year, he thought. Verified bombshell. Her short skirt and white Keds were the perfect combination to show off those long legs.

Cade felt a sudden sting on his arm. “Hey, man,” he said. “That hurt.”

“That’s my sister, dude,” EJ said. His voice was playful, but there was a current underneath it that told Cade to back off.

Lily blushed and looked at her feet.

“Ah, I shouldn’t even bother,” EJ said. “Lily’s too smart to fall for you, anyway, you bastard. She’s saving herself for her future husband. Right, Lil?”

“Uh, no,” Lily said. “You guys are weird. Anyway. Have you seen Dad?”

“Probably in his office,” EJ said.

Cade did his best not to stare as she left, especially with EJ’s eyes on him. EJ hit him again, harder this time. “Why don’t you try thinking about that brunette? You know, the one you actually have a chance with—and won’t get killed for hooking up with?”

“First of all, I’ll have you know that I’m irresistible to all women.”

EJ chuckled as they wrung out the cloths and tossed them into the laundry bin.