word, “giving up their freedom, but it’s not for me. I must be just getting the flu or something. Or maybe yesterday’s warehouse fire took more out of me than I thought.”
Yesterday had been a shitshow.
We’d barely clocked on when the first call came in, and they didn’t stop until we were done twenty-four hours later. A five-car collision where miraculously no one died, two domestic disputes, and a gas leak—just to name a few, and all before dinner. So, when we were faced with a warehouse burning out of control close to midnight, we’d been running on vapors.
Still, there was no other job I’d rather be doing, even though it could be physically and mentally exhausting. Which was why after twenty-four hours of duty it was important to let off some steam. Recharge in the best way I knew how in the forty-eight before heading back in. Not sure why my usual methods weren’t up to scratch.
“Maybe you should—” Whatever else Leighton said was completely lost on me. It was like I could hear he was talking, but the words receded into background noise.
Holy.
Shit.
My eyes snagged on what was probably the hottest brunette I’d ever seen, which was saying something because, trust me, I’d seen plenty.
She was toned, a body that clearly saw the inside of a gym on the regular, with the length of her hem giving me a really good view of her legs.
And fuck did I like what I saw.
Her killer heels boosted her height, but even without them she wouldn’t be short. And while it was hard to tear my eyes away from her legs, the rest of her was pleading to be discovered.
Jesus.
The curves of her body leaned more toward athlete than model, every muscle radiating strength and power like it was begging to be unleashed.
And I liked it.
The fact I could put my hands around her and not feel like I was gonna break her was a turn on I hadn’t realized I wanted. And if all she had was a smoking hot body, that probably would’ve been enough. But she was gorgeous as well. Long, straight, dark brown hair that spilled over her shoulders like an oil slick and a pair of dark brown eyes that were staring right back at me.
She looked . . .
Hell, did I know her?
When I didn’t look away, her eyes narrowed, a silent conversation I didn’t understand happening between us that got me on my feet whether I wanted to or not.
And trust me, I wanted to.
“Heading to the bar,” I mumbled to Leighton, not daring to break eye contact with my mystery woman. I wasn’t risking her leaving and losing her forever.
Nope.
Not happening.
My body moved through the crowd unable to shake the feeling that we’d met before. And fuck, if I’d been stupid enough to date her and not called her back, I’d beg—on my hands and knees—for her forgiveness.
She didn’t flinch, standing her ground as I closed the distance, and I liked the heat in her eyes. It was somewhere between lust and hate and I’d be lying if the combination wasn’t doing it for me in some sick twisted way.
Oh, we knew each other all right. And while I didn’t know the circumstances, we’d definitely not slept together. Because while I’d made some questionable calls in my life, there is no way I’d have slept with her and not wanted a second taste.
It didn’t take long until I was standing in front of her, moving through the crowd quickly with a desperation crawling up my skin I didn’t quite understand. Those beautiful eyes were filled with so much trouble I had to fight the urge not to just bend down and kiss her.
“I know you.” It wasn’t a question, not bothering with the hello because it was time I didn’t want to be wasting. My mouth lowered, skating the shell of her ear as I whispered, “And you know me too, don’t you?”
Her hand pushed hard against my chest, her eyes flaring wide. “What the hell are you doing?”
So far, the only one who’d done any touching was her. And while I wasn’t in a hurry to stop her from putting whatever she wanted on me, the edge in her voice had me slightly concerned.
“I’m not doing anything.” I lifted my hands, proving they were behaving. “But I’m also not wrong. I might forget a name, but I never forget a face. And yours isn’t one I’d be able to get out of