If We Dare - J.H. Croix Page 0,2

a magnet on her, tracking every step. Her glossy dark hair fell like a river down her back, the long tresses catching the light and swinging as she moved. I couldn’t help but think how it would feel to spin that glorious hair around my fist.

Only Jade—barely up to my chin and maybe a third of the size of the drunk guy she’d taken on—would think it made sense to try to kick him out like that on her own. But then, Jade didn’t strike me as the kind of girl to ever back down.

As I turned to walk away, it didn’t slip my notice that the side of my body where I’d pulled her close felt like it was on fire. Jade was a petite bundle of curves with enough sass and spirit to tempt me beyond all reason.

With a mental shake, I walked away, telling myself to remember all the reasons why I’d avoided spending much time alone with Jade. I had once spent roughly fifteen minutes in the car alone with her when I gave her a ride home. That short span of time had made me question whether I’d previously understood what the concept of chemistry meant. Chemistry between two people, that is. I didn’t quite know how it was possible, but the space in my car during that time felt as if lightning had struck, every particle in the air vibrating from its lingering power.

Riiiiight. I didn’t need to wonder what Jade might be doing tonight after the bar closed, most definitely not.

I returned to the booth where I’d stopped to catch a few drinks with the guys on my first responder crew. Dawson, as usual, was cracking jokes. Jade’s brother Lucas was nowhere to be found. Most likely because that man was about as head over heels in love as a man could be with his girlfriend, Valentina.

Slipping into the booth, I took a long drag on my beer, glancing over when I heard my name. “What?”

“Well, look at that. He speaks,” Dawson teased.

I rolled my eyes. “Of course. You’ve heard me speak plenty of times.”

“Well, you were Jade’s savior there. I was commenting that will further the legend,” he said.

“Huh? What legend?” I asked cautiously as I glanced around the table.

Wade waggled his eyebrows. “Ever since you rescued that girl from the climbing accident a few weeks back, she’s been spreading rumors about how hot you are and how you’re the best rescuer.” He added air quotes around the word best.

“What? I was just doing my job. All of y’all have rescued people. This is not just a me thing.”

Jackson winked and shrugged. “She’s got the hots for you. It’ll blow over. Plus, you’re still considered new around here, so you’re more exciting than the rest of us.”

“What the hell? I’ve lived here for six months,” I muttered.

Dawson chuckled. “Six months is nothing. People are nosy. Plus, you’re single.”

“That’s how I like it. I plan to keep it that way,” I replied.

“That’s only going to make you enigmatic,” Wade offered.

“A-plus for vocabulary,” Dawson chimed in with a wink.

“Fuck enigmatic. There’s no mystery about me. I mind my own business,” I countered.

I did, in fact, mind my own business. I also had zero interest in romance. I’d been there, done that, and found it a waste of time. I was all fucking set with romance.

The night meandered along. I decided to cut out early, if only because I was legitimately tired. Between some training that morning on a climbing wall and a hiking rescue that afternoon, I was ready to try to catch some shut-eye.

Stepping out into the cool spring darkness, I paused to stare at the sky for a few beats. Clouds drifted in front of the half moon, stars glittering in between them. The mountain ridge ahead was silhouetted in the darkness with a silver shaft of moonlight angling across part of it.

Lowering my gaze, I began walking toward my truck. A scuffing sound drew my attention. I didn’t see anyone in the parking lot until my eyes landed on the dumpster in the far corner.

The moment I noticed the silhouette of the bottom perched at the top of the dumpster, I knew I was staring at Jade Cole’s luscious ass.

She was kicking her legs. I didn’t know how, but she seemed stuck. My boots moved toward her. My greedy eyes took the moment to absorb the sight of her. Cut the shit, my good angel said. She’s not on display personally