Heat Wave Read online

  Her gaze shot to his left hand as she looked for evidence he was married with a wife in suburbia and had a half dozen kids. No ring, but that didn’t mean anything.

  Before she could get beyond that thought, he asked, “Is there somewhere else you can stay?”

  She shrugged. “I’ll find another hotel.”

  “Good luck with that. They’re all full as far as I know because of this damn hum. Journalists and tourists are piled high and deep.”

  While she gathered her toiletries and repacked her small suitcase, she was way too aware of the quiet that had settled on the room. Although the cops had taken the man and his girlfriend away there were still two deputies outside, and Jeremy was still in the room with her. The air conditioner coughed and rattled with a laborious effort to chill the stuffy room.

  She zipped up her bag and turned to Jeremy. “I didn't thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “You probably saved my life.”

  “Just doing my job.”

  “Still...” She put her hand out to shake.

  When he took it his fingers surrounded hers in warmth. As his skin moved over hers, the excitement in her belly notched upward. He released her hand and planted his big hands at his waist. Her attention snagged on the way the uniform fit him. He looked every inch as lethal a warrior. That undeniable tingle shot straight into her loins again. Her body clenched on the delicious arousal. What was wrong with her? She couldn't remember the last time, if ever, she'd responded to a man so fiercely. She didn't understand getting turned on in the aftermath of violence.

  “Hey,” he said softly. “You okay?”

  She took a deep breath. “I will be. The fog in my brain is lifting.”

  “Ever been around violence before?”

  “No. Thank goodness.” She lowered the roller case to the floor and pulled up the telescoping handle. “I need to check out.”

  “Of course. You got a car here?”

  “My rental.”

  He glanced out the door. “Looks like the guys have chased off the reporters for now. Coast is clear.”

  She stepped out the door and that's when she saw a flat tire on the front passenger side. “You have got to be kidding me.” She reached for her wallet in her cross body purse. “At least I have the auto club.”

  “I can fix it if it has a spare.”

  She smiled. “Thanks, but if you’re on duty I don’t want to hold you up.”

  “I was going home from the shooting range. I was driving by when the call came over the radio.”

  They checked the rental car and thankfully it had a full-sized spare, tire iron and jack.

  “Why are you dressed like a soldier?” she asked.

  He walked back to her car, tire iron and jack in hand. “This is my SWAT gear. Or SRT if you want to sound politically correct.”

  “SRT?”

  “Strategic Response Team. It’s the soft and pretty way of saying SWAT. A lot of law enforcement agencies don’t like to use the word weapons. Sounds too militant.”

  “Uh-huh.” She tried to imagine him as militant, but all she remembered was the geek she’d known long ago. Then again, he’d been in the U.S. Navy, and that’s where the military bearing entered the game.

  “So what are you doing in Bristol Peak?” he asked.

  “I’m back because of the hum phenomena.”

  He snorted. “You believe in that?”

  “No. Absolutely not.”

  He glanced up from working on the tire, wearing a cynical expression. “You’re not a reporter, right? I’d heard you were a volcanologist.”

  Wow. Had he kept track of her after all these years? Probably not any more than she’d kept track of him. He stared, waiting for an answer.

  “You heard right. I’m a volcanologist. Joanna Pritchard asked me to investigate the hum, and I haven’t had a real vacation in almost ten years. I was in the use or lose category with my vacation days, so this came at a good time. Three weeks in Bristol Peak.”

  He wrinkled his nose but kept his attention on using the jack and then tire iron. “Next time I get vacation I’m going somewhere tropical.”

  “Like Costa Rica?”

  His grin returned. “Maybe. I haven’t had a vacation in a year, and I need one.”

  A wild little thrill hit her midsection again. Chill. You’re thinking way too fast, way too much.

  He went silent long enough to take off the flat tire, and she watched him work. The way he moved fascinated her, which was ridiculous. There shouldn’t be anything inherently sexy about a man changing a tire. Maybe the high altitude had scrambled her brain cells. No, that couldn’t be it. She was used to high altitude. She frowned, pissed at herself for thinking about him in such a raging sexual fashion.

  He grunted as he fitted the spare tire into place. “So why does Joanna think you can solve the hum?”

  “I guess because I’m a scientist.” She crossed her arms. “Have you heard it?”

  “Nope. That’s one of the reasons why I think it’s crap. If everyone could hear it that would be different.”

  “I don’t live here, and I don’t believe the hum has any supernatural meaning, but it is a real sound. I heard it right before the nut job with the gun broke into my room.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  She gritted her teeth a little bit. “You think I imagined the sound?”

  He didn’t look at her as he finished tightening the lug nuts. “It could have been that rickety air conditioner in your room.”

  She twisted her lips in self-reproach. “I did think of that. But it wasn’t quite right. The air conditioning is on most of the time. Why would I suddenly think the sound belonged to the hum?”

  “How do I know?” he asked lightly.

  She tilted her head to the side. “I remember you used to be this skeptical even when you were a snot-nosed kid. That hasn’t changed. But you certainly…” She choked on what she almost said, and he glanced at her again.

  “I certainly what?” he asked.

  No, she couldn’t say it. Jeremy you are so hot my panties went up in flames just looking at you. She flushed again, needing to escape before she did or said something over-the-top outrageous.

  That’s when she blurted out, “Jeremy, are you married?”

  He stood as he finished with the tire, that silvery gaze latching onto her like a laser. Surprise covered his face. “Never. You?”

  “Never.”

  “Uh.” His man grunt showed no interest in continuing the conversation. He lowered the jack and headed back to the squad car with the jack and tire iron. He returned it all to the trunk.

  When he came back to her car, he reached into one of the Velcro pockets on his right thigh and removed a business card. “Here’s my card.”

  She took it, but only one word would leave her throat. “Oh.”

  He shifted on his feet, and a new wave of attraction hit her as she took him in from combat style boots all the way up that tough, ripped body. She swallowed hard.

  When she didn’t speak again, he said softly, “My cell is on there.” He smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Cassidy. Look, I have the next two days off. Would you have dinner with me sometime?”

  Her mouth dropped open, and his gaze snagged on her lips. She felt the attention all the way from her breasts to her lower belly. God, this man did crazy things to her libido. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t seen a good-looking man before, but her body reacted like a girl entering puberty.

  “Yes,” she said before she could convince herself it was a bad idea.

  “Great. Where would you like to meet?”

  She thought quickly. “Bristol Peak Cafe at five tonight?”

  “Sounds good. Listen, if you don’t find a place to stay, let me know. I’ve got a guest room in my condo.”

  “Oh.” Her throat went dry at the idea of staying with him. “That’s very generous.”

  “No problem. See you later.” He turned back to his
squad car.

  She hesitated for a moment. Her attention caught on his incredible rear, tight and well-formed. Then, embarrassed as hell, she jumped into her rental and headed out before he caught her staring.

  Two

  “That’s horrible,” Joanna Pritchard said as she sat across from Cassidy at the cafe. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

  Joanna’s concerned look didn’t fit on her normally sweet-tempered, good-natured face. Joanna ran her hands through her long, straight blond hair. Cassidy considered Joanna a good friend—they’d graduated high school the same year here in Bristol Peak—and they’d always walked on the side of originality when everyone else seemed more interested in conformity. Joanna, though, had married her high-school sweetheart, Brooker James, and took over her mother’s cafe. Brooker was also a sheriff’s deputy and on the SRT. Joanna also painted landscapes and sold them through a local art gallery.

  Cassidy twirled one strand of her hair around her index finger. “It was awful. But I’m over it.”

  “Already?” Joanna looked doubtful. “It was just this morning.”

  Cassidy thought a moment. “Maybe I’m just not processing it very well. I mean, I had a gun pointed in my face. My life didn’t flash before my eyes, but it was like I was frozen.”

  “Of course.” Joanna’s voice went soft with understanding. “You didn’t expect someone to bust into your motel room. It would freak out anyone.”

  Cassidy didn’t forgive herself that easily, but she wasn’t about to spill the beans entirely with everything she felt. “Maybe.”

  “Well, you know you can talk to me. Or you could talk to Jeremy.” Joanna’s serious face turned playful.

  Cassidy leaned back in the booth. “No way. I don’t know him that well anymore.”

  “Uh-huh.” Joanna looked doubtful. “You knew him two years as a teenager. He was a good friend, right?”

  “We were kids. That type of friendship doesn’t always work when you grow up. We’re thirty-five.”

  Joanna rolled her eyes. “Yeah, you’re so old.”

  Cassidy threw her friend a dirty look. “We’re not old, but we’re not horny teens either.”

  “What that means is you’ve both had a lot of experience in the man-woman thing. That can be good because you know what you want.”

  Cassidy nodded. “I do know what I want, but it doesn’t mean Jeremy fits that bill.”

  “This coming from a woman who’s been riding volcanoes for years and years,” Joanna winked. “Maybe you’re ready to ride a man.”

  Cassidy never considered herself a prude, but her face flamed at her friend’s blunt statement. “Maybe I don’t feel about him like that.”

  Joanna leaned forward. “That’s crap and you know it. Jeremy is a good guy. A really good guy. Brooker is great friends with him. We trust Jeremy, and he’s always treated women well from what I can see.”

  “Definition of ‘well’?”

  “He’s a gentleman.”

  Doubts filled Cassidy. “Even if he’s a great guy, that doesn’t mean I want to do him. I don’t have one night stands.”

  Joanna tilted her head to the side and gave Cassidy a skeptical look. “Maybe not a one night stand, but a few nights. Look, I don’t want you to hurt the guy, of course. And I don’t want him to hurt you. But you could have a bit of harmless fun. There’s no problem with that.”

  For the first time in her life, Cassidy gave the idea a thought. What if she cut loose for a little vacation fling? “Well, maybe.” Cassidy couldn’t help it. She asked, “Does he have a girlfriend?”

  “I don’t think so. At least he hasn’t mentioned anyone recently.” Joanna shrugged. “He doesn’t date much, I don’t think.”

  “So what’s wrong with him? I mean, I’m pretty sure he was checking me out and—he’s not gay is he?”

  Joanna laughed. “What the hell, girl? Do you think I’d suggest you date him if I knew he was gay? No, he’s not gay. But if you’re not interested in him why are you asking?”

  Cassidy groaned. “Okay, Jeremy is hot. Like baking my ovaries, hormones on three alarm fire hot.”

  Joanna chuckled harder. “Of course. He’s also fun, has a great sense of humor—”

  “So if you like him so much why didn’t you marry him instead of Brooker?”

  Joanna’s grin grew wider. “Brooker is my soul-mate. I love him more than anything.”

  Cassidy sighed. “Like I said, what’s wrong with Jeremy? A man who looks like that? Why hasn’t a woman grabbed him and married him if he’s such a great catch?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe he hasn’t met the right woman yet. Or it could be that he spent fifteen years in the Navy with the threat of getting blown up. Maybe he didn’t think it was wise to get close to anyone.”

  “Yeah…” Cassidy looked around to make sure no one could hear. “That could be true.” The idea of him in that much danger made her blood freeze. She sighed. “If there isn’t anything wrong with him, there has to be something wrong with me. Jeremy came into the motel room and it was like boom. I was…” Cassidy clapped her hands together lightly. “Bam.” She leaned forward and whispered. “I wanted to jump him right there and then.”

  Joanna laughed. “Well, there you go. Your hormones are telling you it’s time to get busy.”

  “Isn’t it twisted to get turned on by a man with a gun?”

  “Depends on his weapon,” Joanna said with a smirk.

  They burst out laughing, and Cassidy felt the rush of happiness at letting loose. When was the last time she’d laughed this hard and acted this silly?

  “Well, the first time I saw Brooker with his big semi-automatic weapon,” Joanna said. “Oh baby. I wanted to throw him down and have my way with him.”

  For some reason they thought this was hysterical. Cassidy snorted a laugh and that made them howl even louder. People around the cafe glared or smiled depending on their mood. Finally they wrestled their laughing under control.

  Joanna mopped at her eyes. “That felt good. I’m so glad you’re back in town.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Already trying to fix me up and everything.” Cassidy’s glasses slipped down her nose, and she pushed them back. “But you’re right. That’s how I felt about Jeremy when he came in the room holding that piece. It was instant. Kind of freaky if you ask me.”

  A wave of heat slammed Cassidy as she visualized the man standing before her naked, holding his cock in his hand. Oh. My. Freaking. God. Cassidy’s face burned. She fanned herself with one hand.

  “What’s wrong?” Joanna asked.

  “Is it hot in here?”

  Joanna’s eyes narrowed as Cassidy averted her eyes. “Air conditioning is going. Are you having a hot flash?”

  “Too young for that.”

  Joanna’s grin staid she was teasing.” I think if you like Jeremy that much you should at least see him while you’re in town. Have a little fun.”

  Cassidy shook her head. “You were always so bossy, you know that?”

  Joanna grunted softly. “Didn’t get you to stay in Bristol Peak, did it?”

  “Hell no.”

  Joanna shifted gears. “You know, there may be another reason Jeremy hasn’t married yet.”

  Cassidy frowned, afraid she knew the answer. “I don’t want to think about that.”

  “You have to.”

  They didn’t verbalize it, but Cassidy knew what her friend meant. “Do you really think women would be afraid of him because of his father?”

  “Sure they would. It’s ridiculous, of course. But…still…something like that has to haunt a man forever.”

  Cassidy left out a long breath. “I know.”

  Cassidy didn’t want to dwell on Jeremy’s father, but a man who had committed the crimes Jeremy’s father had…well, there wasn’t much chance people would ever forget.

  “On a different subject,” Joanna said. “So you heard the hum? What do you think? I’m so glad you heard it because a few of us have wondere
d if we’re going bonkers.”

  “You’re not nuts. But that doesn’t mean the hum has a paranormal basis. I’ve got three weeks to figure it out, so be patient.”

  Joanna looked passed Cassidy. “Speak of the devil. There’s Jeremy now.”

  Cassidy glanced over her shoulder and saw Jeremy had entered the cafe. While there were a lot of diners there, suddenly it felt to Cassidy as if no one else existed in the room but Jeremy. He smiled, and here and there said hello to other diners. Unlike earlier when he’d worn battle dress, he now wore a navy blue polo shirt that fit his muscles just right and what looked like new jeans. He was delicious enough to eat.

  Joanna stood as he reached them. “Hey Jeremy. Did you see Brooker anywhere? He’s supposed to be here by now.”

  “He’s right behind me as a matter of fact. I saw him parking his car,” Jeremy said.

  Joanna patted him on the shoulder. “Excellent. Well, I’ll leave you two to talk.”

  After Joanna left them, Jeremy sat in the booth seat across from Cassidy. Mischief lit his eyes, and she wondered what on earth he was thinking. Before they could say a word, a waitress arrived at the table and took their drink and dinner orders. Cassidy went for a steak, he had a salad.

  After the waitress left, Cassidy asked, “Are you a vegetarian?”

  “What? No. Why?”

  She gave him a lopsided grin. “Last guy I dated was a militant vegan. On our first date, after I ordered a steak, he proceeded to tell me how horrible meat was for me and blah, blah, blah and well, you get the picture. Next time he asked me out, I said no.”

  “What was he? A scientist?”

  “A vet.”

  Jeremy’s mouth curled a little. “He was a jerk. Even if he is a vegan, lecturing someone like that on a first date…well, you’re better off not dating him.”

  She couldn’t help smiling. “My thought exactly.”

  Jeremy leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. His gaze was hot and attentive. “Maybe I should tell you all my little quirks so you’ll go out with me.”

  Dating him would be risky business. After all, she’d like him more and more until then what? She’d been crushing on him as a teen, but he’d never returned her interest. The idea he wanted to date her now blew her away.