Embraced by Fire Read Online Free PDF Page B

was over gawping at good-looking men.
    Johnny’s gaze flickered toward the other man. “Sure, it’ll be fun.”
    He didn’t look like he thought it would be fun. In fact, the skin around his lips and eyes seemed tight and his stance tense.
    “Are you sure?” They were friends, she didn’t want him to feel pressured into going out.
    “Totally.” His lips pulled back, but it was like he’d forgotten the proper muscles needed for smiling.
    The other man slapped his hand on Johnny’s shoulder, oblivious to the resulting wince. His slightly feminine mouth shot her a friendly smile. “Johnny would love to go out. After a tough day, he deserves some R and R.” His voice was unaccented, but oddly liquid as if he wasn’t speaking his native tongue. “I’m afraid I brought him some sad news.”
    “Oh no. What happened?” Kait turned quickly to Johnny and squeezed his arm reassuringly.
    He avoided her gaze, glancing at the man beside him as if looking for permission to speak. What had she stumbled onto? Whatever it was, it was clearly something personal affecting both men.
    The other man answered, his smile slipping away to be replaced by a sad frown. “A friend of ours was shot. I came myself to let Johnny know, I didn’t want him to find out through the grapevine.”
    Kait pressed her fingers to her lips. “Shot! How awful. Who is it? What happened?”
    “You wouldn’t know him.” Johnny’s voice sounded strained.
    “Some men confronted him and demanded money. He didn’t give it to them and they shot him.”
    The line around Johnny’s mouth whitened as the man spoke, he was clearly deeply upset.
    “Are you sure you want to go out, J? We could have quiet night in.” Kait looked up into his face.
    “I’m fine, Kait. I could do with a drink.”
    Kait patted Johnny’s arm, then turned to the other man. She hesitated, then held out her hand. “I’m Kait.” It was unlike Johnny to forget the social niceties but given what she’d just heard she understood.
    “Gordon.” His hand stroked into hers, his thumb a subtle caress before he released her.
    Heat surged in her cheeks. For a moment she forgot Ryu as pale blue eyes impaled her. Lord, the man certainly had sex appeal. It wasn’t the raw magnetism of Ryu’s, but it was nonetheless undeniable. Maybe he was just what she needed to distract herself from the unattainable.
    “Would you like to come with us, Gordon?” Even as she asked she regretted it. What kind of woman hit on a man who was grieving for a dead friend?
    “It’s sweet of you to ask, but I’ve got to get home to my wife. She’s been hit hard by this news.”
    “Maybe next time.” Kait smiled sympathetically. Married, of course he was married.
    Gordon squeezed Johnny’s shoulder, again oblivious to the wince, before releasing him. “Don’t forget what we talked about. Me and the boys are always close by. If you don’t call us, we’ll call you.” He finally released Johnny. “Don’t do anything stupid.” He gave Kait a nod and walked off.
    Kait’s gaze followed him for a moment then she looked back at Johnny. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
    Johnny ran his fingers through his hair. “I’m fine, Kait. Stop fussing. What time do you want to meet?”
    Kait accepted his right to change the topic. He clearly wasn’t ready to talk about his friend. “Seven. We could grab dinner beforehand?”
    “Sounds good.” Johnny looked down to unlock his car door.
    Kait stepped back as he slid behind the wheel. “I’ll call Rachael when I get home. See if she wants to come too. See you later.”
    Johnny nodded and closed the door. Kait watched as he drove away, then walked to her car. The news of Johnny’s friend was unreal to her, she didn’t even know the man’s name. But with Johnny’s mother ill, the news of his friend getting shot must be a hard blow. At least Gordon shared the news face-to-face, and he’d promised to be around if Johnny needed him.
    With that reassuring