Flame (Firefighters of Montana Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

morning.
    “Water is so boring. Unless it’s ice cubes.” And then she giggled and collapsed against him again.
    He reached for her chin, tilted it up so she looked him in the eye. “You sure you’ll be all right to drive tomorrow?”
    She pressed her cheek against his shoulder. “I’m not that stupid, Dex. I’m not driving. I’m riding shotgun. Simon Ford’s doing all the driving.”
    Simon Ford. He knew that name only too well. Former high school jock and all-round asshole. Dex felt his spine stiffen, his teeth grind. He’d known Simon since high school, too. He’d been an asshole then and he was an even bigger asshole now. Last time Dex had seen him, the douchebag had been half-carrying, half-dragging a clearly drunk woman across the parking lot of The Drop Zone and into his truck. Dex had been about to drive home himself, but he’d hiked it across the lot in three seconds flat. To his angry annoyance, the woman had insisted over and over that she knew what she was doing and told him to get lost. In not so many words. He would never forget Simon’s expression—an ugly laugh and cold eyes and a mouth that settled into a smirk as he pushed the woman into the passenger seat.
    And Cady Adams was going to spend sixteen hours in a car with that guy, driving all the way to California?
    He turned to her, gently but firmly holding her shoulders so she would be forced to look at him.
    “Follow me.” He took one of her hands in his. She didn’t move.
    “I’m not going anywhere with you, Dex McCoy.”
    He loosened his grip. “Please, Cady Adams. There’s something I need to tell you.”
    She studied his face, and sighed. “Okay. Okay. I’ll follow you.”
    Dex led Cady away from the bar, through a doorway that led into a hallway, and then left again into a room that must have been a fancy dining area once. It was used for a storage area now, judging by the folded trestle tables and stacked chairs.
    It was quiet here. Dex knew the silence would give him time to find the right way to tell Cady what he had to stay. He hadn’t flicked on a light in the room and it was dark. Damn, he could smell Cady’s shampoo and hear her breathing, heavy and rhythmic, like she was trying to catch her breath.
    “There’s something about Simon Ford. You can’t go with him.”
    Cady laughed. “What?”
    “I said…” He lowered his voice, taking a step closer. He realised he hadn’t let go of her hand and she hadn’t pulled hers from his. He urged her towards him. “You shouldn’t go.”
    In the dim light, she moved closer, her sparkling eyes narrowing at him. “Last time I looked, this was my life, mister.”
    “All I’m saying is, don’t get in a car with him.”
    “Why not? He’s got some business there and he’s giving me a ride in his truck. I have stuff I need to haul and all my savings are going on the tuition. And anyway, why is this any of your business, Mr Dex McCoy?”
    “It’s my business because he’s a piece of shit slimeball.”
    She tried to shake her hand free but he wouldn’t let her. She dug her fingernails into his palm in retaliation.
    “Where do you get off talking about Simon like that? He’s a friend and he’s… you know what? So what if we get it on at every truck stop between here and San Francisco. It will still be none of your beeswax. At least I’ve got a plan. Unlike you. Here in Montana one minute and then who knows where the next. Texas? Louisiana? Freaking Timbuktu? What’s your plan, McCoy? You’re nothing but a no good drifter, that’s what you are. Never want to get your feet wet, never want to get involved in anything. You just… leave. That’s what you do. At least Simon has ambition. He has drive to do something better with his life. As do I. So I’m heading to California no matter what you say. I’ve got dreams, Dex, and big ones. Which is something you clearly don’t understand.”
    Cady poked a finger into his chest. Reflexively, he’d grabbed her other