Page 75 of Steel

If he had one.

“Is there a reason he keeps reaching out to you?” Brenda asked.

There was always a reason. I simply wasn’t interested in learning what that was. “Not that I know of. If he calls again, just hang up on him.”

“Mom,” my sweet boy tried to interrupt.

“Will do. Go work, but call me when you have the hunk of a man signed on. So we can make a formal announcement.”

A formal announcement. I suddenly felt as if I was going from the frying pan into the fire. I definitely needed some luck, or the spiraling effect would pick up where it left off. “I will.”

“Mom. Look. Look. There’s Steel. Our hero.”

Hero? What?

I barely caught my son pointing toward the hangar when Zorro went nuts, barking up a storm and running toward a group of men headed with purpose out the door.

Since they were in what appeared to be a uniform, I had a feeling they were headed out to a fire. “Stay here, baby. Let me get Zorro.” I went chasing after him, realizing the pup had found one smokejumper to turn his attention to. Steel.

While the other men rushed toward the plane, Steel hung back, petting Zorro. He had a thick backpack with him and I had no doubt the material of his uniform was fire retardant. Seeing him in his specialty clothing brough a hitch to my breath and a lump formed almost immediately in my throat.

“What’s happening?” I asked as soon as I was close.

Steel peered down at me with the kind of soulful gaze that could stop a woman in her tracks. But he smiled as if sensing my concern. “Most engine companies in town are on a huge fire at a warehouse. We’re helping with a house fire, the flames licking up the mountain. I gotta go.” He skipped back a step, likely given his teammates were already racing up the stairs to one of the cargo ships.

“Take care of yourself. You might want to know Damon really does call you his hero.”

He stopped short, shifting his gaze to my munchkin, taking the time to wave. I looked over my shoulder to see Damon saluting. “Tell that kid he’s wrong and don’t worry, Violet. I got this. See you later this afternoon. But I’ll call if anything changes.”

Before he ran off, a question came to mind. “Is your captain inside? I need to ask him a question.”

“Not the day to bother him. He’s in with auditors and is a cranky son of a bitch.”

His laugh sent a series of heated shivers into my core. He backed off while keeping his eyes locked on mine and for a few seconds, there was no one else around.

Just before he made it to the stairs, I remembered why I’d dropped by in the first place. With my zoom on, I managed to capture a few sexy photographs.

When he disappeared, I felt deflated.

The confession would need to wait.

Again.

CHAPTER 16

Violet

“Why is it that nothing about you surprises me any longer?” The rumble of the engine between my legs had already brought a series of filthy thoughts.

“Now why do you say that?” For whatever reason, Steel was in a good mood. Maybe I’d thought working a fire all afternoon would dampen his spirits. Instead, he was hyped up and had been grinning the entire time since we’d left the house. Maybe that was because he had the top down at my son’s request and had been recognized by almost everyone caught next to him at a traffic light.

“Well, for one you don’t just have a couple other vehicles at your disposal, you have a nineteen sixty-nine Camaro ZL1—one of comparable quality recently selling at auction for over a million dollars. I don’t know what to think.”

“A lady who knows her muscle cars. I am impressed as hell.” He placed his hand on his heart.

“Mom. Steel cursed. I thought that wasn’t allowed.” My kid was chiding our guest. Or maybe we were his guests.

“Yes, he did,” I said absently while still staring at the man. “My first boyfriend adored cars. So I learned a few things. How is it that you came into possession of such an incredible car? If that’s not too personal.”