Blazing Hotter (Love Under Fire Book 2) (31 page)

After swallowing, Laura nodded. “That
is
good. You and your father were culinary geniuses.”

He forced himself to lean away. “Told you.”

Dinner flew by way too fast for Thayne’s liking. Before he knew it, Laura was gathering their plates and thanking him for coming over.

He took the dishes from her hands. “Let me help with that.”

“You cooked. It’s okay,” she said. “I’m sure you have other places to be. Other friends to visit.”

Damn her. Why was she so insufferable? If he kissed her breathless, would she really force him to leave?

“You’re the only friend I want to see. I’m on call for work. Since I’m one of only three of us trained as a medic, I might get called away at some point if they get busy. But I don’t want to leave unless I have to.” He paused, tipping her chin upward with his free hand so she would look into his eyes. “Unless you’re kicking me out.”

She licked her lips, a sign he was quickly coming to recognize as her being nervous. “W-w-we could watch a movie.”

He loved her stutter any time she became nervous. It was charming and a change from the girls at the clubs who were always so sure of themselves and ready to hop on him the second they met.

“Good. You find something to watch, and I’ll put these in your dishwasher.”

Thayne turned to the kitchen before she could change her mind.

***

I
don’t need the anti-anxiety pill. I don’t need it. This is fine. It’s fine.

Laura had been repeating the same thing to herself for the last half hour. Sitting next to Thayne on her small loveseat was a test of willpower. She tried to keep herself firmly on her side of the cushions, but the smaller she curled into the corner, the more Thayne spread out.

He smelled even better than earlier today, and his casual compliments striking at random times made her job tougher than before. It would be so nice to curl up under his arm and lay against his chest, watching the movie as a couple.

Friends cuddle, right?

She’d picked a comedy, hoping Thayne liked them. His hearty laugh filled the small apartment. He’d made himself right at home in her kitchen, and now seemed completely at ease on her couch. She wished she could just let herself relax. No more panic, no more worry, just enjoying a show with her friend.

Yeah, right. You don’t want to screw friends that you relax with. Not if they’re just friends.

She sighed, curling up even tighter when Thayne’s thigh touched hers again.

Kitty chose that moment to decide she was tired of the cat bed in the corner and sat on Thayne’s foot, meowing at him in a demanding tone.

Absently, Thayne picked her up, curling her against his chest. She balled up and rested against him, falling back to sleep in seconds.

“Looks like you have a fan,” Laura said. “Maybe she remembers you’re the one who rescued her. She looks comfortable.”

Thayne’s green eyes sparkled, and he put his other arm around the back edge of the couch behind Laura’s shoulders. “There’s still room to lean on this side if you want to be comfortable too.”

Boy, did she ever want to give in. It just couldn’t happen. “I think that’s too friendly, don’t you?”

He turned his attention to the TV. “Suit yourself.”

What? He’s so hot and cold. Does he really not care?

Laura laughed at herself. It was stupid to be upset that he did what she asked. It wasn’t his fault she put restrictions on the night and ended up making herself uncomfortable.

Suddenly, a police siren sounded from inside Thayne’s pocket, making Laura jump.

“Sorry,” he said, handing her Kitty. “That’s my ringtone for work. Loud, so I don’t ever miss it.” He pulled the phone from his pocket and swiped the screen, frowning. “Shi—shoot.”

“What’s wrong?” Her heart raced, and she felt her entire body vibrate with tension. Why did he have to have a police siren? She never wanted to think about police sirens again.

He leaned over to her so unexpectedly that she didn’t have time to react. Thayne placed a quick peck on her cheek and then kissed Kitty’s head. “I have to go. There’s an accident on First and Parsons and another call for a heart attack victim.”

He raced for the door, opening it before turning back. “I’ll come and see you tomorrow at work. I never got your phone number.”

The door shut, and Laura stayed where she was, shaking uncontrollably. Her hands went icy cold and sweat beaded on her forehead. Recognizing the signs that her panic was out of control, she struggled to breathe deeply and evenly.

Kitty meowed and then clawed her hand, and she realized she was squeezing the cat too hard. Carefully, she placed the kitten on the floor and then stumbled toward the bathroom, wondering if her heart would explode before she got there.

Laura fumbled open the medicine cabinet with shaking hands and managed to get the top off her prescription bottle. She dry swallowed the Xanax and then sank to the floor, hugging her knees to her body and crying uncontrollably.

This was why she couldn’t date him. This right here. She hadn’t needed one of her anti-anxiety pills in six months, always able to stave off the panic.

One not-date with the god Thor and she was back to the quivering, shaking, torn apart mess that she’d been before years of therapy and lots of antidepressants. She couldn’t do this.

Thayne ran into danger without hesitation, cop siren blaring and the excitement of saving lives fueling his passion. Just like Brian, even if they were in different professions.

She couldn’t be with Thayne. She couldn’t sit waiting every time he left her. Waiting for the inevitable knock on the door to tell her Thayne had been involved in an accident and was never coming back.

Going through that once in her life was enough. It nearly broke her... in fact, it did break her for a while. She couldn’t risk it.

She couldn’t see Thayne again.

***

To read on, get
Blazing Love
now on Amazon.