Five Alarm Lust (7 page)

“Gillian, why am I not surprised to find you at home.” The cutting tone grated across her raw nerves. “You owe me for the cost of your dress.”

“It was cleaned, wasn’t it? I left it in your room for room service to pick up and clean.” Gillian swallowed against the rising bile. With a trembling hand, she pushed away the remains of her dinner and tucked her feet beneath her in an old habit she’d long given up avoiding.

“That is not the point, young lady. You ruined the dress, and who knows where your shoes went. Then you leave me at the hotel by myself. I was expecting you to be there when Lenny and I were departing for our honeymoon. I mean, you could have at least had the decency to inform us of your departure. We expected you at breakfast.” Barbara’s rant gained volume with each passing word. “I certainly hope you had fun. I’ll be sending the bill to you—”

Gillian closed her work for the night and straightened. “Mother, I didn’t agree to the wedding, it wasn’t something I desired to even attend. You picked the gown—” The hard knot only tightened the longer her mother’s voice droned on.

“Do not take that tone with me.” Barbara cut her off.

“Was there a reason for your call? I am rather busy. I’ve already said I’d pay for the cleaning of the dress. My shoes were, um.” Gilli vibrated with anger and guilt, her stomach twisting into a hard knot. Her dinner rolled and heaved, the urge to vomit growing stronger with each passing second.

“I will send you the bill for the damages.” Barbara sniffled. “As well, you should visit Michael. He’s a good man and you’d do well to remember—”

“I remember just how good he is every time I have a shower, mother. Every time I look in the mirror or catch a whiff of his cologne. Not to mention, I got a reminder this past year when he was up for parole and didn’t get it. You of all people should be supporting
me
. Should be backing
me
, and instead you’re siding with that fuckwad? The parole board called me, asking me to appear, and I went. I sat in the tiny room and listened to him go on about how he’s changed, and I felt sick. Don’t call me again, Mother, if all you’re going to go on about is that bastard. I detest him!”

“You think you’re going to find another man as good—?”

“Yes! And I fucked him until I could barely walk!” She slammed the phone down on the desk and turned the ringer off. Fury erupted and she stomped into the kitchen to get a glass of wine. Sitting on the couch, Gillian stared out the window. Tonight would be hell, unless she stayed up. Determination flooded her with resolve at the thought of what the darkness would hold if she fell asleep.

She hit the Power button on the stereo and huddled in the corner of the couch while the shadows grew until darkness spread across her floor. Rocking, she curled around a pillow, her eyes staring sightlessly out the window at the gathering shadows.

Chapter 6

Jack shouldered the pack and ducked around two young college kids on his way through the campus. He drowned out the annoying ranting of his partner and fingered his phone. Two weeks and at least a dozen attempts and he still couldn’t get the nerve to call her. Maybe it was the memory of waking alone, or the way she’d taken a bathrobe and her dress and left her shoes behind. Deep inside, he couldn’t shake the thought maybe it wasn’t anything she’d done, but rather the sound of the faint tears in the shower keeping him from calling her.

“This heat is killing me.”

“Brad, shut up.” His patience already worn thin, Jack tightened the grip on the handle of his bag and wished it was the young twit’s neck. “It’s not hot, you’re not in gear, and we’re almost there.”

“Still don’t understand why I have to do this. Why couldn’t Sally come or Joe, or one of the others…”

“Because it’s your job.” Jack stopped, swiveling his head to glare at the slightly pudgy young man. “You were hired to do the PR stuff, so shut up and do your job. All you’ve done is bitch all morning and I’m tired of it. You don’t want to be here, go back to the station.”

“Hey, man, don’t stress out about it. Geez, you’d think you were suffering from the heat.” Brad raised his hands in surrender. “It ain’t like I’m—”

“I mean it, Brad, don’t make me say it again or I will send you back to the shop.” Jack stomped a few strides away. He’d love to send Brad back to the firehouse, leave him there, and come back. He’d have more opportunity to get everything set up. As had happened too often, his mind drifted again. He needed to get answers and find out why he was so hung up on Gillian. Was she okay? Why had she run from their bed?

A slight smile curved his lips at the memory of her little gasps, her moans of pleasure. The shock in her eyes when she’d orgasmed had given him a thrill unlike any he’d ever known. His pleasure had been intense even before he’d come.

“Whoa, now there’s a frump if ever I saw one.” Brad snickered, his fingers fluttering in the direction they were walking. He snorted with laughter, his lips twisting in derision. “Yep, total frump. Man, I never saw anyone so fashionably challenged. Talk about uncoordinated in the closet. Doesn’t she know anything about dressing? Come on, that’s something my granny would wear to church. Couldn’t get a lay out of that one if…” He slapped his hand on his hip.

Jack glanced up, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention. His skin felt tight, heart pounding, the roar deafening, and he froze. Gillian stood talking to a tall, lean man, his graying hair slicked back with gel. She wore an ankle-length brown skirt, matching jacket, and a tan blouse. Her dark hair had been pulled back and tied in a knot. The dark-rimmed glasses he remembered perched on her nose, sliding as she bobbed her head in response to something her co-worker said.

He swallowed hard, the force of want like a kick in the gut. He stifled a groan, his body already responding to the play of memories in his head. What surprised him was not all were of the actual sex. More than a few were of the banter, her snarky remarks at the reception. Even the shy, hesitant way she tried to hide right in plain sight. Beneath the surface was a woman unlike any he’d ever known, and he realized with a sudden tightening in his chest how much he wanted her.

“Not everyone strains themselves to be sure their belt and shoes match, Brad.” Jack inhaled slowly, anger broiling through his blood with each snide comment from the young prick. He knotted his fists and shot him a glare. “Listen, you ignorant prick, keep your teeth together, I don’t want to hear your bigotry.”

“Aw, come on, Jack. Even you gotta agree she’s probably an ice queen. I mean, have you looked at her? Get frost bite on my di—”

Grabbing a fist full of Brad’s shirt, Jack jerked him closer, his jaw aching with how tightly he had it clenched shut. “Button up, asshole. She’s not like that and you better watch your mouth. No wonder you can’t keep a lover longer than it takes to get off—you’re about as couth as a gutter rat.”

Brad paled, his chin lifting slightly. “Ooh, getting a bit protective there, old boy. You think it’s worth it? Hell, she’d probably fall to her knees and cry if you so much as asked for a blowjob.”

“Watch it, or I’ll knock that smug grin off your face.” Jack slammed his pack into Brad’s gut before striding up the walkway toward Gillian.
Damn idiot. Sure hope she didn’t hear him. She’s hell on wheels and she ought to know it.
God, she looks good. Better than I remember.

“The new paleontology program for the middle school will do nicely. You did an amazing job breaking down the terms for the children. We’ll need to look at developing it further, Miss Hilliard, for the next school year.”

For a second, Jack froze, his breath lodged in his throat, listening to Gillian’s words. “Thank you.” Gillian smiled, and he could see her dark eyes dancing behind the lenses of her glasses. “I’ll see to it the final outline is on your desk by the end of the day.”

“Excellent. I’ll look forward to it.”

Gillian nodded, her hair slipping free of the knot. Jack clenched his fist at the urge to straighten it out for her as he paused by her elbow. He shuddered at the brush of her jacket against his hand, only sheer will keeping him from pulling her into his arms. He licked his lips, the ghost of her taste strong on his tongue. “Excuse me, Gilli.”

Shock flared in her eyes as she whipped around to stare at him. Her lips parted on a soundless gasp, her face coloring slightly. “Uh, oh, uh, hi, Jack.”

“Bruce Learner, Dean here. Are you with the fire station currently doing a presentation?” The gentleman offered his hand, moving so Gillian had to back up a step.

“Yes, Jack Payle, assistant chief. I’m filling in for Lenny while he’s away on his honeymoon.”

“They’re back, he hasn’t returned to work?” Gillian sounded confused, her brows drawn together.

“No, he booked three weeks off. He’ll be back in the office on Monday.” Jack smiled, his gaze darting over her, taking in the flushed cheeks, the lack of makeup on her face.

Gillian nodded and shuffled her feet, her fingers plucking at the button at her throat. “Uh, oh. Well, uh, it was, uh, nice to see you. Excuse me, I’ll let you discuss—”

“Actually…” Jack stopped her with a hand on her sleeve. Electricity raced up his arm straight to his groin at the innocent contact. He sighed, grateful for the loose slacks and the long jacket currently hiding his semi-hard cock. “I’d like a moment if you would. It’s nice to see you. I’d hoped we could get together—”

“Oh, I couldn’t, I have to get—”

“Gillian, if you don’t get the report to me today it’ll be fine. Take a few moments to spend with your young man.”

“Thank you, Mister Learner. I promise it’ll only take a few moments. My associate will be happy to get things set up.” Jack glared at Brad’s stupefied form a few feet away. “He’s our PR rep so he’ll be able to answer any and all questions. Brad, you can set up by yourself, right? I’ll be along in a few minutes.”

“Excellent. Come along, Brad. Let’s get you set up and this presentation ready to go. We’ve got the local elementary school coming in for it, as well as a couple of the high school grades.” The Dean’s voice faded as Brad trailed behind him until the crowd had swallowed them up.

“Uh, are you here about…” Gillian rubbed her forehead. “Of course, I didn’t leave any money for the cleaning of your shirt. I don’t know what I was thinking. I’ll just run to my office and grab my purse. Would you mind a check? I don’t think I have any cash…”

“I don’t want money for the shirt.” Jack sighed. “It’s fine. Had worse spilled on it and come clean.”

“Oh, then what can I do for you? I, um, did the hotel bill you a lot for room service?” Gillian moved back, her eyes darting around nervously. He caught the tiny nibble on her bottom lip and groaned slightly.

“I was hoping we could get together again.” Jack brushed a lock of hair back from his forehead. “Get a chance to talk, maybe dinner?”

Gillian shrugged, her cheeks darkening with another blush. “I don’t usually, um, do what I did at the wedding. Perhaps it would be best if we just pretended it didn’t happen.”

Jack stared at her for a second. His heart dropped at the flare of shame in her eyes. Not for the first time he wondered why she was so afraid of herself. “Dinner, Gilli, nothing more. Say, Saturday, I’ll pick you up at six?”

“I was going to work Saturday night.”

“Gilli, its dinner, nothing more.” Jack leaned closer. “Sure, we had a hot night in bed, and I’d love to repeat it, but let’s take it a lot slower? I want to get to know you and to do so means we start out with dinner.”

“Sure. Uh, do you need my address? Or I could meet you at the restaurant.” Her voice rose with a faint tinge of hope at her suggestion.

“I’ll pick you up at your place.” Jack wiped his knuckles along her cheek. “Where do you live?”

Gillian prattled off her address, her eyes dancing past him nervously. She plucked at the folds of her jacket before adjusting her glasses. “I can just as easily meet you wherever you’d like.”

“Nonsense.” Jack grinned, elation filling him at her hesitant agreement. He strongly suspected if he let her meet him, she’d stand him up. It was written in the hopeful expectancy on her face. “Dress comfortably. We’re not going anywhere fancy.”

“Okay.”

“Gotta run, but I’m looking forward to Saturday night.” Quickly, before she could move away, he pressed a kiss to her cheek, winked, and trotted toward the main building. His heart raced at the notion she’d said yes.

As timid as a newborn kitten, but she said yes! Now I just have to get her to relax around me.

He paused at the door, holding it open a couple of inches to glance behind him. He felt a flare of disappointment to see Gillian already scurrying away, but it was quickly washed away by pleasure. Saturday couldn’t come soon enough.

* * * *

Her pulse racing, Gillian all but ran the short distance to her office. She closed the door with a soft click, stumbled into a chair, and stared at her desk. “No, no, no. This can’t be happening. Oh, why did he have to come here? What to do, what to do.” Nerves ate at her belly until she couldn’t sit still. Moving the pencil holder around helped somewhat but did little to control her need to run.

She collected her purse and grabbed her keys on her way out the door. Closing and locking it, she pulled her coat tighter around her as she navigated the corridor and out into the parking lot. Her breath caught at the red and white fire pickup parked several slots down from her.

“No, I won’t go. I’ll be
here
on Saturday night.” Her hand trembled as she unlocked the door and slipped in. A quick glance revealed the interior was just as she left it. Gilli started the old car, pulled out of her parking spot, and headed for downtown. There was no going home; not yet anyway.

You can do this, Gillian. You’re not some weakling. Come on, stiff upper lip and all that jazz. Remember, it’s just dinner. He probably wants to talk to you about the bill at the hotel. Your mother sure had a fit with you leaving before paying for your share. Perhaps he wants to collect on the debt for the room. It’s just dinner. Oh, God, I have nothing to wear. No, no, just don’t go. Make up an excuse when he shows up.