Free Playing With Fire by Taylor Lee Page B

it. The waitress gave Erin a sly wink then filled both of
their glasses to the brim.
    Blake frowned then raised his glass to her, taking care not
to slosh the overflowing wine on the tablecloth.
    “Here’s to the beginning of a wonderful friendship, Erin.”
    When Erin nodded, he continued, “Now, please tell me, answer
the question you must be asked all the time. How did a gorgeous young woman
like you become a firefighter?”
    Little by little, Erin allowed herself to relax. The wine
helped, and she didn’t resist when Blake refilled her glass. She answered all
of his questions as best she could, changing the subject when he got too close
to her past. She was surprised to learn that he had seen her on television the
night of the awful fire. She was gratified that the television crew hadn’t
captured her throwing up. She never would have lived that down.
    They’d finished eating when the band began warming up.
    “How about it, Erin? Do we dare dance or is that pouring
gasoline on the fire?”
    Blake flushed when she started.
    “Sorry, that was a tasteless try at a bad pun.”
    Erin laughed.
    “It’s okay. You should hear the jokes around the firehouse.
Talk about ‘gallows humor.’ But, I’m not up for dancing tonight, Blake. I’m
sorry. I worked a ten hour graveyard shift last night and I have to be in at 6
a.m. tomorrow.”
    Blake immediately agreed.
    “I apologize, Erin. That was thoughtless of me. I should
have inquired about your shifts. I remember you saying in your telephone
message that you were working some unusual hours this week.”
    She sighed.
    “And, it’s just going to get worse. I have three back
to-back twelve-hour days coming up.”
    They were walking across the parking lot toward her car when
a deep rumbling voice came from the shadows.
    “I’ll take it from here, counselor.”
    Erin whirled around to see Nate lounging against the fender
of the car two doors down from hers. The neon lights from the pub lit his
tousled blond hair and highlighted his gold-tipped beard shadow. He was
studying her from half closed eyes, a wicked grin tugging at the corner of his
mouth.
    Erin felt her face flame. How long had he been waiting…
stalking? Had he nothing better to do?
    Blake looked at her inquiringly.
    She shook her head and raised her hands in defeat.
    “I… I’m sorry, Blake. He’s incorrigible.”
    Blake gave a small snort.
    “Yes, he is that. Will you be okay? Would you like me to
stay?”
    “No. No, please. Go. I… I’m fine.”
    Blake threw a disgusted look at the shadows, then pulled a
key fob from his pocket and pressed it. The lights on a late model BMW several
rows over blinked in response.
    Walking over to the car, Blake called back over his
shoulder, “I’ll call you tomorrow, Erin. Thanks for a great evening.”
    A minute later he’d climbed into the beemer and squealed out
of the parking lot.
    Erin immediately unlocked her car door and got in, intending
to leave as quickly as she could. She wasn’t fast enough. Before she could lock
the doors, Nate had climbed into the passenger seat. Reaching out, he rubbed
his hand over the dash.
    “Nice car. This should work fine for you.”
    Erin’s voice was shaking with rage.
    “Dammit Nate, I’m angry about so many things, I don’t know
where to start.”
    Ignoring her, Nate continued to give the car a once over. He
frowned and muttered under his breath, “Damn small car though. How the hell do
you fuck a woman without getting this gear shift up your ass?”
    She gave a derisive snort. “Maybe that’s what you deserve?”
    He looked up at her and winked.
    “You’re right, sweetheart. Could be interesting.”
    At a vibrating sound, he groaned and dragged his phone out
of his pocket.
    “Stryker.”
    “How many?”
    “Armed?”
    “Make it 10.”
    Muttering as he got out of the car, “Damn lowlifes. Never
did have a sense of timing.”
    He walked around to the driver’s side, opened her door and
pulled her out of the