Free Taking the Heat by Victoria Dahl Page B

get her out of his head. He’d thought about her all night until he’d fallen asleep. He’d thought about her all day. He’d wondered how she’d feel about their conversation once she was sober. He’d tried to figure out how he felt about it. He’d imagined what it would be like to sleep with her.
    That had felt a little wrong since he hardly knew her and she was...
kind
of
innocent? But that kind of wrongness didn’t exactly put a damper on sexual interest. She was pretty. She had great legs. Her smile made him happy. And she thought he was gorgeous.
    Shit.
    He retreated to the office to shut down the documents he’d been working on, though he hated doing it. He was just getting into the good stuff of figuring out which ebook lending system would work best with the library, but there’d be plenty of time to work on it tomorrow.
    â€œReady?” Lauren asked, reaching past him to grab her purse.
    â€œSure. I’ll walk you to your car.”
    She laughed over her shoulder as she hit the last of the lights and headed for the back door. “Seriously?”
    â€œRight. I got used to working in downtown Cincinnati.”
    â€œWell, we do have to keep an eye out for bears. And there were rumors of a mountain lion in Jackson Square last year, but I suspect old Mrs. Smith was drunk again. She does love a good whiskey sour.”
    She held open the door, then locked it behind her once he was through. “Hey, guys,” she called to the three firemen sitting in folding chairs near their door.
    â€œJesus, Lauren!” one called. “When I said you should hire a hot new librarian, that wasn’t what I meant!”
    â€œGabe,” she said drily, “that’s William, and those other two are Henry and Elliott. I’m afraid they’re a little disappointed with you.”
    â€œIt’s okay,” he said. “They’re probably just jealous because they can’t grow facial hair.”
    â€œHey!” William yelled back. “We
can
—we’re just not allowed to.”
    â€œWhatever you need to tell yourself.”
    The other firefighters razzed William as Gabe walked away.
    â€œWe’ll work this out on the court!” William called.
    â€œYou got it,” Gabe answered, happy for the excuse to get in a little time on the fire station’s outdoor basketball court. They seemed to pick up games at all hours of the morning and night, and Gabe missed the public courts near his apartment in Cincinnati.
    â€œNight, Lauren,” he said as she headed toward her car and he set out for his apartment on foot. He was keenly aware that Veronica’s building was on his way.
    If he took a right at the next street, he’d miss her place by one block. He could walk home, go for a run, relax with a book afterward. And be distracted the whole time that she might be waiting to hear from him.
    He’d promised her, after all. He didn’t have to take her up on her...request, but he did have to get in touch. Tonight or tomorrow or at her next performance.
    The idea of leaving it until next Thursday tightened his shoulders into such painful knots that Gabe went straight through the intersection and headed toward Veronica’s apartment. Hell, the most likely outcome was that she didn’t remember anything and he could try to forget the whole thing, too.
    â€œYeah, right,” he muttered. Still, at least he wouldn’t have to wonder if she was worrying.
    And there was the chance that she remembered every detail and wanted to pick up where they’d left off.
    He took off his tie, freed the top button of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves as if he were preparing himself for an arduous task. Two more blocks and he was at her condo building. He turned up her walk and then knocked on the door without giving himself time to think about it.
    The nearest window was sealed up tight, but he could see light through the peephole