Free Burning Ambition by Amy Knupp Page B

focused on him.
    “What?” she asked defensively. “I look like hell, I know. I was in bed when my dad called me—”
    “You don’t look like hell,” he said quietly, leaning closer to make the mistake of a lifetime and not giving a damn.
    He palmed her cheek. Touched her lower lip with his thumb, caressing the moist warmth of it. Felt her breath on his fingers as her lids grew heavy.
    A stray lock of her dark hair fell onto her cheek, and he brushed it back.
    “Joe.”
    It was barely more than a whisper. Definitely not a warning to back off. So he closed the space between them and gently kissed her lips, testing her. Tasting.
    The contact shot heat straight through his body. For a woman who was so tough on the outside, she was soft, feminine. Her scent was light, with a hint of flowers.
    She wound her hands behind his neck and pulled him closer. He should’ve guessed that even her kiss would be bold.
    He deepened the contact, thrusting his tongue between her lips. She tasted of sugar and confidence…and damn, what a turn-on. He pulled her slender body up against his, his hands resting at the point where her waist curved into her hips. Her body was firm, fit. Strong and lean. He imagined that body unclothed….
    Headlights illuminated them like a sudden spotlight on an auditorium stage, and they jumped apart. Faith ran her fingers over her lips, peering at the driver. The man, probably close to seventy years old, gave them an enthusiastic thumbs-up as he passed them.
    “He doesn’t know the least of it,” Joe said.
    Faith’s low, nervous laugh was gratifying. Alluring.
    “It’s late,” she said after a few seconds, sobering. “I need to check on my dad.”
    “I bet he hasn’t moved an inch.”
    They started toward their vehicles, and Joe pressed his hand to her lower back. His pulse was still hammering away, his body demanding more attention from this beauty, but his brain was now fighting it, letting in the message that this was a no-win situation.
    Joe walked her to the driver’s door of her dad’s Suburban without conscious thought. She turned toward him. “You didn’t have to walk me here. I’m fine.” Back to Miss Independent.
    He stole a glance at those lips of hers and was considering one last ill-advised taste when she broke the spell.
    “I hope it goes without saying that this can’t get out,” she said.
    “This?” he asked, surprised. “No. It’s private.”
    “I didn’t mean the kiss…but yes. That, too.” Realization flitted in her eyes, and he knew the moment her regret kicked in.
    “I meant my dad.” Faith made sure no one was within hearing distance. “No one needs to know about tonight. It was an isolated incident. Derek won’t say anything, will he?”
    Shaking his head, Joe moved back a few inches and straightened, willing the haze of desire to dissipate.
    She fidgeted with her keys, seeming uncharacteristically nervous, then hit the button to unlock the Suburban.
    “Gotta go.” She climbed in and closed the door, effectively shutting him out.

    F AITH MANAGED TO ACT as if everything was fine until she pulled into the garage at home.
    Everything was not fine. It was nowhere near fine.
    What had she done?
    She’d kissed her company officer. Her captain. A man who had power over her career.
    It wasn’t that Joe would use it against her. It was more about what others would think if they ever found out. What she thought of herself.
    And how Joe would treat her now.
    He already hovered, and would coddle her at a moment’s notice if she’d let him. She hadn’t yet figured out if it was because of her gender, her newness to the department or something else, but the last thing she wanted was for one of the other firefighters to notice Joe’s protectiveness.
    And kissing a man tended to arouse his protectiveness even more.
    If she could’ve chosen the best way to lose, or never gain, her colleagues’ respect, becoming involved—physically, romantically,