Free Seducing the Fireman (Risky Business) by Jennifer Bonds Page A

hated. Despite everything he’d done to convince her otherwise, she knew what kind of man he really was. Didn’t she?
    …
    Jax grabbed his carryout order and made the short drive back to the warehouse. He still wanted to talk to Becca, and if burgers couldn’t entice her to give him ten minutes of her time, nothing would. The woman was stubborn as hell. What she didn’t understand—yet—was that no matter what she did to put distance between them, he wouldn’t give up. It wasn’t in his nature. It was one ofthe things that made him so good at his job. And with the fire blazing between them? It was just a matter of time until she came around.
    The set was dark when he returned, and most of the crew had left. Quinn passed him on her way out the door, eyeing the carryout bag.
    “Good luck.” She grinned, not the least bit sympathetic. “You’re going to need it.”
    At least he hadn’t missedBecca. That was a good start. Dropping the bag on the table, he went to work cleaning up some of her supplies. He knew better than to touch her equipment, but anything non-mechanical felt like fair game. Wherever she was, she’d be back eventually. He just hoped she’d bring her appetite.
    “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, the heels of her boots clicking on the cement as she crossedthe open space, stopping when she reached the table. She sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?
    “Burgers. I brought dinner. I thought we could talk.”
    She eyed the Shake Shack carryout bag. “I’m not hungry.”
    Her stomach growled.
    “Liar.”
    Crossing her arms, she tried another obvious lie. “Okay, fine. I’m hungry, but I have no interest in talking.”
    “Suit yourself.That just means there’s more for me.” He opened the bag and pulled out a burger. Tearing back the white wrapper, he took a big bite and groaned. “Now, this is a cheeseburger. They don’t make them like this in Boston. You sure you don’t want one?”
    Sighing, Becca put her hand out for a burger. “Fine. But no talking. I’m too tired to think. It’s been a long day.”
    He fished her burgerand two shakes from the bag, leaving the fries for last.
    “When did you get into photography?” he asked, curious to know more about her passion. “I didn’t know you had an interest.”
    She bit into the burger, chewing it thoroughly and taking her time to respond. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me. Time and distance will do that.”
    Walked right into that one, hadn’the? Perhaps he just hadn’t asked the right question. “Is it a hobby or is it something you aspire to do full-time?”
    “I picked up my first camera at fifteen,” she said, staring at him pointedly. Meaning after he left town. Maybe something good had come of his departure after all—not that he’d be stupid enough to voice that thought. “Haven’t put it down since. I’ve got degrees in Communicationand in Fine Arts from Brooklyn College, but it’s much easier to find a desk job than it is to make it as a photojournalist.” She shrugged. “I’ll get there eventually. The calendar is a great stepping-stone to get my work out there. Until then, I’ll enjoy my time at Garden of Dreams and take freelance jobs when I can get them.”
    “I’d love to take a look at your work sometime.” And he meantit. Listening to her talk about her aspirations, he had no doubt Becca poured her heart and soul into her photography. Maybe it would give him a better understanding of the woman she’d become. Each moment he spent with her made it clear she’d grown to be a very different woman than the one he’d imagined, and as it turned out, he liked this one a hell of a lot better.
    They finished theirsandwiches in silence, picking at the fries until they were cold and the shakes were gone. Jax collected the wrappers and stuffed them in the bag.
    “Thanks for dinner.” Becca appraised him, perhaps surprised they’d been able to get through a meal—even