Free Protect Me by Lacey Black Page B

standing and grabbing a stack of containers from the kitchen counter.  
    “Oh,” Jake says as his phone rings. “Nate,” he tells the room as he puts the phone up to his ear. “What’s up, dickhead?” he says in way of greeting.  
     “Jake,” Mrs. Stevens scolds while masking a smile.  
    “Sorry, Mom. I mean, what’s up, Nate?” Jake asks with heavy emphasis on Nate.  
    I’m one hundred percent sure that my cheeks flame at the knowledge that Nate is on the other end of that phone call. I look up just in time to see Avery smirking at me. I don’t think I’ve ever blushed so much in my entire life.  
    “Just stopped by Mom and Dad’s to grab some food,” Jake says into the phone against his ear.  
    I try to busy myself with eating my food, but honestly, I can’t eat a bite. I’m dying to know what Nate is saying on the other end of that phone.  
    “Yeah, he’s here,” Jake says, looking at Will. “Yeah. The new girl. She’s here, too.” There’s a pause as Jake listens. I start to get a little lightheaded, and that’s when I quickly realize I’m holding my breath. “Next to Will. Why?” Jake raises his eyebrow and his blue eyes clash with mine. It’s like a light switch is flipped. He gives me the most charming, ornery grin I’ve ever seen.  
    “Oh, they’re all chummy. Will has his hand on her thigh right now, dude,” Jake says straight-faced, and my face is anything but. The entire room turns to look at Jake. Erin jumps up and reaches for the phone but since Jake has a good foot on her, she can’t quite reach it.  
    “I think I heard ‘em making plans for next weekend,” Jake adds like salt to the wound.  
    Avery jumps up and slaps him on the back of the head. “Knock it off,” she scolds him sternly.  
    “My food is ready, man, so I gotta go. Nice catching up with you,” Jake says and quickly hangs up laughing.  
    “I can’t believe you did that,” Erin says with her hands firmly on her hips.  
    “What?” Jake asks, feigning innocence.  
    “You are worse than a woman at the beauty shop, Jacob Andrew,” Erin argues.  
    Jake laughs and pulls Erin into his large embrace. “I love getting him all riled up,” he says before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “He has twelve hours to sit and stew at the firehouse,” he adds with a smile and throws a wink over Erin’s shoulder directly at me. Moments later, his lips descend to Erin’s.  
    Throats clear all over the room as Maddox walks over with a big bag of food. “Time to go, Romeo,” he says with a slap to Jake’s back. Maddox quickly gives his kids each a kiss before turning his attention to his wife. I can see the adoration and love as plainly as the nose on his face. The way he strokes her cheek as he’s kissing her goodbye is so sweet. It’s a pleasant reminder that not every man in the world is bad. Not every man uses his hand for violence.  
    After the goodbyes are given, the two men leave the house as hastily as they entered. I enjoy the rest of the meal as I try, and fail, to focus on the conversations around me. It’s hard, honestly, trying not to image what Nate is doing right now. Is he on a fire call? Is he upset about the teasing he received from Jake? Is he thinking of me the way I can’t stop thinking about him? All questions that I know won’t be answered because it’s none of my business, really, which just seems to sadden me that much further.  There’s nothing there between Nate and me.  
    I settle back inside my car later in the evening. I was only too eager to help clear the dishes with Mrs. Stevens after dinner, even though she tried to shoo me out of the kitchen at least twice. I feel at ease with her. Comfortable. I enjoyed helping her.  
    As I crank up the air conditioning and get ready to head back towards Rivers Edge, I can’t help but allow my mind to return to Nate. His broad chest and his massive arms. The tattoos that I never would have thought I’d find