Burn So Bright

Chapter 2-1

2

Josh braced himself for Suzanne’s furious approach. She was clearly a little buzzed; it looked like she’d forgotten the party, forgotten the Jupiter Point movers and shakers gathered on the observatory grounds. He had to save her from making the situation even worse.

As soon as she got close enough, he slipped his arm around her waist, nudging her off-balance so she was forced to cling to him. Moving quickly, he steered her away from the kids’ picnic tables and gestured to Rollo to take over the hackeysack game.

He walked her in the direction of the observatory’s lobby, taking care to smile at everyone they passed, as if an indignant Suzanne wasn’t spluttering next him.

“What do you think you’re—”

“Keep it cool, Suzie Q. I know you want to whip my ass, but that’ll just get people talking.”

“I don’t care,” she said through gritted teeth. “It would be worth it.”

“Fine. I’ll let you do whatever you want to me. In private.” Most women he knew would be all over that offer. But Suzanne always put him off balance, even when she’d had too much champagne.

“I don’t want to do anything in private with you.” She brushed at the front of her dress. “You’re more than enough trouble in public.”

“It was an accident. Obviously.” He steered her through the door of the empty lobby. A display of photos taken by the observatory’s infrared telescope populated the cavernous space. “I never like wasting champagne.”

“You think you’re so cute and funny,” she hissed. “You’re at the party for one minute and my dress is completely ruined. You’re like…like…Loki. God of Mischief.”

“Really? Aw, you’re too sweet.”

At Suzanne’s look of pure fury, he backed down.

“Seriously, Suzanne. I was just trying to give the kids some fun. They looked like they were at a wake.”

“You’re not helping.” The corners of her mouth trembled and turned down. “I worked really hard on this party.”

Oh bloody hell. Was she going to cry now? “Here’s the bathroom,” he said quickly, opening the door for her. “Go on in, I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?” Halfway through the door, she looked up at him with a look of alarm. Her eyes, he noticed suddenly, were really something. At first they looked blue, but up close he saw they had more depth in the color, more of an ultramarine, like the ocean above a sudden drop-off.

“To the bar.” When her eyes widened with indignation, he clarified. “Club soda is the best way to get alcohol off fabric. Tried-and-true method from the ranch lands of Texas.”

“Fine. Just hurry. If you see Evie—”

“I’ll tell her we have it under control and she can go back to making out with Sean. They haven’t seen each other in a week.”

She nodded and whisked behind the door, closing it firmly behind her. As he headed back out to the bar, he acknowledged the contradiction that Suzanne was both his kind of girl, and a girl he knew to avoid. He had a weakness for long, lanky blondes, especially sassy ones like Suzanne. He enjoyed teasing her to no end, and loved the fireballs she lobbed back at him. Suzanne could definitely hold her own in verbal combat.

As for the avoiding part, that was simple. Suzanne was engaged. Besides, she’d made it crystal clear that she looked on him with utter disdain. She never laughed at his jokes. In fact, she seemed to take offense at the entire concept of joking around. Sometimes he wondered if he’d accidentally insulted her at some point without knowing it. He’d even questioned Evie about it over dinner once.

It shouldn’t bother him—there were plenty of other girls to hang out with in Jupiter Point and elsewhere. After a solid week of back-breaking firefighting in the Utah wilderness, during which the crew had kept a summer wildfire from taking out an entire town, he was exhausted. All he wanted to do was sleep for the next twenty-four hours. But when Sean had mentioned this party, and he’d realized Suzanne would be here…well, he’d hopped in the shower and dragged his ass to the observatory.

Face it. He had a bit of a thing for Suzanne. She got his motor running with her sass and that long blond hair she liked to fling over her shoulder. She was like a tall, refreshing glass of extra-tart lemonade on a summer day. Tangling with her was like a dive into whitewater rapids—exhilarating but also humbling.

And that was why it was best to avoid Suzanne. Unrequited interest in a girl who was engaged? No, thank you. He preferred to keep things nice and easy, all around. Better for everyone.

At the bar, he grabbed a handful of napkins and a bottle of club soda, then quickly made his way back inside the lobby. He tapped on the door of the restroom. “Room service,” he called.

“Ha ha.” She swung open the door, more vigorously than she probably meant to. Because there she was, in her underwear. Her tiny, silky, sexy underwear. “Eeek!” She shrieked and pushed it closed again. “I didn’t mean to do that,” she called through the barrier. “This door is very well-oiled.”

Josh stared blankly at the blond wood of the door, which was about two inches from his face. He didn’t even see it. All he could see was the mental image of Suzanne in all her lean, golden near-nudity. Her long hair had come down from its uptight knot and flowed freely over her shoulders in lemony streams. She still wore her high strappy sandals, which made her legs look absolutely endless. Suzanne Finnegan was a goddess. A freaking goddess. A prickly, beautiful, engaged goddess.

And now she was saying words like “well-oiled.” Avoid, avoid, avoid.

“I’m…uh…going to leave the club soda right outside the door, okay? There are some napkins here, too, just in case.” Did his voice sound as strained to her as it did to him? He adjusted his jeans over the very uncomfortable bulge that had developed.

“You said you were going to help me.”

“I am helping you. I got you club soda. It’s right here, next to the door.”

A pause, during which he took a careful step back.

“Josh Marshall, haven’t you ever seen a girl in her underwear before? It’s no different from a swimsuit.”

“Of course I have. Many girls, in and out of underwear.” He closed his eyes, hoping the image of mostly naked Suzanne would disappear. It didn’t. Apparently it was branded onto his retinas forever.

The door swung open again and Suzanne poked her head out. She looked right, then left, then grabbed his wrist and yanked him inside. The door swung quietly shut behind him.

Damn, that thing really was well-oiled.

He glanced around the bathroom—anything to avoid staring at Suzanne. “I was always curious what women’s restrooms were like.”

“Don’t be gross,” she said. “Or I won’t make out with you.”

“Excuse—what?” He squinted at her. Even through narrowed eyes, she looked mouthwatering. He didn’t know which part of her statement to address first. “I’m not being gross.”

“Good.” She reached for the front of his shirt and twisted her hand in it, tugging him closer. “Let’s make out.”

He leaned backwards and dug in his heels. Normally he’d be very interested in that offer, but there were a few things he wanted to clear up first. “Uh…why?”

“Why not? Don’t you want to?” She released him and put her hands on her hips. Her slim hips in those tiny silk boy shorts.

He groaned silently. All she had to do was drop her gaze to his groin and she’d see how much he wanted to…and…too late. He clenched his jaw under her scrutiny.

“Ah. I see that you do.” A mischievous smile played across her mouth.

“That doesn’t make it a good idea. Aren’t you engaged?”

The smile disappeared, as if he’d reminded her of something sad. “He wouldn’t mind.”

“The hell he wouldn’t. Any man would.” If he was engaged to Suzanne, he’d rip apart any man who dared to make out with her. Of course, he had no intention of getting engaged to Suzanne or anyone else.

“Logan says that we should have a free pass up until our wedding day. He thinks it’s good for our relationship.” She leaned toward him, her lips pursed. He caught her by the forearms and held her away from his body. If she got too close, he’d no longer be interested in doing the right thing in this situation.

“First of all, how much champagne have you had?”

“I wouldn’t mind a little more. Next question.”

“Okay, even with this crazy ‘free pass’ thing, what makes you think you won’t both regret it if you actually go through with it?”

“Hang on now, big guy.” She lifted a finger and waved it drunkenly in his face. “I’ve definitely had too much champagne for a long question like that. Short ones only, please.”

“All right. Why me?”

She frowned up at him, those pretty eyes darkening to a deep sea-green. “What?”

“Why use your free pass on me? You don’t even like me.”

She leaned forward and spoke in a conspiratorial whisper. The girl definitely had a good buzz going. “Guess what? I do like you, Josh Marshall. You’re very cute. And I bet you look even better without all that.” She waved at his torso, apparently indicating his clothes. “Besides that, you’re here. And Logan isn’t. And he was supposed to be here so he could see what a great job I did, but he’s always busy and sometimes I don’t even know why he proposed to me because most of the time he’s at Stanford and he only comes here on weekends and sometimes not even then, and I just…I just…want someone to be with. I don’t like being alone. I’ve been all alone forever. Do you know what that feels like?”

Her gaze clung to his. A sheen of tears turned them into jewels. His heart gave a slow heave, like an engine turning over. He didn’t want her to cry. He couldn’t stand to see her in pain. He’d never seen this side of Suzanne before. Usually she was quick with a comeback, with a breezy confidence about her. He’d assumed that was who she was—the girl who had it all together, who knew exactly what she wanted out of life and how to get it. He’d never imagined that she might be vulnerable like this.

“I do,” he said gently. “I know what that feels like.” He slid his hands up her arms, along her smooth skin, until he reached her shoulders. “But you’re going to get married, and then you won’t be alone. So why would you take a chance on messing that up?”