Fever-epub (10 page)
Authors: Cathryn Fox
How could he have allowed himself to believe there was more to their relationship, believe that she saw him as something more than a fantasy man in uniform?
He stood with such force, his chair scraped across the wood floor and toppled over. Just then Sara rounded the corner. His gaze flew to her face. Her jaw dropped when she saw the pained look in his eyes.
Stomach knotted, and heart pounding, he held the notebook up and cocked his head. “So this is all I am to you? Research?”
When she linked her fingers together and hesitated, he tossed the notepad back onto the table. He huffed and shook his head. “And here I thought you were different from the rest. I thought you were a woman who could finally see the man beneath the uniform. I guess I was wrong.” With that he turned on the ball of his foot and stormed past her.
* * *
Sara angled her body when Mitch sailed by her. As she watched Mitch storm toward the door, Cassie’s warning words suddenly came rushing back to the surface.
He’s a playboy, a woman’s fantasy. It’s the way he likes it.
Sara’s mind raced, piecing together Mitch’s words and Cassie’s warning. She drew a quick breath as understanding dawned in small increments. It wasn’t so much that it was the way Mitch liked it, it was more that it was what he expected from women.
And now, after reading her notes, he concluded that she was like every other woman. Wanting him for the fantasy only and nothing else. But the fact that he was angry with her proved that he cared about her, that it was more than just about fulfilling fantasies, didn’t it? That was enough to prompt her into action. She grabbed the notebook from the table.
In her calmest voice, she called out to him, “You didn’t flip the page.”
Mitch stopped mid-stride and turned to face her. “What?”
She crossed the floor to meet him. “You didn’t flip the page, and I think you should.”
Jaw set, features hardened, he stared at her. “Why?”
“I can’t deny that I called the Hot Line in search of a hot-topic story and in search of a hot night with you. I’m sure your reasons for answering the phone were the same. A hot night of sex.”
He widened his stand and drove his hands into his pockets. “I answered because it was
you,
Sara.
You.
I knew you were only in it for the fantasy, and I was going to give it to you, but deep down I think I always wanted more. And after last night, I thought we connected.”
She pressed the notepad into his stomach. “You see, Mitch, I couldn’t write the article about fantasy men in uniforms like I wanted. Because the more I got to know you, the more I realized there was more to you than just a fantasy.” She gestured toward the paper. “Read it for yourself. I started writing, and all I could get out was how amazing you were.” She poked her finger into his chest. “Y
ou.
Mitch Adams the man, not Mitch Adams the fantasy man in firefighter gear.”
Conflicting emotions flickered in his eyes before a relieved rush of air exploded from his lungs. “Are you serious?”
When she nodded and offered him a warm, loving smile, his face softened. He crushed his hands through her hair and drew her to him, angling her head. His voice hitched. “Sara, you have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that. I came here today with the intentions of telling you how crazy I am about you, that I want to see where this relationship goes. I know you hate writing for the
Trenton Gazette
so I wanted to ask you to stay here with me and together we can come up with a hot topic story that
Entice
will love.”
Her heart leapt when she gazed at him. There was so much emotion in his eyes that it bore into her soul and stole her next breath. Oh God! She recognized that look. It was the same look she’d seen Cassie give Nick at the restaurant.
He dipped his head, shaky hands touching her all over. His mouth closed over hers. “We need to talk to Nick,” he murmured into her mouth.
“Why?” she asked.
“He warned me to stay away from you.” His kiss deepened, his hands slipped between her legs. “He said you were a small town girl and he didn’t want me to hurt you. I’d never hurt you, Sara.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the door swung open and Nick and Cassie walked in. “What the hell-”
Mitch broke the kiss and turned to face Nick. After seeing the look on Nick’s face, Mitch held his hands up in a halting motion. “Let me explain.”
Nick folded his arms. “It had better be good,” he said.
Even though Nick had warned Mitch to stay away from her, and his tense body language indicated anger, Sara noticed a somewhat self-satisfied smirk on Nick’s face. What the hell was that all about?
“Sara, come here,” Cassie piped in.
Mitch widened his stance and tightened his hold on Sara. “Hold it, you two.” Sara watched in mute fascination at how Mitch held his ground. He really was her knight in shining armor or, rather, her knight in – and out of - firefighter gear.
“Listen, I’m crazy about her and I have no intentions of hurting her.”
Nick’s gaze went from Mitch to Sara to Cassie, back to Mitch again. “What?”
“That’s right,” Mitch said. “I’m crazy about her.”
Sara wrapped her arms around his waist.
He’s crazy about me!
Nick shook his head in bewilderment, but Sara caught the smug look on Nick’s face before he quickly wiped it away. “I think I need to sit down. What the hell has been going on around here for the last few days?”
“What happened,” Sara said, her heart overflowing with joy, “is that while you two have been busy with your wedding preparations, I discovered this bad ass really is just a softie at heart.”
“Hey,” Mitch said, chest puffing out, “cool it, Sara. I have a reputation to keep.”
Sara laughed and hugged him tighter. She shot Cassie a look. “You were right, Cassie. You said when I met the right guy, I’d know it. Mitch is that guy, and I know it.” She tipped her chin to glance at Mitch. Impatience to hold him, kiss him, and touch him again seeped through her. “Let’s go somewhere we can be alone.”
Mitch winked at her. “Shall I bring my gear?”
Sara winked back. “You don’t need it.” Leaving Nick standing there shaking his head in total bewilderment, and Cassie grinning like mad, Sara grabbed Mitch’s hand and started toward the back door. Before they could escape to share a private moment together, Dean stepped into the front entrance.
His glance went from Sara to Mitch to Nick, who’d propped himself on the arm of a nearby chair, jaw gaping in awe.
“What’s going on?” Dean asked.
Sara glanced at Dean, her gaze panning over the firefighter insignia on his T-shirt.
Mitch grabbed her chin and turned her to face him. “Hey, over here.” He scowled at her. “You’re mine and mine alone.” He closed his hand over hers, dragging her to him.
She grinned, loving how he felt so possessive of her. Loving the way he’d fight for her. “On second thought, maybe you should bring your gear.”
“Oh yeah?”
She arched one brow. “Not only do we have more fantasies to explore, but if I’m going to move here and work for
Entice
, I’ll need all the inspiration I can get to come up with a new and unique twist for my article.”
He laughed and shook his head. “Dear God, what have I created?”
With a seductive sway of her hips, she said, “Come with me, and I’ll show you.”
Look for Jenna and Dean’s story in
SIREN!
The SIREN has sounded, and shy lingerie designer Jenna Powers is finally ready for a real man to ignite her desires, break through her inhibitions, and show her the naughty side of love. Enter Dean Beckman—again and again.
Single Titles
Firefighter Heat
Fever
Siren
Flash Fire
Summer Lovin’
Weekend Cowboys
Bedding Down
Riding Bareback
Pleasure Games
Pleasure Inn
Eternal Pleasure
Hell
Whispering Cove
Boys of Beachville
In the Line of Duty
His Taste of Temptation
His Moment to Steal
His Strings to Pull
To discover even more titles by Cathryn Fox check out her website at
New York Times
and
USA today
Best selling author, Cathryn is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Cathryn can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love.
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