Burn So Bright

Chapter 2

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?”

She sniffed and blinked back her tears. As he watched, he saw the truth of what he said sink in. Way to go, Marsh. A hot girl is practically naked in front of you and you take a pass.

“You may have a point.” She spoke in a small voice as she wiped away a tear that had managed to sneak through. “But he would never know. And he gave me the free pass. I think he wants me to do something so he doesn’t feel guilty.”

Wow, the red flags with this relationship were really piling up. This free pass concept seemed a little fishy, if you asked Josh. Either commit to a girl or stay single. Don’t try to have it both ways. Of course, he had no doubts about which camp he belonged in. Team Single all the way.

But maybe he just didn’t understand the mysterious ways of engaged couples. “How about a kiss?” he suggested.

“Just a kiss?”

“Yes. Just a kiss. Not enough to cause any trouble, but enough so you can know that you did something with the free pass.”

She ran her tongue across her lower lip, which was pink and plump and practically begging for his touch. “No one needs to know except us.”

“We don’t even have to know. We can pretend it didn’t happen if we want. It’s just a kiss. We’ll probably be laughing about this tomorrow.”

Laughing was better than crying. With relief, he saw her expression brighten and her tears evaporate. “You’re really smart, Josh! That’s a great idea. Just a kiss. No biggie.”

“Exactly. No biggie,” he agreed.

“No harm, no foul.”

“Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“Easy come, easy go.”

“One up, one down.”

“What?”

He shrugged, having no idea what he’d meant with that one. “Baseball, maybe?”

“Come here, you.” Grabbing his lapel again, she yanked him toward her and this time he didn’t resist. He slid his hands down to the soft indentation of her waist and snugged her against his pelvis. She lifted herself onto her toes and craned her neck, straining toward his mouth. He bent his head—she was so tall in her heels that he barely even had to—and for a long moment simply hovered his mouth over hers. Anticipation crackled between them. He felt her n*****s harden against his chest. His c**k was doing exactly the same thing.

If they were going to have only one kiss, he might as well make it a good one.

He ran his hands up her back, savoring every smooth inch of that long, elegant curve. When he reached her head, he cradled it in both hands, tilting her face to the perfect angle, where he could devour at will. Her eyes drifted half-closed and her lips parted. She looked as if she were dreaming.

He brushed his lips against the soft, tempting mouth open before him. An electric vibration sizzled directly to his brain. He slid his tongue along the sleek flesh of her upper lip, then nipping the lower one until she opened farther, on a soft moan. He tasted champagne and a sweet wildness that had him driving deeper, sweeping his tongue inside the delicious cavern of her mouth.

She wrapped one long leg around his hip. He felt the heel of her shoe against the back of his leg—the visual of that nearly drove him nuts. He clamped a hand on her silk-covered ass and pressed her mound against his groin. His c**k pounded with nearly painful arousal. He bent her over so he didn’t lose his balance as he ravaged her mouth.

Moaning, she grabbed the back of his shirt and held on tight. Being Suzanne, she gave just as good as she got. Their tongues touched and teased in a wicked twining dance. Every stroke generated more electricity, more sparks, more need. The shock of it made him light-headed, and he had a sudden image of the two of them floating in zero-gravity space, locked together in a kiss as hot as a supernova.

Quick footfalls sounded outside the door and a female voice called, “I’ll be out in a sec. Don’t you go anywhere. Oh, look, someone left a club soda out here.”

They broke apart, staring at each other in a sort of daze, trying to reorient themselves. “Someone’s coming,” Suzanne finally whispered.

Josh shook himself out of his stupor. Sweeping her off her feet, he whisked her into the stall where she’d left her dress. He pulled the door closed behind them just as the outer door opened. He squeezed his eyes shut, cringing as the woman hurried to the sink, her heels clicking on the tile floor.

“Hi, it’s me,” the woman said. Suzanne pulled a worried face, but Josh put a finger to her lips before she could say anything. “Yes, it’s going fantastic, like a dream. All signs point to getting lucky tonight.”

Suzanne clamped both of her hands over her mouth, eyes wide with mirth.

“You were right. I’m definitely going commando from now on. It just puts you in the mood, you know? I think he can sense it. We’re connecting on a whole different level. Like, pheromonially. Like, my pheromones are speaking to his pheromones. You know? We’re pheromonially compatible.”

Suzanne’s shoulders were quaking with silent laughter. Josh bent to her ear and whispered, “I hope you’re taking notes. That commando thing is worth checking into. Not that I don’t love these.” He trailed his finger along the waistband of her panties.

In response, she tickled him in the ribs. He made a sound that caught the woman’s attention.

“Hello, is someone in here?”

“Yes, just fixing my dress,” Suzanne called. “Don’t mind me. Good luck with your date.”

The woman “hmmphed” and left the restroom. As soon as she left, Josh pushed open the door of the stall. He hurried to the door and snagged the club soda still sitting outside.

When he ducked back in, Suzanne was already dressed and twisting her hair back into a knot. Staring into the mirror, she waved off the soda. “Never mind. It’s already nearly dry and right now it’s the least of my worries.”

“Oh yeah? What’s the worst of your worries?” He tucked the club soda into her bag in case she changed her mind. “That she might have caught us eavesdropping? She shouldn’t worry. I’m erasing that from the memory banks starting now.”

“No, it’s not that.” She finished with her hair and turned to face him. A troubled expression darkened her deep blue eyes. “Logan has...well, he’s never kissed me like that.”

Josh shoved his hands into his pockets. “What do you mean, ‘like that’?”

“Don’t worry, it’s a compliment. To you, I mean. And I must have had a lot of champagne or I wouldn’t be saying all this. He’s never kissed me like…like he couldn’t ever get enough. Like he wanted a kiss more than breathing.”

Oooooh. Suddenly this seemed like a tricky situation. He didn’t want to come between Suzanne and her fiancé. A fiancé was a solid thing to have, and Josh had nothing solid to offer. He and Suzanne were completely different and they were headed in opposite directions. He couldn’t allow her to think that anything else was on the agenda.

“I like breathing too. It’s almost as good as kissing,” he quipped.

“But the way you kissed me…”

“I know. It was amazing.” He preened like some kind of cocky asshole. “I’ve been told I’m a champion kisser. Don’t let it worry you.”

Frowning, she pulled a shimmery blue shawl from her bag and draped it across her front, where the champagne had spilled. “So you kiss everyone like that?”

Her tone of voice was dubious, and he couldn’t blame her. That kiss was not a regular everyday kind of smooch. It was more of a once-in-a-lifetime thing. He needed some time to figure out why it felt that way. For now, he had to laugh it off.

“Listen, if Logan needs a few lessons, I can probably work with him,” he said, mock-seriously. “But my kind of skill and experience doesn’t come cheap.”

Ah, there it was. Suzanne’s patented “look of scorn.” He didn’t usually care much for that look, but right now, it was for the best. “I’m sure we’ll muddle through without the mighty Josh Marshall’s kissing lessons.”

“Good. After all, you probably picked up a few tips yourself during the kiss.”

Shaking her head in disgust, she pushed past him. “You know what? I think I’m going to block the whole thing from my mind.”

He followed her across the tiles toward the door. “I would too, but there’s no way I’m forgetting the way you moaned. ‘Ooooh, Josh. Oooh, baby. Oooh, that feels so good.’”

She flung open the freakishly well-oiled door, making it bang against the wall. “I didn’t say anything like that, you idiot.”

“There was moaning.”

“There will be moaning if you don’t stop saying silly stuff.” She clicked down the hallway in her little silvery strappy sandals, which made him remember how it felt when she wrapped her leg around him.

Which practically made him moan right there in the hallway. “See you around, Suzie Q,” he said in a voice too low for her to hear.