Page 68 of Steel

Why was it that with normal conversation we were both befuddled like a couple of teenagers? “So, I know the owner of the bar across the street from the accident. She thought it mightbe nice if I brought you and Damon by tonight.” Wow. That sounded a hell of a lot like I was asking her on a date.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea. He’s had so much excitement in the last couple of days and I really need to concentrate on getting the reason I’m here up and running.”

I looked at her sheepishly, knowing Shannon wouldn’t let me live it down if I didn’t convince her to stop by. “They make the best hamburgers in town and I know Damon was craving them last night.”

If looks could kill…

“You’re the incorrigible one, but okay. That sounds great.”

“Excellent. I’ll pick you up at say five-thirty?”

“Sure.” With her smile leveled on my inner thighs, I realized my hands were sweating.

Another wow moment I certainly wouldn’t admit to anyone.

“Um, do you happen to know where they took my burned-out carcass of a Jeep? Just in case there’s anything left?”

“Yeah, Sheldon’s Towing. It’s down on Market Street.”

The woman was thoroughly confused. “I guess I need a map.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “How about I drop by at five and I’ll take you there first.”

“I’m going to need to start paying you to be my chauffeur.”

“I could think of worse things.”

She fiddled with the coffeemaker before opening the cabinet and pulling down two mugs.

“Can you stay for coffee?”

I checked my watch as if time was what I was worried about. “I should get going. I need to be at the hangar in a couple hours. Besides, I know you want me gone before Damon wakes up.”

Her hesitation affirmed my suspicions and she tentatively grabbed a single mug, gently placing it under the Keurig machine.

Maybe I was hoping she’d disagree with me, although I was under no illusions of grandeur. I’d spent the night more out of circumstances than anything. What we’d enjoyed together was likely a one-time thing. I understood. I was a big boy. Not all women were out for a relationship. She had a life. I had a life. Thousands of miles apart.

“Steel.” When she said my name, I knew a serious conversation was about to hit me.

“Violet.”

Her nose wrinkled and she grabbed a coffee pod, taking her time to place it into the coffeemaker and hitting start before turning to face me. I was no master of reading body language, but it was easy to tell she was shutting down what we’d shared. Her jaw was set and at least she was able to look me in the eyes.

“You don’t need to jump through hoops, brat,” I told her. “Last night was cool. No, it was great actually, but I know you need to do what you came here for and it’s almost fire season.”

“What does fire season mean?”

“Just that more fires occur between July and November than the other months of the year.”

“Are you ever afraid that you won’t make it through the season?”

She had a way of catching me off guard with her questions. “Um. I honestly don’t think about it too much.”

When she looked away, I realized I hadn’t given her a decent enough answer.

“It’s a dangerous job, Violet, but don’t worry. Every candidate goes through rigorous training.”

“Are there many deaths?”