Page 19 of Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)
“Hey, Wolfe!” another firefighter called out, joining them. “Did you see an unfamiliar-looking guy wearing one of our uniforms lurking around?” he asked Deke.
Damon narrowed his gaze while Mack jerked to alertness.
“What do you mean?” Deke asked.
A young guy, younger than Damon at twenty-five, lifted his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “An old woman said she asked one of us to make sure we didn’t let her cat out of her apartment when we did the door-to-door checks. Told him to come back and let her know her apartment was safe. She was frantic. Probably age related, you know? Anyway, she saw the guy again after and called out to him, but he ignored her. Instead he got into a car and drove away. She was giving Chief an earful when I saw you guys and walked over here.”
“You come and go in the truck only, right?” Mack asked.
The new guy nodded. “Any of you see anything odd? Deke, you see anyone unfamiliar?”
“No.” He folded his arms across his chest and looked at the men milling around the front of the building and the engine.
“Motherfucker,” Damon muttered. “That bastard has something to do with this, I’m sure.”
Deke jerked his head around. “Who?”
With a groan, Mack spoke. “John, Evie’s ex.”
Deke’s eyes opened wide. “What the fuck? That bastard surfaced again?”
A loud whistle sounded. “Come on, Wolfe, Holmes. Haul ass. We’re out of here,” someone called from nearby.
Deke glared at his brother. “I’ve got to go but you owe me an explanation.” He and his fellow firefighter jogged over to the truck, whose engine had already been started.
“You didn’t tell him about the gift?” Damon asked.
Mack flushed a deep red. “Didn’t want him freaking out, but I’ll get him, Josh, and Lucas together and explain.”
Damon’s gut twisted with dread. “I’ve got to get upstairs.”
“And I’m going to find out more about this supposed firefighter,” Mack said. “Keep an eye on her,” he instructed Damon.
As if he planned to do anything else.
Chapter Four
Evie hadn’t asked Damon what he wanted for breakfast, but his eyes had lit up at the idea of pancakes, so she ordered her favorites. The restaurant knew her by name and was aware of her usual order. Apple pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, because she liked both and always had one of each, and an order of plain just in case Damon didn’t want to share what she’d chosen.
She washed up quickly and changed into a pair of sweats and a long-sleeve shirt. Damon hadn’t noticed the scar yet, and she didn’t want to have to get into an explanation now. She set the table and had just finished when Damon knocked. She heard his voice telling her it was him from outside.
Opening the door, she let him in. He looked around, frazzled. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Is everything okay?” He looked behind her.
She blinked in surprise. “Of course. Why?”
He shut the door behind him and locked it. He hesitated and she frowned.
“Just tell me what’s wrong.” She hated suspense.
“I was talking to your brothers. They thought this whole situation was either a false alarm or a prank. Then one of the firefighters told Deke that there was a man who was pretending to be one of them. And after mixing in and I assume getting into the building, he left in his car, not in the fire engine like the rest of the guys.”
Her heart skipped a beat at the implication. “You think it was John?”
“We don’t know but it’s a possibility.”
“That stupid son of a bitch.”
“The problem is that you have no proof he’s stalking you, which means you can’t get a restraining order,” Damon muttered.
“He’s good at stalking. And cheating.” But she wasn’t going to let John ruin her morning. “Can we stop talking about something I can’t change? I’m sure Mack is going to end up having someone drive by here often if he doesn’t do it himself.”
He looked like he wanted to argue … or say something more, but as if she’d summoned the food, her bell rang. Damon strode there first and looked through the peephole before opening the door and accepting the package, discovering she’d already paid and tipped with an app.
“I would have paid for your breakfast,” he said as she took the bag from him.
She smiled. “I know. And I can afford to treat you.” She unpacked the Styrofoam holders and moved the pancakes onto plates, setting them on the table with maple syrup and utensils.
They sat next to each other at her kitchen table. Sun streamed in from a nearby window as they each took their choice of pancakes.
Damon took the plain kind and she wrinkled her nose at his unimaginative choice.
“Come on, don’t you want a taste of chocolate chip or apple pancake? They’re so good,” she urged, taking a bite of chocolate chip herself.
