Read Online Flashpoint by Jill Shalvis - Free Book Online Page B

always knew—but this time nothing was coming to her.
    Looking pleased, Cristina executed ten more pull-ups, then dropped to the ground to do push-ups.
    Brooke went back to her laptop. Cristina didn’t seem to mind being ignored, and Brooke tried for some peace and quiet. When another set of footsteps came up the walk, she didn’t even bother to look up. She was busy, very busy, thank you very much, and needed no more distractions.
    â€œDidn’t anyone ever tell you that all work and no play will make you a very dull girl?”
    Everything within her went still at the sound of Zach’s low, husky voice. He wore his uniform, looking just hot enough that she felt little flickers of flame burst to life inside her. “Maybe I like dull.”
    â€œNobody likes dull.”
    â€œI don’t know.” This from Cristina, now doing sit-ups on the grass like a machine. “I can believe she likes dull.”
    With an irritated sigh, Brooke closed her laptop yet again and stood. She’d find another place to study. Some place where the not-so-subtle barbs couldn’t pierce her skin. Some place where there were no gorgeous, sexy firefighters making her yearn for things she shouldn’t, like a connection, a real connection. And letting loose…She made it to the door before a big, warm hand hooked her elbow and pulled her around.
    For a guy who only moved when he needed to, she was surprised at how fast he’d caught her. “I’m busy,” she said with unmistakable irritation. She used that tone when she needed someone to back off, and it’d never failed her.
    But it failed her now. Utterly.
    â€œYes, I can see that you’re very busy.”
    Cristina, apparently finished torturing her body, walked past them with a smirk.
    But Zach just studied Brooke’s face. “You’re always busy. You like it that way.”
    So damn true. But they weren’t going there. “Where were you?”
    â€œA meeting with the chief.”
    He was no longer amused, and she read between the lines. “How did it go?”
    â€œTerrific.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œSure. All I have to do is learn to respect authority, and everything will be just terrific. So were you and Cristina bonding?”
    Nice subject change, she thought, but she saw misery in his eyes, and she didn’t want to poke at it. “Yeah. We’re like this.” She held up two entwined fingers.
    He smiled.
    â€œOfficer Hottie?” she asked. “Really?”
    He had the good grace to wince. “If it helps, I don’t answer to it.” It was just the two of them in the yard now, with no company except the light breeze and waves. Perfect time to tell him she wanted to mix business and pleasure, just once. He stood close enough that she could see flecks of dark jade swimming in that sea of pale green. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and maybe not yesterday morning, either, and she could feel the heat radiating off his body and seeping into hers. She could smell him, too, some delicious, intoxicating scent of pure male that had her nostrils twitching.
    Bad nostrils. Tell him…
    â€œCristina doesn’t mean to be rude,” Zach said.
    It made her laugh. “Yes, she does.”
    â€œOkay, yeah. She does.”
    â€œYou’re all a very tight unit. I get that loud and clear.”
    â€œWe are. It’s what makes us so good. But there’s room for more. There’s room for you. You could fit in, if you wanted to.”
    Her greatest fantasy…“ If I wanted to?”
    â€œYeah, well, you have a tendency to stand on the outside looking in.”
    â€œNo, I don’t.”
    He just looked at her, all patient and quietly amused, and she sighed. “Okay, I do.”
    â€œBut you don’t want to be on the outside looking in.”
    How was it that he knew her? “We both know I don’t really fit in.”
    â€œYou