should stop right there."
"And you should stop taking everything the wrong way. I'm just trying to help you, but you insist on jumping down my throat at every opportunity.” His voice was rising, but she could see he was trying to remain calm.
"Jumping down your throat?” she shouted.
"Look, I just think it's a shame. I had Kevin pegged as a player the first time I saw him. And you're such a smart woman. How did you let him bulldoze right over you?"
He'd hit the nail on the head. Shane had voiced the exact thought which had been plaguing Jules for six months, but she still didn't appreciate hearing it out loud. “And what makes you such an expert? I sure don't see a wedding ring on your finger!” She looked at him, hands on her hips.
She wanted to gloat, wanted to feel triumphant, but when she saw Shane's face tighten, her stomach turned. Suddenly, the muscles in his jaw clenched, and he looked as if he'd been slapped. Even as he glared back at Jules, he seemed to be withdrawing. Within seconds, he didn't even seem to be aware of her anymore. He just stared past her with those soft eyes of his.
When he did speak, his voice was almost imperceptible. “I do have a wedding ring. I stopped wearing it two years after my wife died."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Six
The new captain sat alone in the cramped office in the back of the fire station. The room might be small and box-like, but it was his. At least, it boasted large windows and glass walls, so from his vantage point Shane could see everything inside and out. Not a lot of privacy, to be sure, but it was probably not a good idea to hole himself up away from the other firefighters anyway.
One in particular was commanding his attention this morning. Kevin McGuinness was currently occupied clicking on a computer keyboard, but kept glancing up towards Shane. The two men hadn't had much opportunity to talk yet, aside from their initial confrontation at Jules’ house and a brief re-introduction at the fire station. Shane knew he'd have to hash things out with Kevin eventually if they were to work side by side.
Shane sized up the infamous Kevin, the man who had driven Juliet Baker to distraction. He wondered what it was about the man that had inspired such passion in Jules. He supposed most women might find him attractive with those hooded blue eyes and dark hair, but to Shane he just looked shifty. Especially in light of how Kevin was regarding him right now.
If looks could kill.
But was Kevin shifty enough to put an anonymous, threatening letter on his ex-girlfriend's windshield? It wasn't the first time he'd wondered the same thing. He'd seen how angry Kevin had become the day Shane had interrupted their argument.
That was why he'd gone through Kevin's file with a fine-toothed comb, looking for any indication he was anything other than an upstanding firefighter with a philandering issue. There'd been no red flags, but he'd given Kevin's name to his police contact anyway. If there was anything interesting in his past, they'd find it.
Shane shook his head. It didn't matter anyway. Jules meant nothing to him, especially after last night.
Now if he could just stop thinking of her.
He got up and began to pace inside the small office, finally settling on a spot by the window. What was it with that infuriating woman? What was wrong with her? She was so enticing with her sweet looks and the body he'd give anything to touch, but she was driving him mad with her quick temper. He couldn't stop picturing her delicate face, all animated by her fury. Those bright hazel eyes and those quivering lips were enough to make him want to grab her and cover her mouth with his own.
"Why did I push her? It's no business of mine if she was a gullible girlfriend. Why should I even care?” He supposed it was because the thought of her being hurt angered him.
Still, she flew off the handle far too easily. And the comment she had made about his wedding ring had knocked the wind
"And you should stop taking everything the wrong way. I'm just trying to help you, but you insist on jumping down my throat at every opportunity.” His voice was rising, but she could see he was trying to remain calm.
"Jumping down your throat?” she shouted.
"Look, I just think it's a shame. I had Kevin pegged as a player the first time I saw him. And you're such a smart woman. How did you let him bulldoze right over you?"
He'd hit the nail on the head. Shane had voiced the exact thought which had been plaguing Jules for six months, but she still didn't appreciate hearing it out loud. “And what makes you such an expert? I sure don't see a wedding ring on your finger!” She looked at him, hands on her hips.
She wanted to gloat, wanted to feel triumphant, but when she saw Shane's face tighten, her stomach turned. Suddenly, the muscles in his jaw clenched, and he looked as if he'd been slapped. Even as he glared back at Jules, he seemed to be withdrawing. Within seconds, he didn't even seem to be aware of her anymore. He just stared past her with those soft eyes of his.
When he did speak, his voice was almost imperceptible. “I do have a wedding ring. I stopped wearing it two years after my wife died."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Six
The new captain sat alone in the cramped office in the back of the fire station. The room might be small and box-like, but it was his. At least, it boasted large windows and glass walls, so from his vantage point Shane could see everything inside and out. Not a lot of privacy, to be sure, but it was probably not a good idea to hole himself up away from the other firefighters anyway.
One in particular was commanding his attention this morning. Kevin McGuinness was currently occupied clicking on a computer keyboard, but kept glancing up towards Shane. The two men hadn't had much opportunity to talk yet, aside from their initial confrontation at Jules’ house and a brief re-introduction at the fire station. Shane knew he'd have to hash things out with Kevin eventually if they were to work side by side.
Shane sized up the infamous Kevin, the man who had driven Juliet Baker to distraction. He wondered what it was about the man that had inspired such passion in Jules. He supposed most women might find him attractive with those hooded blue eyes and dark hair, but to Shane he just looked shifty. Especially in light of how Kevin was regarding him right now.
If looks could kill.
But was Kevin shifty enough to put an anonymous, threatening letter on his ex-girlfriend's windshield? It wasn't the first time he'd wondered the same thing. He'd seen how angry Kevin had become the day Shane had interrupted their argument.
That was why he'd gone through Kevin's file with a fine-toothed comb, looking for any indication he was anything other than an upstanding firefighter with a philandering issue. There'd been no red flags, but he'd given Kevin's name to his police contact anyway. If there was anything interesting in his past, they'd find it.
Shane shook his head. It didn't matter anyway. Jules meant nothing to him, especially after last night.
Now if he could just stop thinking of her.
He got up and began to pace inside the small office, finally settling on a spot by the window. What was it with that infuriating woman? What was wrong with her? She was so enticing with her sweet looks and the body he'd give anything to touch, but she was driving him mad with her quick temper. He couldn't stop picturing her delicate face, all animated by her fury. Those bright hazel eyes and those quivering lips were enough to make him want to grab her and cover her mouth with his own.
"Why did I push her? It's no business of mine if she was a gullible girlfriend. Why should I even care?” He supposed it was because the thought of her being hurt angered him.
Still, she flew off the handle far too easily. And the comment she had made about his wedding ring had knocked the wind
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