“Someone called in a gas leak,” her brother said.
She blinked. “That could be serious.” She lowered her voice. “The building could explode.”
He nodded. “The fire department is setting up near the fire hydrant and going in with meters. Meanwhile, the police are moving you all back farther,” he said, just as a uniformed officer directed them far from the building.
“Is Deke here?” she asked of her brother the firefighter.
“I haven’t seen him yet but he’s on shift. I’m sure he’s around somewhere.” Mack glanced over people’s heads.
Evie patted his shoulder. “Why don’t you go see what you can find out?”
“Good idea. Stay put.” He kissed her forehead and strode off, leaving Evie to wait … for Damon.
* * *
Once again, Damon found himself driving too fast to Evie’s apartment, concern gnawing at his gut. At least his symptoms were lessening. He didn’t know why he felt the need to rush over. Gas leaks happened, and most likely they’d clear things out and let them back into the building.
He parked far from the building and the crowds and made his way toward the people who were probably tenants. He glanced around the group, looking for Evie, which wasn’t difficult given his six-foot-four height. He saw her face peeking out from the side, while a large man in a firefighter uniform had her in a bear hug. Damon’s stomach twisted with what he acknowledged was jealousy, and he strode up to them just as the man released her.
She turned. He stared, taking her in at a glance. Wearing a pair of tight jeans and a tank top, her nipples poking through the thin fabric, she was his every dream come to life, and his twitching cock let him know it.
“Evie,” he said in a gruff voice.
“Damon!” She appeared happy to see him, her smile warm and welcoming.
He glanced at the other man, who, now that he turned around, looked very much like Mack, from his dark hair to his brown eyes and facial features.
“Let me guess. Another brother?” he asked, the relief running through him intense.
Evie grinned. “Deke, this is—”
“Damon Prescott! Hey, man, what an honor!” Deke extended his hand and Damon shook it. “What are you doing here?”
“He’s a client.”
Deke’s brows furrowed in confusion, no doubt because there was no reason for a client to be here this early and especially during an evacuation.
It was time for Damon and Evie to have a talk about their status. If she was his fake girlfriend, she needed to act like it all the time. And since their kiss had been impulsive and not in front of an audience, they definitely needed to nail down what was going on between them. Damon knew what he wanted. To see where things between them could go. In the real world.
Deke lifted his helmet and scratched his head. “I’d love to talk and hear more, but now that I know Evie’s out of her apartment and safe, I need to get back to work.”
He shot Evie a look that Damon interpreted as I want an explanation for Damon Prescott coming over at this hour later.
“Bye, Deke. Be careful.” She watched him leave, concern etched on her face.
Damon didn’t like seeing her worried or upset. “He’ll be fine.”
She nodded. “I know. It’s his job and he’s good at it. He knows how to be careful.”
He studied her makeup-free face, realizing she was as beautiful with all the artifice as without. In fact, he liked seeing her olive skin glowing and her lips bare. He’d love to devour them and see how she tasted without fake goop on her lips.
He shoved his hands into his jean pockets. “So, any more brothers I should know about?”
She grinned. “Lucas is an EMT and Joshua is a mechanic.”
He let out a low whistle. That would teach him not to jump to conclusions every time she hugged another man. “Must have been hard bringing boyfriends home.”
She chuckled. “They had to be pretty damn brave to face the four of them, plus my dad.” She met his gaze.
“Are they still tough on the guys in your life?” Because he wanted to be her guy. He knew that now.
Driving over here, worrying about her again, he had a sudden rush of certainty. They deserved a real shot. His life sucked and he wanted her to be there while he went through it. He suddenly understood Austin more. How being with Quinn after his infant daughter, Jenny, had arrived, seeing her in a new light, sent his one-time bachelor brother into a man determined to make Quinn his.
Still, the reminder of losing his appeal sent his mood crashing to the ground. “Oh, by the way, I lost the appeal. My suspension remains intact,” he said low enough no one could overhear.
“Oh, Damon. I’m sorry.” Without warning, she stepped forward and pulled him into a hug.
One he hadn’t known he’d needed. Her warm body pressed into his, her breasts crushing against his chest, the thin material of her top hardly a barrier. Her nipples were hard and tight, and his hands slid to her waist, his palms brushing her bare skin. He felt the gun she’d tucked into her jeans and was glad she’d thought to protect herself.
Someone jostled against them and she stepped back, looking up at him with heat in her eyes. He experienced the same warmth sizzling through his veins.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked quietly, not acknowledging the moment, instead leading him away from the group of people.
Some pointed but nobody had bothered him for an autograph or photo, probably because they’d all just rolled out of bed. Not the best selfie moment.
He drew a deep breath. “About the suspension. It doesn’t just suck, it’s devastating. I can live with letting myself down because I know I didn’t do it. I can focus on who has it in for me and why. But my team? They need me and it’s a quarter of the season. They don’t deserve to be let down by their quarterback.” He shook his head, looking down at the dewy grass.
“Those who know you will trust you,” she assured him, slipping her hand into his and squeezing tight.
He appreciated her show of support and wrapped his larger fingers around hers. “Yeah, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m out for four games.”
“I understand,” she murmured.
“There’s something else.” He heard himself speak and was shocked at what he was about to reveal to her. “Now that it’s official and there’s no way out, I hear my father’s voice in my head.”
She narrowed her gaze. “So, Quinn told me last year that Austin donated a kidney to your uncle Paul, who admitted to being your real father.”
“Sperm donor dad.” A wry smile lifted his lips. “I love that man. Growing up, when my dad was an asshole, Uncle Paul was always the voice of reason. But now? I imagine Jesse’s disappointment. I can hear him berating me for not being good enough, for letting my teammates down. And it sucks.”
She sighed. “I won’t minimize your feelings and I can’t take them away. I can only tell you that we’ll figure this out, and though it won’t bring back the games you miss, at least you’ll have validation. I’m going to do my best for you.”
“I’m grateful.” Even though she was being paid to do a job, those brown eyes looking up at him with faith told him she was invested in more than a paycheck. Which was a good thing, because he was becoming equally invested in her.