* * *
Evie and Damon remained outside for another hour while the firefighters cleared the building. Mack stopped by to explain that the superintendent was taking the firemen through the apartments, letting them check each one with gas meters before declaring the building all clear.
Her conversation with Damon about his father lay on her mind, as did his feelings about letting his teammates down. She couldn’t help but feel like Emerson getting his opportunity to prove himself meant something to this investigation. But she hadn’t brought up the backup quarterback’s name to Damon again this morning, not wanting to rub salt in an open wound.
Finally, someone began to speak through a megaphone, announcing it was safe to go back inside.
She glanced at Damon. “I appreciate you keeping me company. Stay for breakfast?” she asked. Although she knew he was a client, she also wasn’t ready for him to leave yet. That fired-up moment between them earlier stayed with her.
Her need to offer comfort, her arms wrapped around his, the musky smell of man, and the heat in his eyes afterwards. She didn’t want a relationship, dammit, but she couldn’t turn her back on him when he was at his lowest.
“Are you cooking?” he asked.
She broke into a grin. “You don’t know me that well but no. I’m ordering in from my favorite pancake place.”
His hot gaze slid over her. She already knew what it felt like to rub against that muscular body and how much she’d both enjoyed the feeling and wanted more.
“I’m not sure where you put the carbs, but damn, you wear it well.”
She flushed at his admiration.
“Count me in since I’m not exactly in training at the moment,” he said, unaware of the pleasure his compliment gave her. “I can afford a cheat.” He frowned and she hated that she’d reminded him of his suspension.
“Come on up. I’ll call in the order.”
He nodded. “Give me a minute. I want to talk to your brother and see what they found.”
“Okay.” She smiled and headed in along with everyone else from her building.
* * *
Damon waited until she’d gone inside and strode to where the fire engine sat idle and looked around for Evie’s brothers. He caught sight of Mack and called out his name.
The man turned and strode over to Damon. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
Mack narrowed his gaze. “I know you didn’t sleep here, but you’re here at the ass crack of dawn. Am I right in thinking there’s more between you and Evie than client and PI?”
Admiring his blunt assessment and the fact that he didn’t give a shit about Damon’s fame, Damon decided to answer with respect and not a smart-ass none of your business comment.
“I like your sister,” he said.
“Define like.”
Like, now it was none of his fucking business, Damon thought, but didn’t say it. “Like I want to get to know her better.” He doubted Mack was aware of Damon’s nonexistent dating history.
Hookups? Yes. Dating? No.
Because he’d watched his mother stay with a man who’d been a dick to her kids, Damon hadn’t ever thought he’d find someone who would make him want to try for more than a night or two max. He couldn’t say he’d seen a loving relationship growing up. His mom spent her time making sure she was a buffer between her husband and children. Austin hadn’t gotten the brunt of Jesse Prescott’s wrath as he was more of the natural athlete. Although Damon knew Austin thought Damon hadn’t had it that bad, Damon had built his own resentments toward their father. But Evie? She was complex and unique, and she made him want to know her on a deeper, more emotional level.
Mack digested Damon’s comment, his intent, and puffed out his chest. “You know what I’m going to say, right?”
Damon squared his shoulders. “I have a sister, which means, yes, I know exactly what you’re going to say. And I’m not going to hurt her,” he said preemptively. If anything, he’d been more open and honest with Evie in a short time than with any other woman ever.
Watching him warily, Mack said, “Good, because I don’t care how famous you are, she’s got four brothers willing to kick your ass if you do.”
“Point made,” Damon reassured the man. “Now about the gas leak. What did they find?”
Mack looked toward the truck, where the guys were wrapping things up. “Nothing. Not a damn thing as far as I know.”
Just then, Deke strode over, a sheen of sweat on his face from wearing his uniform in the Florida heat. “What’s up?” he asked, looking from Damon to Mack.
Mack shrugged. “Just warning the famous athlete to watch himself with Evie or he’ll have us to answer to.”
Before Damon could respond to that, Mack asked, “You and your guys find anything?”
Deke, who’d begun to look Damon over, shook his head. “Either the call to 911 about a gas leak was a false alarm or a prank.”
“A prank.” Damon frowned. Something felt off to him about it being a hoax, what with Evie’s asshole ex roaming around, but he wasn’t about to tell her brothers and have them hovering even more. Not when gut instinct was all he had.
“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.