“That’ll be rough, because I plan on taking the pot. Wait, am I smelling sweet stuff?”

  Reggie lifted the bag and nodded. “Amber requested some cookies from the family bakery.”

  “Hell, yeah. Your parents have the best bakery in the city, I swear.”

  “Thanks. I’ll be sure to tell them.” Again. “And thanks for driving.”

  Blake shrugged and pulled into traffic. “I don’t mind. It makes it easier for you to drink if you want, and not have to worry about driving.”

  Reggie knew his friend didn’t drink and hadn’t since he’d been the only survivor in a car accident in college where everyone had been drinking.

  Blake didn’t talk about it much—actually, it had come up once, and never again—but it was always there, hanging over his friend’s head. Some things were unspoken, but widely known.

  “Well, thanks for being the designated. You’re a Boy Scout, Blake.”

  The other man gave a soft laugh and shook his head. “You know Kristen used to tell me that. More out of annoyance, though. She was trying to seduce me and I wasn’t going for it.”

  Reggie grunted.

  Kristen. Right.

  Sometimes it was still a little weird if he thought about how he’d almost gone out on a date with Blake’s now-wife.

  And it wouldn’t have just been any date. Kristen had been trying to ditch her virginity.

  Reggie had almost been the one to do her that solid, since Blake had been using everything in his power not to fall for her and had initially refused to sleep with her.

  “You still mad?”

  Reggie let out a deep belly laugh. “Mad? That you got jealous and snagged your girl before she could show up for our date? Nah. It was clear you guys were meant for each other.”

  “Yeah, but it was still a dick thing to do. I should’ve been up-front with you.”

  “That was more than a year ago. I was over it within two weeks, tops. We’re good.”

  Blake cast him a sideways glance, before merging onto I-5. “So are you dating anyone?”

  “There’s a woman I’ve gone out with a few times.”

  Nicole. Conventionally hot. A little shallow, with an Instagram account with nothing but selfies, but she seemed cool.

  They hadn’t slept together yet, but that was more on him. It hadn’t felt right after each date.

  “Is it serious?”

  “Maybe.”

  Or nah, but it was easier to let the conversation go with a maybe.

  “Well, if she’s not the right one, you’ll meet the one soon. Guys like you are like catnip to women.”

  Reggie laughed and shook his head.

  Casual sex had never been his thing. God help him for being a sap who wanted to have some kind of feelings established before delving into physical intimacy.

  Getting laid was easy. Finding someone you couldn’t wait to wake up next to the morning after was the real challenge.

  “Well, if you don’t find someone serious soon, Kristen keeps threatening to set you up with some of her friends.”

  Reggie pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Is that so? Well, I may just take her up on that.”

  “Good.”

  By the time they found street parking outside of Amber’s apartment, Reggie spotted Chuck’s and Chad’s cars nearby.

  It’d be a decent-size turnout tonight.

  They made their way into the building and up to the apartment.

  Her door was cracked and music drifted to the walkway outside.

  Blake pushed it open and called out, “Who’s ready to lose some money?”

  “Sounds like you’re volunteering, Blake,” Amber teased from the inside. “Because it sure isn’t going to be me.”

  Reggie followed him into the apartment, lips twisting in amusement.

  Chad was in the kitchen, putting together what looked like some kind of mini sandwiches.

  “Beer is on the porch.” Chuck stepped through the sliding glass door that led outside.

  It was rare having the captain come out to poker games. Married with four kids and all, he kept pretty busy on his day off.

  “Good to see you made it out, Captain.” Reggie shook his hand.

  “Juniper encouraged me to come. Told me I needed to do something kid-free on one of my days off. Which, who am I to argue? I needed some time with the guys.” He glanced at Amber and lifted a brow. “Sorry, is that weird? That I lump you in with the men?”

  “It’s not weird.” Amber, who was standing behind the kitchen table, setting out paper plates and napkins, shrugged. “I take it as a compliment.”

  When her gaze lifted, it landed on him, and Reggie saw something in her eyes that was hard to discern.

  Maybe a flash of frustration? But then it was gone and she was back to smiling.

  “Anyway, thanks for bringing dinner, Chad,” she added. “You know I can’t cook.”

  “Your meat loaf was fine.” Reggie couldn’t resist the urge to defend her by referencing the last time she’d cooked at the station. “Right, guys?”

  “Best meatloaf ever,” Blake said smoothly and elbowed Chuck in the side.

  Chuck nodded. “Absolutely. It was not hard enough to break a tooth on.”

  Reggie scowled at his friends, but fortunately, Amber just burst out laughing.

  “Look, I’m clearly better with a firehose than a spatula, and I own up to it. Takeout is my best friend.”

  “I thought Tara was your best friend.” Reggie lifted a brow and made his way to the porch to grab a beer.

  In the three years since Amber had worked at the station, they’d gotten to know each other fairly well. It wasn’t just poker parties where they hung out, but also occasional breakfasts and dinners out. Tara had joined them at restaurants a handful of times.

  He reached into the cooler to grab a beer, aware of the footsteps behind him as she followed.

  “You’re right. Tara is my best friend. But takeout will always have a special place in my heart. Hey, hand me a beer?”

  He grabbed a second bottle and straightened up, extending the beer to hand it to her.

  She leaned against the railing on the other side of the porch, and for a moment, his mind went empty. The air locked in his lungs.

  The sunlight and shadows hit her in a way that obscured her face, but made her long golden hair shine.

  His gaze slid lower, past the baggy black T-shirt to her legs. The pale flesh was a mix of muscles and softness, not hiding beneath those tiny denim shorts.

  At the moment, he wasn’t looking at Amber—who he literally saw as one of the guys—he was looking at a gorgeous woman.

  He blinked, willing it to go away.

  Come back, Amber. Please turn back into the girl that’s one of the bros.

  “You okay, Lieutenant?” She stepped closer, out of the sun, her brows furrowing.

  Her face came into focus, and some of the tension in his muscles eased.

  She was Amber again. Thank god. What the hell had that been?

  “Yeah.” He nodded quickly, thrusting the beer at her. “I’m good. And it’s Reggie when we’re not working.”

  “Right. Reggie,” she said softly. “It’s habit.”

  Those shorts were throwing him. Though they shouldn’t have.

  It was a hotter-than-usual July with the temperatures already in the low 80s. Since most apartments and homes didn’t have AC, that made it kind of brutal. So, of course, she was dressed accordingly.

  They’re just shorts. Just legs.

  Damn, it hadn’t gone away. He willed it to leave again—the realization that Amber was all female and entirely hot—but it lingered.

  Unwittingly, his gaze fell to the cartoon of a fire hose on her shirt and the writing beneath it. Only this time, he read what it said.

  I Put Out.

  His breath caught and his blood quickened.

  Oh hell. It was happening.

  His imagination took the statement on her shirt and ran wild. Mentally stripping her out of her clothes and imagining her in his bed. On top of him. Beneath him. On her hands and knees.

  Sweat beaded on his brow.

  In one moment that friends only filter had been removed, and he saw her in a light that until now, he’d forced himself to ignore.

  Without a doubt, he’d never be able to look at Amber the same way again.

  Fuck.

  *

  Why was he staring at her like that?

  Amber took the beer from Reggie and lifted her brow in a questioning look. “Are you okay?”

  He blinked. Again.

  Why did he keep doing those weird, slow blinks?

  “Yeah. I’m good.” He lifted his beer and took a long pull on the bottle. His gaze drifted away.

  No, there was something else. He’d looked at her shirt and got all weird.

  She lifted her bottle to her lips and took a sip, narrowing her eyes. Her lips twitched. “Does my shirt weird you out?”

  “Your shirt is amazing.” Chad stepped out onto the small porch to grab another beer. “You still need to text me the site where you found it. I need one.”

  “Already did. Check your phone.” She didn’t take her eyes off Reggie, waiting to see if he’d answer her question.

  He adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. “Not gonna lie. The shirt threw me for a minute.”

  “Right?” Chad laughed and slapped him on the back, before turning back to Amber and gesturing to her with his beer. “You wear that out to the bar and guys will be tripping over themselves to talk to you.”

  “I’ve worn it out.” She gave a small smile as she remembered how that had gone. “It definitely brought in some attention, but none that I’d want to follow up on.”

  Chad nodded. “So, is there anyone you’re seeing?”

  He wasn’t hitting on her. Chad was as good as married, with his long-term girlfriend. The question had been casual and curious.

  “I mean, I see you dorks all the time,” she teased, diverting the question with humor.

  That had them both laughing, but unfortunately, not distracted.

  “But seriously.” This time it was Reggie who pressed her to answer.

  Like dogs with a bone.

  Her smile tightened and she glanced out past the patio railing, to where a greenbelt of trees backed up to her apartment building.

  “I’ve gone on a few dates this year.” She shrugged. “I don’t feel like I clicked with any of them enough to make time for a second date.”

  Both guys nodded in empathy. The firefighter schedule could be brutal on a social and homelife, what with the twenty-four-hour shifts. Days off were partly spent sleeping.

  It was no wonder they ended up hanging out with each other. There were no expectations or judgment on how to spend their free time.

  “And you?” Chad glanced at Reggie. “Still seeing that one chick? With the red hair and curves for days?”

  Amber’s breath caught and her fingers tightened around the beer in her hand.

  “Nicole?” Reggie hesitated. “Yeah, we’ve gone out a few times now.”

  Reggie was seeing someone?

  The lightness and giddiness that had been in full swing for the poker game deflated slowly, like a pricked balloon.

  How was it that she hadn’t heard? These guys were her brothers. They basically had no secrets. Everyone knew who was dating who, and who might be having problems in their relationships.

  Her little crush on Reggie had been allowed to flourish because he’d been single most of the time.

  Or so she’d thought.

  “Nice. So it’s getting serious?”

  Reggie hesitated, his gaze falling on her, before sliding back to Chad.

  “I don’t know, man. It’s still pretty early.”

  “Well, she seems cool. And pretty hot.” Chad tapped his beer against Reggie’s. “Cheers to the possibility?”

  Amber’s stomach sank, and she forced herself to keep the faint smile pinned on her face.

  Lord, she was a naïve fool. Crushing on the man who she spent most of her days with had always just been fun and harmless. It kept things interesting.

  But hearing he was involved with someone else—potentially getting serious—put an ache in her chest that was far heavier than her little crush should’ve warranted.

  It didn’t feel harmless.

  Time to move on.

  She clenched her teeth.

  Time to turn her interest elsewhere and actually find another guy who got her juices going.

  There were plenty out there. And maybe if she stopped comparing all these men to Reggie, they would stand up better.

  “Hey.” Blake filled the doorway. “We going to play some cards and eat? Or is the party getting moved to the patio?”

  “I don’t think my porch can handle the weight of even more firefighters out here.” Amber grimaced and shoved away from the railing. “Besides, I’m looking to take all your guys’ money tonight.”

  The men laughed and followed her inside.

  Soon they were gathered around the table with potato salad and warm ham and cheese sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls.

  While analyzing the hand she’d been dealt, Amber took a bite of the chilled potato salad.

  “Oh my god,” she mumbled after swallowing the food. “Did you make this, Chad?”

  He beamed. “I did.”

  “You’re good.” Blake pointed his fork at him. “I want the recipe. I’ll surprise my wife with dinner one of these days.”

  Wife.

  Amber blinked and shook her head. Sometimes it was still a jolt when she remembered Blake was married now.

  The player had been outplayed by a virgin—or that was the rumor. Not that he cared, now nauseatingly and happily married.

  “Everyone place your bets?” Chuck tossed a twenty into the pile.

  Amber nodded and continued to stare down at the hand she’d been dealt. She had a pair, which wasn’t amazing.

  Her gaze snuck around, drinking in all the other guys’ expressions.

  Chad always had the worst poker face, and going by his smug expression, he was pretty happy with the hand he’d been dealt.

  As the community cards were revealed, her luck didn’t improve.

  Crap, unless she bluffed her way through this, she was going to be losing that money she’d promised to win.

  Or she could fold early and call it good with a small loss.

  But going out early wasn’t her style.

  So she bluffed, and one by one, people got nervous and folded. Even Chad.

  Damn. I should’ve gone into acting.

  But Reggie…he didn’t back down. When he pushed the bet, his gaze met hers and a slight smile tugged at his lips.

  She lifted her fist to her mouth, kept her eyes blank, and glanced back down at her cards.

  Did she match and risk it all? Or fold?

  She met his gaze again, trying to read if he was bluffing about his hand. His brown eyes were sparkling with amusement. No arrogance or doubt.

  God, he was impossible to read. He gave literally nothing away.

  She bit her lip in frustration.

  Across the table, Reggie’s attention dropped to her mouth and his gaze narrowed slightly, his eyes darkening.

  Something shifted inside her and the air in her lungs held.

  Everyone around them seemed to disappear, and it was just them and a new electricity pulsing across the table.

  Her heart quickened as she unwittingly slid her gaze lower to his mouth.

  That mouth.

  How many nights had she lain awake and dreamed about what that mouth would feel like on hers? On her body?

  “Uh, Amber? What’s it going to be?”

  She blinked, dragged back to reality by the amusement in Blake’s voice.

  Holy crap. She’d full-on zoned out and gone into fantasy mode on Reggie with all the guys around her?

  Heat flushed to her face and she shook her head. “I’ll fold.”

  She suddenly felt way over her head in more ways than one.

  Chapter Three

  What just happened?

  Reggie dropped his gaze and removed his glasses to wipe them clean on his shirt. The next breath he drew in wasn’t as steady.

  They’d been in the good-natured, teasing-and-fun mode, and in an instant, something had shifted. Maybe it’d been because of that little lip-biting thing.

  The energy had changed between him and Amber. It’d become electric. Dangerous.

  She’d noticed it too.

  He wasn’t being cocky, but it was in the way her gaze had dropped to his mouth. The flash of need in her eyes.

  He’d heard the silent call and wanted to answer it on an instinctive, primitive level.

  Fuck.

  This was bad. This was really bad.

  “Show your hand, Reggie?”

  Chuck’s comment had him laying his cards down.

  “Shit. You are like the king of bluffs,” Chad cried in dismay. “That hand is complete shit.”

  “Isn’t it, though?” Reggie grimaced.

  “Hey guys, give me a couple minutes to use the bathroom before the next round.” Amber pushed back her chair and made her way out of the room as everyone around her nodded.

  “Reggie, step outside with me for a second?” Blake rose as well.

  With his brows knitting, Reggie just nodded and followed his friend out to the porch. Truth be told, he could use the air.

  He grabbed another beer, cracked it open, and leaned against the railing. “What’s up?”

  Blake shut the door, leaving them closed off from the other guys. He sighed and thrust a hand through his hair before giving Reggie a warning look.

  “Be careful.”

  Reggie stilled. “With?”

  “Whatever that was.”

  He held his friend’s gaze and gave a slow nod. “You’re going to have to be a little more specific than that, bro.”

  “You and Amber. That little eye-fucking you both just had going on.”

  Reggie’s stomach sank.

  Blake had noticed that little moment between them? Had anyone else?

  His friend gave him a searching look. “How long has it been happening?”

  “There’s nothing happening.” The words came out terser than he hoped. “Amber’s basically one of the guys. A good friend and coworker.”