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caressed her bare shoulder. “Okay, he’s gone; we can stop pretending.”
    Nick lifted his head off her shoulder smiling. “Good thing I think fast, huh?”
    “You are fast on your toes. I guess I should get going; I have errands to run.” She attempted to take the check from him to see how much she owed for lunch.
    “I’ll take care of your check. Ant would never forgive me if he knew I didn’t pay for your lunch.” Removing money from his wallet, he slipped cash inside the leather folder and put it on the table.
    “That’s a joke. He didn’t bother to be here to pay for my meal after inviting me to lunch.”
    “Um, well, I don’t know about that…”
    “I’m sorry, Nick; once again I’ve made you uncomfortable.”
    She took his hand in hers. “Thank you for buying my lunch and hanging out with me for a bit. I’m sure you had other plans for your day off.”
    He rolled his eyes upward. “I wish I was off tonight. I go in later.”
    Her hands trembled as she let go of his. Anthony was up to something, and it was time she finally found out what he was doing.
    “I’ll walk with you to your car,” Nick offered.
    “I don’t want to make you late for work.”
    He licked his lips alluringly. “I have time.”
    Is Nick flirting with me? The palms of her hands moistened. “Okay, if you’re sure.”
    “I’m positive.”
    His hand barely touched the small of her back as they walked to the door, but she felt the heat of it through her cotton blouse. Lincoln thought of Nick as a flirt and a ladies’ man. He was never with the same woman twice. And she made it a point never to call the woman he was with by name until he introduced her. He dated so many women it was impossible to keep track of them.
    Outside, the sunshine had faded away to dark cloud cover. It was threatening to rain and, from the looks of the clouds, severely. “My car is right there,” she said, pointing to a dark blue Honda Civic. She didn’t drive a fancy car or live in a fancy apartment. Her job as an IRS agent paid the bills, and she lived within her means. The luxury she indulged in was the monthly spa day she did with Regan.
    “You lucked up and got a spot at the door,” Nick said as he led her to the driver’s side of the car.
    Lincoln put the key in the lock and opened the door. “Lucky me.”
    Nick placed his hand on the edge of the open door to look down at her. “Are you okay?”
    Lincoln nodded not looking at him. “I’m fine, Nick. Thanks again for everything.”
    “My pleasure, but I know you aren’t okay. You’re upset about Anthony. What has he done to upset you?”
    She put the key in the ignition and turned on the car. “I don’t want to get you involved. I have to figure this out for myself.”
    “It’s too late; I’m already involved. What can I do to help?”
    She looked up at him and into sincere eyes. Lately, when she looked Anthony in the eye, all she saw was deception.
    *****
    Nick waited for her answer. He knew a spouse or girlfriend of a firefighter had it hard. The hours they kept weren’t regular 9- to -5, but usually, 24-hour shifts that, could go past that depending on the type of disaster they were dealing with. His first marriage failed because of his job and his lack of dedication to his family. After his accident, he promised he’d get his life together and learn to be a better man.
    The doctors were surprised at the rate Nick regained full use of his legs after suffering a spinal injury while battling a fire at a steel mill years ago. He was determined to walk without the use of a cane and resume his career as a firefighter. It took years to get it done and with the help of friends, he was able to do it. Anthony was a part of his recovery.
    His recovery also aided in them overcoming their issues with one another. Nick and Anthony’s friendship became stable. Anthony had risked his life to save him in the fire and Nick felt he owed Anthony a debt of gratitude. What Lincoln was asking