Flaming Desire - Part 2 (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) Read Online Free

it if you don't want to.”
    He reached across the seat divider and placed a hand on my knee. The contact sent a sudden bolt of awareness through me. How was it possible that one simple, innocent touch could cause such a reaction? I had never been so chemically, hormonally, or sexually attracted to any guy before. What was so special about Matt?
    “There was an incident in your past, wasn't there,” he said quietly. Not a question, but a statement. “It not only compelled you to go into nursing, but more than likely has something to do with your becoming a Hotshot.”
    I refused to look in his direction. Could he read my mind now? We hadn't spent that much time together, but I got the feeling that he understood me at a level that most guys didn't. I didn't know if it was because we shared two adrenaline rich environments; firefighting and nursing, but whatever it was, he got me. I wasn't sure if I was ready to spill my guts to him though.
    He let the question go. “It was an exciting day, even though the afternoon was quiet,” he said, nodding to himself as he stared out the front window. “Of course I'm glad, because otherwise, someone else would have been hurt, but still…”
    “Yeah, sometimes the ride-alongs are quiet and calm,” I shrugged. “Other times, they're quite intense, and that alarm bell never seems to stop.”
    We drove into the hospital parking lot and I parked in my usual spot. “Just about time for you to clock out,” I said. “I need to talk to Diane for a minute, but if I don't see you before you leave, have a nice—”
    “You got any plans for the evening?”
    I said nothing while I got out of the car. He followed suit and walked beside me as I headed for the emergency room doors, which swished open as we approached. Thinking about the question, I wondered. Was he asking me out on a date? I was just about to respond when I heard the squeal.
    “Oh my God, are you okay Jessica?”
    I turned from Matt to find Serena rushing down the hall toward me, Melody close behind. For a moment I felt confused. Why wouldn't I be okay?
    “We heard what happened this morning because the ambulance brought that baby and their mother here from a house fire this morning,” Melody explained.
    Serena wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big bear hug. “Don't you ever do that again!” she scolded.
    I glanced at Matt, an eyebrow raised. “I'm fine you guys, really.”
    “Only because Matt saved your life,” Melody remarked. She looked up at Matt and smiled. “Thank you for that, Matt.”
    He smiled in return, nodded, and then moved past us and down the hall.
    Melody gave me a once over, her eyes passing over my soiled scrubs. “I know you're a Hotshot firefighter and all that, Jessica, but please… you’ve got to be careful, okay?”
    I smiled at my friends while Matt continued down the hall, heading for the break room where the time clock was situated. As soon as he was done with the mentoring, he would negotiate a salary and wouldn’t have to punch in and out. “I will,” I promised. “Besides, Matt was right behind me—”
    Serena grinned. “From what we heard, he carried you out over his shoulder while he held onto that baby with the other.” She sighed, exaggerating an eye roll, and pursed her lips. “Can you get any sexier than that?”
    I felt the heat of a blush race up into my cheeks. Of course I hadn't said anything to either of them about the McDonald's parking lot. I laughed and changed the subject. “You guys off shift pretty soon?”
    Melody shook her head. “I picked a double with the evening shift,” she offered with a shrug and a face. “I didn't have any plans tonight anyway.”
    I glanced at Serena.
    “Going out with my boyfriend,” she said, glancing down at her watch. “As a matter of fact, I'm already running late.” She moved off with a wave.
    “What about you, Jessica?” Melody asked. “You got any plans?”
    I shook my head. “Nothing really, except a