Putting Out Old Flames Read Online Free

still heard a slight congestion. “Maybe I’ll call and tell him I still feel under the weather.”
    â€œYour only social life is your Sunday and Thursday night dates with Leon.” Her mother shook her head like that was the biggest disappointment a parent could have in her child. “You don’t want to go backwards.”
    To the dark days when Jane spent her evenings reading mystery novels, childless and alone. That thought was clearly implied.
    Jane blew out a breath. “Fine.” With a kiss to her mother’s cheek, she breezed out the door, the bell above it tinkling a goodbye.
    Game night at the American Legion was usually fun. It probably was a good idea that she go out. Take her mind off things she shouldn’t have her mind on. Like dropping a quarter on Chance’s butt and seeing how high it’d bounce off the hard muscles. That part of his body had really filled out. She’d spent the better part of yesterday afternoon lying in bed thinking about that, much to her shame.
    And Leon was perfectly nice. Dependable. A good friend.
    Strolling to her car, her steps grew shorter and shorter.
    And not nearly interesting enough to keep her mind off Chance.
    Jane groaned. It was going to be a long night.
    * * *
    Chance pulled his SUV into a parking space at the American Legion and cut the engine. He should be at home. There were still boxes to unpack, and a free night was better spent playing games with his son rather than with adult men. But his new chief had thought it would be a good way for Chance to meet the members of the community he now served.
    Chance didn’t want to start off his new job ticking off his boss. Creating a stable life for Josh was his primary concern.
    Still, he had a plan for the night. Get in, shake some hands, get out.
    Wind slapped his face as he stepped from the car. The night air held a bite, a warning that although winter was over, this was still Michigan, and it didn’t tolerate sissies. Shrugging into a windbreaker, Chance strode to the entrance.
    A dimly lit bar lay off to the right. Its walls were adorned with sports pennants, and a few old-timers scattered the barstools. Straight ahead, double doors opened onto a large meeting room. The fluorescent lights made Chance blink. Fold-out tables filled the area, their surfaces covered with cards, board games, and poker chips. The room was full. People sat at the tables, smiling and laughing, attesting to the fact that they at least enjoyed playing games with other adults. Others stood, congregated in groups, chatting and drinking.
    Chance muffled a grunt, and headed for the fun and games. Searching for his chief, he spotted the man easily. A head taller than anyone else in the room, the leader of the Pineville Fire Department reminded Chance of the Brawny paper towel model. A flash of red standing in front of Chief Finnegan made Chance pause. All he could see of her was her back, but he recognized Jane instantly.
    There was nothing overtly sexy about the red blouse, jeans, and low pumps she wore, but Chance’s body reacted just the same. Her hips had filled out since high school. Where she’d once been slim as a boy, she now had the rounded curves that begged for a man’s touch. Her thin robe hadn’t done much to hide the ripe swell of her breasts the day before, and that flash of smooth leg had made a frequent appearance in his head for the past twenty-four hours.
    She tilted her head back to laugh at something the chief said, the ends of her hair brushing the collar of her blouse. The hair was different, too. His Jane had worn her hair down to her waist, pulled back in a thick braid.
    The new Jane kept her hair short, wisps just curling at her collar. Chance didn’t usually like short hair on women, but Jane’s whiskey-colored locks looked soft and feminine, and framed her delicate face beautifully. It was just long enough for a man to dig his fingers into and grab