Page 14 of Bolt's Flame

I trailed off, not wanting to get into the mess that was James. Josie didn’t push, just nodded thoughtfully as he looked at the photos. “Damn, these look amazing. I can see why you want to get back to work. You’re talented as hell.”

“Thanks,” I said, smiling, soaking up praise I had been denied for so many years.

“They really are amazing looking,” Barbie said with a smile. I liked Barbie. She was pretty with short dark hair, model tall. She made me feel like a kid next to her.

For the next few minutes, we talked easily about baking, food, and everything in between. Gearhead chimed in occasionally with his jokes, and I could tell Josie was watching me. I could feel the warmth of his attention, but it wasn’t overwhelming. It felt nice. Safe. Non-romantic.

Unlike Bolt.

I glanced toward the kitchen door, half-expecting him to walk through it, his intense eyes locking on me like they had earlier. He hadn’t said much to me since I got here, but every time I saw him, there was that spark. That pull. And I hated how much it affected me.

As Gearhead cracked another joke, making Josie and Barbie laugh, I let myself relax, just for a little while. But in the back of my mind, I knew this peace wouldn’t last.

Not with James still out there.

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE SMELL OFbacon hit me the second I walkedinto the kitchen. My stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since the party last night, but food wasn’t the first thing on my mind as I stepped inside.

It was her.

Fiona.

She was standing at the counter, her head bent close to Josie’s as they talked and laughed about something I couldn’t hear. Her face, the same one that had been covered with fear just days ago, was lit up with a smile—one of those rare, real ones. And Josie? He was leaning in, all charm and easy grins, soaking up every bit of her attention. That prospecting motherfucker hadenough female attention. He sure as hell didn’t need one more—especiallynot her.

That twist of jealousy hit me hard in the chest. It came out of nowhere, burning hot, and I hated myself for it. I shouldn’t care. I didn’t even know what the hell I was feeling toward Fiona half the time. Confused. Attracted. Frustrated. Protective. Angry. All of it mixed up in a way that didn’t make sense.

But seeing her with Josie, all relaxed, and laughing, had me clenching my fists. Like something inside me was ready to snap. I could tell Josie liked her. That much was obvious. He faked a lot of smiles around the sweet butts, but not with her. And, of course, hewouldn’tneed to fake anything around her. Fiona was sweet, soft-spoken, and yeah, she was beautiful in that subtle way that the more you looked, the more you couldn’t take your eyes off her.

Shit, I should know since I haven’t stopped fucking staring at her since she got here.

But she wasn’t for him. Hell, she wasn’t for me either. Not with the mess in my head and not with everything she’d just gone through. I knew that. And still... I couldn’t shake the feeling that I needed to be the one she was laughing with.

I crossed the kitchen, trying to act like I wasn’t noticing them, heading straight for the coffeepot. But my eyes kept flicking back to the two of them, trying to listen in on their conversation without making it obvious. Josie was talking about some recipe he was testing out, something about spices or some shit, and Fiona was hanging on his every word, nodding along, her fingers playing with a piece of her hair like she was comfortable around him.

That tight feeling in my chest twisted harder, and I poured my coffee with more force than necessary, nearly spilling it. Josie glanced up, noticing me for the first time. “Morning, Bolt. Hungry?”

“Yeah,” I muttered, keeping my voice casual. “Didn’t know we were runnin’ recipe classes in here.”

Josie grinned, not picking up on the edge in my tone. “You know me. Gotta feed the masses and keep ‘em happy.” He gestured to Fiona. “She’s been keeping me company in the kitchen, and if we’re lucky, she’ll make us a few of her baked treats.”

“Is that right?” I said, glancing at Fiona. She was looking at me now, but her expression was unreadable. The same tug I always felt when she looked at me was there, pulling me in, making my gut twist in ways I didn’t understand.

“Yeah,” she said softly, those fingers going to her neck, playing with that imaginary necklace. “I like to bake.”

I nodded, taking a slow sip of my coffee, trying to play it cool. But inside, my thoughts were a mess. I wasn’t jealous. I didn’t do jealousy. That wasn’t my style. Fiona was just... using the kitchen, that’s all. And Josie was a good guy, harmless, being nice. This shouldn’t bother me.

But it did.

First Gearhead and now Josie.

“So,” Josie said, wiping his hands on a dish towel, “You were saying you need to hit the store later to get those baking ingredients?”

My ears perked up at that, and before I realized what I was doing, I asked, “You goin’ out?”

Fiona glanced at me, her eyes uncertain. “Yeah. I just need a few things to get me started.”

“I’ll take you,” I said, the words out of my mouth before I could stop them. “If you’re goin’ into town, that is.”