But Joel’s gaze swung to me. “Hey, Grace.”

“Why don’t you guys go cause trouble somewhere else?” I said. “We’re just trying to play.”

“No one’s causing trouble, beautiful.”

Asher’s jaw hitched and his voice was low. “Don’t call her that.”

Like a couple of sharks detecting the irresistible scent of blood in the water, they zeroed in on Asher.

“You gonna do something about it, Bailey?” Joel asked.

Asher didn’t move. He kept his hands around the cue, the muscles in his shoulders and arms bunching with tension, and stared them down.

“No?” Joel’s gaze slid to me. “If he’s not giving it to you good enough, I will.”

Cory grabbed his crotch. “Why don’t you come take this for a ride, baby?”

“Gross, Cory,” I said. “How would I even find it? I don’t have a magnifying glass with me.”

Joel chuckled, but it took Cory a second for my insult to sink in.

“You stupid bitch.” Cory took a step toward me, but Asher smoothly inserted himself between me and the jackass.

“Don’t.” Asher’s voice was dangerously low.

The air was so thick with tension, I could barely breathe. My heart beat hard and my pulse throbbed in my temples. I could feel Asher straining to keep himself in check.

The door flew open again and more voices spilled into the quiet restaurant. Logan strutted in, laughing—probably at his own joke. He was followed by Levi, who was rolling his eyes—probably at the same joke. They stopped, spotting us, and the smile melted from Logan’s face.

“The fuck’s going on over here?” Logan asked, striding over to us with undisguised confidence.

Levi was quieter, but the look he gave Cory and Joel was menacing. He stopped and crossed his arms.

“They were just leaving,” Asher said.

Like the bullies they were, the two jackasses seemed to decide they didn’t like these odds. Both lost their aggressive posture and moved back.

Joel smiled. “We were just messing with you.”

Asher didn’t reply. The anger coming off him was palpable.

“Let’s get out of here,” Cory said.

As if he had something to prove, Joel leered at me and winked.

Asher jerked forward, but I sprang around him and put a hand on his chest. Less than a second later, Levi was there.

“Easy,” Levi said quietly.

Cory and Joel turned to go. Logan didn’t move out of their way. Joel knocked his shoulder into Logan’s as he walked by, but it was like he’d hit a brick wall. Logan didn’t move. He just laughed.

They left, but Asher’s eyes stayed locked on the door. His body was tense, his fists clenched. I knew what he was thinking. He wanted to follow them out.

Levi put a hand on his shoulder. “Let it go, man.”

Asher’s gaze moved to me. The intensity glittering in his eyes softened.

“They’re just jerks,” I said. “Come on. You were beating me at pool, remember?”

My hand was still on his chest and I felt him take a deep breath. He was so imposing. So solid and strong. His dark eyes held me captive and my stomach was suddenly a whirlpool. Why was he looking at me like that?

“So what’s up?” Logan asked. “Are you guys going to finish your game?”

Gasping, I dropped my hand.

“Yeah.” Asher’s lips twitched in a grateful smile, and he lowered his voice. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

With another deep breath, he went back to the pool table.

Feeling a little jittery—I didn’t know whether it was from the feel of my hand on Asher’s chest and the look in his eyes, or the almost-altercation—I went back to our game.

And I wondered if what had just passed between us had been real, or in my imagination.

6

Asher

It was quiet at the firehouse today. Some of the guys had gone out on a call—a fender bender on the highway just north of town. I wasn’t on duty, and they hadn’t needed any extra hands, so I’d stayed behind.

I’d been a volunteer firefighter since shortly after I’d graduated high school. I worked part time at the hardware store, but when I wasn’t training at the gym, working, or in class, I was here. This place was basically a second home to me. If I wasn’t on duty, I studied or did homework. It was good experience and it kept me out of trouble.

I sat at a table in the big kitchen upstairs, a few books spread out in front of me. In addition to my college classes, I had exams to pass for my certifications. I couldn’t take the tests until next year—I had to wait for my juvenile record to be sealed first—but I figured I should stay up on the material.

“Asher.” Chief Stanley set his coffee down and took the seat across from me. “I didn’t realize anyone was in here.”

Norman Stanley had been Tilikum’s fire chief for over a decade. He’d grown up here in town, and started with the fire department as a volunteer when he was nineteen. He’d also been my dad’s best friend.

I tapped the book in front of me. “Just reviewing a few things. Figured I should keep it fresh.”

He took a sip of his coffee and nodded. “You’ll do fine when the time comes.”

Chief Stanley had been one of my biggest advocates when I’d gotten in trouble in high school. He’d spoken on my behalf at my hearing, and I had a feeling he was one of the reasons I hadn’t gotten any jail time. After that, he’d started inviting me down here to the firehouse and giving me random jobs to do. He’d claimed he just needed the help, and at the time, I hadn’t thought much about it. But he’d been looking out for me. Keeping me busy. Doing what he could to make sure I didn’t screw up again.

“How’s Evan?” he asked. “Home for the summer?”

“Yep, we’re back to a full house.”

“Things are about to get interesting around here. I got two new volunteer applications yesterday.”

“Logan and Levi?”

He nodded.

“Good, I won’t have to get on their cases to get them done.”

I was glad Logan and Levi had finally graduated so they could apply to be volunteers, too. They were good guys, and thankfully they’d gotten through high school without any permanent damage. But it would be easier to keep an eye on them if they were here, especially since I was this close to pulling the trigger on getting my own place.

“Are you coming out for their graduation party?” I asked.

“Wouldn’t miss it. Although I won’t be staying late. I have to get on the road early the next morning.”

“Going to visit Skylar?”

“Yeah, it’s been too long since I’ve seen her. Couple more years and I’ll be throwing her a graduation party. Or her mom will.”

Unlike my parents, who’d been crazy enough to have five kids in less than six years, Chief Stanley only had one daughter. But he and his wife had divorced years ago, and Skylar lived with her mom about three hours away in Spokane. She didn’t come out to Tilikum very often. I didn’t know if that was her doing or her mom’s, but Chief Stanley was usually the one to go to her. I hadn’t seen her in years.