Seducing the Fireman (Risky Business) (13 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Becca stripped off her halter top and tossed it on the mountain of clothes covering her bed. She eyed the discarded shirts. None of them felt right for her first date with Jax. Which was ridiculous. Clearly he didn’t give a damn what she wore, or even, based on their tryst at the warehouse, if it was clean. She sighed and trudged back into the closet, the butterflies
in her stomach rioting angrily.

Just pick something already. Close your eyes if you have to, but for the love of God, just pick something. Two dates from now, it won’t even matter.

After all, a three-date max was her MO. But calling it quits with Jax? The very thought of it made her queasy. No, he definitely wouldn’t make it easy for her. The man had made it quite clear he wouldn’t
go down without a fight.

On the other hand, the idea of anything more scared the crap out of her. With her photography business coming together, the last thing she needed to be worried about was nursing a broken heart. Been there, done that, have the scars to prove it.

Quit being a spaz. It’s one date. One. No big deal.

The buzzer sounded.

Shit.

She pulled a black-and-white
striped tank from the hanger and tugged it over her head, slipping her feet into a pair of red ballet flats. Good enough.

Clutching her purse, she hightailed it downstairs, stopping at the intercom to let her date know she was on the way down.

Her date.

Talk about a strange turn of events. Never in a million years had she imagined Jackson Hart would ask for a second first date.
Or that her answer would be yes.

At least he’d shown up this time.

Forgive and forget, remember?

Jax was waiting dutifully when she stepped out into the cool spring night.

“You look great.” His eyes raked over her body, sending a flash of heat straight to her core.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” Total understatement. He looked like walking sex in a pair of dark
jeans and a black T-shirt that hugged his body like a second skin, emphasizing the drool-worthy perfection of his physique. “So where are we going?”

“Somewhere we should have gone a long time ago,” he said, opening the passenger door with a smug grin. God, she loved those dimples. “I think you’re going to like it.”

Unable to weasel any more clues out of him, she climbed in and sat
back, resigned to her fate. Wherever they were going, she’d know soon enough.

He hopped on Ocean Parkway and drove south.

“How’s the new piece coming?” he asked, glancing over and turning the radio down. “Ready for consumption yet?”

“I should know in a couple of weeks,” she admitted, twisting the hem of her shirt. “I think it’s ready, but that’s really up to the professionals.
I submitted it to ten galleries for consideration.”

“That’s amazing.” He covered her hands with one of his own. “But I’m sure it’s not easy waiting for a decision.”

She forced a laugh. “I swear I’m so nervous, I can hardly function. I’ve been checking my email obsessively for a reply.”

“Does the piece have a name?” he asked.

“I’m calling it Corner View.” She chewed her
bottom lip. “I wasn’t sure at first, but the more I worked on it, the more I realized the city means something different to each of us. The people, the places, the dreams. It wasn’t just about capturing life, it was about capturing life through
my
lens.”

He squeezed her hand. “I can’t wait to see it.”

Twenty-five minutes later, Jax turned onto Surf Avenue, finding an open parking spot
on the street.

Coney Island.

Tension laced her muscles, and those damn butterflies started acting up again. The date may have been ten years overdue, but her nerves hadn’t gotten the message. They were on high alert, wreaking havoc with her body. She wiped her palms on her thighs.

Jax shut off the car and removed his seat belt, turning to face her.

“What are we doing?”
She bit her lip. “Why did you bring me here?”

“I want a do-over.” He touched her chin, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine. Her breath caught in her throat. The look in his eyes was pure devotion, as if his very happiness depended on her answer. “I was an immature, selfish son of a bitch, and I don’t deserve a second chance, but I’m asking for it anyway. I want to start fresh
and do things right this time. I want to take you on the date we should’ve had ten years ago.”

Well, crap. What could she say to that? It was the sweetest damn thing any man had ever said to her, and her ovaries wholeheartedly agreed. But he was wrong. He
did
deserve a second chance. They both did. Why had it taken her so long to see that?

Because you’re a stubborn ass. Obviously.

“What do you say?” he asked, his face hopeful.

“I say…” She drew a steadying breath, praying she wouldn’t go down in flames. “I’ve always wanted to make out on the Wonder Wheel.”

He leaned forward, brushing a feather light kiss on her lips. “I think we can make that happen.”

They walked through the park hand in hand, bypassing the carousel and heading straight for the fifteen-story
tall wheel. The lights and sounds of the park were just as she remembered them from her childhood: loud, colorful, and completely Coney Island. She drank in the briny sea air, letting it wash over her and calm her frayed nerves. It wasn’t like she’d committed to anything more than making out on the Wonder Wheel like a couple of teenagers. Besides, Jax wouldn’t hurt her. Not again. She
wouldn’t let him.

But what if he’d actually changed?

She sneaked a peek at him, loving the cool confidence that rolled off him like a summer breeze. While she was a complete stress ball, he was perfectly at ease, as if he knew he’d planned the perfect date. Sweet. Romantic. Symbolic. Warmth spread through her body, fanning out from her belly. When he’d asked for a do-over, it hadn’t
occurred to her he meant it quite so literally.

Jax bypassed the open sliding car and chose a stationary one when it was their turn to board. He held the door and let her climb in first.

“No swinging?” she asked, scooting across the ancient metal bench. “You’re not afraid, are you?”

“You do know this thing is like ninety-years-old right?” He draped an arm over her shoulder, the
weight a comforting presence on the terrifyingly ancient ride. “You’re crazy if you’re not scared. Besides, the only distraction I need is you.”

A familiar tension coiled low in her belly, reminding her just how badly she wanted Jackson Hart. How badly she’d always wanted him.

The wheel began to move, lifting their car into the air. A few more passengers were loaded, elevating them
enough to see the ocean. Waves lapped at the shoreline, barely audible over the cacophony of noise coming from the amusement park.

Jax rubbed her thigh with his free hand, his fingers digging deep as he massaged the soft tissue, setting her nerves on fire. No wonder he was so good at his job. The man had a talent for locating hot spots.

Their car paused at the pinnacle of the ride,
one hundred and fifty feet in the air, giving them a panoramic view of the beach. Although it was a clear night, the lights of the boardwalk left the stars muted against the inky night sky.

“Look. You can see the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s beautiful,” she breathed, trying not to let him see how affected she was by his touch.

Oh, who are you kidding? Odds are, he already knows.

“The
view is nice,” he agreed, moving his hand from her thigh to her chin. “But it’s not half as beautiful as you.”

His lips descended upon hers with urgency, nipping and sucking with a gentleness he’d never shown before. The kisses were soft and sweet. Chaste almost. Like a first kiss.

It was exactly how she’d imagined her first date with Jax would be.

The ride began to move again,
this time bypassing the busy loading deck and completing a full rotation. She didn’t care. There was only one thing she wanted—one thing she needed—and Jax was delivering, his kisses growing wilder and more passionate, like a fire blazing out of control.

She breathed in his scent, memorizing every perfect moment as his lips moved over hers, never breaking contact as the wheel spun round
and round. When it finally stopped and the operator opened their car door, her cheeks were flushed, a telltale sign she’d been thoroughly kissed and loved every second of it.

They exited the ride, and Jax grabbed her hand, pulling her body flush to his, her breasts crushed against his chest. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, he smoothed her wild curls. It was a pointless endeavor.

It was also not the point.

The way he was looking at her? With unabashed hunger in his eyes? She was his for the taking. He could ask for anything, and she’d be powerless to refuse him. Despite all the bickering and banter, despite her best efforts to extinguish this thing between them, she was falling for him.

Again
.

No one had ever made her feel the way he did. Off-kilter.
Excited. Special. Like she’d been made for him alone.

“So what did you think of the Wonder Wheel?” he asked.

“It was everything I expected. And more.” Stretching up on her toes, she fused her lips with his, giving him a not so PG-13 kiss. “Wanna go down to the beach?”

“Oh, no you don’t.” He separated their molded bodies and swatted her on the ass. “This is our first date. You’re
not going to lure me down to the beach and take advantage of me.” He took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “Not yet, anyway.”

She stuck out her tongue. “Spoilsport.”

“What kind of man do you think I am?” he asked, feigning indignation. She arched her brow, letting him know
exactly
what kind of man she thought he was. “On second thought, don’t answer that. At least not until I’ve proven
my masculine prowess by winning you a carnival teddy bear.”

“A carnival teddy bear, huh?” A grin tugged at her lips. “How very manly and romantic.”

“It’s tradition,” he reminded her, leading the way to a water game that promised a winner every time. “Besides, I have a strategy.”

“A guaranteed win?” she teased, pointing at the sign.

He scoffed and puffed out his chest. “Stick
to what I know. All you have to do is spray the target in the clown’s mouth to inflate the balloon on its head. First one to inflate their balloon wins.” He slapped a ten-dollar bill down on the counter and took a seat next to a couple of kids. “How hard can it be? This is what I do.”

She covered her mouth, stifling her laughter. “You’re right. You definitely have an advantage.”

The
cashier took his money and quickly made change for everyone at the counter. Then she sounded the alarm and five streams of water shot across the booth. Jax was right on target, his balloon inflating slow and steady. She glanced down the line, noticing the boy at the end had a slight advantage. His balloon seemed to be inflating at a faster rate. She swung her gaze back to Jax, smiling at the look
of concentration on his face. It wasn’t quite as intense as she’d seem him on the job, but he looked pretty damn determined to win that bear.

Pop!

The boy at the end of the counter broke out in a celebratory cheer, and Jax groaned, realizing he’d lost to a ten-year-old.

“You do know I’m going to have to play again, right?” He raked a hand through his hair, as if his man card
really were in jeopardy. “I’m not leaving without one of those pink, fluffy bears.”

The kids climbed down, and she took the empty seat next to him. “Looks fun. I’d like to give it a try.”

He paid the cashier as a new group of players joined them at the counter.

Becca positioned herself, ensuring she was on target and waited for the buzzer to sound. It had been years since she’d
played a game like this, but if she was playing, she meant to win.

“Good luck.” She nudged Jax with her foot. “You’re going to need it.”

“The lady has a competitive streak.” He studied her, brows knit together. “Just so you know, I find that incredibly sexy. There are lots of games we can play, but I prefer the ones where we both win. Together.”

Ignoring his attempt at distraction,
she focused on her target, pressing down on the button that would release the water. When the buzzer finally sounded, her stream sailed across the booth, missing the target. She adjusted quickly and watched the red balloon grow, rapidly increasing in size. It grew and grew and—
pop!

She squealed with delight and chose the pinkest, fluffiest bear from the hanging prizes. Then she offered it
to Jax, loving the horrified look on his face as he realized she’d won the bear for him. “It’s tradition,” she reminded him, loving the blush that filled his cheeks. It was about time she knocked him off balance.

Finally, he accepted the bear. “If the guys ever catch wind of this, I’ll never live it down,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Did you want to try again?” she asked,
striving for innocence. “Third time’s the charm.”

“Shortie, I know when to admit defeat.” He slid an arm around her waist. “And in case you haven’t noticed, I already have the prize.”

…

Jax walked Becca to her door, hardly able to believe how well the date had gone. Hell, it had gone better than he could have imagined. He just hoped she could see he was serious about a fresh
start. And a real relationship with her. They’d had an amazing evening at Coney Island.

After leaving the amusement park, they’d shared a pizza at Grimaldi’s and taken a moonlit walk on the beach. It was sweet and romantic and everything their first date should have been. Even if he had failed in his mission to win her a stuffed bear. He hadn’t minded that she beat him. The way her eyes
lit up when she claimed victory had been worth it. His ego wasn’t so overblown he couldn’t handle losing to a woman.

His woman
.

Becca Mancini was his woman. She didn’t know it yet, but she would soon enough. He grinned. And when she finally realized it? That would be the real flash point.