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"I'm a challenge to him. Unique because I don't fawn over him. Nothing else," I say again.

"No," Jas says softly. "You're special. And be mad all you want, but the man runs toward trouble as a general rule, not away from it. That means you can't be mad at him for being true to who he is when it comes to looking out for you. He's right about that."

I glare at her this time. "You shouldn't have eavesdropped. And I can look out for myself. I don't need Sully." The words sound hollow even as I say them, and Sully's handsome grin comes to mind.

That man… Inch by inch, he's pulling me into his orbit, and right now? With Thad free?

The last thing I can do is let my guard down. Even if I feel Sully breaching the walls I build higher every time I see him because letting him get close is absolutely terrifying.

Everyone sees the Sully he presents to the world. But behind closed doors?

What if he's the same kind of man as Thad?

Chapter 10

Sully

* * *

One of the best things about being a firefighter is the shifts. While some complain about working forty-eight hours straight, I love getting those four days off afterwards. Especially living in a beach town where sun and fun can be found just about year-round.

The moment shift change is over, I head out to find my girl. She's had plenty enough time to stew over our conversation. Now to do damage control.

I'm not used to being the turtle, but I continually tell myself "Slow and steady wins the race"—and hopefully the woman. Violet would rather bite me before she asks for help, and I admire that. She isn't soft in the ways people expect, but there's softness in her all the same. Buried deep and guarded like treasure, it's there and worth the fight to find it.

She's protective of her family. Loves pets and kids alike. And she isn't the grump she pretends to be around men. My take on her attitude is that she's weeding out the losers wanting a woman who'll back down to them so they can do whatever they like.

I like Violet's sass. Her attitude. Her strength. They are total turn-ons. She's a fighter, and God knows you have to be in today's world.

I get on my bike and head toward the ladies' usual parking spot near the pier, but there's no sign of Betty the Burger Bus or its beautiful owners.

I swing round and go to another popular spot and then take the long way home—which just so happens to roll by the Greenes' house.

I turn the corner and spot the bus still sitting in the driveway.

I pull in and see Jasmine watching from the ground while Violet is balanced on the bumper and leaning over the engine, peering beneath the hood. Jasmine gives me a small wave and looks more than a little relieved to see me as I cut the engine. "What's wrong with Betty?"

"She won't start," Jasmine says. A frown pinches her eyebrows over her nose. "And Violet refuses to let me call Ace’s Garage."

"I have YouTube," Violet grumbles beneath the hood. "And I think I see the problem. I just…can't…reach…"

I hear a muffled sound before whatever tool she uses clanks as it falls through the engine block to the ground below.

"Son of a nutcracker," Violet grumbles.

I can't stop my grin or the chuckle that follows. "Such language," I say in a chiding tone. "Need a hand?"

Violet turns her head at the question, her gaze finding mine and looking more than a little irritated.

"She wants to say no," Jasmine drawls in an amused and knowing tone, "but she knows I'll slap some duct tape on her mouth if she does. Let Sully have a go at it, Vi. We're losing money every minute we're delayed."

"Yeah, sunshine. Let me have a go at it."

Violet cocks an eyebrow high and shoots me a glare. I grin at her and wink, loving the flush that rises into her cheeks.

I pull myself up beside Violet before she can hop down. She stiffens up like a board because I'm so close. But, after a second or two, she relaxes a bit. "Show me."

"I, um, think it's a loose connection. There. See? Under the thing there."