Let It Burn (A BBW Paranormal Erotic Romance) Read online

  All the color had drained from Kevin’s handsome face. He rubbed his hand over his face, scrubbed it across his mouth like he was trying to wipe away her kiss.

  “Shit, you really are crazy, aren’t you?” he gritted out. “I don’t know who you’ve been talking to, or what you think you know, but lady you don’t know me.” He backed away from her until he hit the door.

  Jo felt sick and cold. She was used to her talent upsetting people. More than one so-called friend had turned on her when she’d known something she shouldn’t have. But none had ever cut her like Kevin’s rejection.

  “Look, just forget I ever touched you. Forget whatever little hallucination you had.” He turned the knob, but paused before walking out. “Just forget me, Ms. Balentine.”

  Then he stalked out the door and out of her life.

  Alone again, Jo wilted onto the couch. She didn’t bother holding any tears back this time, but she wasn’t crying for the Center. She was crying for the little boy she knew still lived in Kevin’s soul. His sadness was a living, breathing thing, and the stark expression on Kevin’s face had only confirmed that he still felt every bit of pain and sorrow that he had the night his childhood had ended.

  Chapter TwoKevin knew the minute she walked into the fire station. Hell, he’d swear he felt it when she stopped on the sidewalk outside the damn door. What he didn’t know was how to deal with her.

  He hadn’t slept after fleeing her loft. Hadn’t even tried. Instead he’d spent the hours until dawn in the station kitchen, swilling bad coffee and rationalizing what she’d said. What she’d known.

  It wasn’t like the fire that had killed Kimmy and his dad was a secret. In a town the size of Ludington, it was a safe bet that pretty much anyone over the age of thirty could recite the story. So he wasn’t freaked out by the fact that she mentioned the fire – although no one had brought it up in his presence since he was thirteen years old and he had taken a baseball bat to Old Man Kepler’s Chevy when the man had commented that maybe if Steve Kryszenski had checked the wiring, he’d still be alive.

  No, what had freaked Kevin out was the way Joanna had seemed to look into his soul, to see the little boy who’d effectively lost his entire family on one hellish night.

  Now, feeling tired and cranky and a little raw, the last thing he wanted to do was deal with Joanna and her freaky insights, but it seemed he wasn’t going to get a choice.

  “Yo, Kev,” Travis’ rumbling bass jerked him out of his brooding and forced him to acknowledge Joanna’s presence. “You got company, dude.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” Kevin was uncomfortably aware that pretty much everyone on duty was watching as he turned and came face to face with Joanna.

  It was strange. Until four o’clock this morning Joanna Balentine hadn’t even blipped his radar. Now he found himself unwillingly drinking in every detail of her appearance. Her jeans were loose, but they hung low on her hips, secured by a colorful woven belt. Her paint smeared, oversized button-down should have camouflaged her figure, but she wore it open over a stretchy tank that hugged the full curves of her breasts, clearly showing the shadows of her nipples, and a creamy slice of rounded belly where it didn’t quite meet her jeans.

  He so was not interested in talking to her.

  He so wanted to fuck her.

  “Yeah?”

  She flinched, and he battled back a stab of guilt. He knew he sounded gruff. What the fuck, he felt gruff. And after her little stunt, what else did she expect?

  “I just,” she sent a self conscious glance around, clearly unhappy about talking to him in front of the boys. Well, too bad. She was so comfortable with her status as town weirdo, she could just deal with their audience.

  She visibly pulled herself together.

  “I just wanted to apologize for earlier this morning.” Had her voice had that husky little catch earlier? “I’m usually better at keeping my…” she glanced around again, “my thoughts to myself.” She shook her head and rich brown corkscrews of silky hair swept over her shoulder.

  Her eyes were big and brown and imploring, and a part of Kevin wanted to let her off the hook.

  “So anyway,” she finished softly, “I’m sorry.”

  Before he could speak, Jimmy walked by, pausing to smack Kevin on the back of the head.

  “What’s wrong, dude? You don’t wanna let Miz JoJo do her fortune telling MoJo?” Kevin ground the back of his teeth as Jimmy cackled at his own humor.

  “I don’t see the future,” Joanna said, never looking away from Kevin.

  “Oh, right,” Jimmy agreed. “You read minds or something.” He held out his hand. “Do you have to be touching someone? What am I thinking?”

  Joanna finally looked away. Kevin felt like he’d been released from a tractor beam.

  “It doesn’t work that way,” she told the younger man, ignoring the hand he’d thrust in her face. “I don’t read minds, or tell fortunes.” Her full, edible lips tightened, the first sign of nerves Kevin had been able to recognize. “I paint.” She sighed, and added reluctantly, “And sometimes I know things.”

  Jimmy looked fascinated, though Kevin couldn’t tell if he was caught up in what Joanna was saying, or in the way she sank her teeth into her lush bottom lip when she’d finished speaking. Whatever the attraction, the boy looked ready to settle down into a prolonged conversation, and Kevin abruptly knew he had to put a stop to it.

  “It’s easy to know things,” he made a little woo-woo motion with his hands, “that are a matter of public record.”

  Joanna’s liquid brown eyes snapped back to lock on his face, but he was prepared this time and avoided her hypnotic gaze.

  “Look,” he muttered, suddenly aware that every eye in the station was turned on him. “I appreciate the gesture, but nothing happened. You have nothing to be sorry for, because you didn’t get some divine message. So just drop it, okay?”

  Before she could reply, before he could get sucked into those drowning brown eyes and forget his resolve, Kevin turned and walked away. He thought he heard her breath catch, but he refused to pause or look back.

  “Nice going, asshole,” Travis shot his way with a glare as he walked back toward the bunk area. As he closed the door, he heard Jimmy stammering apologies and hurrying to smooth any ruffled feathers Joanna might have.

  Kevin leaned back against the wall and let his head thud hard against the plaster.

  “Fuck.”

  *

  Jo didn’t know quite what she’d expected when she’d gone to see Kevin, only that she couldn’t leave things between them the way they were.

  What she hadn’t expected was for the man to completely blow her off.

  Now his friend, Jimmy, was yapping at her like a hopeful puppy. Curiosity and attraction surrounded the boy like a cloud. A lot like fatigue, resentment, and something resembling fear had surrounded Kevin before he’d stalked off.

  “He doesn’t mean to be an ass,” Jimmy was saying. “Sometimes it just comes naturally.” The boy paused. “Although I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be an ass with a woman before.”

  “Thanks,” Jo smiled dryly. “It’s good to know I’m special.” She turned to leave, but before she made it to the door, Chief Caldwell stepped into her path.

  “Jimmy’s young,” he said with a jovial smile, “but he’s right about one thing. It’s not like Kevin to be rude to a lady.” He laid a paternal hand on her shoulder. “It was a rough night for everyone, and we’re all a bit on edge.”

  The man was radiating such a feeling of discomfort and anxiety that Jo felt the need to put him at ease.

  “Please don’t feel you need to apologize for Kevin.” She gave him a smile, hoping it reached her eyes. “I’m the one who was out of line. Anyways,” she added with forced cheer, “I’ve got a huge commission to get started on, so I don’t have time to brood over one cranky fireman!”

  Chief Caldwell’s eyes sharpened and narrowed on her face. “You mean the Great Fire mural?”
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  “I do.” As always when talking about her work, Jo felt herself becoming more and more animated. “There’s such a great story there. The destruction was so horrific, but the way the town pulled together was positively heroic.”

  “Indeed,” the Chief murmured. Clearly the change of topic hadn’t reassured him about the state of her hurt feelings. In fact, it seemed to have given him a whole new reason to worry about her. He was radiating even more anxiety than before. “I would have thought the fire would slow you down. Don’t you keep your painting supplies at the Community Center?”

  “Some of them,” she agreed, touched at the depth of his caring. She wondered if this was what it felt like to have a worried father. “I’ve got some stuff in storage, and some stuff at my studio, too.” She moved toward the exit again, and Chief Caldwell stepped in front of her, opening the door with a gentlemanly flourish.

  “Anyway,” she finished, “I’ve got plenty of time until my deadline, but maybe throwing myself into the project will help to take my mind off the fire,” she let her eyes steal one last time to the closed door Kevin had so recently slammed behind himself. “And off other things, too,” she added almost to herself.

  “Well, just don’t overdo yourself,” the Chief counseled. “Don’t work yourself ragged trying to avoid dealing with things.” He touched her shoulder again with a kind smile. “And if you feel the need to talk,” he gave a playful wink, “about anything at all, I’m a good listener.”

  Jo was still smiling as she walked toward home. It felt good to have someone care, especially after the way Kevin had treated her. It was too bad, though, that she hadn’t been able to calm the Chief’s anxiety for her. He’d still been really worried when she’d left.

  ****

  “Kevin?” Chief Caldwell’s voice was unusually cool when he called Kevin into his office that afternoon.

  “Yeah, Chief?” He’d managed a nap and a real meal, and was feeling one hundred percent better than he had when Joanna’d visited the station that morning.

  “Kevin, you know you’re like a son to me,” the Chief regarded him with somber gray eyes.

  “Yes, sir. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.” Chief Caldwell had been a mentor to him. He’d been on scene when Kevin’s house had burned to the ground all those years ago, and had taken Kevin under his wing.

  “Well, I’ve got to say, Kevin, that if any son of mine had treated a lady the way you treated Miss Balentine this morning, I’d be ashamed of him.” Kevin found himself dropping his eyes. Hell, he was ashamed of himself. He just hadn’t been able to bear the idea that Joanna could see into his soul so easily.

  “Now I know you’ve got a perfectly good reason why you acted the way you did.” His tone indicated that the Chief knew no such thing. “But I want you to meditate on the fact that that young lady just suffered a loss, and you’re attitude just made things harder for her.”

  Shit. Like any good dad, the Chief knew how to rub it in. And dammit, Kevin knew he couldn’t just leave things the way they were. He told himself it wasn’t a flicker of anticipation he felt at the idea of seeing Joanna again. No, he’d just be relieved to make peace with the woman and then move on with her once more safely off his radar.

  *

  She was sitting in the middle of the Courthouse lawn when he found her, surrounded by pre-schoolers. Each child had a plastic tumbler in front of him or her, and they were all blowing enthusiastically into the cups through straws. As Kevin watched, each cup developed a head of colorful foam, and the children squealed with delight.

  Unwilling to disrupt her class, and maybe enjoying the sight of her a little bit too much, Kevin stood back and just watched.

  She crawled forward, those ratty jeans lovingly cupping her lush ass, and his mouth went dry. She’d abandoned her flannel shirt in the heat of the day, and her full breasts swayed under her tank top.

  She was more animated than he’d ever seen her, her infectious smile warming him even from a distance. She laughed at something one of the children said, and he felt the sound wrap around him, tempting urges he’d never had before.

  She was showing the children how to lay a piece of pastel colored paper over the froth of colored bubbles in their cups, creating explosive, free-form bursts of color. The children clearly loved the activity, clearly loved her. And the fact that feeling was completely mutual was patently obvious.

  He didn’t realize how long he’d been standing there caught up in the sight of her until, one by one, parents began to arrive and collect their children. It was fascinating, and a little sad, to watch. All the love and acceptance he’d seen in the children served to emphasize the coolness and suspicion of their parents. Kevin watched the animation fade from Joanna’s face, the joy leave her eyes, and found himself furious with the good people of Ludington.

  Never mind that he’d treated her worse than any of them.

  Kevin gave a rough sigh and scrubbed a hand over his face. He had some atoning to do.

  *

  Jo watched her last student skip away after his father with an unaccustomed sense of irritation. The cool attitude of her parents usually didn’t even faze her, but it wasn’t difficult to pinpoint why it bothered her today. Kevin was watching.

  Shaking her head at herself, Jo began to gather her supplies into a wheeled bin. She’d barely started when Kevin was there, helping. They packed in a silence that was surprisingly comfortable, especially considering the anger sparking the air around Kevin.

  When there was nothing left to pack, Jo sat back and waited for Kevin to speak.

  “I’m sorry,” he finally muttered without meeting her eyes.

  “For what?” she responded, surprised. With the little sparked of pure pissed-off-ness, she’d been prepared for accusations, not apologies.

  “I’m an ass,” he muttered. Finally he looked up, his troubled eyes the stormy blue of the lake. “You hit a sore spot when you mentioned my sister, and I hit back.” He dropped back to sit facing her. “I don’t even pretend to understand you,” he continued, “but I have no excuse for the way I treated you, and I apologize.”

  “Accepted,” she murmured, still stunned at his sudden turn-around. “But why…” she cut herself off, unwilling to risk setting him off again.

  “Why what?” She shook her head and started to stand, but he caught her hand. “Why what, Joanna?”

  “Okay,” she met his eyes squarely, “why are you so angry with me?”

  Those gorgeous blue-green eyes widened, and his brows snapped down. “I’m not angry with you,” he denied, and she shook her head in disbelief.

  “Kevin,” she argued gently, “the temper is fairly sending up fireworks around you.” She pulled away from his restraining hand and stood, grabbing the handle of her supply bin.

  “I’m not mad at you,” he insisted. “I’m mad at the idiot people in this town. How can they watch you with those kids and still treat you like you’ve got something contagious?” He shook his head and stood, taking the handle from her and beginning to walk with her toward the sidewalk. “I’m mad at myself, too. I didn’t treat you any better.”

  “You know what,” she said, following him quickly, still a little befuddled by the situation. “Don’t worry about how other people treat me. I’m used to it and, honestly, I prefer for most people to keep their distance.”

  He sent her a questioning look. If she hadn’t known better, if he hadn’t been so mouthwateringly gorgeous and self-assured, she might have thought there was some insecurity in those moody eyes.

  “No,” she assured him wryly, “for some reason I don’t want you to keep your distance. God knows why,” she added with a small smile. “It’s not like the majority of our time together has been particularly enjoyable.”

  He smiled back, a devilish quirk of full lips that left her wanting to nibble and suck at his mouth.

  “You gotta admit, though, when it was enjoyable, it was really enjoyable.”

  Chapter Thre
eEven though his truck was parked on a near-by curb, Kevin insisted on walking her home. The gesture was charming, and so was their conversation along the way. He seemed genuinely interested in her, asking about her students and her art. She, in turn, told him about her mural of The Great Fire. And under all that charming conversation, a current of physical attraction crackled like fire.

  The ten minute walk went by way too quickly, and Jo found herself not wanting their time together to end.

  The truth was, she was aching with to touch him again, to feel his pleasure wash over her in waves. She was no virgin, but her gift made it virtually impossible for Jo to take a casual lover. But the combustible chemistry she shared with Kevin made it impossible for her to end their time together so soon.

  It didn’t hurt that he was studying her through glinting blue eyes that all but broadcast his intent to have her. His determination and arousal seemed to float on the surface of his skin.

  When they reached her apartment at the top of the staircase she turned to face him. She could feel the blood rush to her cheeks.

  “Would you like to come in for some lunch?”

  He broke out in a smile so gorgeous it nearly brought her to her knees. “Thank God you asked,” he laughed, “I was afraid I was going to have to camp out on the stairs until you invited me in.”

  She hadn’t really expected him to refuse, but Jo still felt a rush of relief as she turned and fumbled to unlock the door without dropping the keys. Jo turned back and managed to unlock the door without dropping the keys. He was right behind her as she stepped through the door, and when she turned to speak he stopped her by simply putting his hands on her shoulders, easing her against the closed door, and taking her lips with his.

  It was a brief, questioning kiss, and it sucked the breath from her lungs.