I picked up the pace, eager to get inside the fire station. “Thanks for the offer, but I really will be busy all day.”

The twin garage doors were open, the ambulance and fire engine visible. A pair of men stood near the station, talking. Liam and Zane.

Liam glanced up and caught my eye, then his gaze settled onto the man beside me and narrowed.

“Hi, Liam,” I called. “I brought you coffee.”

Scowling, he folded his arms over his chest and sauntered toward us. “Morning, Kennedy.” He tipped his head to me, then glared at Aiden. “Who’s this?”

Aiden stuck out his hand. “Aiden Waldron. I’m a friend of Kennedy’s. We ran into each other at the coffee shop.”

I widened my eyes in a silent attempt to convey to Liam that he was not, in fact, my friend. He must have sensed my distress because he put a hand on my shoulder. The warmth of his touch soaked through me, feeling like a sip of water after days in the desert.

“Come in.” It was as much an order as a request.

“Nice seeing you,” I said to Aiden. “But I’d better go.”

He glanced from me to Liam and pursed his lips. “Let me know if you change your mind about coming up to the waterfall.” He passed me a business card. “Here’s my number.”

I tucked it into my pocket. “If I do, you’ll be the first to know.”

Liam cocked an eyebrow.

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you around.” He raised a hand in a casual wave and strolled away. I relaxed, glad to see the back of him.

“Who was that?” Liam asked as soon as he was out of earshot.

“Some guy I apparently met once at a premiere and then again the other day at the resort.

He snorted. “It seemed like he thought there was more to it than that.”

I shivered, a bitter taste in my mouth. “Yeah, lots of people think that these days. Here.” I passed him the cup. “This is just to say thanks for coming to check on me.” His steady blue gaze didn’t waver from my face, and I squirmed. He saw more than I wanted him to. “You didn’t have to do that, and I appreciate it.”

“No problem.” He sipped the coffee and smiled his enjoyment. “Just how I like it.”

“Glad to know some things don’t change.”

He stiffened. “Kennedy.”

I held up a hand. “No talk of the past. I know.”

He hesitated. “Do you want to come in?”

“I’d better not.” He’d just started to open up to me, and I didn’t want to push my luck. “See you around?”

“You got it.”

Chapter Fourteen

LIAM