Besides, she’d said no strings. She’d insisted. She’d come here tonight, just wanting to let go, to live and, oh boy, had she. She just hadn’t realized that in doing those things, something else would happen.

In spite of her promise, she’d begun to fall for Zach.

She watched as Cristina took the plate out of his hands and handed it to Aidan before drawing Zach over to where people were dancing, proceeding to grind up against him in tune to the music.

“Here.”

Brooke stared down at the proffered beer, then into Blake’s face.

“You looked like you could use it,” the tall, thin firefighter said gently.

“I…”

“Drink. Then we’ll dance. If it makes you feel better, you can rub all over me like she is with Zach. I’m a good friend like that.”

“I’m not jealous or anything.”

“Okay.”

“I’m not.”

He just nodded.

And she drank the beer, then took him up on his offer to dance.

10

AFTER DANCING with Cristina, Zach moved to the coolers to get a drink. He pulled out a soda, then stood there with the waves at his back, looking for Brooke.

She’d been dancing with Blake, but now was with Sam, who was making the most of his time with her. Twice the firefighter’s hands slipped to her ass, and twice Brooke lifted them to her waist.

Sam grinned in a can’t-blame-a-guy-for-trying way, and Zach considered going over there and tossing him into the ocean, but he didn’t.

An hour ago, Brooke had been in his arms, panting his name as she came all over him. She’d let loose now. Washed him right out of her system and that was fine. Hell, that was great. He’d just move on, too, and—

“You holding up?” Tommy asked, stopping next to Zach, sipping a beer.

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Haven’t heard from you in a few hours. Couldn’t figure out if I should be worried, or if it was because you were finally trusting me to do my job.”

Zach let out a long breath. “And how is that going? Your job?”

Tommy just took a drink.

“Shit. Don’t tell me it’s not going.”

“I’m not saying that. I’m not saying anything.”

“Well, then, say something.”

“You’re just going to have to trust me a little bit longer.”

Unfortunately, he really had no choice. Tommy walked away, and Zach watched Brooke dance some more. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair a little wild. She’d definitely loosened up tonight, and he couldn’t tear his gaze off her. Forcing himself to, he moved to stand by Blake, who was back at the bonfire.

The other firefighter tossed a log into the flames, watched it catch. “You could just ask her to dance.”

“Who?”