Chapter 3

3

LIAM

O pal is positively mesmerizing. Like the stone she's named after, she’s painted in shifting, iridescent colors. Every time she twists in the light, I see something new.

Something clicks in the back of my mind. "Have you ever heard of the fire opal?"

Her head tips back as she laughs, making me want to kiss along the hollow of her throat. The urge is so strong that I signal for the check, desperate to get her alone.

"Yes. Mom says that's why I became obsessed with fire. They bought me a fire opal charm on my sixteenth birthday. See?"

She holds out her necklace, which I use as an excuse to lean in very close, examining every tiny freckle and eyelash as much as the shimmering flame-like orange stone.

"Beautiful." I'm not looking at the necklace anymore. It's impossible to tear my eyes from her lips. Moving closer, I let my mouth drift past her ear. "Are you aware that if this place wasn't so loud and bright and filled with people, I would be kissing you?" Her breath catches and her teeth nibble at her bottom lip. Then she slowly nods. We're on the same page, thank god. "May I walk you home?"

Her smile is slow and dreamy, like a sunrise. "Yes."

We stroll hand in hand past the downtown and along a couple of side streets until we reach a pale yellow house. "I'm living in the basement apartment with my cousin Angie," Opal says. "The house is owned by friends of her mom – my Aunt Christy. They don't use the backyard or garage, so we can do whatever we like back there. I do my art."

We approach the side entrance that goes to her apartment, and I keep walking to the back. The streetlights don't reach this far, but I can still spot a couple of things I don’t like. "The garage is very close to that wooden fence," I point out. "And the neighbor's shed is old, rotten wood."

"Have I mentioned how careful I am?" She looks up at me through her lashes in the near darkness.

"I really insist on coming by to take a better look in the daylight."

"Honestly, I don't want to bother you."

I clasp her hand to my chest, shaking my head. "I'll be more bothered if you don't. Seriously. I'll lie awake all night, and instead of picturing your gorgeous eyes, I'll be worrying about you."

Her plush bottom lip wobbles. "R-really?"

My thumb runs softly against her lower lip, as my other hand cautiously grazes her hip, pulling us closer. "Opal, I think you are fascinating. Beautiful. Clever." My eyebrow raises. " Hopefully not a pyromaniac…"

She laughs, then her hand lands on my arm. "If we start to get cozy, people will think I'm just using you for your fire protection services."

"Like I’d give a damn what anyone else thinks." Our bodies shift, gradually pressing together as her chin tilts up. "Just you, beautiful."

Maybe I should wait longer, but there's no escaping this pull between us.

My palm drifts around the sensual curve of her hip as I hover there, our lips barely touching. She's not hesitating, but she's definitely waiting for me to make the next move. Which means…damn, I'm not sure. Has she never kissed anyone before?

My blood surges, lust overtaking me as I kiss her gently but with all the inner fire I possess. I choke back the groan closing my throat as we melt against each other.

Something clicks in the back of my mind the second her arms wrap around my waist. Opal is mine. This is destiny. Kismet. Fate.

Even with my eyes closed, I can feel every single inch of her body pressed against me, sense the way her hair ruffles in the evening breeze, the way her cheeks tighten as she smiles when the kiss grows deeper, our breath mingling. Holding this precious girl reawakens things deep within me that I thought I had abandoned.

She smells faintly of grapefruit shampoo, with an underlying sweetness that is just her skin. Intoxicating. Every second with this luscious girl in my arms is a triumph. I didn't think I'd ever find an interesting, gorgeous girl who might actually want to live here on the mountain.

My palm slides up her back, cradling her body as we lean completely against each other. Her breasts press to my chest as I caress her hip, my hand gradually sliding down to cup her luscious, round peach of an ass.

The porch light snaps on and we both jump apart guiltily. A face appears in the side window, then the curtain falls closed again.

"Crap." Opal's head shakes. "Guess I'm going to have some explaining to do."

"Is that so bad?" I love the way her gaze tracks my shoulders as I shrug easily. "I'm a roofer with steady work. I'm well-respected in town."

Her lovely eyes roll. "Dude, you're a volunteer firefighter. Lead with that. It makes you sound like a superhero."

I've never thought of it that way. But I suppose if I needed to impress her family or landlords, that would help.

"May I get your number? I don't know what time I'll be finished tomorrow, but after work, I can come over and check out your setup properly."

I enter her name in my phone as Fire Opal. It makes her laugh – a silvery, sparkling sound that soothes every nerve in my body. I'm already hypnotized by her. Infatuated. Possibly addicted.

One more quick, breathless kiss, then I step back as she unlocks the door and tiptoes inside. Walking back to my truck, I feel relaxed and tense at the same time. Fired up, as my dad always calls it.

Why not? She's a gorgeous blonde with light blue eyes and unbelievable curves. Hips that I want to clamp my hands around and never let go.

I just hope that her work doesn't clash with mine. That she's the safe kind of quirky.

The kind I could build a life with.