Page 2 of Burning with Passion

Joe’s phone pinged. He took it out. “The guys are ready to go.” He put a hand on Diego’s good arm. Firefighters were touchers. “Like I said, if you ever want to talk, let me know. Meanwhile, I hope you heal quick.”

“Thanks for being concerned. But I’m okay.”

“Yeah, I thought I was too.Ciao.”

Diego leaned back feeling the emotions start to rise. Damn it, no. This wasn’t going to happen. He had to block what happened or he wouldn’t survive.

He was distracted by the ping on his phone. He picked it up. Now that was just what he needed.

Chapter 2

For a second time, Annie tried to blank her mind as she walked into the hospital on Sunday morning. But a wayward thought crept in.

You lied to Seth. You don’t have a headache.

So be it.

When she reached Diego’s room, he was sitting up straighter and totally awake. He wore knit shorts and a shirt instead of the hospital gown from yesterday. His arm was kept in place by a sling and a white bandage peeked out of a button-down jersey shirt. She couldn’t help but notice how the blue top made his shoulders look a mile wide. Even sick, he made her shiver.

A slow, sexy smile spread across his face. “Querida.”

“Good morning.” She held up a white bakery sack. “Are you on solid food yet?”

“Yep. Just today.”

He took the bag and peeked in. The pastries smelled sweet and doughy. “Bear claws.”

“Are they still your favorite?”

“Uh-huh.” He pulled one out and took a big bite. “DiosMio.” He wolfed it down. “Want some?”

“No thanks.”

He patted the mattress as he had when he was still out of it. “Come sit.”

“Here’s fine.” She dropped into a chair, smoothing down the plain khaki pants she wore with a peach T-shirt. She hadn’t dressed for him. “We have to talk.”

“Nothing good ever followed that statement.”

She held up her left hand where a diamond sparked in the overhead lights. “Diego, I’m engaged.”

He shrugged his good shoulder. “I know.”

“I’m going to marry Seth.”

He cocked his head and watched her. In the past, he could almost read her mind. “Then why are you here?”

“To clear that up. And I wanted to see how you’re doing but don’t misinterpret this visit as more than a friend checking up on a friend. And don’t call mequerida.”

A smug expression. “Resurrects too many memories?”

“Maybe.”

“All right. But stay for a little while.”

“Why?”

His bravado faded. She’d seen vulnerability on his face before. When they broke up. When his dad died. When his close friend Will Kirkland had been hospitalized for an infection while they were in college. It was back.