It's Always the Quiet Ones [ON HOLD]

Chapter 7 - Firehouse Chili

Kinsey smirked lustfully at Talon from across the kitchen counter. She couldn't say enough about a man in an apron.

"So this is where you guys cook dinner for the entire crew?" she murmured.

Talon's grey eyes twinkled as he looked at her, chuckling huskily.

"If I'd have known the apron was going to do it for you, I'd have put it on the first night I met you," he teased. He winked, sending a shiver down her spine.

"So you guys rotate who makes dinner?" she wondered aloud.

"Yes, ma'am," he grinned. "And tonight, you are going to get to sample chili a la Talon."

He waggled his eyebrows suggestively as he seasoned the pot of chili. The fragrance wafted through the firehouse, the scent calling hungry firefighters to the common room. Kinsey watched in fascination as the room slowly filled with gorgeous, muscular men. They hurriedly made their way to the large bench seats surrounding the long farmhouse-style table. She had already helped Talon set out the bowls and spoons, as well as two large pitchers of tea and one large pitcher of lemonade.

The sounds of boisterous masculine laughter filled the air, and she watched in amusement as the men interacted. It was obvious there was a close bond between them. She assumed that there would have to be in such a dangerous line of work.

"Hot pot...coming through!" Talon warned as he carried the huge stock pot across the room to the large dining table. Kinsey hurried around the counter, grabbing the baskets of cornbread that she had brought as her contribution to the meal. As she set the last basket on the table, she noticed a gorgeous blonde sulkily trudge into the room.

Scott looked like a little lost boy. Her heart twisted at the obvious pain in his eyes. She wondered if that pain could have been caused by Lana. She wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen the same hollow look in Lana's eyes over the prior few days. Gently grabbing Talon's wrist, she led him into the kitchen, questions tripping over her lips. The mutterings of the hungry men drowned any sound from her conversation with Talon, so she was certain they had privacy.

"Talon, how close are you with Scott?"

Talon raised an eyebrow in question.

"Honey, I don't like to share," he muttered, pulling her into his warm embrace. He nuzzled her ear and pressed a soft kiss and the juncture between her neck and shoulder. "If you are into threesomes, baby, you picked the wrong guy."

Talon stiffened when he felt Kinsey shaking with laughter. She pressed her hands to his chest and pushed him against the counter. Lifting her mirthful eyes to his, she smiled.

"I don't share either, big boy."

She pressed a quick kiss to his lips before explaining her earlier inquiry.

"Scott went home with my best friend Friday night...or...I should say, she went home with him."

Talon stared at her for a moment, a sudden seriousness to his expression.

"Let me guess. She's wanting a repeat performance and Scotty-boy isn't returning her calls."

It was Kinsey's turn to raise an eyebrow in question. Lana had enough experience with playboys, and if Scott was the love 'em and leave 'em kind of guy, Kinsey wanted him as far from Lana as possible.

"Not exactly," Kinsey answered Talon awkwardly. "She bailed in the morning before he woke up, and I just wondered if he was doing okay. He seemed kind of upset just now."

Talon's eyes had widened to the size of saucers.

"Scott let her stay the night?!?"

"Umm, yeah?" she answered, completely perplexed.