Wildfire Hurricane (A Ryder Boys Novel Book 1) by Amelia James Page B

read information out loud as the words scrolled across her screen. “The National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Watch effective until twelve a.m. Thursday from the California-Mexico border to…come on…Norman’s Reef. Damn it.”
    Simone looked at the map over Cassie’s shoulder. “That’s a hundred miles south of here.”
    “The path could change.”
    “Highly unlikely. Now, let’s all put our personal issues and this not-a-threat storm behind us and focus on something relevant to Belladonna’s Peak.”
    Cassie planted herself at the radar desk. “I’m going to keep watching it.”
    Anger practically rippled across Simone’s face. “Ms. Storm, you will obey my orders or find another—hey!”
    Dash grabbed Simone by the arm and dragged her across the room, kicking and sputtering. “I’d advise you not to make enemies of your team.”
    She jerked free, flinging a wild gesture. “It doesn’t matter who’s watching the radar. Every one of these people can be replaced.” Her lips mashed together in apparent rage, but she blinked and her eyes turned shiny. That’s her tell. Her sure sign of weakness. She’d put on a terrifying show for her staff, but she’d never been able to hide her fears from him.
    He lowered his voice. “What are you afraid of?”
    “Not a damn thing.” Her eyes hardened.
    “Come on.” He slid closer, fully aware of Cassie’s fiery glare and Flynn’s fascinated gape on his back, but Simone needed him. “This is me you’re talking to.”
    She raised her chin, staring down her nose at him, but her protection fell apart under his relentless blitz. “What if I’m wrong?” The admission came out in a harsh whisper.
    “About the storm?”
    She nodded.
    “Then it’ll rain.” He curled his fingers around hers, a subtle move no one else could see. “We can handle it.”
    “Yes. I can.” She stiffened and withdrew.
    He sighed and shook his head. “You haven’t changed either.”
    “Is there some reason I should?” She jammed her hand on her hip, clearly prepared to keep up the fight.
    They’d had this argument before, and he’d gotten tired of it. “You’re only as good as the people who support you.”
    Simone snarled and lowered her voice, making the battle personal. “I’m good in spite of people who never supported me. I don’t need to count on anyone who might let me down.”
    He dared to reach for her, stroking her arm from her shoulder to her elbow. “Have I ever let you down?”
    Her body tensed and she pulled away from his touch. “Just once.”
    What? When? He’d kept his vow to support everything she did, give her everything she needed. He rifled through his memory for some clue but came up empty. “Then give them a chance. I’ll take the flack if they fail you.”
    She frowned, searching his eyes. “Why are you so loyal to these people? They’re not family. You have no connection to any of them…except for Miss Stormy Bitch.”
    “Who’s catty now?”
    “Answer my question.”
    Why these people? He’d always thought of the EMS staff as part of his team. Cassie, because she provided vital information, and even that overeager, hotshot wannabe, Flynn served a purpose. “Being related to someone doesn’t make them loyal to you. You know that. I hand-picked my hotshot crew. Our lives depend on each other, so I needed the best. Flynn and Cassie are our support. We can’t function without them. Sure, they could be replaced, but it takes time to build the level of trust we have.”
    “All right.” Her face softened and her battle stance relaxed. “If you trust these people, I will too. But that doesn’t mean I have to like them. Especially her .” She narrowed her eyes at the forecaster glaring at them.
    “I get that. Flynn annoys the hell out of me, but he does his job well.” When he wasn’t following Dash and his men around like a puppy, offering to do anything for them if he could be part of the crew. Why does that bug me so