“No, he’s messing around.” Eric tossed a deadly look in Corey’s direction.
“Fuck no he ain’t,” I heard Don’s booming voice come up behind both men and insert himself at Eric’s left side.
“Corey’s telling the truth. Rescue Four had to save Rescue Two’s asses again today.” Don and Corey both guffawed at that. Eric gave a light chuckle, and I had to avert my gaze. Something like not looking directly into the sun, unless you want your retinas to burn up. That’s what it was like staring at this man for too long, especially when he laughed.
“Well, in that case, this round’s on the house. Just don’t tell Rescue Two about it.”
Don and Corey grabbed all but one of the beers and headed back to their table.
“I’m good at keeping secrets.” Eric’s gaze lingered on me for a heartbeat, then he grabbed the beer I still held in my hand, his fingers grazing mine. My eyelids fluttered at the pulse of energy that ran through me at his touch. I looked up into Eric’s handsome face to see his eyes widen ever so slightly. He felt it, too. He inclined his head toward me before turning to head back to the rest of his squad.
Picking up a stack of napkins, I began fanning myself with them. “Geesh.”
I grabbed a bottle of water from under the bar, hoping to douse my internal flames before I returned to serving my customers.
“Talk about hot!” Stephanie said behind me. I turned to see her biting her finger as she longingly gazed over at the men who just departed from the bar.
“If you like that sort of thing.” I shrugged.
“Oh please. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t leave this bar right now to go home with one of them. Especially Harvard. I’ve seen the way you look at him. And how he looks atyou.”She wagged her finger at me, shaking her shoulders seductively, her blonde locks flowing around her shoulders.
“Oh please. The man barely talks.”
“Even better! The strong, silent type.”
“Get outta here. There’s nothing there. Plus, I’m trying to see where things go with Marshall.”
“Boring.” Stephanie rolled her eyes. “You’ve been on what three dates with Marshall? That’s not enough time to see where things are going?”
“Some of us like the slow build. You know, creating a solid foundation. Not everything’s passion and hot sex.”
“If you say so.”
“There’s a customer waiting on you.” I pointed in the direction of a waving patron. Stephanie giggled before heading to the opposite end of the bar to serve customers.
Again, I was lost in the rush of the crowd until I heard a warm, familiar voice.
“Working hard, sis?”
My smile grew tenfold. “Sean! I thought you had a date tonight?” I leaned across the bar to hug my brother.
“I did, but we ended early. She had to work a late shift at the hospital.”
“And you came to say hi to your little sis?”
“That and I needed to speak with the chumps from Rescue Four. I knew they’d be here tonight.”
“Hmph!” I folded my arms over my chest, pouting. “You didn’t think to come see me at all.”
He chuckled. “Take it easy, Angela. Those chumps lost a bet, and I’m going to make them pay up.”
I leaned over to look at the table where the guys from Rescue Four were laughing and talking. “Oh yeah? Well, they were bragging about how they saved your guys’ asses today.”
My brother’s grin immediately dropped to a frown. “The day those cocky assholes have to save us is the day hell freezes over.” My brother was pissed if the vein bulging out of the side of his neck was any indication. I couldn’t help it; I burst out laughing. The rivalries between fire stations were something that mystified me, but I took pleasure in seeing my brother having his chain yanked.
“You want a beer?” I said between laughs.
“Nah, not yet. I need to handle something.” And with that, he turned in the direction of the men of Rescue Four.
