Fireman Daddy (Crescent Cove 8.50)

Jake sighed. “What is it?”

“Sorry. Ma’am.” Ben gave me a tight smile before focusing on Jake once more. “We just got a call.”

The parking lot was suddenly full of men and women piling into trucks and cars. “Okay, we’ll hold down the fort. Be safe.”

“It’s an all hands-on deck, sir. One of the mansions on the lake.”

“Shit.” Jake’s demeanor changed. He stood taller, and his shoulders went military straight. “Right. You called in extra trucks?”

Ben nodded. “We’re using the lake water, but it’s still thawing.”

Jake swore, regret heavy in his eyes. “I gotta go, Freckles.”

My heart twisted with a worry I’d never really faced before.

“Need a ride, sir?” Ben asked.

“I’ve got my truck.”

Ben jogged back to the parking lot.

I turned to find Jake even closer. “Please, be careful.”

“Always.” He cupped my elbows and dragged me up onto my toes. The kiss was hot and deep. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Then he took off after the younger man.

“This fight isn’t over,” I yelled after him.

He turned, still jogging backward, his teeth a bright slash against his dark beard. “I’m gonna fight with you till my dying breath, Freckles.”

I blew out a breath. I had a very strong feeling he was correct.

I made my way back to Sharkey’s. All my mad had fizzled out. Knowing Jake was a firefighter was one thing, but the realization that he would place himself in danger sat a little heavier today. I glanced over my shoulder at the lake and the wisps of smoke teasing the late afternoon sky.

I wasn’t sure if that was my imagination or fact. The lake was fairly large, but the mansions that hugged the craggy coastline were mostly populated on one side. The other side had been bought up by Maitland Enterprises. They were building a spa and high-end summer properties last I’d heard from my weekly gossip from my mother.

As I got closer to the bar, I glimpsed two lone men cleaning up the porch, so it wasn’t a safety hazard. At least that was my guess. Then my brother came out to help in his usual high-handed fashion.

I had to smile at the familiarity of it, even though just a short while ago his taking over had pissed me off. I supposed a hot kiss could make anyone’s mood sweeter.

The pop and crunch of gravel behind me slowed my gait.

A black BMW carefully navigated the potholes and broken pavement. The tinted window lowered. A man with silvered blond hair and a golf tan—and matching outfit—was behind the wheel. “Miss Ramos?”

“Who’s asking?”

“May we speak?”

I crossed my arms. “Whatever you’re selling, I’m not interested.”

“I’m here for a face-to-face meeting. Our lawyers have spoken, but I wanted to see if we could talk business owner to business owner. I’m Arthur Maitland.”

The construction noise seemed to get sucked into a vacuum for a moment before my heartbeat thundered in my ears.

I was still off balance from Jake and his kisses. From the heavy dose of reality about what it would mean to allow myself to love Jake.

My throat went tight.

For a split second, I wanted to listen to Arthur’s every word. I could walk away from all these problems. I could take the easy money and go back to the city and my safe life.