Fireman Daddy (Crescent Cove 8.50)

I did. Far more than was wise. And that was a major reason Jacob Mills was part of my past. One that I had very carefully left behind.

Oh, and he was also my ex-husband’s best friend. Couldn’t forget that part.

Two

Walking up to the fire station’s favorite bar had never come with such a delectable distraction before. Then again, most of us knew to step around that soft board unlike the handful of feminine perfection I was holding. In fact, most of the guys from the station had been making a schedule to come over and help old Sharkey with the place. If there was one thing a fireman knew how to do, it was to mop floors and drink beer.

But then the old man had gotten sick, and things fell even more by the wayside.

We’d all come to celebrate his life last week then found a closed sign waiting for us the next day. Sharkey didn’t have any family to leave the bar to. Actually, I’d expected it to go into escrow and get snapped up by the developer who was buying up every available building in town.

What I hadn’t expected was Erica Ramos.

Her little chin lifted as her dark eyes blazed at me. “Well, are you going to bring me back to my car or inside?”

I laughed. “What are you doing here, Fr—” I cleared my throat at the daggers headed my way. “What are you doing here?”

“Evidently, I now own this place.”

My hold firmed. “Sorry?”

“Yeah, surprised me too. I haven’t talked to him since the summer after high school. I have no idea why he left it to me.”

“Because he didn’t have anyone else.”

Her eyebrows lowered. “Surely he had someone more important than me.”

“He always loved you, Freckles.” I shrugged when she growled at me. “Can’t help it.”

“Try.”

“Do you really want me to?”

She sighed and shook her thick hair back. “You used to be sweeter.”

“Shit changes in ten years.”

She clutched my uniform shirt, and her frown intensified. “Evidently.” That saucy little eyebrow hadn’t though. It still said a million things without her saying a damn word.

“Guess we’re going inside. I’m the fire code chief for this county. I thought I was here to meet with the lawyer to make sure everything was up to code for the sale of the bar.”

“Good. Then we can make this quick. Because I intend on selling as soon as possible.”

If she had punched me in the chest, it would have been kinder. I instinctively held her closer to my chest. Her lips parted, and I was very glad I had my sunglasses on because I couldn’t stop staring her mouth.

Shifting my grip to hold her more securely in my arms, I headed up the steps. “Obviously, the porch steps are not on my checklist.”

“Shocker.”

I set her down inside the door. My palms itched to get my hands back on her, but I took a step back. “Do you have a spare set of stilts in the car? Or maybe something a little more suitable?”

“I can…” She sighed at my look. “Right.” She twisted a small bag forward. The slim strap cut between her breasts and pulled her suit lapels open again. That red lacy thing she was wearing was going to kill me.

She held up a key fob. “Trunk.”

“And what would her majesty like for me to bring back to her?”

She narrowed her gaze. “You used to be less sarcastic.”