The Fireman's Pole

by Sue Brown

  “Mr. Maloney?”

  “Huh?” Dale suddenly realized Lord Calminster was talking to him.

  “What do you want to drink?” Lord Calminster asked patiently.

  “Uh… tea… thanks.” Dale’s cheeks heated. He’d managed to make a fool of himself again.

  Lord Calminster smiled at him as if he hadn’t noticed Dale’s embarrassment. They stared at each other, just long enough for it to be awkward; then Calminster whistled at the dogs and walked away. Two of the dogs followed him, one of the larger ones bouncing off in pursuit of a squirrel.

  “Don’t get too interested,” Tank murmured in Dale’s ear.

  “What?” Dale dragged his gaze away from Calminster.

  “Just because he’s being all friendly now, he’s the lord of the manor, and he doesn’t mix with the rest of us. Got his own social circle full of blondes and money.”

  Fuck! Was I that obvious?

  Dale tried to laugh it off. “He’s pretty to look at.”

  Tank clapped him on the back, nearly driving Dale to his knees. “Pretty? If you say so. I prefer something more—” He outlined the obvious shape of a woman.

  Dale shook his head. “They’re all yours, mate.” He preferred his lovers just like… shit… Lord Calminster.

  Chapter Four

  AFTER the hot drinks had been dispensed, Ben said farewell, knowing his accounts wouldn’t wait any longer. He whistled for the dogs, who joined him reluctantly, and walked across the green toward the trees. Hidden in the shadow of the beech trees at the edge of the green, Ben turned back one last time, to see Maloney stretch and roll his shoulders.

  Damn, what a sight! Maloney’s T-shirt had ridden up and displayed a thin layer of his flat belly as he stretched. Ben’s mouth watered at the thick line of dark hair disappearing into his waistband. He reluctantly raised his gaze from the treasure trail to see Dale staring back at him.

  Ben flushed and turned on his heel. He scurried back to the Hall as though all the hounds of hell were after him. Back in his study, he flung himself into his chair and knocked his head against his desk, highly embarrassed to have been caught staring at the new firefighter. He thought he had been sufficiently hidden from view. Ben knocked his head again and sat up, as it occurred to him that he hadn’t been the only one staring. Dale had also been staring back at him.

  Ben took a deep breath. It didn’t matter who was staring at whom. Dale was a handsome man, but that was all. He didn’t probe too deeply that suddenly Maloney had become Dale in his mind. He decided to put the man out of his thoughts altogether and tried to focus on the accounts, although he had to admit he kept straying to his brief glimpse of the treasure trail as Dale stretched.

  It was almost a relief when someone knocked an hour later. The dogs raised their heads in anticipation.

  Colson poked his head around the door. “Lunch is ready, sir. And the watch commander called to say they’re done.”

  “Were there any problems?”

  “No problems. They’ve taken the ribbons. When the pole is dry, they’ll replace them.”

  Ben smiled at him. “Thank you, Colson. I’ll be down in a moment.”

  Colson shut the door, leaving Ben alone with his less-than-pure thoughts. Perhaps Ben ought to insist Dale fix the ribbons. There might be some stretching involved.

  One of the things that was foremost in his mind—aside from Dale Maloney—was his strained relationship with Sabrina. She was the daughter of one of his business partners, and a beautiful and clever woman. He knew it was expected that he would make an offer for her hand in marriage soon, as it would make sense to merge the businesses. However, marrying Sabrina was the last thing Ben wanted to do. He also knew that Sabrina had guessed about his lack of interest in her, because she had been pressing him for a “talk,” and he had been avoiding the subject. Their relationship had been confined to dinner dates and the occasional weekend away, but they hadn’t taken it into the bedroom. Ben had pleaded a desire to take it slowly, but he knew she was growing impatient to move it to the next stage. He couldn’t blame her, and he knew he was going to have to do something very soon before it imploded in his face. He could take a knock to his business, because he had fingers in many pies. But a knock to his personal reputation would be something else entirely.

  Ben had been stupid to think he could maintain a relationship with a woman. He had no desire to kiss her, and even less to have a sexual connection. He wanted heirs to inherit Calminster Hall, but he was swiftly coming to realize he couldn’t do it the conventional way. Just the sight of Dale Maloney, and the effect he had on Ben’s body, made Ben realize he had to do something about Sabrina, and soon.

  He flicked open his phone and tapped a number. Sabrina’s elegant face appeared. She had put this particular image into his phone to remind him of her. Ben sighed loudly. He didn’t need her photo; she was spectacular enough without it. Spectacular or not, she wasn’t the one for him, and he needed to man up and talk to her.

  “Hello, darling.” Her voice was like silk over pebbles, a contradiction that had many men panting—apparently. Ben preferred a deeper, gravelly voice.

  “Sabrina, you wanted to talk,” he said brusquely.

  “Finally.”

  “Would you like to come to dinner tonight?”

  “I think I would prefer a more neutral territory,” she said. “We could go to Chez Jacques.”

  Ben sighed. The last thing he wanted to do was play out a deep and meaningful conversation in public, but at least if they talked in public, there would be less amateur dramatics.

  “Is eight o’clock all right? I’ll book the table.”

  “I’ll see you there,” she said coolly.

  Usually he would offer to pick her up, but this time he didn’t. It was better if she guessed this was a serious conversation and what the potential outcome was. He said goodbye and disconnected the call. Any hope of focusing on his accounts went out of the window as Ben thought about what he was going to say to Sabrina. After several futile minutes staring at the numbers on the screen, he gave up and went out the double doors to stand on the veranda overlooking the formal gardens.

  Sabrina would be upset, he knew that, but it was better for both of them if she knew there was no hope of a serious relationship. He wondered how her father was going to react. Thomas Barrett was a bombastic type, and he wouldn’t be happy at anyone upsetting his little girl, or his plans. Ben didn’t have to wonder too hard which would upset Barrett the most.

  Even as Ben thought about the forthcoming conversations, he couldn’t help the image of Dale Maloney slipping into his mind. The man was fucking hot, and Ben had a feeling—hoped—Dale was also gay, otherwise he could be in a lot of trouble.

  Ben raised his gaze to the blue skies above. “Oh God, please, let Dale Maloney be gay.”

  HE arrived at Chez Jacques a little before eight o’clock. It didn’t surprise him that he was the first to arrive. Sabrina had a habit of being late whatever the event. Ben followed the maître d’ to his table and ordered a glass of pinot noir while he waited. Sabrina arrived about fifteen minutes later, all eyes following her as she was led to his table. Normally she would be full of apologies and air kisses, but this time she just gave him her hand and sat down. Beyond a brief hello, she barely spoke to him. Ben offered Sabrina a glass of wine, which she accepted, and then they ordered, so familiar with the menu they didn’t bother to glance at it.

  Sabrina sipped at her wine, obviously waiting for Ben to start the conversation.

  Ben set the menu aside and took a deep breath. “I owe you an apology.” Ben wanted to chew on his nail, a nervous gesture, but he kept his hands on the table.

  She stared at him, and Ben noticed a small clump of mascara in one corner of her eye. “What’s going on, Ben? You’ve barely spoken to me in weeks.”

  “I’ve been distracted.”

  “You’ve been avoiding me,” Sabrina corrected.

  Ben decided to ignore that, eve
n if she was correct. “I know you’ve been frustrated by my—uh—lack of affection lately.”

  Sabrina raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. “Lately?”

  “At all,” Ben amended.

  “So what do you plan to do about it?”

  Ben took a deep breath. “I think we should end our relationship.”

  “End our relationship?” From her incredulous expression, splitting up had been the last thing on her mind. “You’re dumping me?”

  Her voice rose at the end of the sentence, and Ben cringed inwardly. This was why he’d wanted to talk privately, but he couldn’t take the words back.

  “I think it would be better.”

  Sabrina’s eyes were so wide her eyebrows vanished under her fringe, and she fixed him with a glare. “Why do you want to split up?”

  Ben stared at his glass of wine for a long moment before he spoke. “I agreed to go out with you because your father insisted it would be a good idea.”

  “I know that,” she said. “My father thinks it would be a good idea for us to merge companies, and marriage is his way of organizing that.”

  “You know that’s what he wants?” Ben hadn’t realized Sabrina had been aware of her father’s machinations.

  “Of course I know,” Sabrina said impatiently. “He’s been dying to get his hands on the Calminster estate for years. I thought you were aware of this. Isn’t that why you agreed to the merger?”

  Ben leaned back in his chair and gave her an icy stare. “I think the merger of parts of our companies would be a good idea, but your father is sadly mistaken if he thinks he is going to get his hands on the estate and its businesses.”

  Sabrina studied him with renewed interest. Her anger at being dumped seemed to have faded away. She opened her mouth to speak, pausing as a waiter approached with an offer to pour them more wine.

  When he was gone, she said, “I didn’t want to get married to you in the first place.”

  “You didn’t want to date me?” Ben was surprised. She’d seemed very enthusiastic at the idea of their relationship.

  “I didn’t mind dating you. You’re a pleasurable companion, and I’ve had fun with you. But you’re an awfully dull lover. If you don’t want to move the relationship into the bedroom, I don’t see any point in staying together.” Sabrina eyed him speculatively. “So who is he?”

  Ben choked on his wine. “What do you mean?”

  At least she waited until he’d stopped coughing and wiped his eyes. “I’m not that stupid, Ben. I knew you were gay from the moment I met you, but my father insisted you must be bisexual, or you wouldn’t have agreed to go out with me.”

  “Your father thinks I’m gay?” People from the other table turned their heads to their table as Ben raised his voice. He felt his cheeks warm, and he suddenly wished he were anywhere but there.

  Sabrina shrugged expressively. “Daddy couldn’t care less if you were gay or a monk, as long as you were prepared to marry me to do business.”

  Ben frowned as he thought about what she said. “What does that make you?”

  “A commodity or a puppet,” she said. Her tone was light, but Ben caught the edge of bitterness. “My father sees me as someone to be used, just like any other part of his empire. You’re a commodity too.”

  “And now? What will he do now I’ve split up with you?” Ben was suddenly worried for her.

  She waited until the food had been served. “I have plans. I think it’s about time I reminded Daddy dearest I am not one of his commodities to be moved around. You know I’m a lawyer?”

  “And a good one, from what I hear,” Ben said.

  “Daddy set me up with my own firm. A graduation present on the understanding I would always work for him.”

  “And if you defy him?”

  “There is a board of directors who can remove me at any moment.” Sabrina seemed remarkably sanguine about the situation.

  Ben narrowed his eyes “So what have you done?”

  She gave a wicked smile, and Ben was glad it wasn’t aimed at him. “I founded a new firm of corporate lawyers, and my father doesn’t know anything about it. I’ve been running both companies for several months while we set it up, but it’s time I made a decision to focus on my own life.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Ben admitted. “I thought you were your father’s daughter.”

  Sabrina leaned forward and fixed him with her gaze. “I am my father’s daughter, and you would do well to remember that. I am as clever, if not cleverer than he is. I know you need a new firm of lawyers. I know you’ve been searching.”

  “How do you know that?” Ben asked.

  “Because you approached my new firm, Bradshaw, Logan, and Winslet. Bradshaw was my mother’s name.”

  Ben shut his mouth, aware he was gaping at her, and she chuckled.

  “I think this is the most emotion I’ve seen out of you in nine months of dating. I like it, Ben. I’m the best there is. I’m more than a match for my father.”

  Ben picked at an asparagus spear on his plate. “You amaze me. I thought….” He trailed off, not sure how to phrase his next words.

  Sabrina shrugged again. “As I said, I knew or at least suspected you were gay. At least now I know it was all you and not me.” The smile on her face showed him she was trying to be honest and not a bitch. Ben had to give her that one. Sabrina was a stunning woman, and if he weren’t gay, then he might have been attracted to her. He had a feeling she wouldn’t mind being dominant in the bedroom. “Have you met someone else?”

  Ben stared at her. “What makes you think that?”

  “You’d never have had the balls to split up with me otherwise.”

  “You believe in sticking the knife in, don’t you?”

  She gave an elegant shrug. “I’m a lawyer. It’s my job. So?”

  “I’ve met someone,” he admitted. “Although I’ve only seen him once or twice.”

  “Well, which is it? Once or twice?”

  “Twice, although the first time was under difficult circumstances.” Ben grinned at her. “He rescued Mrs. Wilson and accused me of negligence. The second time wasn’t much better. He knocked down the village maypole.” For a minute he thought he was going to have to explain to Sabrina what a maypole was, and then she burst out laughing.

  “You’ve fallen for the fireman.”

  Ben blinked. “How did you hear about that?”

  “I told you, I know everything. However, in this instance I met someone from the village, who told me all about the maypole incident.”

  “You have spies everywhere.”

  “Why do you think my father and I have been so successful?”

  “You’re scary, you know that?”

  Sabrina sipped wine delicately and smirked at Ben. “You have no idea, Ben. You are a minnow compared to my family of sharks.”

  Ben was sure he had just had a lucky escape; however, he still had two things to deal with. “I will arrange to retain Bradshaw, Logan, and Winslet tomorrow morning, and I will talk to your father. I am still interested in merging part of Calminster Enterprises with his firm, but he can keep his sticky hands off my estate. If you are interested in working for me”—and he emphasized the “for”—“you may end up going against your father. Are you prepared for that? I don’t want to find myself being maneuvered in a different way. I’m not going to be your puppet to upset your father.”

  “I have been preparing for this moment my entire life,” Sabrina said. “You won’t regret changing to our firm.”

  “I’d better not.” Ben took a large swallow of wine and thought about ordering another bottle. Hell, he could call Colson to send out someone to pick him up. “How about a bottle of champagne to celebrate our new working partnership?”

  “Why not?” she agreed. “And congratulations, on taking one foot out of the closet.”

  “This is still new to me. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread the news around.”

  Sabrina mimed zippin
g her lipsticked mouth. “Your secret is safe with me. Although, if you start fucking the fireman, I don’t suppose it will stay quiet for very long.”

  Ben wasn’t sure what shocked him the most—the news that she was not under the thumb of her father, or the swear word out of her pretty mouth. Maybe he was a little naïve. He caught the waiter’s eye, really needing a glass of champagne.

  Chapter Five

  DALE moaned as a ray of sunlight penetrated his dreamless slumber. He rolled over and tried to get back to sleep, as this was his first day off after four days on shift, but it was futile. It was impossible for him to relax enough to drift off again. Dale opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling, noticing the cobweb in the corner had become larger overnight. The spider had made itself known on Dale’s first night. Dale didn’t like spiders, but he wasn’t frightened of them either, and he had suggested to the spider that they could live together if the spider kept out of Dale’s way. So far their relationship seemed to be quite harmonious.

  “Stay in your corner, Charlie,” he muttered, but the spider didn’t react.

  Finally, grumbling in disgust at himself for waking up so early, Dale rolled out of bed and headed down the narrow stairs to the bathroom. He switched on the kettle on the way past, as it was an old cottage and the bathroom was accessed through the kitchen. Dale relieved himself and brushed his teeth, then headed back to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

  Once he’d made the drink, Dale curled up in the corner of his sofa and switched on the news. It must have been a slow news day, as the headlines were dominated by a group of celebrities Dale had never heard about. He was the first to admit he knew nothing about celebrity culture. Dale only read the sports pages of the newspapers and was useless when people tried to get him on pub quiz teams. Baz had bitched constantly that Dale had no idea who anybody was after 2005.