Hot for Fireman

by Jennifer Bernard

  “Ironic, isn’t it, that a fireman’s daughter might have asthma? It was the scariest thing I ever saw, Ryan. She kept screaming she couldn’t breathe and to open the door. She kept saying, ‘Oxygen, oxygen’ . . . I didn’t even know she knew the word.”

  “Man, that’s tough. Wonder if it’s all the smog around here?”

  “Who knows? They say it’s usually genetic. But we don’t have that much information on her birth parents. It could be environmental. I’m pitching a three-part series about it to Channel Six.”

  “When she grows up, Danielle is going to have major issues about how many news pieces she inspired.” Brody shook his dark head and flipped a burger. “The adoption itself was a ten-parter.”

  “I had a lot of ground to cover.” Melissa twinkled at him with an adoration that would have made Ryan gag if he didn’t love them both so much. “I’m one of the first to explore the effect of adoption on the grandparents. I actually interviewed my father. He’s fairly photogenic, it turns out. He got some fan mail after that.”

  “Is he good with Danielle?”

  “He seems to be trying to make up for my lousy childhood by spoiling Danielle rotten. Amazing how people can change.”

  Ryan didn’t answer that. It would take a lot more than an adorable granddaughter to make his old man change. He’d long ago given up hope of that.

  At the sound of her name, Danielle hopped out of the kiddie pool and scampered over to the patio table, leaving little wet footprints across the cement. She made a beeline for Ryan and climbed into his lap.

  Ryan wrapped his arms around the ball of wet little girl. “That’s not a shiver, is it? It’s a hundred degrees out here.”

  Danielle grinned at him and cuddled closer. “That water is too cold. It’s colder than anything, even an ice cube!”

  Brody turned from the grill with an indignant scowl. “Now that’s unfair. Even the little ones pick you.”

  “Not all of them.” Ryan muttered, thinking of Katie. Not that he expected her to have a crush on him, but did she have to announce her lack of one so loudly? It had hurt. He had no idea why, but it had.

  Melissa pounced. “Ooh, is someone giving you a hard time? Playing hard to get?”

  Ryan snorted. “Katie doesn’t know how to play that game. Or any game. She doesn’t go for that stuff.”

  “Katie.” Melissa tapped a finger against her bottom lip. “Katie Dane? The daughter of the bar owner?”

  “You know Katie?”

  Brody put a burger onto a grilled bun and flipped the whole thing onto a paper plate. “Melissa knows all kinds of people in this town. Curse of being in the news biz.” He brought the plate to Ryan and smoothed Danielle’s hair.

  “I think she’s nodding off,” he whispered.

  Ryan looked down at the little girl’s drooping eyes. “Wore herself out in the colder than anything water, huh?”

  Brody gazed at his daughter with a tenderness that made Ryan’s heart ache. “She plays until she drops. Little kids know how to live.”

  After he’d given the doting parents enough time, Ryan circled back to the only subject that seemed to interest him at the moment.

  “What do you know about Katie?” he asked Melissa.

  “Well, let’s see. She’s smart. Got all kinds of A’s in college. Went off to graduate school at Redlands. I’m kind of surprised to hear she’s back. Her father thinks the world of her. That’s about all I know. I interviewed him once for a story and all he talked about was his kids. Athletic family, I think. Two sons in the minor leagues.”

  Ryan chuckled, nearly waking Danielle. “She does have a knack with a baseball bat.”

  “Hey, you should get her to help you study.” Brody brought two more burgers over to the table and sat down. “I remember last time you had that girl . . . what was her name . . .”

  “I don’t need help studying.” Not a topic he wanted to talk about. Ryan bit into his burger, leaning forward so as not to spill ketchup on Danielle. They all chewed their burgers. The shadows of the lemon tree and the bougainvillea-covered wall lengthened across the backyard. The grip of the day’s heat loosened, and a breath of evening air stirred Danielle’s hair. A low murmur of crickets arose.

  “Besides,” he said when he finished his bite. “She’s got enough to do. She’s trying to keep that hovel of a bar from closing. Thought I’d give her a hand with that.”

  He explained his idea about the firemen and the bachelorette party. “We’re starting to do well with the female crowd, so why not take advantage of that? I figure it’ll put the Hair of the Dog on the map. And where the girls go, the guys will follow.”

  “Don’t you mean, where Ryan Blake goes, the girls will follow?” Melissa asked dryly.

  He shrugged one shoulder. “Just trying to help Katie out, poor kid.”

  “Noble,” said Brody, with a glitter of something deep in his charcoal eyes.

  “Stupid,” said Melissa.

  Ryan’s head jerked up from his burger.

  “If you want Katie to like you, this is the worst possible idea.” She gave him a poke on the shoulder.

  “Hang on, no one said anything about getting anyone to like anyone else.” Lord knew, he’d never had any problems with that.

  Well, except for Katie.

  “If you go prancing around with your fireman’s helmet and whatever else you’re planning to wear—or not wear—she’s going to think you’re shallow. Nothing but a pretty—”

  “Don’t say it.”

  Melissa barely blinked. “A pretty shallow guy who relies on his looks. There’s a lot more to you than that, Ryan. Why don’t you let her see the other side of you?”

  “Which side? The one that flies off the handle and fu—”—he glanced down at Danielle—“messes up expensive fire trucks?”

  Brody raised an eyebrow. Damn, why’d he have to bring that up?

  “No, the side that thinks about things.”

  “I am thinking about things. I thought of this.”

  “Hm, I sense a story developing here,” Melissa teased. “I think one of the Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel might be following in his captain’s footsteps.”

  “You know how I feel about all that.” Ryan winked, aiming to prove she wasn’t getting to him. “It’s a blessing, not a curse. See all the girls you want, never have to get serious, because you’re cursed. Genius.”

  “Oh really?” Melissa waved her burger. “What about—”

  “The bachelorette party is fine with me,” interrupted Brody, before things got too heated. “As long as they do it when they’re off the clock.”

  “Thanks, boss.”

  “And as long as no one embarrasses himself or the department. I don’t want anything showing up on the morning news.”

  Ryan decided not to mention the secret part of his plan. It could certainly fall into the category of potentially embarrassing. But without it, Bridget never would have said yes.

  “But I have to warn you, Ryan, you can’t go wrong listening to Melissa.” He covered her hand with his. Her ready-to-rumble expression softened into a sappy smile.

  When had his tough, enigmatic captain turned into such a mush ball? Ryan dipped his last bite of burger in the puddle of ketchup on his plate. Not everyone was lucky enough to find what Brody and Melissa had. Some people were better off living in the moment with whatever woman happened to be willing.

  As soon as he finished helping Katie with the bar, he’d get back to doing exactly that.

  Chapter Twelve

  Vader’s muscles bulged like mountain ridges off his shoulders. One could practically rock-climb his pecs. When he flexed his biceps, which he did whenever possible, he looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the good old days.

  Vader was the first to say yes. “Fuck yeah” being his exact words.

  Even though Double D was now following a special wheat-free diet and had lost an inch off his belly, the remaining inches disqualified him, in Ryan’s opinio
n. Besides, Double D, one of their very few married guys, had a wife who might not be happy with a moonlighting gig at a bachelorette party.

  Stud also signed up right away. Ryan thought the girls would appreciate his eager-beaver attitude and long-lashed brown eyes. He had a Ferris Bueller quality that seemed to attract older women. Kind of like adopting a puppy.

  For the last two members of the crew, Ryan went outside San Gabriel. Camino Ranch might be sloppy compared to San Gabriel’s fire department, but he had to admit they had some good-looking guys over there. Carlos brought a Latin flair, and Joe the Toe almost put Vader to shame with his ripped physique.

  At the Camino Ranch station, Joe the Toe had crossed his arms over his massive chest and glowered at Ryan, who had to look up about a foot to meet his eyes. “Just because I’m black doesn’t mean I can dance. I’m from England. I have a degree from Oxford.”

  “All we’re doing is serving drinks to the girls. No one has to dance if they don’t want to.”

  “I’m not saying I can’t dance, mind you.”

  “I’m sure you can.”

  “Why are you sure?”

  “Okay, I’m not sure. Maybe you can, maybe you can’t. That’s your business. You in or out?”

  “A plethora of hotties letting their hair down for one final bacchanalian night of freedom? Brilliant. But do not stereotype me again.”

  “Scout’s honor.” Ryan held out his hand for a bone-crunching handshake. “So is it true English people can’t dance?”

  He winked just in time to turn Joe the Toe’s offended scowl into a belly laugh. From then on, they’d been on the same page and Joe had even signed up for Ryan’s special surprise.

  On Saturday they all met at the bar before the start of the party. They wore the T-shirts of their respective fire departments and black chinos, which seemed close enough to regulation firefighter wear without actually wearing their uniforms. None of the guys had been to the Hair of the Dog before. Ryan didn’t bother explaining that it didn’t usually look like this.

  “What kind of bar has pink balloons everywhere?” Vader demanded.

  “Reminds me of my kid sister’s bat mitzvah,” said Stud.

  “Katie decorated according to her sister’s request.” “Requirement” would be a better word, thought Ryan. Bridget didn’t request anything, and she had very high standards. She’d probably already readjusted the positioning of every single pink, heart-shaped balloon.

  The red globe lanterns on the tables had been replaced with pink candles in flowery centerpieces. Pink streamers dangled everywhere. He had to admit it worked, in a demented way. The Hair of the Dog looked like an old drag queen in pink lipstick. He wondered if the Drinking Crew would be allowed to hang out tonight for some local color.

  As if Bridget would allow that.

  He was setting the guys up with tequila shots at the bar when the front door opened. A womanly shape, backlit by the glaring sunshine outside, stepped in. One of the girls must be early. He eyed the sensual curves of the stranger. If the bachelorettes all looked like this, a fun night lay ahead. Slender legs set off by high heels, a skintight dress that revealed the subtle movements of the girl’s hipbones as she made her way across the floor. Tiny waist cinched by a skinny, shiny belt. And above the waist . . . But before he could truly investigate the rest of her intriguing body, the girl wobbled a bit on her three-inch heels.

  Suddenly suspicious, he skipped up to her face. He squinted, blinked, squinted again. The woman’s hair was pinned on top of her head, with some strands flying free. She had something on her eyes that made them look even bigger and much more come-hither. She looked . . . unbelievable. A complete knockout.

  He opened his mouth but nothing came out.

  “If you laugh at me, I’ll knock your teeth out with my bat,” Katie said.

  The spell broke.

  “No one’s laughing,” he assured her. “I just didn’t know you had it in you.”

  She came closer, still wobbly on her stilettos. Her finely curved ankles looked like they might snap.

  “Did your sister pick that outfit for you?”

  Katie looked disgusted. “What do you think? Happiest day of her life. So are these your fireman friends?”

  Ryan realized he wasn’t the only one staring. The four other firefighters looked equally as fixated on Katie. Vader sported his Elvis lip curl, the one he was convinced girls couldn’t resist. Carlos murmured something about “mamacita.”

  Ryan discovered he didn’t like that one bit. He rapped on the bar to get everyone’s attention. “Guys, this is Katie Dane, she runs the bar. For tonight, she’s your boss, and don’t you forget it. She’s very strict when it comes to boss-employee relations.”

  Carlos got to his feet and took Katie’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Nice bar you got here.”

  Ryan braced himself. Would Katie scowl, snatch her hand away, or launch into a rant about what a godforsaken pit the Hair of the Dog was? She did none of the above.

  Instead she gave Carlos a pretty smile and said, “That’s very nice of you. I appreciate it.” She tilted her head and scattered more smiles, as if they were flower petals, to the rest of the guys. “We’re so grateful you’re willing to help us out tonight. I just know everyone’s going to be thrilled. Real firemen. Oh my!”

  Was that a mocking hint of Scarlett O’Hara he heard in her voice? Ryan narrowed his eyes at her in warning. But she paid no attention, continuing with her Miss America routine until he wanted to shake the lipstick off her pretty mouth.

  The guys said things like, “Our pleasure,” “Happy to be here,” and “Firemen to the rescue,” as they introduced themselves to her.

  “Why are you called Joe the Toe?” she asked Joe, in her usual blunt way.

  “I happen to be lacking one of those particular appendages,” explained Joe.

  “Firemen like nicknames,” said Ryan.

  “I bet I can guess yours. Hero? Knight in Shining Armor?”

  Ryan nearly choked on his tequila. Katie smiled innocently and moved behind the bar. As she passed, Ryan hissed, “Overdoing it a bit, don’t you think?”

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” She swept past him and through the swinging doors. “I’ve got to go check on the hors d’oeuvres.”

  He followed her in. “Are you crazy, dressing like that on a night like this?”

  “What are you talking about?” In the brighter light of the kitchen, she looked even better. Her dress was a rose-pink color that made her look like candy. He fought to keep his eyes above her neckline. If he looked at her chest, he might have a problem.

  “It’s asking for trouble.”

  “What trouble? This is a bachelorette party. All girls. Are you picturing some kind of female prison sex scene?”

  Was she trying to kill him? One more second and he wouldn’t be responsible for the consequences. He wheeled around and returned to the bar.

  “Nice!” Vader said to him with a low whistle. “She single?”

  Ryan grabbed him by the neck of his T-shirt. “Consider her taken.”

  Vader raised his hands. “Nuff said.”

  Ryan released him. He ought to clarify that he hadn’t said Katie actually was taken. But he didn’t feel like it right now. Besides, she wouldn’t want all that extra attention from the guys. She’d thank him for sparing her a lot of aggravation.

  Joe the Toe caught his eye and raised one eyebrow meaningfully. Damn Camino Ranch guy might be missing a toe, but he didn’t miss a trick.

  In the kitchen, Katie took deep gulps of air and randomly rearranged crab cakes on the trays. She wasn’t used to being the sole object of attention of five studly men. Bridget probably saw that look all the time, but men didn’t usually spend much time checking Katie out. Five hot, ripped guys had looked her up and down the entire time she’d walked across the room. They’d looked at her with appreciation and admiration and lust, yes, definitely lust.

  But that was
nothing compared to how Ryan’s expression had affected her. She still felt the impact. He’d looked . . . stunned, at first. Shocked, even. As if his pet lizard had transformed into a fire-breathing dragon. Before he’d recognized her, he’d looked at her as if she were a stranger. A beautiful, sexy stranger.

  It was a miracle she hadn’t fainted into a puddle at his feet.

  She had to get a grip. Tonight was all about business. It was about saving the Hair of the Dog. It was about helping her dad—so she could hand the bar back to him and move on with her life.

  “Oh my gawwwwwd!” A piercing shriek carried from the bar through the swinging door into the kitchen. She recognized Meredith’s voice. “Who are you handsome hunks?”

  She heard the rumble of Ryan’s playful voice.

  “So awesommme!! Bridget, you rock!! This is so cool!”

  Katie heaved a sigh. Better go say hi.

  Meredith’s excitement even extended to Katie, who found herself wrapped in a Calvin Klein–scented hug. “Katie, you look amazing. Bridget, are you responsible for this?”

  Bridget, who looked especially stunning in a silver minidress, nodded modestly. “I always told her she’d clean up nice, if she ever took the trouble.”

  “You should listen to your sister more often.” Meredith put Katie aside, sat on a bar stool, and crossed her long, bare legs. “Now who wants to bring me a Sex on the Beach?”

  The firemen sprang into action. Katie watched in amazement as they formed a kind of bucket brigade. Stud whipped out a bar recipe book and called out the ingredients to Carlos, who located the peach schnapps and vodka bottles and whirled them onto the bar. Joe the Toe filled a glass of ice cubes, added cranberry and orange juice, and handed it to Vader, who mixed the drink, put a pink umbrella in it, and plopped it on a tray. Ryan delivered the tray to Meredith with a bow, one hand behind his back.

  “Sex on the Beach in thirty seconds flat,” he said with a wink. “Of course we guarantee the real thing would take a lot longer.”