by Marie Harte
Fortunately, they seemed to have more sense than their friend. They took a good look at him, at Reggie, then at their friend swaying on his feet and swearing, and left.
“I could have taken him,” Bree said, breathless, as she adjusted her horns.
“I’m sure you would have, darlin’.”
“My name is Bree, Romeo, not darlin’. Or don’t you remember?”
She was talking to him. He felt light-headed with joy. “I—”
A scuffle sounded behind him. When he turned to investigate, he saw Mack muscling Bald Guy to the floor, facedown, jerking the drunk’s arm behind his back.
Reggie held his hands up in surrender. “It’s all Mack. I’m just here looking out for the lovely lady getting married soon.”
“Aw, aren’t you cute.” The bride-to-be had a hold on Reggie’s thick forearm and watched him with adoration.
Tex grinned and said to Mack, “Go for it, MP.” Take the military out of the cop, but you can’t take the cop out of civvy life.
Mack sighed. “That’s SF, for Security Force. I was Air Force, not a damn… Never mind.” He turned to the crowd. “Can someone get the cops over here?”
“Already on it.” The bartender gave a thumbs-up, his phone at his ear.
“I just wanted the demon, to be honest,” Bald Guy was slurring from the floor. “But the bitchy bride would have been okay too.”
She’s my demon. Tex glared at the dick on the ground. “Want me to hold him till the cops come?”
Mack shook his head. “Hell no. We are not having any more trouble. We are here to drink and find women. Period.” He smiled at the crowd gathered around them. “Anyone free for a beer?”
The bar erupted in cheers as many congratulated them for stepping in. Then talk turned to them being firefighters at the new station.
Tex had been watching Bree, wondering if she’d try to make a break for it before letting him talk to her. As she started to edge away with her friends, he planted himself like a tree in front of her. “Hey, Bree. Can I talk to you for a sec?”
“If you don’t want him, I’ll keep him busy,” a sexy woman with a sparkling, pink tiara offered.
Bree gave him a disdainful once-over. “Trust me, he’s no good for you.”
“Says you.”
Tex winked at Bree. “Well, I say—”
Bree dragged him away before he could finish his sentence, into a quieter area apart from the fracas.
She planted her hands on her trim hips, and he couldn’t help noticing her nails matched the horns poking through her honey-blond hair. “Okay, Tex. What do you want?”
He felt suddenly tongue-tied, unable to speak as he drank her in. Damn, but she was pretty, her hair loose and flowing down her back, jeans painted on, T-shirt clinging to her curvy top. The woman was just so tall and toned. Her light-blue eyes shot sparks as she watched him watching her, and he thought the devil horns appropriate.
“Sorry,” he said, not meaning it. “But you are rockin’ that outfit.”
She blushed. “Oh, stop. What do you want?”
“I want a chance. What happened last time wasn’t my fault.”
“Oh?”
“Darlin’—Bree,” he hurried to correct, “I’d broken up with Vanessa two months before we went to dinner. I swear.” He crossed his heart, pleased to see her looking at his buff chest. But that didn’t seem to impress her enough. She still looked annoyed. “She was stalking me online, so I blocked her. Then she followed me to dinner! That ain’t right.”
He swore her lips curled into a smile before they flattened. “Okay, so you’re not a cheater. You’re still a firefighter and serial dater.”
“Hey, I never lied. I told you that before we went out.” He frowned. “But you never mentioned who your dad was.”
“Because I didn’t want anyone using me to get up the ladder. You know, in the fire department?”
“Ha ha. Ladder. Funny.” He did his best to keep his gaze on her face and not her heaving breasts. Because the girl was breathing pretty heavily, and only a dead man wouldn’t notice. “Come on, Bree. I like you. I mean, we connected when we were messaging and talking on the phone, right? I like your looks, sure. You’re gorgeous. But you made me laugh, and I thought you liked me.”
“I did,” she grudgingly conceded.
“Then why not go out for a real date?”
“I’ve been busy lately.”
“With your photography. I know.”
“Stalk much?” She raised a brow.
He flushed. “Nah. I just… I looked you up after I found out your name. Same as you did me. Trust me, dating you would not make me popular at the station. I just want to be with you, not your dad.”
“Oh, so sex then we move on?” She looked him over. “Sure. When and where?”
“I… Wait.” He scowled. “Nope. We aren’t gonna just have sex.” He felt his face heating and had no idea why, though she seemed fascinated by his discomfort. “Damn it. I just want a chance to get to know you. Is that wrong?”
“I guess not.” She still didn’t seem sure of him. “We can try again next week, if you want.”
“I do.” Did he.
Her slow smile mesmerized him. “Okay. I’ll unblock you on my phone and message you the details.”
“Perfect. See you then.”
***
Four weeks ago
Bree gritted her teeth as she worked the Pets Fur Life calendar shoot, using members of the new Fire Station 44 to make money for the financially challenged charity. She could totally get behind helping strays find good homes. If it took biting back her scathing commentary about Tex McGovern being a no-good liar capable of grinding up a woman’s emotions, then so be it.
He lingered near the others, shooting her side-glances but not saying much. Smart of him. She hated to admit it, but in a sea of man candy, Mr. December stood out as the sexiest lollipop of the bunch. She loved his looks and wasn’t too superficial to say it. For the shoot, he wore faded jeans, a black T-shirt plastered to his chest, and that stupid cowboy hat that looked way too sexy on him. He might as well have held up a Ride this Cowboy sign. Sadly, she’d have to fight herself not to volunteer.
But Bree knew what many didn’t—the rest of him didn’t match up to the outward hero.
Several inches taller than her own five-eleven, his muscular frame was one anyone would envy. He had shaggy, black hair and light-gray eyes, a square jaw and stubborn tilt to his head. His bronze skin tone only highlighted the brightness of his eyes. She couldn’t define one thing she disliked about his looks.
Which she hated.
The blasted man had made her go back on her principles to give him a second chance. She’d let that alleged womanizer back into her life, only for him to show out as someone not worth her time yet again.
She might have believed his ex-girlfriend had set him up on their first date, but Tex standing Bree up on their second date? No warning or explanation of his absence until two days later? Who did that? No way she believed that lame excuse that he’d tried to call her and had phone problems.
“Bree?” A pretty woman with bright-blue eyes sidled up to her. “I just wanted to thank you for doing all this. I’m Avery, by the way. I’m doing the pet segment on Searching the Needle Weekly.”
“Oh, right. I love your Friday morning show. You and Brad are hilarious together.” The pair argued with each other and tried to set each other up on a popular streaming channel, as if playing an evil dating game. “And a little more than friends, hmm?” She hadn’t missed the kiss Brad had plastered on Avery a few minutes ago. A hop step from beating his chest and proclaiming her his possession, Bree thought, though Avery wasn’t complaining.
Avery blushed. “Ah, well, that’s new.”
“Hey, good for you. But don’t stop giving him crap o
n the show. You ask me, it’s good to see a hot fireman taken down a notch.”
“You’re telling me. Brad’s responsible, nice, and handsome. He’s a firefighter, a natural-born hero. I’m just a nosy reporter.” Avery shrugged. “It’s tough going up against Mr. Perfect.”
“I’m behind you. Heck, I’d love to adopt one of your strays, that’s if I can ever get my schedule under control.” Bree had been photographing people and events nonstop for a year. She needed a break, though she couldn’t complain the money hadn’t been good. “Then again, once the animals appear on your show, they’re adopted out pretty quickly. Or is that just made up to look good?”
“No, the animals really are adopted that fast.” Avery nodded. “I’m so glad we’re helping to find them good homes. I know Pets Fur Life appreciates it. I also know they’re thrilled you gave up your time for this. I don’t think they could afford to do the calendar without you.”
“When Tex mentioned it, I had to help.”
Avery studied her. “I didn’t realize you knew Tex.”
“What gave it away?”
“The way you clenched your jaw when you said his name.”
“Ah, that.” Bree didn’t say any more, and Avery didn’t ask.
“Well, I just wanted to come over and thank you for letting me stay through the shoot. It was amazing watching you work.”
“It didn’t hurt that all my subjects were either cute and furry or handsome, did it?” Bree nodded to the hair stylists busy flirting with several of the guys. She waved at the stylists, who smiled and waved back before turning to the shirtless firemen standing close by.
“Let me add my thanks, boss,” her assistant said as she passed. “I love weddings and portraits, but this is why I went into photography. Half-naked men and puppies.”
Bree rolled her eyes.
Avery grinned. “I have to agree. Well, I’m taking off. Just wanted to say hi now that you’re winding down. Oh, and…”
“Yeah?”
Avery cleared her throat. “This is none of my business. I have no idea what happened between you and Tex before. But he’s a great guy. He’s genuine.”
Bree sighed. “Another one drinking the Kool-Aid.”
“I said my piece. And no, he didn’t pay me to say that.” Avery laughed. “So, now that I’ve annoyed you by mentioning Tex, how about agreeing to an interview? I don’t just do the pet part at Searching the Needle Weekly. I run local stories about our community too, and I know our readers would love to know more about you.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. And with the positive buzz we’ve been getting, the publicity can only help.”
“Sign me up.”
They agreed to a time the following week.
Avery left, and once everyone else had cleared out, Bree took one last look around before leaving as well.
The hour had grown dark, but in the parking lot, she spied Tex leaning against his truck, looking at his phone. Her car was the only other vehicle in the lot.
As agreed for doing the shoot, Tex kept his distance. He didn’t flirt, and she treated him like a professional model. She’d said the bare minimum, all in regard to the photoshoot, and had been pleasant, if aloof.
In the growing dark, he didn’t look at her, and she didn’t say anything, just got in her car and left. But in her rearview, she saw him head out after she’d pulled away, turning at the stoplight when she went through.
Huh. What did that mean? And why did it make her heart race that he’d cared enough to see her safely into her car?
Chapter Two
Present day, May 19th
Sunday evening, as he sat in his lieutenant’s office, Tex wondered what the hell he thought he was doing. It had been a month since he’d last seen Bree Gilchrist. But not a day had passed that he hadn’t thought about the stubborn, leggy blond, wondering what she was up to, if she thought about him, if he had a snowball’s chance in hell of talking to her again.
That she’d taken his call about the calendar shoot had been a miracle.
But that hadn’t been personal, and he’d contacted her through her business website to set up the project.
A date? Talking person to person? He’d been working up the courage to face her again and to not screw things up a third time.
It was as if fate didn’t want them together. The first time, his ex had lied about him being a cheater. The second time, his freakin’ cellphone provider had fucked him over but good. His phone had exploded, and they’d given him a real hassle about fixing his service. In the meantime, he’d had no way to get Bree’s number to explain the situation—that an emergency he’d encountered had derailed him from their date.
Seeing her at the calendar shoot had been hell. She’d looked even better than he’d remembered, and the station guys had been all over her. Even the married ones had been flirting. So not cool. Only Brad had kept his distance, because Brad had Avery.
Sadly, Tex didn’t know how to stop thinking about Bree. And now he had an excuse to give in to his urges and be near the woman without being accused of harassing her.
“You’re sure you want to volunteer for this?” Ed O’Brien, the C shift lieutenant at Station 44, had proven to be an excellent boss. He had a sense of humor, compassion, and busted his crew’s balls on a regular basis. He also had no idea that Tex had a history with the battalion chief’s daughter.
Tex cleared his throat. “I’m sure. It’s a good opportunity to do something to help the department without looking like I’m sucking up.”
“True.” Ed studied him.
“I mean, eventually I might want to make it to lieutenant. Doing some quality PR work to help this photographer take pictures for that fancy city grant will give us a good name and make me look like a team player for the higher-ups.” Tex couldn’t give a rat’s ass about promotion. He wanted Bree, and he didn’t think Ed would believe he wanted to volunteer his time out of the goodness of his heart.
Ed raised a brow. “So the fact the photographer happens to be an extraordinarily attractive woman has no bearing on your volunteering?”
Tex frowned, trying to appear innocent. “I didn’t think about it one way or another, LT.”
Ed didn’t look as he if bought it, but after a moment, he nodded. “Okay, fine. But we’ll pretend I drew names out of a hat. You’re the seventh person volunteering to escort this photographer around. But you seem the most honest about your reasoning.”
Tex refused to feel badly for lying.
“And if you are lying, at least you’ve done a better job than Hernandez and the others.” Ed sighed. “Look, Tex, this woman happens to be the battalion chief’s daughter. He’s a friend of mine, as is his daughter.”
Tex whistled. “Damn. Really?”
Ed narrowed his eyes and pointed at Tex. “So, you charm the shit out of her and don’t even think about flirting your way into her bed. You get me?” Ed leaned closer. “Or not only will her father rip you a new one after the captain gets through with you, but I’ll be on your sorry ass. And I’m the one you have to worry about every damn day.”
Tex swallowed—hard—but forced himself to look casual about the situation. He drawled, “All righty, then, LT.” Oh, man, was this turning into a shit show. But then Tex thought about Bree, about how pretty she was, even when mad, and how much he’d missed hearing her laugh or tease him about taking himself too seriously. A few weeks’ worth of phone conversations and texts before that date from hell, and he was mooning like a lovesick calf. So pathetic.
Ed was watching him, frowning.
Time to do the smart thing. Tex took a deep breath and let it out, then smiled wide. “Yep, I’m your man.”
“You understand this is strictly voluntary? You’re off regular duty for the two weeks she’s taking pictures. You’ll show her around the stations in the city. S
he can do some ride-alongs if she wants. But you’ll be escorting her wherever she wants to go. There’s no off duty until her job is over. In other words, this thing is guaranteed to cut into your personal time.”
Just what Tex was counting on. “It’s okay, LT. It’s just for two weeks.”
Ed sighed. “Fine. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Tex stood, and Ed emphasized, once more, “Keep it in your pants, McGovern. You do not want this to blow up in your face.”
Tex pulled a nonverbal aw, shucks by shrugging and stuffing his hands in his pockets, trying to appear appropriately cowed. “Come on, Lieutenant. It’s me.”
He was nearly out the door when he heard Ed’s muttered, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
The next morning during changeover, as Tex was packing up his things to take home for his last forty-eight hours off duty for the next two weeks, Ed called an announcement.
Tex moved with his crew and the rest of C shift, as well as the oncoming D shift, to the main area.
“Okay, people,” Ed announced, his hair looking grayer than it had last shift. “FYI, Tex is on the hook for showing the photographer around. To be fair, I drew his name from a hat. I don’t want to hear any whining about it. You’re welcome.” Ed stomped away.
Several turned to Tex to congratulate him while a few taunted him about doing a bang-up job sucking up. Apparently, word had reached the group about the photographer being related to the battalion chief.
Wash, part of the other four-man crew on Tex’s shift, said in his trademark Boston accent, “Glad I didn’t get picked. Chick is bound to be trouble.”
Hernandez nodded. “You and me, brother.” They bumped fists.
Tex shrugged. “No problem if I do what I’m supposed to. Show her fires and make sure she don’t get burned.”
Muttering and teasing continued as Tex hurried without looking like he was rushing out of the station house, hoping to ditch his own crew, who knew the truth.
Unfortunately, Brad, Reggie, and Mack somehow beat him to the parking lot.
Crap. “Hey, guys.”
“You are so screwed.” Mack shook his head.
