Read Online Everything Bared (Six-Alarm Sexy) by Kristine Cayne - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kristine Cayne
Tags: Six-Alarm Sexy Book Two
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do you do with them when you’re on shift? Do you have one of those au pairs ”—she waggled her eyebrows—“or is your mom really helpful?” Though that certainly wouldn’t work for her. Just the thought of having her mother constantly underfoot made her shudder dramatically.
Laughing, Angie pulled into the parking lot of Station 44, where Dani had left her car. “My mother’s not the maternal type. My husband, Tom, takes care of them. His schedule is more flexible than mine.”
She tried to imagine Will playing stay-at-home dad, how he’d grimace when the baby spat up on a thousand-dollar suit. It was like something out of a sitcom. Angie eyed her, perplexed. Dani sobered up quickly. “What does your husband do?”
“He’s a writer.”
“Ah.” That explained a lot. “He got any writer friends?” she teased.
Angie patted her arm. “Don’t give up on having a family, Dani. If the right man comes along, he’ll love you enough to work it out. You don’t have to choose between a career and kids. This isn’t the 1950s.”
Dani nodded. “Thanks, Angie. For everything.”
As she settled Coco into her car, Dani couldn’t help but wonder if her Mr. Right would ever show up. It was really asking a lot of a man. Take Will, for example. He was everything a woman wanted in a husband. But even if he could someday accept her exhibitionism and find a way to incorporate it in their lives, he’d never accept her career. No matter how much he claimed to respect firefighters, he wouldn’t want one for a wife. What man would?
There just weren’t that many available writers to go around.
“Mr. Caldwell, there’s someone from the fire department here to see you.”
William stared at the intercom and replayed his assistant’s words in his mind. Larissa knew his brothers and would have announced them by name. So it wasn’t one of them. Was it Danielle? But why would she come here? Christ. Had something happened to one of his brothers, or to her?
Ice formed in his chest, and with panic building, he jabbed the talk button. “Send them in.” Whatever this was about, he needed to get it over with quickly, like tearing off a Band-Aid, before his imagination turned it into something far worse.
He walked around his desk to meet his visitor. He’d told Danielle he had nothing but respect for Seattle’s bravest and he meant it. But that didn’t stop him from worrying about his brothers. And now he was going to worry about her too. Damn. A visit to his office couldn’t be anything good. A trickle of sweat snaked down the side of his cheek. He swiped at it impatiently before it could stain his shirt collar.
Danielle walked in, a smile lighting her face, and held up a bag. “I brought Jimmy John’s.”
He sagged in relief against his desk.
When she noticed his reaction, she dropped the bag on one of his guest chairs and went right to him. She smoothed her hands down his cheeks and held his gaze. “What’s wrong?”
Feeling like an idiot for getting worked up over nothing, he tried to grin, but he just couldn’t manage it. He cleared his throat. “You took ten years off my life.”
Her expression went from concern, to confusion, and finally, to comprehension. “You thought it was bad news about Jamie or Drew or Chad. Christ, Will. I’m so sorry.” She looked away. “I should have called. Actually, I should never have come here in the first place.”
When she made a move to step away, he caught her around the waist and hugged her close. “They weren’t the only ones I was worried about.”
Danielle slumped against him and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I never even considered how you might react,” she whispered, her voice small and unsteady.
“I know.”
“I just wanted to surprise you with lunch.”
Using his thumb, he forced her chin up. “Color me surprised.” While he waited for her to return his smile, he stroked her tense lips. When one corner curved up, he
Laughing, Angie pulled into the parking lot of Station 44, where Dani had left her car. “My mother’s not the maternal type. My husband, Tom, takes care of them. His schedule is more flexible than mine.”
She tried to imagine Will playing stay-at-home dad, how he’d grimace when the baby spat up on a thousand-dollar suit. It was like something out of a sitcom. Angie eyed her, perplexed. Dani sobered up quickly. “What does your husband do?”
“He’s a writer.”
“Ah.” That explained a lot. “He got any writer friends?” she teased.
Angie patted her arm. “Don’t give up on having a family, Dani. If the right man comes along, he’ll love you enough to work it out. You don’t have to choose between a career and kids. This isn’t the 1950s.”
Dani nodded. “Thanks, Angie. For everything.”
As she settled Coco into her car, Dani couldn’t help but wonder if her Mr. Right would ever show up. It was really asking a lot of a man. Take Will, for example. He was everything a woman wanted in a husband. But even if he could someday accept her exhibitionism and find a way to incorporate it in their lives, he’d never accept her career. No matter how much he claimed to respect firefighters, he wouldn’t want one for a wife. What man would?
There just weren’t that many available writers to go around.
“Mr. Caldwell, there’s someone from the fire department here to see you.”
William stared at the intercom and replayed his assistant’s words in his mind. Larissa knew his brothers and would have announced them by name. So it wasn’t one of them. Was it Danielle? But why would she come here? Christ. Had something happened to one of his brothers, or to her?
Ice formed in his chest, and with panic building, he jabbed the talk button. “Send them in.” Whatever this was about, he needed to get it over with quickly, like tearing off a Band-Aid, before his imagination turned it into something far worse.
He walked around his desk to meet his visitor. He’d told Danielle he had nothing but respect for Seattle’s bravest and he meant it. But that didn’t stop him from worrying about his brothers. And now he was going to worry about her too. Damn. A visit to his office couldn’t be anything good. A trickle of sweat snaked down the side of his cheek. He swiped at it impatiently before it could stain his shirt collar.
Danielle walked in, a smile lighting her face, and held up a bag. “I brought Jimmy John’s.”
He sagged in relief against his desk.
When she noticed his reaction, she dropped the bag on one of his guest chairs and went right to him. She smoothed her hands down his cheeks and held his gaze. “What’s wrong?”
Feeling like an idiot for getting worked up over nothing, he tried to grin, but he just couldn’t manage it. He cleared his throat. “You took ten years off my life.”
Her expression went from concern, to confusion, and finally, to comprehension. “You thought it was bad news about Jamie or Drew or Chad. Christ, Will. I’m so sorry.” She looked away. “I should have called. Actually, I should never have come here in the first place.”
When she made a move to step away, he caught her around the waist and hugged her close. “They weren’t the only ones I was worried about.”
Danielle slumped against him and buried her face in the crook of his neck. “I never even considered how you might react,” she whispered, her voice small and unsteady.
“I know.”
“I just wanted to surprise you with lunch.”
Using his thumb, he forced her chin up. “Color me surprised.” While he waited for her to return his smile, he stroked her tense lips. When one corner curved up, he
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