Read Online Fire at Dawn: The Firefighters of Darling Bay 2 by Lila Ashe - Free Book Online Page A

one of the scariest moment she’d ever had on the radio, and she’d had plenty in her time. “Yeah. He’s good at his job.”
    Serene nodded somberly. “He sees people actually die, did you know that?”
    “Yeah,” said Lexie. She wanted to touch the girl, to reach out and put her hand on her shoulder, but they didn’t have that kind of relationship. They were buddies. Not huggers. “I know. It’s something I’m glad I never have to do.”
    “Because you’re on the phone.”
    “Yep.” Lexie heard people die. That wasn’t uncommon. But she never had to see it.
    “So I know that makes him strong. He’s stronger than most men, I think,” said Serena.
    Lexie felt a warm glow in her stomach. That was Coin, all right. “What’s worrying you, then?”
    “What if he falls in love?”
    That was the whole point of their plan. Lexie would never tell her that, of course. “What if he does?”
    “No one is going to be good enough for him.”
    “Oh, I’m sure there’s someone out there.” Really, Lexie wasn’t at all convinced of that herself. “What are you doing tonight?”
    “Mom’ll be here soon. She’s taking me to the movies and then tomorrow we’re making waffles, even though she’s not eating gluten right now.” Serena gave an eleven-year-old eye roll.
    “How about this? I promise I’ll vet whoever your dad dates.” She’d been planning on doing that, anyway.
    “Vet? Like a veterinarian?”
    “Different word. It means I’ll test them. Make sure they’re good enough for him.”
    Serena’s dark eyes met Lexie’s. In them, she could see Coin’s intensity, and something that was the little girl’s own strength. “Yeah. I guess you’ll do okay at that.”
    “Thanks.” It felt strangely reassuring to hear.
    “You let me know what you find.”
    Lexie saluted smarted. “Wilco.”
    The doorbell rang, and Serena grabbed her backpack and ran for it, yelling goodbye at Coin as she went.
    The front door slammed.
    Lexie poked another tomato with a toothpick.
    Coin entered, his hands at his throat wrangling his tie. “Where’d she go?”
    “She left.”
    “She didn’t even kiss me goodbye,” Coin said sadly.
    Lexie needed a knife and reached around Coin to get one out of the drawer. She felt as comfortable in this kitchen as she did in her own. Impulsively, she pressed a kiss against Coin’s cheek. She meant it lightly. A joke. The kiss he didn’t get from his daughter.
    But the way it felt—Lexie didn’t see it coming.
    Coin’s skin was smooth, as if he’d just shaved. He smelled of shaving cream and something spicy.
    He froze when her lips touched his cheek, like she’d turned him to stone. In turn, Lexie stilled, too. Everything went silent except for the blood rushing in Lexie’s ears.
    Coin turned his face and met her eyes. They were less than two inches apart. If he leaned forward, or if she did, their lips would touch.
    In a low voice, Coin said, “You shouldn’t have done that.”
    Lexie felt herself heat, deep, low inside. A shiver danced through her, a quicksilver quake of excitement.
    Then nerves took over. She stepped backward, knocking the knife against the counter on accident. “You’re right. I’ll end up cutting off my hand or something.” Lighten the moment. She needed to bring it back to what it always was, two friends, comfortable with each other. Hanging out. Waiting for their respective dates to arrive.
    Coin didn’t move with her into that lightness. His eyes held hers, and she could almost feel the heat radiating from his body. “Lexie—” he started.
    She fumbled with the plastic bag on the counter. “So I marinated the thai beef all afternoon and it should be ready for you to throw on the grill when they get here. Did you remember to buy the bean sprouts?”
    Coin leaned forward, placing both hands on the counter. Lexie watched his knuckles whiten as he grasped it. A muscle jumped in his jaw.
    Then he exhaled, and it was okay again. “Yeah. In