Read Online Fire Me Up by Kimberly Kincaid - Free Book Online

stranger the shirt right off his back. Never mind that he’d only end up cold for his trouble.
    â€œI don’t know. Last time I checked, vinegar gets the job done, and without the mess, too.” Okay, so maybe she was a little rough around the edges, while her father had more inherent charm. Still, she managed to get by, and without being a doormat on top of it. She didn’t need to be all touchy-feely to take care of business, so honestly, what good would it do to change her colors?
    Her father’s low chuckle cut through her thoughts. “One day, someone will have you singing a different tune. Wait and see.”
    Teagan’s thoughts zeroed in on a pair of stormy hazel eyes, and her hand flew to her lips before she could pull back on the thought or the sizzling hot bolt of attraction that went with it.
    Oh yeah, no. The memory of Adrian’s ill-fated kiss, along with the ridiculous ice-cream craving she’d been having all damned day, could take a freaking hike. The last thing she needed was someone to change her tune. The one and only time she’d let anyone take care of her had ended in disaster, and it wasn’t something she was eager to repeat.
    Ever.
    Teagan took another swipe at the bar, the towel knotted around her fingers tight enough to make them smart. “I don’t think so, Da. Honey’s not exactly my thing.” She paused just long enough to snare the word with air quotes. “And anyway, I’m happy here, working the bar with you.”
    Her father stood abruptly from his crouched position behind the bar, turning to put the last of the beer in the cooler. “You know, about that. I think it’s time we—”
    But the rest of his response fell prey to the sound of the bottle tumbling from his hand, smashing into bits as it hit the lip of the chill chest on its way to the floor.
    â€œDa!” Adrenaline skidded through Teagan’s veins, and she deftly maneuvered around the tower of boxes to arrive at her father’s side. He sagged against the bar, his breath rattling like an old storm door as he tried—unsuccessfully—to wave her off.
    â€œI’m fine,” he rumbled, but his wince betrayed the lie. Damn it, had he been this pale a few minutes ago? “Musta found my feet too quickly. Just let it pass.”
    â€œI don’t think so.” Teagan hammered her focus into place despite the fact that her heartbeat had gone haywire, dropping down to brace an arm around her father. Thankfully, he stopped trying to fight her, and she lowered him to sit on the floorboards by the cash register, outside the circumference of broken glass and spattered beer foam.
    â€œHere. Look at me.” Teagan mashed down the cold fear spearing through her chest, wrapping her fingers around her father’s wrist. Jeez, when did he get so thin? “Do you have any pain in your chest or your arm?” She flipped her free wrist upward, counting meticulously, not pleased with the thready staccato of his pulse.
    â€œYou’re not gettin’ rid of me just yet, darlin’,” he wheezed out, mustering a weak smile. “There’s nothing wrong with my chest. My ticker’s right as rain.”
    She snapped up his left hand, unconvinced. “Squeeze.”
    He did, with enough pressure that she was momentarily satisfied. “Told you. Fine.”
    â€œYou almost passed out just standing still. That hardly counts as fine.” Teagan ran through the checklist of possibilities in her head. “Numbness? Any tingling or weakness on this side?”
    â€œIt’s a little dizzy spell. Give an old man a break.”
    She didn’t budge a fraction of an inch, checking his pupils as best she could in the low light. “When was the last time you ate something?”
    Her father paused, guilt flashing in his amber eyes. “I don’t remember.”
    She shifted to her feet, watching him the whole way as she