Read Online Flirting with Fire (Hot in Chicago #1) by Kate Meader - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Meader
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checklist of the things he wanted scrolled through his brain, half of them shockingly lurid and all of them involving Kinsey’s long, luscious legs wrapped around his hips. Asking for mind-blowing sex in exchange for his cooperation was probably not kosher, though.
What else? What else?
“The proceeds of this calendar go to charity, right?”
She nodded.
“I get to pick the charity.” The kids at St. Carmen’scould do with a new rec room and, while he was under no illusions that this skin-fest would actually raise much in the way of Benjamins, every little bit would help.
“As long as you don’t choose something controversial that could embarrass the city.”
“Such as the Committee to Elect Anyone but Eli Cooper?”
A smile lifted the corner of that lush, pink mouth. “I’m fairly certain that wouldn’t count as a charity, despite the great service you might think you’re performing.”
That pulled a laugh from deep in his gut. Cute . Kinsey Taylor had a sense of humor about her boss. “I’d like any proceeds to go to the foster home where I volunteer.”
“Oh. That sounds very . . . worthy.” It was the first time Luke had seen her flummoxed, but a few seconds later, she squared her shoulders and was all business again. “You ready to do this, Luke?”
He sighed heavily. “Make me a star, sweetheart.”
The boom-boom bass out in the truck bay wasn’t quite loud enough to drown out the whoops and hollers of the ladies—and a few guys—who had gathered for their splash of color. Thankfully, Luke wasn’t the only one who would be making a total assclown of himself. Like Gage, several firefighters from other houses had stepped up to be part of the “Man Titty Extravaganza,” as Alex had dubbed it. Gage’s enthusiasm, Luke could understand. The kid was a grade-A exhibitionist, and if it improved his chances of getting dick, he’d do it. But why anyone elsewould willingly strip in front of seventy ravenous women and abunch of men feigning disinterest was beyond Luke’s understanding.
When he looked over to his crew gathered on the far side of the bay, he caught a glimpse of bills being shoved into McElroy’s hands, quickly followed by the lieutenant scratching a note on a piece of paper.
Shit on a stick. Big Mac was running a book.
Luke took a leisurely stroll over to the guys. “What’s up, ladies?”
Insolent stares greeted him, except for Wyatt, who looked like, well, Wyatt. From the expressions of the rest of them, though, respect for Luke was slowly circling the drain of the hose-drying tower. Even Derek Phelan, the new recruit who usually looked up to Luke in wide-eyed admiration, was now staring at him with a healthy dose of derision.
Captain Matt Ventimiglia, better known as Venti because of his name and the fact that there were twenty ways to piss him off (the list was posted in the kitchen), strode over to join them. Luke breathed a sigh of relief. Surely the presence of the senior officer at Engine 6 would add a much-needed influx of order to these shenanigans.
The Cap passed over a Jackson to Big Mac. “Twenty on Almeida to not make five.”
So much for the gravity injection.
“Gambling is illegal on city property,” Luke ground out, marveling at the irony of the hothead who was currently on admin leave for punching out a guy becoming the firehouse’s hall monitor.
Jacob crossed his arms. “Just a little fun, Almeida. We’re taking bets on how quickly you raise wood under all those lights.”
The crew practically fell off their folding chairs. Even Wyatt smiled. Traitor.
“You know something, Jacob? That sounds pretty gay.” Luke stalked off to the tune of Jacob’s sputtering denials and the guys’ noisy guffaws.
Not that Luke needed his crew’s mockery to clue him in. The sucking sound in his head told him exactly how this morning would go down.
In a crashing ball of flame.
T wo hours later, eight guys including Gage had taken turns strutting their
What else? What else?
“The proceeds of this calendar go to charity, right?”
She nodded.
“I get to pick the charity.” The kids at St. Carmen’scould do with a new rec room and, while he was under no illusions that this skin-fest would actually raise much in the way of Benjamins, every little bit would help.
“As long as you don’t choose something controversial that could embarrass the city.”
“Such as the Committee to Elect Anyone but Eli Cooper?”
A smile lifted the corner of that lush, pink mouth. “I’m fairly certain that wouldn’t count as a charity, despite the great service you might think you’re performing.”
That pulled a laugh from deep in his gut. Cute . Kinsey Taylor had a sense of humor about her boss. “I’d like any proceeds to go to the foster home where I volunteer.”
“Oh. That sounds very . . . worthy.” It was the first time Luke had seen her flummoxed, but a few seconds later, she squared her shoulders and was all business again. “You ready to do this, Luke?”
He sighed heavily. “Make me a star, sweetheart.”
The boom-boom bass out in the truck bay wasn’t quite loud enough to drown out the whoops and hollers of the ladies—and a few guys—who had gathered for their splash of color. Thankfully, Luke wasn’t the only one who would be making a total assclown of himself. Like Gage, several firefighters from other houses had stepped up to be part of the “Man Titty Extravaganza,” as Alex had dubbed it. Gage’s enthusiasm, Luke could understand. The kid was a grade-A exhibitionist, and if it improved his chances of getting dick, he’d do it. But why anyone elsewould willingly strip in front of seventy ravenous women and abunch of men feigning disinterest was beyond Luke’s understanding.
When he looked over to his crew gathered on the far side of the bay, he caught a glimpse of bills being shoved into McElroy’s hands, quickly followed by the lieutenant scratching a note on a piece of paper.
Shit on a stick. Big Mac was running a book.
Luke took a leisurely stroll over to the guys. “What’s up, ladies?”
Insolent stares greeted him, except for Wyatt, who looked like, well, Wyatt. From the expressions of the rest of them, though, respect for Luke was slowly circling the drain of the hose-drying tower. Even Derek Phelan, the new recruit who usually looked up to Luke in wide-eyed admiration, was now staring at him with a healthy dose of derision.
Captain Matt Ventimiglia, better known as Venti because of his name and the fact that there were twenty ways to piss him off (the list was posted in the kitchen), strode over to join them. Luke breathed a sigh of relief. Surely the presence of the senior officer at Engine 6 would add a much-needed influx of order to these shenanigans.
The Cap passed over a Jackson to Big Mac. “Twenty on Almeida to not make five.”
So much for the gravity injection.
“Gambling is illegal on city property,” Luke ground out, marveling at the irony of the hothead who was currently on admin leave for punching out a guy becoming the firehouse’s hall monitor.
Jacob crossed his arms. “Just a little fun, Almeida. We’re taking bets on how quickly you raise wood under all those lights.”
The crew practically fell off their folding chairs. Even Wyatt smiled. Traitor.
“You know something, Jacob? That sounds pretty gay.” Luke stalked off to the tune of Jacob’s sputtering denials and the guys’ noisy guffaws.
Not that Luke needed his crew’s mockery to clue him in. The sucking sound in his head told him exactly how this morning would go down.
In a crashing ball of flame.
T wo hours later, eight guys including Gage had taken turns strutting their
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