Read Online Flirting with Fire (Hot in Chicago #1) by Kate Meader - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kate Meader
Ads: Link
surprising Luke Almeida.
Her lips felt as dry as tinder, and she darted her tongue to wet them. She crossed her legs and squeezed her thighs together, desperate for relief, yet eager to agitate and enjoy this moment for as long as possible.
He was teasing her, driving her insane with lust as payback for having put him in this position. Wasn’t revenge supposed to be a dish best served cold? Well, the delicious sight before her just went to prove that the best revenge was a man served hot, hot, hot.
Bring it on, Mr. Almeida.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught the ghost of movement, and she turned to take in a stunning redhead. Rail thin with creamy, freckled skin, she wore a gray pinstripe suit and peep-toe leopard-print pumps. Last season’s Louboutins. Super cute.
“Hi,” Red said, offering a hand with an easy smile. “I’ve seen you around city hall, usually on the upward slog when the elevator craps out.”
Smiling back, Kinsey took her hand. “I thought you looked familiar. Where do you work again?”
“Legal on the third floor. I’m one of those people everyone loves to hate.” She laughed a little too long at her joke. “My, my, quite the display, huh?”
“Something for everyone,” Kinsey said with an eyebrow waggle.
They spent a minute or two chatting about the new fro-yo place in the city hall food court and howsummers were so much better with cute college-age male interns and their cute college-age asses. It was easy, kind of nice. Maybe she’d found a new friend. It had been tough these last couple of months in a strange city, and her misery over David had kept her locked in a bubble of gloom.
Feeling optimistic, she was about to suggest that they meet for drinks Friday after work when Red spoke first.
“So you’re working with Luke to turn him into a good little boy?”
Something about her tone rankled. Kinsey felt her gaze being dragged back to Luke, but he was no longer looking at her. All his heat was now reserved for her new friend.
“Just a word to the wise,” Red continued, passing smoothly over the fact that Kinsey hadn’t answered her question, which had sounded more like an insult. “Luke’s only ever been good at three things: firefighting, sex, and being a Dempsey. His family has always come first and there’s no room for anyone else.”
Kinsey mentally recoiled as if struck. “And you’re telling me this because . . . ?”
“He used to look at me that way.”
Kinsey’s mouth felt like an ash pit. “I didn’t catch your name,” she said, compelling her voice to calm when every cell in her fingertips burned to scratch this woman’s eyes out.
“Lisa Sullivan,” she said, walking away. “Formerly Almeida. Good luck with the Dempseys.”
That ash in Kinsey’s mouth ignited to flame. An ex-wife? And from the way Luke’s gaze had scorched over Lisa, “ex” was a moving target.
Kinsey was so taken aback by what had just transpired that it took a moment to notice that the photographer was calling her over. “I need someone with decent nails for the next shot.” Lili looked down at Kinsey’s nails boasting a three-day-old manicure. “You in or should I poll the crowd?”
Her eyes met Luke’s unbelievably blue gaze and slid to the blood-tinged color that flagged his cheeks. A tsunami of passion waved off him. Because of her. Lisa.
Knowing that every single woman in that audience—maybe even the former Mrs. Almeida—would jump at the chance to grope the hunky fireman, Kinsey made an instantaneous decision. There had to be some perks to being the founder of the feast.
Keeping her focus on Luke, she spoke to Lili. “I’m in.”
“Miss Taylor,” he said, tipping his helmet.
“Mr. Almeida.”
Lili glanced up from her viewfinder. “Kinsey, stand behind Luke and place your palm under his arm and over his pec. Then wrap your other arm around his waist.”
Kinsey rounded Luke’s imposing form and rested her palm between his shoulder
Her lips felt as dry as tinder, and she darted her tongue to wet them. She crossed her legs and squeezed her thighs together, desperate for relief, yet eager to agitate and enjoy this moment for as long as possible.
He was teasing her, driving her insane with lust as payback for having put him in this position. Wasn’t revenge supposed to be a dish best served cold? Well, the delicious sight before her just went to prove that the best revenge was a man served hot, hot, hot.
Bring it on, Mr. Almeida.
Out of the corner of her eye she caught the ghost of movement, and she turned to take in a stunning redhead. Rail thin with creamy, freckled skin, she wore a gray pinstripe suit and peep-toe leopard-print pumps. Last season’s Louboutins. Super cute.
“Hi,” Red said, offering a hand with an easy smile. “I’ve seen you around city hall, usually on the upward slog when the elevator craps out.”
Smiling back, Kinsey took her hand. “I thought you looked familiar. Where do you work again?”
“Legal on the third floor. I’m one of those people everyone loves to hate.” She laughed a little too long at her joke. “My, my, quite the display, huh?”
“Something for everyone,” Kinsey said with an eyebrow waggle.
They spent a minute or two chatting about the new fro-yo place in the city hall food court and howsummers were so much better with cute college-age male interns and their cute college-age asses. It was easy, kind of nice. Maybe she’d found a new friend. It had been tough these last couple of months in a strange city, and her misery over David had kept her locked in a bubble of gloom.
Feeling optimistic, she was about to suggest that they meet for drinks Friday after work when Red spoke first.
“So you’re working with Luke to turn him into a good little boy?”
Something about her tone rankled. Kinsey felt her gaze being dragged back to Luke, but he was no longer looking at her. All his heat was now reserved for her new friend.
“Just a word to the wise,” Red continued, passing smoothly over the fact that Kinsey hadn’t answered her question, which had sounded more like an insult. “Luke’s only ever been good at three things: firefighting, sex, and being a Dempsey. His family has always come first and there’s no room for anyone else.”
Kinsey mentally recoiled as if struck. “And you’re telling me this because . . . ?”
“He used to look at me that way.”
Kinsey’s mouth felt like an ash pit. “I didn’t catch your name,” she said, compelling her voice to calm when every cell in her fingertips burned to scratch this woman’s eyes out.
“Lisa Sullivan,” she said, walking away. “Formerly Almeida. Good luck with the Dempseys.”
That ash in Kinsey’s mouth ignited to flame. An ex-wife? And from the way Luke’s gaze had scorched over Lisa, “ex” was a moving target.
Kinsey was so taken aback by what had just transpired that it took a moment to notice that the photographer was calling her over. “I need someone with decent nails for the next shot.” Lili looked down at Kinsey’s nails boasting a three-day-old manicure. “You in or should I poll the crowd?”
Her eyes met Luke’s unbelievably blue gaze and slid to the blood-tinged color that flagged his cheeks. A tsunami of passion waved off him. Because of her. Lisa.
Knowing that every single woman in that audience—maybe even the former Mrs. Almeida—would jump at the chance to grope the hunky fireman, Kinsey made an instantaneous decision. There had to be some perks to being the founder of the feast.
Keeping her focus on Luke, she spoke to Lili. “I’m in.”
“Miss Taylor,” he said, tipping his helmet.
“Mr. Almeida.”
Lili glanced up from her viewfinder. “Kinsey, stand behind Luke and place your palm under his arm and over his pec. Then wrap your other arm around his waist.”
Kinsey rounded Luke’s imposing form and rested her palm between his shoulder
Similar Books
