Read Online The Firefighter's Appeal (Harlequin Superromance) by Elizabeth Otto - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Otto
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wall to Lily’s left.
“Lie down and sleep it off. I’ll take you home in a bit.” A door shut, followed by a mumble. “When the hell did I become a freaking babysitter?”
The voice became crystal clear as it came closer. She stood, not quite sure what was going on.
* * *
L ILY ’ S STOMACH BOTTOMED out as a familiar form stepped into the doorway. Her eyes drank in the sight while her brain rallied against it.
White T-shirt stretched across broad, well-defined pecs. Beaten-to-death jeans hugging long legs for dear life. Work boots. Shaggy blond bangs falling in his eyes, deep golden skin covering the roping muscles of his forearms.
The only thing that would make Garrett more all-American was if his skin tasted like apple pie. But it didn’t. It tasted better. Like sex with a side of brown sugar and buttered rum. She’d half risen from her chair but didn’t realize it until her thighs started to ache from the odd angle.
“Lily.” The brilliant blue of his eyes bore into her. Garrett tugged at the leather gloves on his hands, methodically working each long finger free. “What are you doing here?”
“I have an appointment with...” Her voice trailed away as the tongue-brain connection faltered. “With Brad, but I hear he’s unavailable.” Crap, that came out as a squeak. Lily’s cheeks heated. This wasn’t the reaction she wanted to have. What happened to cool and professional? Out the window, apparently.
He palmed the gloves in one hand. “Wait...you’re the carpenter?” He leaned against the door frame as he tucked the gloves in his back pocket. Despite her dumbstruck brain, he didn’t seem at all ruffled to see her. Surprised, maybe, but not ruffled.
“General contractor,” she corrected. “From Ashden Construction and Design.” Lily smoothed her palms over her shirt and tipped her chin up. The move always helped when she needed a composure boost. “Did you...did you just drag something down the hall?”
He cracked an amused smile. “Ah, you heard that? I’m sorry—I didn’t know anyone was in here. You’re, uh, early. Anyway, yes— someone, actually. My buddy Roan had a little too much to drink, and I figured the couch in the employee room was a better mattress than the sidewalk, so...”
“Right.” She nodded as if it made perfect sense.
Next time, I’m going to just leave you there.
She tried to shake off the image his words brought to mind. Someone lying facedown on the sidewalk, passed out and vulnerable. Someone needing help but being left behind. She knew she should say something, but her mouth was suddenly dry.
“I didn’t peg you for a contractor.” He raked a hand through his unruly bangs, drawing her eyes to every delicious movement. If she hadn’t braced her hand on the desk, she might have leaned forward in time with his arm as it moved up and along the curve of his head as he swept his bangs away.
Instead, she turned to the laptop. Looking at Garrett brought back all the sour thoughts she’d had about Katja the last time she was in this bar. He reminded her... That was a problem. He reminded her of firemen and death and feelings she was working hard to get past.
“Well, I guess we’re both full of surprises, then.” Her chest was already wrenching the breath right out of her. Doug’s threat of layoffs gave her pause. This was a game—that was all. One she needed to win. If she looked at it that way—as a challenge she had to face and conquer—it was easier. She liked challenges, had faced and overcome her fair share, that was for damn sure. Lily gathered her composure and faced Garrett again, ignoring the flip of her heart.
“There’s an insult in there somewhere.” He spread his hands wide. “I feel like I should apologize for something, but I don’t know what.”
“You don’t need to apologize for anything.” Except for not wearing a damn DFD shirt like every other firefighter had been that night so she could have avoided him.
His
“Lie down and sleep it off. I’ll take you home in a bit.” A door shut, followed by a mumble. “When the hell did I become a freaking babysitter?”
The voice became crystal clear as it came closer. She stood, not quite sure what was going on.
* * *
L ILY ’ S STOMACH BOTTOMED out as a familiar form stepped into the doorway. Her eyes drank in the sight while her brain rallied against it.
White T-shirt stretched across broad, well-defined pecs. Beaten-to-death jeans hugging long legs for dear life. Work boots. Shaggy blond bangs falling in his eyes, deep golden skin covering the roping muscles of his forearms.
The only thing that would make Garrett more all-American was if his skin tasted like apple pie. But it didn’t. It tasted better. Like sex with a side of brown sugar and buttered rum. She’d half risen from her chair but didn’t realize it until her thighs started to ache from the odd angle.
“Lily.” The brilliant blue of his eyes bore into her. Garrett tugged at the leather gloves on his hands, methodically working each long finger free. “What are you doing here?”
“I have an appointment with...” Her voice trailed away as the tongue-brain connection faltered. “With Brad, but I hear he’s unavailable.” Crap, that came out as a squeak. Lily’s cheeks heated. This wasn’t the reaction she wanted to have. What happened to cool and professional? Out the window, apparently.
He palmed the gloves in one hand. “Wait...you’re the carpenter?” He leaned against the door frame as he tucked the gloves in his back pocket. Despite her dumbstruck brain, he didn’t seem at all ruffled to see her. Surprised, maybe, but not ruffled.
“General contractor,” she corrected. “From Ashden Construction and Design.” Lily smoothed her palms over her shirt and tipped her chin up. The move always helped when she needed a composure boost. “Did you...did you just drag something down the hall?”
He cracked an amused smile. “Ah, you heard that? I’m sorry—I didn’t know anyone was in here. You’re, uh, early. Anyway, yes— someone, actually. My buddy Roan had a little too much to drink, and I figured the couch in the employee room was a better mattress than the sidewalk, so...”
“Right.” She nodded as if it made perfect sense.
Next time, I’m going to just leave you there.
She tried to shake off the image his words brought to mind. Someone lying facedown on the sidewalk, passed out and vulnerable. Someone needing help but being left behind. She knew she should say something, but her mouth was suddenly dry.
“I didn’t peg you for a contractor.” He raked a hand through his unruly bangs, drawing her eyes to every delicious movement. If she hadn’t braced her hand on the desk, she might have leaned forward in time with his arm as it moved up and along the curve of his head as he swept his bangs away.
Instead, she turned to the laptop. Looking at Garrett brought back all the sour thoughts she’d had about Katja the last time she was in this bar. He reminded her... That was a problem. He reminded her of firemen and death and feelings she was working hard to get past.
“Well, I guess we’re both full of surprises, then.” Her chest was already wrenching the breath right out of her. Doug’s threat of layoffs gave her pause. This was a game—that was all. One she needed to win. If she looked at it that way—as a challenge she had to face and conquer—it was easier. She liked challenges, had faced and overcome her fair share, that was for damn sure. Lily gathered her composure and faced Garrett again, ignoring the flip of her heart.
“There’s an insult in there somewhere.” He spread his hands wide. “I feel like I should apologize for something, but I don’t know what.”
“You don’t need to apologize for anything.” Except for not wearing a damn DFD shirt like every other firefighter had been that night so she could have avoided him.
His
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