Read Online The Night Belongs to Fireman by Jennifer Bernard - Free Book Online Page B

seen all the stories on TV. They’re calling you the Bachelor Hero.”
    He groaned and rubbed the back of his neck. “Ella Joy’s playing some sort of game, trying to make me into a superhero. Believe me, I’m doing everything I can to avoid her and her cameras.” An idea came to him. “Maybe that’s what has Stan so upset.”
    â€œOh please.” She took a step toward him, looking so furious he feared for his nose. “Leave poor Stan out of this.”
    â€œYou aren’t going to punch me again, are you?” he asked, standing his ground.
    She stopped dead, looking completely taken aback, then crossed her arms over her chest. “I didn’t mean to punch you. It was an accident. And I apologized. Is that why you’re here, for another apology?”
    Stan pawed at her pants leg, clearly hoping for more petting. Fred watched in amazement, since Stan usually kept his distance from strangers. Rachel must really have a way with dogs.
    â€œNo. I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have tried to put you in the ambulance right away. I knew you were having trouble with your claustrophobia. I owe you an apology for that.”
    She examined him closely. The thoroughness of her inspection gave him a disembodied sensation, as if the two of them were floating together a few feet off the ground. He stood still and let the moment play out.
    â€œYou don’t owe me any apology,” she finally said, a wide smile breaking across her face. That grin gave her an entirely different look, sort of mischievous and pixie-faced. “I assume you got my note?”
    â€œI did. And I’m afraid department regulations prohibit me from accepting personal gifts.”
    Her smile vanished. “Really? But I looked online and read that many firefighters drink coffee, so that seemed like a good choice, and then I read that the Lazy Daisy is popular with the . . .”
    Fred could have kicked himself. Rachel clearly wasn’t used to being teased. She wouldn’t last two minutes at the firehouse. “I’m kidding,” he interrupted her. “It was going to be a clumsy attempt to ask if you’d like to take a drive to the Lazy Daisy with me and cash in one of those coffees.”
    Her mouth dropped open, then a slow flush drifted across her cheeks. “Oh.”
    â€œVery clumsy,” he added. “If you laugh me out of your office, I wouldn’t blame you.”
    A notch appeared between her eyebrows. “So your dog is fine.”
    â€œAs fine as a dog surrounded by firefighters can be. Sorry for dragging him in here.”
    She knelt next to Stan and ruffled his ears again. “That’s okay. It’s nice to see Stan.”
    He noticed that she didn’t say anything about it being nice to see him . Maybe she was still worried about the Bachelor Hero crap.
    â€œThe truth is that I shamelessly used him as an excuse to check on you. I wanted to make sure you were okay, and the news hasn’t said anything about you.”
    â€œThey’ve been too focused on you, I think.” Still occupied with Stan, she glanced up at him. The black fringe of her eyelashes was astonishingly long.
    â€œFlavor of the week,” he said.
    â€œI don’t know. The media can be like a dog with a bone. Sorry, Stan.” She patted his sleek brown and white head. “I don’t mean to compare you with those vultures. The thing is”—she rose to her feet—“I don’t like cameras.”
    â€œI remember.”
    â€œAnd you’re on every news show lately, so I don’t think—”
    â€œMy fifteen minutes will be over before you know it.” Fred smiled. “I think Snooki’s making an appearance at the mall. I’m old news, Rachel. Believe me.”
    She eyed him warily. “I don’t think you are. And I know they’re curious about the disappearing bridesmaid. I’m sorry, I just