Four Weddings and a Fireman

Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard Read Free Book Online Page A

Book: Four Weddings and a Fireman by Jennifer Bernard Read Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Bernard
I’ll lighten up.”
    She eyed him as he shifted back on her sapphire velvet couch, moving his powerful body away to give her some space. “I’m not exactly tiny myself,” she pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
    â€œYou’re perfect,” he said with such ardent, complete conviction that her heart did a little flip.
    She held out for two torturous months, but inevitably their raging attraction won the day. While she didn’t regret a single moment of the time she’d spent in bed with Vader, that slipping, whirlpool feeling had never left her. In fact, it had gotten stronger the more serious Vader got. Sometimes, when the edge got too close, when that rabbit-­hole feeling threatened, she scrambled back in complete panic. She knew it hurt Vader, but it was better that way. Better for him.
    How could she tell him that she wouldn’t—­ couldn’t —­make any sort of real commitment? Even if she ached to do so. Even if she wished with all her heart that things had happened differently the night she ran from that psychotic madman. If only that blow on the head hadn’t sent Mackintosh to the hospital. If only he hadn’t reported her to the police. If only he wasn’t famous for his grudges.
    Better to hurt Vader’s feelings than to put him in Frank Mackintosh’s line of sight.
    So when, a few days after the Hope for Firefighters event, she got a call from the San Gabriel Fire Department informing her that she’d won the raffle drawing for Firefighter for a Day, she didn’t take another breath until they told her who she’d “won.” Fred Breen would be her Firefighter for a Day. She nearly fainted with relief . . . or was it regret? When it came to Vader, she didn’t know anything anymore.
    The idea of going for captain wouldn’t leave Vader’s mind. He decided it was at least worth running by some of his firehouse peeps. He started with Joe the Toe, an engineer at the Rancho Camino Station, with whom he had a long-­running pool competition going. So far, he’d won ninety-­six games, Joe had won a hundred and ten.
    â€œIf it’s simply a question of remuneration, why don’t you give my company a go?” Joe, one of the few firefighters in Southern California even bigger than Vader, bent over the pool table. Not only was he huge, but he was black. Not only was he black, but he had a British accent and an extensive vocabulary. ­People found him confusing, which delighted him. He and Vader, being opposites in just about every way besides size, had gone from being bitter rivals in the gym to solid buddies.
    â€œYou still doing the moving thing?”
    â€œYou’d be surprised how much ­people will pay to simply transport their possessions from one place to another. But actually, I’m speaking of my new moonlighting project. I’ve been playing with stocks and doing quite well.” He sank the six ball in the corner pocket.
    â€œCount me out on that.” Vader absentmindedly chalked his cue, his eyes scanning the table for angles. “I may be big, but I ain’t dumb. No offense.”
    â€œNone taken. At any rate, the best revenge is a—­how do you Americans phrase it?—­a can of whoopass.” His next bank shot careened off the side and sent the last two balls into two different pockets. Satisfied, he began collecting the balls to rack them up again. “As for your original question, why would you want to be captain? A thankless task, if you ask me. The captain’s the bloke everyone likes to whinge about, no matter who he is. You’re sensitive, Vader. You wouldn’t be able to let it roll off your back.”
    Vader leaned on his pool cue. “I’m proud of my sensitive nature. Helps me appreciate fluffy kittens and walks in the rain. Chicks are all over that shit.”
    Joe the Toe threw his head back with a rollicking laugh that shook

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