Mr. February by Ann Roth Read Free Book Online Page B

intimidate people who didn’t know him, the giant of a man shrugged. “Sure, if you suckers don’t mind getting your asses trounced.”
    With the usual blustering, the four of them climbed the stairs to the kitchen/dining area, which doubled as a place for group relaxation.
    Rafe grabbed a worn deck of cards from the game shelf, and they sat down at one end of the big, rectangular dinner table. After shuffling, he dealt the cards.
    “Seen Jillian lately?” Hank asked as he collected his hand.
    “I’ve been hearing about her,” Liam commented. “She lives on the property next to yours. She’s supposed to be hot.” A cocky grin transformed his whole face. “When do I get to meet her?”
    Rafe narrowed his eyes, silently warning the dude to steer clear.
    “Lighten up, Rafe.” Liam rubbed his hand over his shaved head before throwing down the two of clubs.
    Rafe tossed in a card.
    “I met her last week, near the end of our run,” Hank said. “She has legs you wouldn’t believe.”
    “I saw her at Rosemary’s yesterday, when Sam, William, Rafe, and met for breakfast there,” Adam said.
    Liam raised his eyebrows. “She ate with you?”
    Rafe frowned. “No, and quit looking at me that way. I don’t plan to see her again.”
    “Why not?”
    “For starters, she’s not my type. Plus, getting involved with my future neighbor is a bad idea. And because she said point blank she’s ready to get married and have a baby.”
    Liam looked stricken. Like Rafe, he enjoyed playing the field. He shrugged. “At least she’s up front about what she wants.”
    Over the PA system, Sarah McCone, one of the female dispatchers who worked for the fire and police departments, called out a fire alarm at Barclay’s Pub at the north end of town.
    Leaving the cards on the table, Rafe and his buds quickly moved toward the brass fire pole, used only when a call came in. One by one, they slid down it and prepared to head out.
    *
    To Rafe’s relief, the fire at Barclay’s Pub caused only minor damage. He, Ethan, and Gus, this month’s paramedic team, checked out all the customers. None showed any indications of smoke inhalation or medical trauma. Given the rapid response time of the fire department, came as no surprise.
    Unlike finding JR Metzger on the premises. He appeared to be sober, but his staggering sidekick, a skinny, scraggly looking male, was obviously drunk.
    “How you doing?” Rafe asked JR.
    “Not bad. I’ve never been at a tavern when a fire broke out. At first, it was kind of exciting.”
    “There’s nothing exciting about a fire in a building full of people,” Rafe countered. Although, truth be told, every time a call came into the department, adrenaline surged through the whole crew. “Be thankful our firefighters extinguished the fire quickly and no one got hurt.”
    “Good point.”
    “Why don’t you call your sister and your girlfriend. They’ll want to hear you’re all right.”
    “They won’t know about this fire. Besides, it’s almost eleven o’clock. These days, Chelsea’s never up past ten. Jillian’s probably winding down and getting ready to turn in. I’ll tell them in the morning.” JR glanced at his friend. “Ready to take me home?”
    “If I were you, I wouldn’t ride with this guy,” Rafe advised. He nodded at the other man. “You’re in no shape to drive.”
    The intoxicated male bristled. “I’m fine.”
    Safety was key, and in the interest of calming him down, Rafe gentled his tone. “Come on, buddy, it’s obvious you’ve had too much to drink.”
    “How the hell would you know, you son of a bit—”
    JR grabbed his friend’s arm. “He’s right, Pete. You’re drunk. Besides, the cops over there are watching us.”
    Muttering, Pete quickly backed down, pulled his cell phone from his pocket, and punched in a number.
    “You do the same, JR,” Rafe said.
    The kid shifted his weight. “I, uh, don’t have a cell phone.”
    Without a job he probably didn’t have