Payback: The Men of Firehouse 69 by Lori Toland Read Free Book Online

for gift cards.”
He stuck his fork in the carton. “What about you?”
    “All wrapped and ready
to go. You’re coming to Christmas at my parents’ house, right?”
    He bit back a grimace.
Since his parents had moved to Florida after raising him and his four siblings,
Andre had a standing invitation to the Brentley’s family holiday parties. He
had been over there most of time when growing up, so not much had changed.
    But dating Mel had
transformed his life irrevocably. She was the best thing that had happened to
him and their whirlwind courtship left him dizzy. He had enjoyed every second
of the past two weeks but they had to face her brother freaking out over them
dating.
    He realized he’d
hesitated too long when she cocked her head at him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
    “Maybe we shouldn’t
mention anything about us.”
    She frowned. “Why?”
    He sighed. “We’re so
new to dating, to being with each other… I would hate to get their hopes up
that we’re seeing other, especially your mom.”
    She rolled her eyes.
“No one is going to get their hopes up about us.”
    He winced. “It’s not
only that. Brian is going to kill me for touching you.”
    “No, he won’t.” She
frowned and set down her Chinese food carton. “I’m an adult and I can do
anything what I want. Brian doesn’t dictate who I can see.”
    “Mel, baby. You don’t
understand. He wants to protect you and I want to do the same for you and your
family. If we decide to move on, I don’t want there to be any hard feelings.”
    “And there wouldn’t
be,” she said passionately. “When we started dating, I didn’t want anything to
change your friendship with Brian. I would hate myself if I came between you
two.”
    “You don’t get it.
You’re his little sister. Think of how you would feel if someone hurt Brian and
magnify that times ten. It’s his job to shelter you.”
    She scowled. “I can
take care of myself.”
    “This is different.
Your dad and brother, their duty to you in life is to protect you. Like with my
sister, I would beat the hell out of any guy who hurt her.”
    “If Brian touches one
hair on your head, I’ll kick his ass.” She pressed her lips together.
    He chuckled. “I’m sure
he’s worried. He’s eight inches taller and outweighs you by about a hundred
pounds.”
    “He should be. I don’t
fight fair and he can’t strike back because I’m a girl.” Her evil grin made
Andre shudder. “And a hundred pounds? I appreciate you think I’m that skinny
but it’s more like fifty.”
    He grunted. “All the
extra weight must be in your boobs.”
    Huffing, she aimed her
fork at him. “That may have seemed like a compliment to you but it makes you
sound like a macho pig.”
    “So sue me,” he said as
he reached for her carton. He put them together and then walked it out to the
trash can. After throwing it all away, he walked back to her bedroom, hoping
she could just let it all go. He had a thirty-six hour shift at the station
tomorrow and he wouldn’t see her until Christmas day. He didn’t want to spend
their time arguing, he wanted to soak up all the time her could with her.
    “So we’ll tell everyone
on Christmas we’re seeing each other?”
    He sighed and pinched
the bridge of his nose. “No, we’re not telling anyone anything. We’ve been on
two dates, more if you count all the times we’ve said screw going out and
stayed in bed.”
    “I’m not lying to my
family.”
    “I’m not asking you to.
I’m just saying we shouldn’t bring it up.”
    “So I have to basically
keep my hands to myself and not say anything about us.”
    “That’s not what I’m
saying. All you have to do is act like we always did. Then you can offer to
drive me home and we’ll come back and exchange gifts here.”
    “And you can keep me
your dirty little secret.”
    “I don’t think about
you that way.” Fury raced through him. How could she even say he viewed that
way?
    She put her hands on
her