Total Rush by Deirdre Martin Read Free Book Online Page B

her.
    â€œIt’s not fancy. It’s just what I always wanted to do.”
    He raised his glass to her. “I hear you.”
    â€œYou too? You always wanted to be a firefighter?”
    â€œHell, no. I fought that for years! I’ve only been with the department for three years. Before that, I was a stockbroker.” He put his index finger to his lips. “Don’t tell anyone. People hear that and all of a sudden they treat me like I’m Merrill Lynch.”
    Gemma laughed. “I promise, I will never ask you for financial advice.”
    Sean’s eyes caressed her body. “You don’t look like you need it.”
    Gemma blushed, the bold compliment catching her off guard. She scrambled to keep the conversation going. “What made you switch careers?”
    â€œDestiny. My dad was a ladder man and my granddad was an engine man. You can’t outrun what’s in the blood, you know?”
    â€œBut wasn’t it hard? I mean, you must have gone from making a tremendous amount of money to—” Her hand flew to her mouth. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.”
    â€œNo, it’s okay.” Sean patted her shoulder reassuringly. “I like the fact you say what most people think. And the answer is yes, I took a big cut in salary. But the money’s not why we do it.” He eyed her curiously. “Enough about me. I want to hear about your store. Where is it?”
    â€œIn the Village. Thompson Street.”
    â€œI don’t know the Village that well,” he confessed.
    â€œOh.” Gemma was surprised. “Don’t you live in New York?”
    â€œYeah,” he said evasively. “But I’m from Long Beach, originally.”
    â€œNew Jersey?”
    â€œLong Island.”
    Gemma nodded. She’d heard of Long Beach, but had never been there. Her only experience with Long Island was with her cousin Paulie’s house in Commack.
    â€œOne of the guys at 35 Engine has an apartment right on the boardwalk,” Sean continued. “Sometimes we switch apartments for the weekend, especially in the winter. He gets to play in the city, and I get to wake up to the sound of the ocean for a few days.”
    Gemma could picture it: the insistent cries of the gulls coasting on invisible currents of wind; the soothing rhythm of the tides; the sun dancing playfully off the surface of the waves, creating a kaleidoscope of diamonds. It had to be wonderful in the spring and summer. But the winter? “Isn’t it lonely in the winter?”
    â€œAre you kidding? Winter is when the beach is best.” His tone bordered on the rapturous. “There’s no one there. It’s glorious.”
    She asked more questions, and he answered them all, though she got the sense he didn’t really like talking about himself. Still, she learned that he was from a big Irish family and that most of them lived on Long Island. He’d been playing hockey since he was small, and one of his brothers-in-law—also a firefighter—was trying to talk him into learning the bagpipes. Sean was reluctant. Hockey took up enough of his time; he didn’t need another hobby. When it was time to sit down for dinner, she was thrilled when he asked to sit with her. He ordered veal, then must have seen the disappointment in her eyes.
    â€œYou don’t eat meat?” he asked.
    â€œMy rule is to never eat anything with a face.”
    Sean shot her a look. “I’m not touching that one.”
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    Dinner flew by. They talked about hockey, the beach, animals, and photography. After dessert Gemma excused herself to search for Domenica. Come hell or high water, she was going to cuddle that baby before the night was through. She found mother and child sitting on the battered old couch in the restaurant’s business office.
    â€œSomeone needed her diaper changed,” Theresa explained as Gemma came toward them. “And