Charming the Firefighter Read Online Free PDF Page A

held her as a red, squalling newborn, he’d been hooked. He’d been eighteen and she’d been his first in many ways—first baby he’d ever held. First bottle-feeding and diaper change. First time losing his heart.
    He’d do anything for her.
    Too bad she didn’t need him any longer. She had her father back in her life.
    For now.
    “Do you really think Neil’s going to stay this time?” Leo asked harshly. “Just because he’s stuck it out this long doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind or take off again.”
    It had been over a year since Neil and Maddie had reconciled, but nothing had really changed. Neil still played professional hockey. Sure, he’d recently been traded to the Blue Jackets, but they were based in Columbus—a three-hour drive from Shady Grove.
    “I know he’s going to stick,” Maddie said.
    Leo shook his head sadly. “I feel sorry for you for believing that.”
    Her eyes got all squinty. Never a good sign. Swear to God, if she hit him again, he was dumping her crazy ass in the pool. Luckily, she kept her hands at her sides.
    “I trust him and what we have,” she said. “Neil and I are together and we’re going to stay together so I suggest you grow up and get over this stupid, adolescent rivalry or whatever it is you have with him. Or be prepared to lose me and Bree.”
    She stomped off, headed directly to Neil and into his arms. He kissed the top of her head.
    Leo wanted to punch something himself.
    “He abandons her and Bree,” Leo muttered when James joined him, “and I’m the one she socks in the jaw?”
    “Quit whining,” James said. “It’s a scratch.”
    Leo jabbed a finger at his injury. “Does this look like a scratch?”
    “Yes. Rub some dirt on it and we’ll start another game. Get some of our pride back.”
    “Easy for you to say.” Leo carefully ran his tongue over his bottom lip, wincing when he reached the gash at the corner. He bent and retrieved his T-shirt from the grass. “You’re not the one bleeding.”
    “You deserved it.”
    Leo snagged James’s water bottle and took a drink. Swished it around his mouth while Eddie joined them.
    Leo spat onto the grass. “Deserved to be viciously attacked?” Eddie rolled his eyes. Leo narrowed his own. “You have something to say?”
    “It was a foul,” Eddie said, like some freaking Zen master brushing aside Leo’s dark scowl and low growl with his own calm expression and quiet tone. “Not a mugging.”
    Leo’s free hand fisted. “Who asked you?”
    “What are you?” James muttered. “Thirteen?”
    Eddie’s mouth turned down, his shoulders rigid. Maybe not so Zen, after all. “You asked, you idiot.”
    Stepping between them as he had so many times in their lives, James made a tsking sound. “Name calling.” He faced Eddie, tossed him the ball. “Just walk away. You know this isn’t about you.”
    “Maybe not,” Eddie said, “but he’s obviously jonesing for an ass-kicking. I’m happy to oblige.”
    Leo shifted to the left, but so did James. He peered around James’s shoulder. “You want to go, Eddie?”
    “That really something you want to do in front of Max and Cassidy?” James asked Eddie.
    Eddie glanced at Max, who sat cross-legged on the grass raptly watching the unfolding scene, one small, grubby hand petting Zoe, James’s German shepherd/husky mix, the other holding a dripping red Popsicle.
    “Cass is in the pool with Harper,” Eddie said, the latter being his girlfriend, Cassidy her three-year-old daughter. He spoke in his usual irritatingly slow way, as if thinking through each word before letting it out of his mouth. “And I could always send Max into the house for a few minutes.”
    Max scrambled to his knees, and the action had Zoe jumping to her feet as well. “You always send me somewhere when you fight with Uncle Leo. Why can’t I watch?”
    “Because you’ll lose respect for your uncle when you see him cry.”
    Leo stepped forward. “We’ll see who ends up