Sex and the Single Fireman: A Bachelor Firemen Novel Read Online Free PDF

something about la dolce vita . Doesn’t that mean relax and enjoy sh— stuff? And not be so strict?”
    Roman decided to ignore the whole line of conversation. “Did they book a cab for the airport yet?”
    “Don’t worry, Papa, of course they did. Nonna’s been cooking food for the trip the last two days.”
    “Good. And you’ll have a flight attendant watching out for you too.” He already knew how stressful Luke’s solo flight would be—for him, not for Luke.
    “I’m not a baby, Papa.” Luke heaved a mortified sigh. Roman supposed it wasn’t the easiest thing to be the son of a hyper-protective single father. But nothing in this world was going to bring harm to his son if he could help it.
    “I better go, kid. Gotta get to the uniform store.”
    “Give ’em hell, Papa.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Didn’t Harry Truman say that first? If it’s okay for a president, why not me?”
    Roman grumbled. “ Ti voglio bene, Lucito ,” and hung up before Luke could protest the Italian diminutive he hated.
    Sabina stopped by La Piaggia on the way to work. Anu bustled around the kitchen, badgering the breakfast chef, who looked grateful to see Sabina arrive.
    “Get yourself a double espresso, I’ll be out in a minute,” Anu ordered, tossing her black braid over her shoulder. A tiny diamond dot sparkled in one nostril, and the red bindi on her forehead proclaimed she was married, though Sabina rarely saw her husband. Apparently he worked a lot, and they had a friendly if passion-free marriage.
    Typical Anu, specifying the drink Sabina was to have. What if she’d changed her usual order and opted for a cappuccino instead? But Sabina didn’t mind; Anu was the only person stubborn enough to insist on being Sabina’s friend despite her constant wariness.
    She took a gulp of espresso and looked at her watch. Her shift started in ten minutes. A warning nagged in her memory, telling her today something important was happening and she shouldn’t be late. But Anu plopped down in the seat across from her in a flurry of saffron-yellow sari silk.
    “I believe I have talked my parents into adding mango lassi to the menu.”
    “Really? An actual Indian dish? Should I call the Channel Six news?”
    “Very amusing. We’re going to call it mango gelato.” Her full lips quivered with humor. Anu had the brightest, most intelligent eyes of anyone Sabina knew.
    Sabina snorted. “I think your parents need to give San Gabriel more credit. Have you forgotten about Bombay Deluxe?”
    Anu’s eyes sharpened. “Be quiet. Do you want my parents to overhear?” San Gabriel’s only Indian restaurant, run by Pakistanis, was a sore point with Anu’s family. “So . . . did you meet anyone interesting in Reno?”
    Sabina nearly swallowed the lemon twist that came with her espresso. “You’re freaking eerie.”
    “I knew it! As soon as I saw you I knew it. You have that perfectly dreamy look.”
    “I have to go.” Sabina set down her tiny cup on its saucer and rose to her feet.
    “What was his name? What does he do? Would I like him?”
    “Don’t know, can’t imagine, and have no idea.”
    Anu stared, her shining eyes going wide. “Didn’t I tell you about anonymous strangers?”
    “So you did. And look—I have a few of these left over.” She pulled out the stash of condoms she still had in her purse.
    “Put those away,” hissed Anu, whipping her head around to watch for her highly conservative Hindu parents.
    “Fine. More for me.” Sabina smiled, feeling like a cat with a bowl of cream. Teasing Anu was always so much fun.
    Anu shook her head scoldingly, trying hard not to laugh. “You now owe me every detail, Sabina Jones, you wicked girl. Come tonight and I’ll make you some chana masala.”
    “Throw in some naan and you’ve got a deal. But it’ll have to be tomorrow. I’m on shift tonight.”
    “Patience I will practice.”
    They parted after a quick hug. Sabina dashed to her car. Damn, she was going to be