The Firefighter's Appeal (Harlequin Superromance) Read Online Free PDF Page A

left before I could get your number.” He started to relax, then immediately cursed himself. Where had that come from? He never asked for numbers because he didn’t have to; women always beat him to it. The bucket under the bar filled with slips of paper and business cards with women’s names and numbers on them was proof of that.
    The corners of her eyes crinkled as the wariness on her face deepened. “You—want my number?”
    Garrett chuckled with a quick glance to the ground. “Thought I made that pretty obvious.”
    Lily ran a finger through her hair before continuing on. Garrett fell into step beside her, hands in his front pockets. She gave him a sideways look, and another crack of lightning gave him a clear view of the shy smile on her lips.
    They passed by the empty lot directly behind the Throwing Aces, the for-sale sign mocking him as they walked. He’d been after that lot for months, but the seller wouldn’t agree to his terms. He brushed off the thought as a waft of Lily’s perfume tickled his nose. They reached the line of trees that separated the empty lot from a competing bar. A small gazebo sat at the edge of the empty lot near the sidewalk and butted up against the trees.
    Without overthinking it, Garrett gently grabbed Lily’s arm and pulled her onto the grass with him. Music from the hidden bar drifted out into the night, highlighting Lily’s light gasp as he tugged her close.
    She came willingly, giving him the courage to just go with it. If she’d tensed at all, he would have backed away, but as Lily pressed against him, Garrett reveled in the fact that she was right where she wanted to be. He wanted to ask what had happened in the bar, but any questions he had flew away.
    Garrett tried to hold back the deep groan that welled in his throat as he felt her soft body against him. Her perfume saturated the air and drew him in. His right arm looped around the luscious curve of her back and settled just above the rise of her ass. Maybe her chest was going faster—maybe it was his—but when he held her tighter, their breathing synchronized and their chests rose and fell together.
    Yeah, he’d missed this.
    Lily’s arm curved around his upper arm, her palm flattening against his shoulder blade. Her chin tipped up, her lips parted in a mix of surprise and something deeper—something that looked a hell of a lot like restrained want.
    Garrett’s throat went dry. He could kiss her. Grab her chin and pull her lips to his. The music trickled into his consciousness, reawaking his plan to steal a bit more of her time. He wanted it—needed it—and he’d hold as many minutes as she’d give him. But he didn’t want to scare her off by being too forward. This was silly, but he was going with it. Anything to prolong their moments together.
    “Dance with me, Lily.” She chuckled softly as he began to move her in a slow circle to the sound of the filtered music. Her hips swayed just slightly, her footsteps a little hesitant. He began a slow caress along her lower back, his fingers gently raking back and forth over her warm, silky skin. “It’s not fair, you know.”
    Goose bumps rose on her skin. “What’s not fair?”
    Garrett dipped her over his arm, reveling in the sound of her surprised laugh. He brought her back up so fast, her hair whipped across his chest. “You know my weaknesses and I know nothing about yours.”
    “I call that ammunition.”
    His turn to laugh. If he wasn’t mistaken, her cheeks flamed in a blush. It might have been the lighting from the streetlight, but he doubted it.
    “Nice.” He gave Lily a spin. “No holding out now.” Garrett pulled her tight against him, his lips close to her ear. “Tell me one thing.”
    A hum came from deep in her throat with a resonance that made his heart flutter. “I, ah...have a cabinet full of marshmallows?”
    “Marshmallows?” Garrett spun her again to keep from kissing her hard and full the way he wanted. The ground was springy