The Fireman Who Loved Me Read Online Free PDF

on his tongue. Right now that vanilla skin was pink with embarrassment. Brody watched the play of expressions on her mobile face. Outrage, humor, confusion, mortification. He had the sudden thought that he wouldn’t mind standing here for a while, watching her face.
    “Really, Grans . . .”
    Nelly ignored her. “Are you single?”
    “Yes.”
    “Not homosexual?”
    “No ma’am.” By this point, the entire scene had reached such a surreal level he found himself smiling.
    “How old are you?”
    “Thirty-six.”
    “Isn’t that young for a fire captain?”
    “I’m very good.”
    Nelly paused in her inquisition, as if to say, she’d be the judge of that. “Have you ever been married?”
    “Yes.”
    “Divorced?”
    “Yes.”
    “Any children?”
    The smile drained from his face. The one question he didn’t want to answer. Ramrod-straight, he stared at a spot above Nelly’s head. Rescue came in the form of a slim hand on his elbow.
    “Okay, that’s it!” Melissa crooked her arm in his and grabbed her jacket. “Shall we go?”
    No three words had ever been so welcome. As he gratefully pressed her arm against his side, he couldn’t help noticing how good she felt. He made a slight bow to the openmouthed Nelly. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Nelly McGuire, and I’m very sorry you’re indisposed. I’m sure it would have been an unforgettable evening.”
    “Well, I’m sure it would. Be nice to my Melissa. I’ll be waiting up, so no fancy fandangos.”
    “I wouldn’t think of it.” Moving his hand to her lower back, he steered Melissa out the door.
    T he alleged fire captain opened the passenger door of his big blue boat of a car, waited until Melissa was settled in, then slid behind the wheel. Melissa wasn’t used to such old-fashioned courtesy. Like his car, it seemed to come from another era. She had to admit she rather liked it. He didn’t start the Dodge immediately, but instead let out a long breath. There was a moment of strained silence. The scent of jasmine drifted through the open windows. It was just after five in the evening, and the late October sky was a dusky pink.
    “I’m so sorry,” said Melissa in a stifled voice. She hated apologizing for her grandmother.
    “She’s something else. What’s a fancy fandango?”
    Was he making fun of Grans? Melissa looked over at him sharply, and once again felt that annoying tingle. He was a complete stranger, and yet when he’d grabbed her arm (after nearly knocking her over), a shiver had passed through her. And those eyes, the intense gray of charcoal, had looked into hers with such genuine concern. There was a restrained strength in the way he’d held her, the same power she’d felt when he’d plucked her off the Hilton carpet.
    “She reminds me of my aunt Maggie,” Brody was saying. “She raised six children alone after her husband died in a fishing accident. She took over his boat. Ran the tightest crew in San Pedro.”
    Melissa laughed. “Yeah, Grans is a pain in my butt, but I love her to death. If only she’d stay out of my social life.”
    “So I take it she bid on Ryan . . . for you?”
    “Apparently.”
    “Then who did you bid on?”
    “No one! I don’t need to raid my bank account to get a date.”
    “Interesting.”
    Melissa eyed him with suspicion. The silvery bits in his gray eyes gleamed. He was definitely amused about something. “What’s interesting?”
    “Well, I can’t help wondering why your grandmother seems to disagree.”
    Ooohhh, that did it. Melissa fumbled with her seat belt, all set to bolt out of the car. “My grandmother, much as I love her, has some crazy ideas that I can’t be responsible for, and anyway why should I have to justify anything to you . . .”
    A firm hand stilled hers.
    “I’m very sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. To tell the truth, I haven’t been on a date for quite a while, and my manners are a little rusty. Let’s try again.”
    Still wary, Melissa