Everything Bared (Six-Alarm Sexy) Read Online Free Page B

tough one.”
    She hitched her bag higher on her shoulder and had to swallow away the bitterness in her throat. “These are the ones that stay with us.”
    “Feel free to use the counseling services if… you know… if you need it,” he said, his voice gentle as he squeezed her shoulder.
    There was no doubt she’d be having nightmares about opening up the slider on that minivan and coming face to face with six dead children. Oh, they’d been strapped in… no car seats and two to a belt. When would people learn that seat belts weren’t designed to hold small children? She nodded. “I will.”
    “So, you heading out? A bunch of us are meeting at O’Riley’s for a drink to… shake things off. Join us?”
    The platoons often met to commiserate after a rough shift. It helped them ease back into normalcy, so they could go back to their regular lives. Go back to their family and friends, who had no idea of the horror they saw almost daily. The switch was important, but it wasn’t an easy one. She wished she could join them. “I have to drive over to my mom’s. She’s got breakfast waiting.”
    “Speaking of living arrangements, Jamie told me about your new digs. You should have come to us,” he said, narrowing his gaze. “Jamie and I would have helped you out.”
    She smiled to let him know she appreciated his words. “It’s not like I could stay with either of you.”
    “I’d have let you have my place. Found somewhere else to bunk for a few weeks.”
    “Where?” She knew enough about his family to know he’d rather sleep in a dumpster than stay with his father, the rarely revered and often feared Deputy Chief Wright. “I doubt Jamie would have wanted you staying with Erica while he was at work.”
    Hollywood laughed, transforming his features into the sardonic twist she was used to. “You got that right. Dude’s as possessive as a pit bull. Drew would have taken me in. Or Chad maybe.”
    She studied his features. Did he know about Chad? Hollywood was so overt about his manly man status, she was surprised he’d even consider staying with Chad. Unless it was to piss off his father. Yeah. That was a definite possibility. As anti-gay as he was, Hollywood’s father would have a coronary if he learned Hollywood was rooming with Chad. She couldn’t help the grin that curved her lips.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “Just imagining the good chief’s face if you’d gone to stay with Chad.”
    He snorted.
    “Things worked out for the best,” she added.
    “So how is Mr. Stick-Up-His-Butt, anyway?”
    “A lot more fun than I thought he’d be. The man’s got fire in him, it just takes a bit of work to get it started.”
    Hollywood’s eyes started to twinkle, and she could see why all the fire bunnies chased him like he was a movie star. Fortunately, despite his marquee looks, there was zero chemistry between the two of them.
    “Go easy on him, sweetheart. I’m not sure the dude’s man enough for you.”
    Feeling a curious need to defend William, she arched a brow. “Oh, he’s man enough, all right.”
    “Speaking from personal knowledge? Don’t forget William is your boss’s brother. No matter how much Jamie likes you, if you fuck with his brother, he’ll be gunning for you.”
    She held up a hand. “Whoa! I’m not his type, he’s not mine. We’re roommates. Nothing more.”
    And what a shame that was. She’d have loved to find out what was beneath his suits, beneath his CFO armor. What was it people always said? Watch out for the quiet ones? Yeah, she’d bet William was way more than a corporate striver. If he ever shed his shackles, he’d surprise them all.
    After saying their goodbyes, she hopped in her car, and thirty minutes later, she was sitting at the table in her mother’s retro kitchen, shoveling waffles into her mouth.
    “When I heard about the accident with those poor children last night, I knew you’d need a hero’s breakfast. Just like your father did.” Her mother