The Shadow of Mudflap (A Foxtrot Team Novel #1) Read Online Free Page B

the office. This guy was huge. He obviously lifted weights and wore typical firefighter black cargos and a t-shirt. Mudflap guessed this to be their new guy coming in to cover for Grant, who had slipped into a coma over the weekend.
    The captain lifted his hard gaze to Mudflap. “I trust you’ve taken care of your issue in the kitchen.”
    Mudflap’s stomach sank. He’d hoped maybe the captain had missed Misty’s arrival this morning, but that didn’t appear to be the case. “I hope so, sir. I apologize for the inconvenience to the guys.”
    He nodded. “Apologize to them, not me. And while you’re doing that, you can introduce them to the new guy.” He gestured to the man standing beside him. “This is Michael Turner. He’s going to fill in for Grant for the next few months. He’s just transferred into the Lubbock Fire Department from Colorado Springs where he worked with the wildland crews. It’s been a while since he worked in a city fire department so see what you can do to get him reviewed and settled into our processes.”
    “Yes, sir.” He reached across to shake Michael’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. First, let me show you where you can stow your gear, and then I’ll introduce you to the rest of the crew.”
    “I appreciate it.”
    As they left the captain’s office, Michael asked, “So is Mudflap really your name?”
    Mudflap cast him a cocky grin and told him, “It sure is, on my birth certificate and everything. So what made you decide to quit the wildland firefighting to come back to city firefighting?”
    “I was a helicopter pilot with the wildland crews, and while I loved the job, I’m getting older. I don’t want to spend all my summers moving with the fires anymore. I want to get a house and settle down so I started looking for places to relocate. Lubbock seemed like a good choice.”
    “Makes sense. It’s a great town, the perfect size, and with the University, there are tons of events happening in town. Are you a sports fan?”
    “Hell, yeah, football, baseball, basketball, hell, even NASCAR. I love it all.”
    Mudflap grinned. “I think you’re gonna fit in just right here. What about poker?” It would be nice to have another ally against Riley.
     
    Halftime Texting
    Shanae : All that build-up and you’re seriously not going to call me. I’m disappointed.
    Mudflap : Hey, give a guy a chance. There’s a lot of pressure here to get this right.
    Shanae : Sigh, I had such high hopes for you.
    Mudflap : Darlin’, I promise you the wait will be worth it.
    Shanae : Hmm, I may just have to take Tom up on his offer instead.
    Mudflap : Who’s Tom?
    Shanae : Just a guy, although he was really hot. Time’s a-ticking. Don’t wait too long.
     
    Mudflap
    Mudflap thumped the edge of his cell phone sitting on the counter taunting him. He needed to call her. She haunted his dreams and fantasies, both the ones at night when he slept and the ones during the day when he allowed himself to think about her.
    But what if it had just been a case of misplaced adrenaline? Maybe their chemistry wasn’t as combustible as he remembered it being. Their exchange of texts so far had been flirty and fun. He really didn’t want to blow this on the first date.
    Derek walked into the room and glanced between Mudflap and the phone he continued to twirl on the counter. “When did you turn into a pussy? You should know staring at a phone won’t make it ring, especially when you’re the one who’s supposed to make the call. Call her already.”
    Mudflap scowled at Derek’s smirking face. His roommate was beginning to annoy him.
    “I’m trying to decide where to take her on a date, assuming she says yes.”
    Derek rolled his eyes. “She gave you her number, right? Newsflash for you, girls don’t give you their phone number just so they can have the opportunity to turn you down when you call. She’s gonna say yes.”
    “So where should I take her?”
    “You’re asking me? You know I’m