Fireman Daddy - Taryn Quinn Page 0,16

careful.”

“Always.” He cupped my elbows and dragged me up onto my toes. The kiss was hot and deep. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Then he took off after the younger man.

“This fight isn’t over,” I yelled after him.

He turned, still jogging backward, his teeth a bright slash against his dark beard. “I’m gonna fight with you till my dying breath, Freckles.”

I blew out a breath. I had a very strong feeling he was correct.

I made my way back to Sharkey’s. All my mad had fizzled out. Knowing Jake was a firefighter was one thing, but the realization that he would place himself in danger sat a little heavier today. I glanced over my shoulder at the lake and the wisps of smoke teasing the late afternoon sky.

I wasn’t sure if that was my imagination or fact. The lake was fairly large, but the mansions that hugged the craggy coastline were mostly populated on one side. The other side had been bought up by Maitland Enterprises. They were building a spa and high-end summer properties last I’d heard from my weekly gossip from my mother.

As I got closer to the bar, I glimpsed two lone men cleaning up the porch, so it wasn’t a safety hazard. At least that was my guess. Then my brother came out to help in his usual high-handed fashion.

I had to smile at the familiarity of it, even though just a short while ago his taking over had pissed me off. I supposed a hot kiss could make anyone’s mood sweeter.

The pop and crunch of gravel behind me slowed my gait.

A black BMW carefully navigated the potholes and broken pavement. The tinted window lowered. A man with silvered blond hair and a golf tan—and matching outfit—was behind the wheel. “Miss Ramos?”

“Who’s asking?”

“May we speak?”

I crossed my arms. “Whatever you’re selling, I’m not interested.”

“I’m here for a face-to-face meeting. Our lawyers have spoken, but I wanted to see if we could talk business owner to business owner. I’m Arthur Maitland.”

The construction noise seemed to get sucked into a vacuum for a moment before my heartbeat thundered in my ears.

I was still off balance from Jake and his kisses. From the heavy dose of reality about what it would mean to allow myself to love Jake.

My throat went tight.

For a split second, I wanted to listen to Arthur’s every word. I could walk away from all these problems. I could take the easy money and go back to the city and my safe life.

I wouldn’t have to face the feelings I had for Jake, or deal with my loud, invasive family. All the inconveniences of a small town where everyone was in your business.

The laundry list of pros was long.

I glanced at the porch where my brother stood. The two guys who had been helping to stack lumbar out of the way and tarp the half-done stairs were already getting in their trucks to leave.

The narrow-eyed glance I received as they drove by was as much of a wake-up call as skinny-dipping in the lake this time of year.

“I’m not interested in selling.”

Did that actually come out of my mouth?

I sucked in a breath. I was almost certain it had. My heart knew what to say even before my mouth.

Actually, I’d been holding down what my heart wanted for so long it was like being set free for the first time in too many years to count.

Danny holding me down.

My job as a marketing manager at the finance company—which I only had because it was smart to work for them. Because Danny and I had been the golden couple for a short while.

Now my ex-husband was an executive at the Manhattan branch, and it literally felt like being with him had been another life.

One I’d never really loved.

“You’ll be putting far more money into this establishment than it’s worth. I can take it off your hands. We can even discuss a little incentive.”

I lifted my chin. What Maitland wanted was the access to the lake. It was prime real estate on this side of the Cove. “Sharkey’s isn’t for sale. And neither is Crescent Cove, Mr. Maitland.”

He put his car into park.

“No. Don’t park. Don’t get out of your car. It’ll be a waste of time.”

He took off his sunglasses. “You’re making a mistake.”

I nodded. “Maybe. But this is a neighborhood spot for our firefighters and police. When I’m done with it, this will be a great community place for the Cove.”

“Are you sure the