Sean's Reckoning - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,57

being the hottest studs at the station—”

“Speak for yourself,” Sean muttered.

“The guys enjoy having their illusions about the two bachelors among them,” Hank chided. “The point is, we’re supposed to be able to get any woman we want, and neither one of us is getting a damned thing.”

Sean sighed. “It’s not about sex with me and Deanna,” he said. “I don’t know exactly what it is about, but it’s definitely not the same-old same-old.”

Hank’s expression turned grim. “Same with me and Ruby. The woman scares me to death. She sees straight through me. The hell of it is, she seems to like me, anyway.”

Sean grinned at his apparent astonishment. “Maybe that’s because underneath all that flirting and bragging you enjoy, you’re a likable guy.”

Hank frowned. “But I don’t want to get married again, and Ruby’s anxious to have kids.”

“Has she said that?”

“She doesn’t have to. I can read between the lines. She loves taking care of Kevin. She goes all maternal when she talks about him. And you should see her if we happen to run across a baby. The look on her face…” He shook his head. “I can’t even begin to describe it. A part of me wants to give her what she wants. Another part…well, you know how I am.”

“I know how you are about marriage,” Sean agreed. “But children, no. Are you that opposed to having kids? I thought it was in your plans when you and Jackie were together.”

“It was—till she made me see that someone risking his life all the time was a bad bet as a dad.”

Sean frowned at him. “Hank, you know that’s not true. If it were, then firefighting wouldn’t be the kind of profession that is just about handed down from generation to generation. Half the guys we work with are the sons of firefighters. And many of them have kids of their own, some of whom will grow up to be firefighters, too.”

Hank’s expression turned thoughtful. “I never thought of it that way.”

“Because you’ve been too busy trying to prove that Jackie was right to divorce you. Otherwise, it would have hurt too much.” He punched Hank in the shoulder. “Face it. The divorce was all about her fears. Some were rational. Some weren’t. But getting out of the marriage was the only way she could see to deal with them. Ruby’s not Jackie.”

“That’s for damn sure,” Hank said. “The woman’s fearless. Last night she suggested we try bungee-jumping as soon as my ankle heals. Said she thought it would be a real high.”

Sean had to bite back a laugh. Hank was an intrepid firefighter, but he claimed to be terrified of heights. It was one reason he didn’t work at a station with skyscrapers in the area. “What did you say?”

“Are you kidding me? I told her she was out of her ever-loving mind.” He shook his head. “She said she’d go without me.”

“Think she will?”

“Probably, just because she knows it will make me crazy,” he said with a sigh.

“You are so hooked,” Sean said, delighted with this latest turn of events. Hank had enjoyed the heck out of being single, but being married had grounded him, given him a much-needed stability. That was why it had rocked him back on his heels when Jackie had walked out. He’d realized he was losing something important. He just hadn’t known how to prevent it, short of giving up his career.

“In fact,” Sean taunted, holding a hand to his heart, “I think I hear the faint sound of wedding bells.”

Hank swore at him. “Don’t laugh, buddy. Seems to me that you’re just as bad off as I am.”

Now it was Sean’s turn to sigh. “You’ve got that right.”

Deanna wasn’t sure what to expect after the trip to Cape Cod. A part of her wanted Sean to make good on his promise to haul her off to bed at the first opportunity. A part of her knew that once that happened, she’d no longer be able to deny the feelings he stirred in her. Even that wouldn’t be such a problem if it weren’t for the unresolved issue of his need to control her life.

Maybe now that he’d seen to it that she had an entire week of rest, it would be a nonissue, she thought hopefully, just in time to look up and spot him strolling into Joey’s and heading for a booth in the back. It was nearly 10:00 p.m., two hours later than she was scheduled to work,