Bad Boy's Heart: A Firemen in Love Series Novella (4 page)

“Her friends aren't half-bad, either.” Jayce gazed at the girls like a lion picking out his prey. “I've got dibs on the blonde, and don't y'all forget it.”

“She's not just a 'chick,'” I interrupted them. “Her name is Alicia. We're old friends from high school.”

Max chugged his beer, slammed the bottle on the table, and grinned. “Ah,
now
I get why he forced us to hang around for the wedding. He wanted to see if the guy was better than him.”

“That's not it at all. I was worried about her.”

They all exchanged amused glances. Yeah, I knew what they were thinking. They figured she and I were more than just friends back then.

True, that kiss was out of this world, but it never went further than that. She acted weird after, and rather than risk ruining a good thing, I was a gentleman and pulled away.

But now she was single again. Oh, the things I would do to her – if only she hadn't just now been ditched by her jackass fiance.

“So, was she good in bed?” Brett asked, wriggling his eyebrows.

“I wouldn't know.”

“You kidding? You were friends with a girl that gorgeous, and you never put the moves on her?”

Maybe Brett was right, and I
had
been a moron back then. Why didn't I take a chance with her? Why not give it a try?

“I wasn't always the same charming, good-looking firefighter you see today,” I explained. “I was more interested in reading library books than picking up girls. Plus, I dunno. Maybe I was scared she'd shoot me down.”

“Go on, then.” Jayce tried to push me out of my seat. “The hell are you waiting for? She's newly single and already half-drunk, from the look of things. Girls like her will drop their panties if you so much as look at 'em the right way.”

“I'm not going to hit on her, idiot. She just had her wedding ruined less than an hour ago.”

“Hey, if you don't want her...”

“Don't you even
think
about it.”

I scanned the room for her. There she was, lingering around the DJ's table while her friends urged her to dance with them.

She'd changed into another dress, this one black and so tight that it showed off all her curves. Christ, this woman! Was she trying to drive me insane?

Alicia wandered off to the open bar for another drink refill. That was her third, if I'd been counting correctly. Jayce was right; she did seem a little tipsy, and the evening had barely just begun.

Some guy walked up to join the line behind her. He swayed back and forth for a while before opening his mouth.

“Hey, sweetie,” he said, slurring his words. “Too bad about what happened earlier. Good for you I know how to make it all better.”

She tried to ignore the creep, but he pressed on. I didn't even wait five more seconds before bolting from the table.

“Carter, wait. Don't do anything stupid.” Brett yelled to me as I charged across the room. “You're gonna get us thrown out.”

“Yeah. If you ruin our shot with these ladies, I'll never forgive you.”

I ignored them and made my way through the crowd to the bar. Alicia was still waiting for her drink, not even looking in the pervert's direction. He did not seem to take the hint.

“You listenin' to me?” The guy put his hand on her shoulder. “C'mon. I got a real nice hotel room just down the road, if you get my drift.”

She scowled and jerked away from him. “No thank you. Please leave me alone.”

“I'd suggest you listen to the lady if you know what's best.”

Mr. Pervert spun around and looked up at me. His eyes widened; there was fear in them. He was right to be afraid of me – 'cause if anyone dared fuck with Alicia, I swore I'd make them regret it.

“W-who the hell are you? Get lost, bud. There's dozens of other sluts in this place. Go grab one of them.”

My cheeks burned. “Did you just refer to Alicia as a slut?”

“Well, I mean... Look at her.”

I threw the punch without thinking. He had no time to react before it connected squarely with his jaw.

Alicia let out a yelp of surprise as the man cried out and stumbled back. Everyone around us was watching, horrified.

“He hit James!” Some guy who reminded me of a lumberjack stood up, looking mighty pissed. “That's my cousin, man.”

“Then tell your cousin to keep his hands off of her before I knock out a couple of his teeth.” I wiped the blood from my knuckles. “And if you'd like, I can make sure you're next.”

My glare wore him down. He came to collect James, then the both of them vanished into the shadows.

Alicia stared at me with frightened eyes. Suddenly, it struck me what I had done.

I
scared
her. She was afraid of me. That was the last thing I ever wanted.

“Where did you learn to hit like that?” she asked, studying me as if she'd never really known me at all.

“Me and some of the guys from the station, we like to box. Keeps us in shape.” I showed off my bicep. “Gotta be strong in this line of work.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “I never pictured you as much of a fighter.”

“I imagine both of us have changed a lot over the years. You okay? I can't believe that asshole.”

“Yes, I'm –”

“Gracious, my baby, what happened!” Ellen's wail could be heard across the room. “What exactly is going on here?”

“There was some jerk messing with me. Carter got him to go away.”

Ellen's whole demeanor seemed to brighten. She turned to me with a smile.

“Is that so? And here I always thought you were nothing but trouble.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Prescott. Love you too.”

The batty old woman noticed Alicia guzzling her margarita and slapped her arm.

“Don't you think you should take it easy on the calories, dear? I'm sure you want to look nice in your bathing suit this week.”

At the very mention of Alicia in a swimsuit, my cock turned hard as a diamond. I was so busy practically salivating over the idea that I barely heard their argument.

“What are you talking about? I'm
not
going on the honeymoon. As you can see, I don't exactly have a husband to travel with.”

Ellen waved the complaint away. “Of course you're going; don't be silly. We've already paid for the plane tickets and everything.”

“You've got to be kidding me. I can't take a honeymoon alone.”

“I know! You can take
him
with you.”

It took a minute for me to figure out both women were staring at me, then another few seconds to work out what Ellen was saying.

“You want me to take Carter with me to Florida?” Alicia looked like she might be ill. “But... But why?”

“Those beaches can be a dangerous place, you know, and it certainly looks as if he can handle himself. I can't send my little girl across the country without a big, strong man to look after her.”

The two of us exchanged dumbstruck glances. Had Ellen gone senile? Maybe the stress of the day finally did her in. She was pretty old, after all.

“Mom, you've lost it.”

Ellen grabbed both of us and led us to a private table. Suddenly, she had a very serious look on her face that made me real nervous.

“You know grandma and grandpa would be devastated if you didn't come.” She batted her eyelashes at me. “You were supposed to go with Andy, but that's okay given they have no idea what he looks like. Seems we're in luck in the end – and to think, I nearly worried myself sick over it.”

“Ma'am, no offense, but whatever you're smoking, I'd like some too,” I told her.

Alicia kicked my shin under the table and gave me a don't-you-dare sort of look.

“So that's what this is about,” she said after thinking. “The inheritance. Really, after what just happened to me, all you're worried about is money?”

“Come now, darling. Don't think I'm being greedy; I'm simply worried about your future.” Ellen held her wine glass for the waiter to refill. “You know the rules: you'll only get your part of the estate once you've wed –
and
after they've seen your new husband, as well. Clearly, you haven't got one of those, so that would have been a problem come tomorrow morning.”

“So you're suggesting Carter pose as my spouse?” She laughed and rubbed her temples. “I can't believe you'd go so far. And you're willing to lie to your own parents. Jesus, mom.”

I raised my hand in confusion. “Excuse me, but does anyone care to explain what this is all about?”

“My grandparents are... a little crazy,” Alicia began.

Ellen smacked her wrist. “How could you say that!”

“What mom said is true. They promised me a house and a lot of money if I married.”

“And let's be honest,” Ellen added. “You surely won't find another
real
husband before they pass away. It's sad, but they are getting up there in years.”

“So you want me to pretend to be Andy? Sorry, but I don't believe there would be much resemblance between us.”

Ellen clapped with delight. “The two of them were unable to attend the wedding due to their mobility issues, and they've never even seen what Andy looks like. It would indeed be easy to pull off.”

How had I gotten roped into their scheme? All I'd wanted was to stare at Alicia in that dress for an evening – and plan how I'd get her out of it, though I was a bit ashamed to admit it.

“What makes you think I'd just up and head out of state for a week at a moment's notice?”

Aside from the possibility of seeing her in that swimsuit. Mm, damn it. Hard as steel again.

“I'm sure Alicia wouldn't mind giving a bit of her generous wedding present to you as compensation,” Ellen twittered, nudging her daughter so she'd agree.

“Pay him to be my fake husband?” She sputtered. “Mom, are you sure you're feeling okay?”

“It makes sense. Without his help, you wouldn't be getting any inheritance at all.”

That I might get some free money out of this did pique my interest. I got paid decently at the department, but who couldn't use some extra cash?

And then there were my own parents, struggling to keep their house after dad lost his job. He'd been unemployed for over a year, and the bank was about to snatch away the home I'd grown up in.

If I had a chance to help them keep it...

“This is absurd,” Alicia protested. “He can't –”

“Just how much money are we talking here?”

I had to ask, but she didn't seem too pleased with me for doing so. Man, I hoped I didn't piss her off.

“I was never told of the specifics,” Ellen said as she stirred her drink. “But they are very wealthy people. I would imagine the payout to be in the millions.”

Millions?
Holy hell, Alicia was gonna be rich someday. Even a fraction of that would be plenty to help my folks out.

“It's not like we're that well-off, you know. You're only a kindergarten teacher; you earn a pittance of a salary – barely enough to live comfortably on.”

“I make plenty.”

“Not nearly what you'd need to raise a couple of kids, however. I know from experience they can be quite expensive.”

Alicia's shoulders fell. Wished I could focus on the conversation, but the way those shoulders of hers looked in the dim light had me entranced.

“How do you expect me to even
have
kids without a man?”

Before Ellen could give another bullshit answer, a plump woman in a neon-pink dress called her away.

“Ellen! These desserts are incredible,” the woman cooed. “You simply have to try the raspberry tart.”

“Yes, I'd love to.” Ellen gave her daughter one last look as she walked away. “I know you'll choose wisely. Do what's right, dear.”

When she had vanished into the crowd, Alicia laughed.

“Lying to my grandparents is right?” She stared at me. “Sorry you had to get pulled into this. I never imagined my own mother would pull a stunt on today, of all days.”

“I do understand her worrying, though. When that much cash is involved, and getting married is the only way to get your hands on it...”

“Damn, Carter. Not you too? I never thought you were like that.”

Ouch. Gotta watch what came out of my mouth around her.

“It's kind of messed up, though, isn't it? If your grandparents love you, why make you jump through hoops like that?”

She shrugged. “They've always been kind of eccentric, even more so the older they got. Since they only had my mom, and I was
her
only child, they're worried about the family dying out, I think. They want me to start my own so badly they're willing to pay for it.”

“It does seem a bit unethical, tricking them like that.”

“Yes, but... Maybe mom's right. I'll probably get married for real eventually, but there's no way it'll happen before they die. They're in their eighties.”

“Hey, that's not all that old. They could live another twenty years or more. You really gonna wait that long to find another man?”