Kevin’s face fell. “But we waited for you, Mom. You’ve got to come.”
“That’s right,” Ruby agreed, giving Kevin’s hand a squeeze. “Sean’s expecting all of us. You don’t want to disappoint him, do you?” She glanced pointedly at Kevin to indicate that Sean wasn’t the only one who was going to be disappointed if Deanna refused to go.
Pushing aside her exhaustion and her suspicions, Deanna forced a smile. “Okay then. Give me ten minutes to shower and change.”
Kevin’s expression promptly brightened. “Hurry, Mom. We don’t want to keep him waiting too long. He might get too busy to see us. Or he might go home.”
Deanna pressed a kiss to her son’s forehead. “I’ll hurry,” she promised.
As she passed Ruby on her way up the steps, she leaned down and whispered, “And I’ll get even with you for this.”
Ruby chuckled. “I doubt it. In fact, if things go the way I’m anticipating, someday you’ll thank me. I left my red halter top on the bed. I think it’s just the thing for you to wear on a hot night like this.”
“Don’t count on it.”
“Mom!” Kevin whined.
“I’m going,” she said, slipping inside and trudging up the stairs. Going to the fire station was absolutely the last thing she wanted to do tonight.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t say quite the same thing about seeing Sean Devaney…and that reaction scared her to death.
Chapter Three
Sean tried to pretend that he wasn’t watching for Deanna’s arrival at the firehouse. He kept his nose buried in a book. As a kid he hadn’t been much of a reader, but during the endless hours between calls at the station, he’d picked up a fantasy novel one of the other firefighters had just finished and he’d been hooked. He’d enjoyed the pure escape from reality into realms where good always triumphed over evil.
He was currently finishing up the latest Harry Potter book, enjoying the way the beleaguered kid stood up to the bullies around him. He couldn’t help wishing he’d had Harry as a role model when he’d been a kid. Tonight, however, even though he was as engrossed in the latest adventure as he had been in all the others, his attention kept drifting to the sidewalk outside.
“Looking for anyone in particular?” Hank inquired, dropping into a chair next to him.
“Who says I’m looking for anyone?” Sean replied, testy at having been caught.
“Usually when you get lost in one of those books of yours, this place could burn down around you and you wouldn’t notice, but tonight you seem distracted. You keep glancing toward the street.”
Sean considered lying, but since he was going to need Hank’s help to get some alone time with Deanna, he decided to come clean. “Deanna Blackwell’s on her way over with her kid.”
A grin spread across Hank’s face. “I knew it!” he said triumphantly. “She’s the doll from that fire a couple of weeks back, right? You’ve been seeing her all along on the sly, haven’t you, you sneaky dog? I knew you were lying through your teeth when you claimed you weren’t interested.”
Sean frowned at him. “I have not been seeing her. The kid called today and wanted to come by to see the fire trucks. I said okay. It’s no big deal.”
“It’s worth fifty bucks to me,” Hank gloated.
Sean studied his friend’s expression, looking for even the tiniest hint of guilt. “You actually had bets going on whether I’d see her again, didn’t you?” he asked. Hank didn’t even flinch.
“Well, of course I did,” Hank said with no evidence of remorse. “Your love life—or lack thereof—is the subject of much speculation around here. All the guys keep wondering why you’re not married, since every woman you meet falls madly in love with you.”
“I don’t see anyone long enough for them to fall in love with me,” Sean contradicted.
“Which I explained to the guys, but they think you’re just holding out on us, that you’ve got some gorgeous babe stashed away and that you sneak off to spend every spare minute making passionate love to her.”
Sean groaned. “You all clearly have too much time on your hands.”
Hank grinned. “True enough. So, is the delectable Deanna bringing her hot friend with her?”
“If you’re referring to Ruby, the answer’s yes.”
“Then I am forever in your debt,” Hank said solemnly. “I have had a few incredibly steamy dreams about that woman.”
“You have steamy dreams about every woman you pass on the street,” Sean pointed out.
“This is different,” Hank insisted.
Sean rolled his eyes at the familiar refrain. “I doubt that, but you can do me a favor. I need a few minutes alone with Deanna. Can I count on you to show Ruby and Kevin around?”
“When have you not been able to count on me?” Hank demanded indignantly. “No matter how trying the task, do I not step up to the plate when you ask?”
Sean chuckled. “Then I take it the answer is yes, even though this is one of those trying occasions?”
“Yes,” Hank said, then added with exaggerated politeness, “And thank you for thinking of me. Those of us in the Boston Fire Department are here to serve and protect in whatever way we’re called upon to do so.”
“Try to remember that when you’re thinking about hitting on Ruby,” Sean cautioned, thinking of the way she’d neatly blackmailed Deanna’s boss. “Something tells me she could bring you to your knees if you get out of line.”
Hank made a show of swooning ecstatically. “This just keeps getting better and better. You know how I love a challenge.”
“Don’t make me regret this,” Sean said.
“Have I ever let you down?”
Ah, Sean thought, that was the thing. For all of his fooling around and his penchant for chasing anything in skirts ever since his divorce, Hank DiMartelli was the best buddy a man could have. There was no one in the department Sean would rather have at his side going into a raging inferno. Hank
