Page 31 of Flirting With Fire
I hadn’t even thought about it. Dex had offered me a ride, and I’d accepted, just like today.
I threw the sponge at him. “Now you can finish the truck.”
Garcia caught the sponge before it splattered onto his uniform. “I owe you that.”
“Too right you do.”
I excused myself and knocked on Brannigan’s door, waiting until he barked at me to come in.
He leaned back in his chair as I shut the door and took the seat in front of his desk when he waved at it. “All sorted?”
I shrugged. “Maybe. He seemed more concerned that I treat Dex right than the fact I'm gay.”
I didn’t beat about the bush. If the chief was friends with Mom, he knew I was gay and hadn’t cared when he employed me.
“Garcia likes everyone to be happy,” Brannigan said.
“Especially now he won the bet.”
“That too.”
I leaned forward. “Am I gonna get grief from any of the crew?”
Brannigan pursed his lips. “Maybe Henderson, but he’d prefer to avoid you than cause trouble. A couple will take time to warm up, but they do that to everyone. Just treat them fair, and they’ll come around. You’re a big guy. None of them want to start a fight.”
I knew my size intimidated some people. If it kept the peace, that was fine with me. “I’ll handle any jokers.”
Brannigan nodded. “I know you will, but I’m here too. Don’t forget that.”
“I appreciate it, chief.”
I left him and joined Garcia to finish the truck and ensure it was fully stocked. He took me through the stores, and bymidday, everything was done, and I had a better idea of the firehouse's routine.
Dex was there on the dot of twelve, and I left, flipping Garcia and Pérez off as they grinned at me. He raised an eyebrow over his truck.
“Am I missing something?”
“A mother hen wanting to make sure I treat you right.”
He blinked at me. “Pardon?”
“Garcia.” I huffed. “He wanted to know my intentions toward you.” Dex chuckled, and it was a good sound. I grinned at him. “You’ve got a whole town looking after you.”
“I’ll thank him later.”
I slid onto the passenger seat. “No need. He won the bet.”
“Bet?”
“Whether I was gay or not. The guys who knew me from high school are gonna be very disappointed.”
Now Dex gave an outright belly laugh. “One or two of them will be disappointed for other reasons.”
It took me a moment to process what he’d just said. “Disappointed? What the heck are you talking about?”
“Not my secret to share, oh great football captain.”
I took a deep breath. The man was infuriating. None of the guys had ever shown any interest in me in high school. Dex gave another low chuckle and thankfully dropped the subject.
