Page 45 of The Night Belongs To Fireman

Fred’s heart gave a weird little clench. The picture Marsden painted was so sad. “Are you saying she needs company?”

“She needs more than a dog and an old marine. But she won’t do anything to upset Mr. Kessler, and he keeps a tight eye on her. Thought I’d maybe found a way to kill two birds with one stone.”

“You mean get her a guard and …”

“A friend.”

A friend. Marsden had recommended him to Kessler for that? It seemed like an elaborate way to find someone to keep Rachel company. It wasn’t exactly a hardship, after all. Fred eyed him closely, but the guard’s face revealed nothing but innocent intentions.

A friend. Was that really his true purpose here? In that case, it was too bad the fantasies keeping him up every night weren’t at all friendly. He had to think this over in private. “Well, thanks for thinking of me.”

He nodded at Marsden and prepared to head out the door, but the man held him back with a hand on his arm. “Another thing, son.”

“Yeah?”

“If anyone heard me, Kessler’d have my ass.” He leaned closer. “Don’t pay attention to him. He likes to believe he rules the world, and he’s got his ideas of how people should treat his daughter. They’re not always on the mark, if you ask me. Don’t let him intimidate you.”

Fred cocked his head. “Just because he’s a billionaire genius and I’m a firefighter? Why would that intimidate me?”

Marsden laughed. “He shits on a crapper like the rest of us.”

“I’m hoping I can take your word for that.”

The guard clapped him on the shoulder. “I knew this would work out.”

After a week of guarding Rachel, Fred knew there were two things about this arrangement that he hadn’t considered. He adapted to her luxurious surroundings well enough, though he felt like a dickhead trying to figure out her high-tech appliances. Things like titanium, voice-activated toasters and a refrigerator that told you when you were low on eggs. He was pretty good with technology, with all his firefighter training. But computer voices rubbed him the wrong way.

The second thing—maybe not so unexpected—was how hard it was to be around her without revealing his raging lust for her. Being around her was so much more exciting than being around anyone else. Even though she was mostly reserved, when she did come out with one of her quick-as-a-flick responses or wide grins, the pleasure of it nearly knocked him off his feet. He wondered what she would have been like if her life hadn’t been torn apart by a sadistic kidnapper. Would she be relaxed and giggly and carefree, more like Lizzie?

It was impossible to say, and he didn’t need to know the answer anyway. He liked her just as she was. It was hard to remember that when he’d first seen her at the City Lights Grill he’d considered her a bit of an airhead. Now that he knew her better, he wished she’d let that goofy side of herself show more. She was too serious, too careful. She poured all her softhearted impulses into the animals at the Refuge. He’d like to see that carefree, laughing side of Rachel again someday. Where was that Rachel hiding?

Chapter 13

“He’s just providing extra security until the congressional hearings are over,” Rachel told Cindy in her private office. Cindy was worried that her ungainly young golden retriever, Sir Giggles, was getting too hyperactive and uncontrollable. At the moment, the dog was roaming the training room, investigating the various toys piled in the corners.

“Oh, I see. ‘Extra security.’ Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

Rachel turned red. “It wasn’t my idea. Or his.”

“I think you should put the moves on him,” Cindy said in a loud whisper, crossing one leg over the other. She wore bright red shorts and a gold tank top. She lit up the little office like a torch. “He’s coming to the wedding, right?”

“Yes, he has to come now—as my bodyguard. I have a date for the wedding.”

“Don’t tell me it’s that horrid Bradford.”

“He’s not horrid. He’s on the board of directors for the Refuge.”

“Yeah, because he’s trying to get into your pants.” She pushed her sunglasses on top of her head.

“Cindy, I’m not like you. Guys don’t act like that with me. They want … something different.”

Ebullient and gleefully, unabashedly plump, Cindy had been one of the most fun-loving girls in their year at San Gabriel College. She always came back from her wild parties with stories about the boys pining for her. Until she lost her heart to Bean. “You are so naïve. You’re gorgeous, Rachel. Just because you don’t play it up doesn’t mean it ain’t so.”

“Back to Sir Giggles. You said he’s been almost biting? Grabbing your arms in his mouth?”

“Yes. Bean’s worried that he’s too aggressive.” Rachel glanced at the lively, curious dog nosing around the room. He didn’t look aggressive in the least. “Now back to Bradford. When did I give you permission to bring that stuck-up stick to my wedding?”

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