Page 53 of The Night Belongs To Fireman

Well, at least it was a wedding, so there would be plenty of distractions.

Distraction Number One, a fireman named Fred, followed close behind them as they drove. Rachel kept stealing glances in the rearview mirror, which meant she kept missing Bradford’s efforts at conversation. He didn’t seem to notice as he related the current Silicon Valley rumors.

“So how are the creatures faring?” Bradford asked when he’d run out of tech business gossip.

“The Refuge is doing well, for the most part. There were quite a few mountain lions and coyotes injured in that brushfire last month. We’ve been busy patching them up.”

“Coyotes.” He shuddered. “Aren’t they classified as vermin? My neighborhood in the San Jose hills is infested with them.”

“Maybe you’re the ones doing the infesting,” she pointed out, bristling. “Why should you have any more right to be there than they do?”

He gave her a patronizing smile. “Your passion for your work is praiseworthy.”

The words might have been dipped in suntan oil, they were so smooth. Fred might tease her until she lost her temper, but at least he wouldn’t spout fake flattery.

Forget Fred.

At the wedding chapel, she stood alongside Liza and Feather. Cindy being Cindy, she’d commanded them to wear their sexiest little black dresses and the most outrageous shoes in their closets. Rachel had chosen her favorite dress, the one with the heart-shaped neckline that revealed just a touch of cleavage. It flared in flirty folds just above her knees. Her shoes of choice were metallic stilettos.

Her gaze kept stealing to Fred, who stood at the side of the chapel in brown gabardine dress pants and a creamy sweater. She knew he was trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, but somehow she couldn’t keep her gaze off him. Forcing herself to check in on Bradford, who sat midway down the aisle, she noticed that he was murmuring something into his Bluetooth. What kind of person took a phone call during a wedding?

The brief ceremony passed in a blur. When the minister proclaimed them man and wife, Bean kissed Cindy so hard her feet lifted off the floor. Rachel felt a shocking, profound moment of envy. Would she ever love and be loved like that? She’d put her heart and soul into the Refuge, because anything else was too complicated. But now something wild and wanting tugged at her heart. Why couldn’t she … why shouldn’t she have love, romantic love, like other people?

They all drove to a restaurant called Castles for the reception. As Bradford helped her out of the Porsche, she tried to catch Fred’s eye. But he had his game face on and was scanning the area for … something. Something that wasn’t her. Feeling out of sorts, she let Bradford guide her into the magnificent interior of the restaurant. She cast a grumpy glance at her surroundings. Strange how gilded columns and crystal chandeliers could feel like a prison when you were facing tedious conversation with a man who didn’t interest you.

Luckily, Liza and Feather pulled her aside as soon as they walked in. With a smoothly social laugh that grated on Rachel’s nerves, Bradford backed away to fetch drinks. Fred, channeling James Bond or someone, cruised the perimeter of the restaurant.

“We’re dying to know why you brought two men to a wedding,” Liza whispered. “We’re not talking ménage here, are we?”

Rachel’s face went so hot she pressed her hands against her cheeks. “That’s disgusting.”

“Which part of it’s disgusting?” Feather looked sensational in a black tube dress, lace-up go-go boots, and a chunky crystal necklace. “The older-dude-with-Porsche part or the sexy-hot-fireman part? He’s the one who saved us from the limo, right?”

Rachel nodded miserably. “Dad hired him to be my bodyguard, that’s the only reason he’s here. My date is Bradford. Fred’s just doing his job.”

Her two friends draped sympathetic arms around her. “And you like the fireman. Of course you like the fireman.” Liza shook her head so her dangling chandelier earrings brushed her jawline. “But you can salvage the situation.”

“How?”

“Three words. Make him jealous.”

“Who?”

Liza sighed. “Rachel, you really need to spend less time with dogs and more time with men. Fred the Fireman, that’s who. You’re here with another man. That’s a chance to make Fred jealous.”

“That seems so mean.”

“A little jealousy never killed anyone,” said Feather blithely. “He’s a big, strong fireman, he can take it. Sometimes guys need a little kick in the pants, that’s all.”

“But I don’t even know if he’s … if that’s … what I want.”

“Don’t pull that with us. You and the fireman were flirting with each other back when he was Random Cute Guy with Trophy at the City Lights Grill.”

“That’s ridiculous. I had too much champagne and he kept getting me out of trouble. Besides, you guys made me steal that trophy. There was no flirting, that’s for sure. I’m not even sure I know how to flirt.”

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