He pulls back like I’ve just waved a fire stick in his face. Exactly as I expected. The man is as averse to relationships as I am to texting. “The fuck?”

  “Something to do with needing to be married to inherit the bar. I don’t know,” I grumble. “Point is, you don’t do relationships, and she doesn’t do one-night stands.”

  Cade smirks, and I can’t help but zero in on that right side, waiting for the damn dimple to pop. It doesn’t.

  “I don’t do one-night stands either,” he says. “Not unless it’s against the wall, or in the shower. Hm, have you tried out the fire pole?”

  With a roll of my eyes, I push away the visions that hit me.

  “I much prefer the use of a bed,” he admits. “Not that I’d turn down a woman on her knees.”

  Before I can tamp it down, an image flashes through my mind. Cade gripping a ponytail, our hands linked as he guides her onto my cock.

  When I don’t reply, he gives my shoulder a squeeze. I flinch beneath his touch. I always flinch at his touch.

  “None of that shit with Melina in the house this weekend,” I grit out, silently berating myself for my reaction to a simple touch. “She’s going through enough. She doesn’t need you bringing home a random woman and keeping the rest of us up all night.”

  Cade pulls back, scowling. “Give me some fucking credit. I’m not twenty anymore.”

  “I know that, but I wasn’t sure you were aware.”

  He rests his elbows on the bar and drops his head. “Fuck, you’re in a mood tonight.”

  Internally, I wince. I don’t want to be an ass to my best friend. We rarely see each other, and he’s one of the very few people I like.

  I roll my neck and angle my barstool so I’m facing him. “Sorry, I’m stressed and not handling it well. These damn fires keep popping up everywhere, and with the event tonight, there will be even more people to worry about. On top of that, Melina Fucking Rodriguez will be staying at my place for who knows how long. I haven’t lived with a woman since Liv was in high school. And I’m pretty sure eighteen-year-old Liv was nothing like a world-famous pop star.”

  Cade’s eyes widen. “I think that’s the most words you’ve ever strung together at once.”

  Huffing, I turn back to facing the bar. I don’t know why I try. Everything is a joke to this guy. Nothing is serious. He’d say I’m too serious, but becoming chief because the guy before me died in a fire makes it hard not to take fire safety seriously.

  With a laugh, Cade pulls on my arm.

  I go rigid as he squeezes, completely unaware of the effect he has on me.

  “I’m teasing,” he says, lowering his voice. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate. And I promise I’ll help keep Mel safe.”

  “Not in your bed,” I growl, my neck heating.

  He laughs like I’m joking. “She’s twenty-eight years old, Chief. She can make that decision for herself. Besides, she’s a pop star. If anyone’s going to be calling the shots, it’s her.”

  “She’s got a stalker,” I remind him. “That’s why she’s staying with me rather than with her best friend. She wants to spend the holidays with Lake and her family. Instead, she gets to put up with the town’s fire chief as her babysitter. Don’t complicate it.”

  Cade sighs. “You’re always ruining my fun.”

  Fun? I don’t even know what that means anymore. It’s been years since I’ve even considered having fun. Honestly, the last time Cade and I had fun…

  No, I shake my head to rid myself of the memory. Thankfully, Hailey appears, snagging my attention as she sets our food in front of us. I’m not thinking of that night ever again.

  CHAPTER 3

  Melina

  A cuter town in America does not exist. The streets are decked out in red, white, and blue—a patriotic tribute with the perfect amount of charm. Antique streetlamps decorated with holly light up the winter evening. Townspeople sporting Charles Dickens–style dresses stroll the cobblestone in front of the fire station, singing Christmas carols.

  Don’t even get me started on the firefighters standing outside the firehouse, suspenders holding up black pants that no doubt hide beautifully thick thighs. And holy arm porn. Muscles upon muscles strain under white T-shirts with a simple BFD printed on the sleeve.

  Yes, a girl could get used to a town like Bristol. It seems like the perfect place to start over. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll find my voice again here. Find my music.

  I grip Lake’s arm as I suck in an exaggerated breath. “Holy shit, who are those hotties?”

  Lake is laughing at me as two of the most beautiful men I’ve ever seen walk toward us, their swagger making my girlie bits flutter. Hmm… Instantly, I’m running through ways I can get one of them to play with me.

  The dark-haired man tilts closer to the other guy—the one wearing a backward blue Bolts hat. Hello, new kink unlocked. In response, hat guy grips his friend’s forearm and throws his head back and laughs.

  That simple touch ignites a small fire in my belly. “Can you imagine being lucky enough to have boyfriends who were boyfriends? Talk about hot.”

  Lake’s next comment throws a whole batch of kindling on my fire. “That’s your new roommate, the fire chief, Declan Everhart.”

  Ford leans across her and whispers, “And that’s his best friend, Cade Fitzgerald, goalie coach of the Boston Bolts.”

  “Damn, you weren’t kidding when you said the chief was sexy.” I fan my face. “Hello, hotties,” I mumble under my breath. “My name is Mel, and I’ll be your sexy catnip for the night.”

  “Hate to break it to you, Mel,” Lake replies, her lips barely moving, “but the chief doesn’t seem like that kind of guy.” As the duo gets close, she breaks into a bright smile. “Chief, Coach,” she says. “It’s so good to see you both.”

  As happens when people see my best friend, both men blink like cartoon characters.

  The grumpier one swallows audibly and nods. “Lake, Ford, good to see you.”

  When he turns to me, his gaze is like the snick of a lighter against my skin. It burns, the way I instantly and irrationally want this man. He’s not pretty. Not even a little. But the ruggedness is what draws me in. His chin is covered in a layer of scruff that looks like an afterthought. Like some days, he shaves and others, he’s too busy to worry about it. If I had to guess, it’s been a few since he bothered. It’s grown wild. Like it would burn between my thighs.

  I’d relish every second.

  While his jawline is hard and his cheekbones defined, his eyes hold a warmth I’m not expecting. They’re the color of milk chocolate, and they ooze empathy.

  The moment that emotion registers, the fire that’s started to rage in my core is extinguished. This man is looking at me with pity. Like I’m an obligation. A woman he has to watch out for—because my stupid past is coming back to bite me in the ass.

  As if his friend can sense the shift in my mood, he grins. “You must be Mel.” A flirtatious wink and a dimple pop round out the boyish charm that has me instantly forgetting why I was sad. “I’m Cade Fitzgerald, but everyone calls me Fitz.”

  “The hockey coach,” I say with pizzazz in my tone.

  He waggles his brows, making his ball cap shift slightly. “You been stalking me?”

  Huffing, the chief nudges him in the side. “Maybe don’t mention stalkers,” he grumbles so quietly he probably thinks no one but his friend can hear him.

  What he doesn’t know is that I grew up with a grandmother who constantly corrected my behavior in Portuguese, but she’d do it under her breath, so I have exceptionally good hearing.

  “Bossman! Look, I found Uncle Dec,” a child shouts nearby. The ear-piercing noise is accompanied by a bundle of energy running straight for the chief. “Uncle Dec!”

  Without missing a beat, Declan holds his arms out and lifts the boy into the air. Then he pulls him against his chest for a hearty hug. “You found me, Finn.”

  I don’t know much about kids, but if I had to guess, this one is about seven or eight, with wild brown hair and a big, blue puffy jacket.

  “Holy shit, he smiles,” Fitz says, his eyes going wide as he watches Declan and the little boy.

  With a grimace at his friend, Declan gently sets the kid on his feet.

  Finn taps his left foot and peers over his shoulder at the family walking up behind him. Beckett Langfield is part of the pack. I’ve met him several times, since he’s Ford’s best friend, but even if I hadn’t, I would have recognized him. He’s routinely seen in magazines and on television, since his family owns pretty much all of Boston sports. Beside him is his wife, Liv, and a parade of children.

  The oldest of the four girls is almost as tall as her mother. Another is smaller than Finn. Maybe five? And in the double stroller Beckett is pushing are two babies. Twins, if memory serves.

  “Bossman, Fitz owes me a thousand dollars.”

  “Watch your language in front of the kids,” he says to the hockey coach, scowling. Then he lowers his focus to the kid. “Swear jar is only for the family, Huck. You can’t go collecting money from every person you meet.”

  Finn—Huck? I’m thoroughly confused about what the kid’s name is—twists his lips in thought and then sighs. “Fine. But if he does it again, I’m telling Uncle Gav to take it out of his salary.”

  “What is happening here?” I mutter, leaning into Lake.

  Her smile is warm. “Uncle Gav is Gavin Langfield, the head coach of the Bolts and Fitz’s boss.”

  Fitz grins at me. “Guilty.” Then he kneels in front of the kid. “Sorry, Finn. I’ll watch my words.”

  “The twins say that only people who are intellectually lacking use bad words.”

  I glance over at the babies in the stroller. “Those twins said that?”

  Liv giggles. “No. He’s referring to my friend’s twins. They’re ten.”

  “Bossman calls them the Shining Twins because they’re wicked smart,” Finn tells me, his chin tipped up with pride.

  “Something like that,” Beckett mutters, holding out his hand to Declan. “Thanks for helping us out. I gave Mel’s stuff to one of your guys. They said they’d put it up in your office.”

  With the reminder of my situation, my giddy mood evaporates. I just want to focus on the hot firefighters and the hot coach who keeps eyeing me like he’s going to have lots of fun making me forget tonight.

  And you know what? I think I’ll let him. I can worry tomorrow.

  CHAPTER 4

  Cade

  “Need anything from your luggage before the event starts? I’m happy to bring you up to Dec’s office to grab it.” I can’t help but drink in the beautiful woman in front of me. She’s far too pretty to be wearing the frown that tugs at her lips every time Declan speaks. The man is about as subtle as an elephant walking through a mouse’s birthday party, stomping around and making a mess of things.

  I love the guy, but sometimes I’d like to smack him around a bit and force him to lighten up.

  She shakes her head and hits me with a genuine smile. “I’m good. Thanks. Though I would love a tour of the fire station at some point.” She eyes my best friend, her gaze sweeping across the wide planes of his chest before she fixes her focus on me again.

  “I can make that happen. Dec will probably have to stay here late, so when the event is over, you and I can swing back in and pick up your stuff. I’ll show you around then.”

  Declan merely shakes his head at me. He thinks I’m hitting on his new roommate, and he’s not wrong. She’s fucking stunning, with long dark hair flowing past her shoulders like the soft waves of the bay at the end of the street and green eyes full of a playfulness I’m eager to bring out. But more than that, I’m drawn to the nervousness that buzzes beneath the surface. The way she bites her lip when she thinks we’re not looking makes me want to lean in and sink my teeth into it too. Ease her worries. I could give her a few orgasms, help her relax so she can focus on the beauty of this town rather than what’s clearly worrying her.

  Declan mentioned a stalker, but is that a serious issue? I just assumed all pop stars had stalkers. It’s par for the course, isn’t it? Though the way she’s acting is very un-par for the course.

  “You gonna take her down the pole too, Fitz?” Daniel Hall asks with a smack on my shoulder.

  “Smart-ass,” I mutter to our star right winger, though there’s no hiding my smile.

  Beckett glares at me, but fortunately, his kid has already run into the station and is chattering with some of the guys on shift in the bay.

  “Now that’s an offer I wouldn’t turn down,” Mel whispers.

  Fuck. I can practically feel the caress of her breathy voice against my cheek.

  With a wink, I press my teeth into my bottom lip. Yeah, I’m going to make this woman forget all her problems tonight.

  “Everyone else here?” I ask Daniel, craning my neck and searching for the rest of my guys. Beckett rounded up a good chunk of players from both the baseball and hockey teams so that he could help raise money for Declan’s department. As much as Dec complains about his brother-in-law, he’s gotta be grateful that the man cares so deeply.

  Daniel points to Brooks, Aiden, and Gavin Langfield—Beckett’s brothers—who are standing with their significant others and laughing as one of our other wingers, Camden Snow, gestures wildly. “The rookies are in Jorgenson’s car, and Parker should be here shortly with his wife. He’s riding with Cortney Miller.”

  I nod. “Good. Let’s all meet up at Thames after. You staying at your dad’s tonight or driving back to Boston?”

  His dad is Ford Hall, the lucky bastard who married Lake.

  Daniel grins. “Heading back to Boston. Although…” He eyes Mel, who is currently talking to Lake. “If she were staying at my dad’s, I could make an exception.”

  An irrational flare of possessiveness hits me as he gives her a once-over. I have to flex my fingers to keep from grabbing her hip and pulling her toward me.

  She’s younger than me—as well as much closer in age to Daniel, who is only twenty-four—and I don’t do possessive, so the sensation baffles me.

  Declan steps closer, and the scent of him—clean, masculine soap mixed with the hint of fire—infiltrates my senses. “I gotta go. I’ll see you after.” He nods at me, then at Daniel.

  Before he can disappear, I grab his shoulder and lean in close. “I’ll bring Mel down to the bar after so you don’t have to worry about rushing. Meet us there when you’re done?”

  Declan glances at my hand on his shoulder, his brows furrowed, and the smallest hint of dread works its way through me, so I release him. Shit. He’s weird about being touched.

  His expression clears, and he nods. “Sure. I’ll see you there.”

  I give him a playful smile. “I’d say text me when you’re on your way, but I know you won’t, so…”

  He huffs, his expression darkening. “You’re never going to stop with that, are you?”

  Without waiting for me to respond, he disappears into the crowd.

  When I turn back, Daniel is watching me with a curious frown. “What?”

  “You two ever…?” His eyes widen, but he doesn’t finish the question.

  I have to laugh. My extracurricular activities are no secret. His aren’t either. Hell, the guys on the team call him Playboy. It’s common knowledge that I bring men or women back to my hotel room after games to unwind. Sometimes both. But Declan? Yeah, no. He hasn’t known how to have fun since college. And he’s definitely not comfortable with a man’s touch, let alone sex with a man.

  “Nah. Just friends.” Family, really. Our friendship is the most meaningful and longest lasting connection I’ve ever had. And likely ever will. With a playful grin to hide the bitterness I sometimes feel when I think of him as only a friend, I add, “The man can’t even bother to text me back.”

  Track 2

  BAD LIAR

  CHAPTER 5

  Declan

  “Did you see how many reporters were here?” Shawn asks as we finish tidying up the station. The event raised an insane amount of money. Thank fuck. Already, the constant heartburn that plagues me has eased up a bit. Multiple massive fires over the last year have wiped out just about all of our resources, and we’ve been running on fumes. If the loss of our chief in a fire weren’t heartbreaking enough, add to it the dent it put in the number of applications we’ve received. People are scared, and I can’t blame them. Then, to make matters worse, even if we had applicants, we haven’t had the money to hire any. We need recruits. Volunteers aren’t going to cut it any longer. Our town is over thirty miles wide, and the buildings downtown date back to the Civil War. Grandfathered electrical, lead paint, and empty warehouses make fires not only more likely but also much more likely to spread when they get going.

  We need properly trained people and updated equipment.

  After tonight, I’ll rest a little easier. Not only did Beckett’s event bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars, but Shawn was right about the media coverage being huge. With any luck, we’ll receive more donations once our charming town is featured on the news.

  “Not your scene?” I joke.

  Shawn laughs as he leans against the fire engine. “Even less so yours.”

  He isn’t wrong. Interacting with anyone, let alone the media, all but makes me break out in hives. But Shawn was an All-Star pitcher for LA for years until his career ended after a car crash, so it’s hard to wrap my head around how little he likes the media.

  “You coming to Thames?” I ask, flipping off the overhead lights in the bay.

  He shakes his head. “Jules needs help getting ready for the morning rush. It’ll be a madhouse with so many visitors in town.”

  His girlfriend owns a bakery and makes the most incredible donuts. I should tell Melina about them. Or ask Shawn to set some aside. Shit. I should have thought of that beforehand. If I get called out tonight, there won’t be much for her to eat in the morning. I grip the back of my neck to ease the tension there. Dammit. Maybe I should head to the grocery store now and stock up.