Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 593(@200wpm)___ 475(@250wpm)___ 396(@300wpm)
Pulling out my pad, I made a note to head over to his firehouse tomorrow and talk to his coworkers and captain. We needed to get to know the more personal side of Mr. Long. Did he have a reputation as a ladies’ man? Did he date a lot of women? What type of a person was he?
I locked the door behind us and turned to Russell. “What are you in the mood for?”
A strange look crossed over his face before he looked away and headed to the elevator.
“How about pizza?”
“The Upper Crust?” I asked with a hopeful expression.
He laughed and glanced back at me. “I take it that’s one of your favorites.”
“It is. I go there often, so it’s a good thing I also run every day.”
The elevator doors closed, and we made our descent quickly. “Favorite thing to eat there?”
“That’s easy, the Harvard Street pizza. Fresh basil, tomato, mozzarella, and garlic. Yum!”
“So it’s basically a cheese pizza with garlic and basil?” he asked.
I gasped as we walked out of the elevator and exited the building. “Bite your tongue if you’ve never had it before.”
Russell chuckled and whistled for a taxi.
Thirty minutes later we were eating our pizza, and I was laughing over some lame joke Russell had just told me.
“Don’t you look like you’re having fun.”
My heart dropped upon hearing Finn’s voice. Setting my pizza down, I glanced up at him. “Hey, Finn. Where’s Flash?”
He narrowed his brows and stared at me for a second.
“He’s in his crate, safe and sound.”
“My father still making you take him home?”
Finn turned his attention to Russell and nodded his head. Extending his hand, he said, “Finn Ward. Nice to meet you.”
Russell flashed a huge smile. “Russell McCormick, and the pleasure’s mine.”
Damn it. I’m so bad at introducing people. “Oh, sorry!” I was about to explain who Russell was when Finn spoke first.
“Well, y’all enjoy your date night. I’ve gotta run.”
My mouth dropped open and got even wider when I saw Russell sit up a bit more and stick out his chest. He made no attempt to make clear to Finn that he was my coworker.
“No…wait. Russell is—”
The radio on Finn’s belt went off with an alarm. I wasn’t sure why he was wearing it if he was off duty.
Glancing over to me, he gave me what appeared to be a forced smile. “See you around, Rory.” Then he quickly headed to the door and left.
“Firefighter friend?”
I’d been staring at the door. I looked at Russell. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“This Finn guy—friend of yours or more?”
With an awkward laugh, I shook my head. “No, we’re just friends.”
“Sounds like he knows your father.”
I nodded. “He works at the same station my father is the captain of.”
“I see.”
Taking a bite of my pizza, I forced myself to chew it and swallow. For some reason I was bothered Finn thought I was on a date. There was no way anything could happen between the two of us. As much as I wanted to feel his lips on mine again. The distraction would not be good at all. Especially starting this new case. But knowing he thought I was seeing someone didn’t sit well with me.
“Wait. Finn Ward. I believe I’ve heard your father mention him and another firefighter from his station.”
Perking up, I leaned in closer. “When did you hear my father mention Finn?”
Russell shook his head and pinched his brows together. “Let me think. His name sounds so familiar.” He snapped his finger and pointed at me, causing me to jump in surprise. “I know! It was at the union meeting. Finn was talking to you, right?”
“For a brief moment.”
“Yes, your dad made an off-the-wall comment about Finn being…well…maybe I shouldn’t repeat what I heard.”
My eyes widened. “Yes, I think you should repeat it. Now that you’ve brought it up and made me curious.”
Russell looked around and leaned in closer. It was like he was about to let me in on some big secret.
“He said Finn was the station player and that he and—I think the other guy’s name was Colton—that they liked their women, that’s all he said.”
Drawing back, I sucked in a breath. “What? Did he say anything else?”
“No. No, that was it. I mean he mumbled something else, but honestly, I wasn’t paying attention to his conversation that much.”
Pressing my lips together, I got lost in thought for a moment. Maybe that was why Daddy didn’t like Finn. Why he gave him Flash to take care of. That didn’t make sense, though. My father would never make a comment like.
“Are you sure he was talking about Finn? That doesn’t sound like my father to gossip.”
Russell shrugged. “I’m simply telling you what I heard. Maybe he didn’t like you talking to him. Who knows. Hey, do you want that last piece?”