Heather Horrocks - Who-Dun-Him Inn 02 - Inn the Doghouse

by Heather Horrocks

  “It’s for a good cause.” Austin Dean removed his helmet to reveal sandy-colored hair plastered to his head and soot smudging his fair complexion. “If I were single, I’d jump at the chance.”

  Another firefighter, Felipe Mendoza, joined them in shucking off his gear. Six inches shorter than the other two men, Felipe ran a hand through his dark hair, sending ashes flying into the air. “Dude. You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  “I have a life of my own, you know. Places to go. Things to do.”

  Zzzz’s to catch.

  Zeke stowed his tools in his compartment and thought about the next few days off—starting just a few minutes from now—when he planned to catch up on a little sleep. There had been several fires on this shift and far too many hours since he was awakened by the cacophonous fire bell.

  “You do have a life, bro, but your life is like one little taco,” Felipe said. “Not like Austin. This guy has the whole enchilada.”

  Zeke frowned. “What does that even mean?”

  Austin grew serious. “It means I’m a man whose wife is about to go into labor.”

  “It’s your own fault.” Felipe shook his head. “Wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t take that romantic cruise nine months ago.”

  “It was a really great cruise. I’d do it again in an instant.” Austin grinned. “Only next time I’ll make sure we remember the birth control pills.”

  Felipe snorted. “You got the whole enchilada by accident? Your manliness quotient just dropped ten points. Down to a chalupa.”

  Austin punched Felipe’s arm. “And your life is like a sampler platter. You want to try everything on the menu without choosing anything.”

  “Hey, that’s not true. If I ever find just the right sample, I may settle for the whole enchilada, too,” Felipe teased.

  Austin shook his head. “You don’t sound like a man who’d be willing to settle for just one entree.”

  Zeke dropped his gloves onto his shelf. “I’m not even ready to make a commitment to a woman yet, much less become a dad, so I’ll settle for my little taco life. I happen to like tacos.”

  “Good work on that fire, guys.” The chief’s voice boomed as he passed behind them and kicked off his own heavy boots. Zeke was six feet tall, but Chief Hendrickson had at least three inches and fifty pounds on him, and it was all muscle. He’d played football for the University of Utah twenty years ago, and worked out in the gym to maintain his muscles tones. No one messed with the chief, on or off the job. Zeke liked the man, but he also made sure he stayed on his good side. The guy liked team players.

  “Thanks, Chief,” Zeke said. “You were impressive lifting that beam.”

  Chief Hendrickson nodded and hung up his jacket. Turning, he frowned at Felipe. “Are you on the booth tonight?”

  “The ladies are going to love me.” Felipe made a kissing sound and then added, “I am going to earn so much money for the department.”

  The chief took a step closer to Felipe. “Dude, is that what I think it is?”

  Zeke and Austin exchanged a glance.

  The chief took another step. “Is that a cold sore on your lip?”

  “No.” Felipe turned away quickly, shaking his head as he took off his heavy yellow jacket and hung it up. “I’m good. I am ready for the pretty ladies.”

  Chief Hendrickson frowned and shook his head. “That is ugly, man. There’s no way you can kiss anyone with that on your lip.”

  The shorter man protested. “Come on, Chief. It’s just a tiny little zit. I’ll put some coverup on it or something and no one will even notice. I can still be in the booth. I’ll be great. The ladies will love me.”

  “Sorry, Mendoza, but whether it’s a zit or a cold sore, you are off the fundraiser.” Hendrickson shook his head and turned to Zeke. “Pepper, because we’re down one man at such short notice, you’re volunteering to take his shift. Any questions?”

  “Can I find someone else to volunteer?” Zeke asked, watching his evening go down the drain.

  “Don’t look at me.” Austin put up his sooty hands. “Joan would kill me.”

  Hendrickson didn’t take his eyes off Zeke. “Pepper, I need your help. Are you telling me you don’t want to help me?”

  “No, sir,” Zeke said, frowning at the thought of what saying no to the chief would do to his career. So he did the wise thing. “I would be glad to help out.”

  “Good man.” Hendrickson clapped his hand on Zeke’s shoulder, then turned to Felipe. “How about you, Mendoza? You understand you’re off the booth?”

  Felipe scowled. “Yes, sir.”

  “Good. Then I’ll see you at the high school, Pepper. And I’d better not see you there, Mendoza.” The chief left the last of his gear and stepped through the door into the station house.

  Zeke turned to Felipe. “You owe me big time for this. For every kiss I have to give, I’m punching your arm. Twice.”

  “I don’t even want you to do it. I want to, dude.” Felipe smacked his forehead. “I hate cold sores. It’s just not fair.”

  Austin laughed and said, “See you guys later. Gotta check on my enchilada.”

  “Twice,” Zeke repeated as he shook his head and made his way to the fire station kitchen. It was empty, though he could hear the other guys in the sleeping area.

  Zeke didn’t know if he was more upset at being forced to do the kissing booth or because he could not wipe Felipe’s words from his mind. The whole enchilada? Zeke might not be ready to become a dad yet, but he was well aware of how tired he was of tacos. For the last few years, he’d found himself increasingly yearning for a serious relationship with a woman of his own.

  At thirty-one, he was tired of the dating game. Quiet as he was, he forced himself to date, but found it disappointing. He wanted a wife and, eventually, children. The whole enchilada.

  He wanted to find the one perfect woman, though the guys around here would laugh if he ever said anything like that out loud.

  He wanted someone he could share his life’s journey with, take cruises with, and make babies with. Someone to share the holidays with.

  But instead, he would spend his holidays dressing up as Santa and kissing total strangers.

  Total strangers who must be desperate if they were willing to pay for a kiss. Desperate, maybe ugly, maybe old ladies, maybe—

  Next time he saw Felipe, he intended to punch him on principle alone.

  ~ ~ ~

  “I got you a kiss.”

  “Is it chocolate?” Hannah Cooke asked her friend.

  “No, a real one.” Roxy Biloxi smiled mischievously.

  “You did what?” Hannah wasn’t sure she’d heard her friend correctly.

  “Come on, Hannah. You haven’t kissed anyone since Jackson started dating other women and that was, what, three months ago?” Roxy wouldn’t meet her eyes.

  “Ouch. Thanks for reminding me of that painful subject.”

  “So it’s been nearly ninety days since you’ve been kissed.” Roxy smiled sweetly. “And they’re cheaper if you buy five.”

  If you’d like to read more, go to www.BooksByHeather.com.

  Excerpt: Beauty and the Beach

  (A Fairy Tale Romance by Diane Darcy)

  She’s finally free to follow her heart!

  When her mother died, local beauty Isabelle Kenna was left with the task of raising a much younger sister, and dealing with a lovable, but increasingly alcoholic father. Now, with a nursing degree firmly in hand, her father on the wagon, and her sister off to college soon, Isabelle finally has the chance to live her own life and get a taste of the freedom she’s craved. She might even find time for a bit of romance with the scarred yet attractive Marine who comes into the hospital. That’s the plan, anyway.

  Add in 100,000 reasons keeping them apart.

  Adam Wilder, a hot-headed retired Marine turned master jeweler, has a big crush on the pretty nurse at the VA hospital, and he plans to keep asking until she goes out with him. When his store mana
ger ‘borrows’ and loses a $100,000 necklace, Adam goes ballistic. Too bad he didn’t realize the man’s daughter is the pretty nurse he’s hoping to impress. Maybe threatening her father and taking her freedom isn’t the brightest idea he’s ever had. Unless he can make Isabelle fall for him, he obviously can’t keep her forever. And it’s not helping that they’re also dealing with Adam’s nosy neighbors, a few matchmaking Marines, and her sister who hates his guts! Can he still win Izzy’s heart? Or will he simply lose his own?

  When did Happily Ever After become so complicated?

  CHAPTER ONE

  “HEY, ISABELLE!” ONE OF THE NURSES at the workstation called her over. “Can you assist the doctor in room 110?”

  Isabelle Kenna set some folders on the high counter and opened her mouth to agree, but when Carolyn smirked, Isabelle narrowed her eyes suspiciously. She looked at Paulette, sitting in the next chair over, and caught her grin before she ducked her head. “Why? What’s going on?”

  “The Beast is here again,” said Carolyn. “It’s like he knows you work Wednesdays or something.”

  Still grinning, Paulette looked sideways at her pleasantly-plump friend. “I wonder who told him.”

  When the two middle-aged women started giggling like middle-school girls, Isabelle rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Gee. I really wish I could, but I came in early today and I’m off duty now. You know how Pete hates it when we don’t clock out on time. Besides, isn’t Tammy already in there?”

  “Yes, but she’s got better things to do than put up with that grouch,” said Carolyn. “Come on. Don’t make me pull rank. Just this one last patient. You know when you’re around he seems more even tempered.”

  Paulette snorted. “Tongue-tied is more like it.”

  Isabelle mentally acknowledged that, what with the way he was always staring at her, it was possible the guy might have the slightest crush. And, despite the scars on his face, he was attractive in a rough sort of way. If the timing were better she might actually encourage him; for once in her life she might see if a date could go somewhere, maybe even pursue a relationship. But right now she wasn’t willing to take that chance.

  “Why don’t you give the poor guy a break and smile at him so he can work up the guts to ask you out?” asked Carolyn, tugging down her too tight scrubs.

  Isabelle made one last note in a folder, stacking it with the others and handing them to Carolyn. “Men complicate things.”

  “Of course they do,” said Paulette. “But at the same time they’re complicating things, they’re making other things much, much better.”

  As the two women giggled again, Isabelle raised a brow.

  “Besides,” said Carolyn. “You’re not fooling anyone with your blasé talk about men. As far as I can tell you’ve never even had a boyfriend.”

  “I’ve dated.”

  “A date does not a boyfriend make.”

  “I’ve been busy. Anyway, you can’t blame a girl for waiting for Mr. Right.”

  “Be careful or you’ll end up with a princess-in-the-tower reputation: beautiful, but unattainable.”

  That stung a bit, but Isabelle ignored the feeling and shrugged.

  Carolyn shook her head. “I for one think you’re crazy. The guy is single, straight, attractive, and looks at you like you’re a piece of candy he’d like to gobble up.”

  Maybe so, but Isabelle just wasn’t interested. This close to getting the freedom she wanted, she didn’t need the added complication of a boyfriend. A solitary tower, or in her case, a solitary apartment, sounded like her version of heaven.

  Carolyn waved the chart at Isabelle. “Come on. Just this last one. I need Tammy out here for something important and it would really help me out.”

  Isabelle snorted, but took the chart Carolyn handed her. “All right. But as soon as I’m done, I’m out of here.”

  She felt proud of the firm tone she’d used…until the two ladies giggled as she walked away.

  To read more, go to www.DianeDarcy.com.

  Thanks again.

  I hope you enjoyed the read.

  Happy tales.

  Heather Horrocks