Show Stopper

by BJ Harvey

  Jake sighs melodramatically. “But he makes it hard sometimes.”

  “I know, son,” Rhodes says, nodding sympathetically. “But he seems to keep coming around so we must entertain him. Call it a humanitarian effort.”

  I chuckle, shaking my head and flipping them both off.

  Jake stops the video and looks over at me with a contemplative gaze. “So, you and Renee?”

  Smartass Jake has left the building—now I’ve got the good-man-in-training that Rhodes and I have worked hard on molding. Although, if I’m honest, he’s probably the one who’s had an effect on the two of us more than anything.

  “Yeah,” I say. “There’s a me and Renee.”

  He smiles. “Good to hear you haven’t screwed it up yet.”

  I bump his shoulder with mine. “Not yet. But give it time. It’s still early days. We’re just dating.”

  “You never ‘just date.’ You’re not in or all in. There’s no middle ground. So you’re all in with her, aren’t you?”

  I swear, the kid is smarter than Rhodes and I combined. ”Yeah. As of last night. Absolutely.”

  Jake must see something in my face because he screws his up. ”Okay, TMI. I don’t want to know anything because I may have been raised right, but that doesn’t mean I want to blush when I meet Renee—which I will, by the way. I won’t be able to hide the fact I know you’re sleeping with her and then I’ll ruin the cool points you’ve got going with her, and probably the ones I’ve got going with her too.”

  “She’d never embarrass you. I might, but Renee won’t,” I reply with a laugh.

  “Just to be safe, let’s just end it with ‘you’re dating.’ You’ve got a girlfriend now. And we’re waiting for the first screw-up so that I can counsel you on how to grovel appropriately and adequately so that she stays your girlfriend. Right?”

  My eyes are near on bugging out of my head but even still, I find myself nodding.

  “Good,” he says, a satisfied grin on his face. He glances up towards Rhodes then back to me, leaning in and lowering his voice. “Now, let’s talk about how we’re going to get Dad a date because you’re not such a lost cause anymore, but he’s not even trying.”

  My eyes soften. “Jake. He’s got to be ready for it.”

  “And he is. I know he is. But I’ve only got a few more years at home if I go out of state for college, and I need to know he’s going to be okay and have someone other than the two of us before I go. So we have three years in which to—”

  I snort. “Marry him off?”

  “Or at least get him dating. I want to hear about him getting laid as much as I want to hear about you doing it—which is not at all—but I’d like to at least know he’s trying. Know what I mean?”

  Fuck, this kid is more fucking onto it than most people I know. He makes Scotty look like a toddler, and there’s a twenty-year age gap between them.

  “Yeah, Jake. You need me to help you with that goal, I’ll be your wingman.”

  He snorts. “You probably need to be his wingman, not mine. I have absolutely no issues getting the ladies.”

  “TMI, Jake.”

  He rolls his eyes at me. ”Whatever.”

  Then I decide a little payback is in order. “Rhodes, Jake’s working his way through the female population of his school.”

  Rhodes looks our way, his eyes crinkling as he switches his gaze between us.

  “Dad, Marco even said he’d be my wingman,” Jake retorts, making my mouth drop open. Rhodes snickers and turns back to the grill.

  I meet Jake’s amused eyes and shake my head. “You’re such a little shit.”

  “Yep. But you’re proud as hell of me.”

  “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

  The following night, we’ve just finished up at a multi-vehicle accident where we were the first engine on scene and therefore, as the highest-ranking officer on-site, I automatically took control of the management. Just my luck, the second engine to respond was from Firehouse 22, which meant Lieutenant Nick Pierce had to cede his authority to me and follow my instructions.

  Thankfully, he has a good crew; they just have an attitude problem when it comes to Firehouse 101. At least they never fail to put that aside when we’re all at the same incident, and tonight was no different. But the big cloud of animosity floating above Pierce’s head could not—and was not—missed by myself or any of my crew. We’re just professional enough to ignore it and get on with our jobs, which tonight involved using both the K12 and the jaws of life to extract two patients trapped in two of the cars involved in the pile-up.

  We’ve just finished clearing the scene when Nick walks up to me. I hold out my hand to him. “Lieutenant Pierce, thank you for your assistance. Engine 22 can stand down and return to base.”

  He looks down at my outstretched arm and then back to my face, nodding at my instruction but also twisting his lips up in disgust at me. “You can stop puffing your chest out now, Rossi. Do you know how to do that? Or do you need a demonstration on how a real lieutenant should conduct himself?” And there he goes, pushing my buttons needlessly.

  I’m too tired and sick of his over-the-top macho bullshit to turn around and walk away like I should, like my Captain has told me to do countless times before. Instead, I just shake my head at him. “There’s never going to be a time when I need a demonstration on anything from you, Pierce. Maybe it’s you who needs to stand back and watch how I conduct myself. That’s okay, though; we’ll just wait until we kick your ass at the Tough Mudder.” I hate that I let this guy get under my skin. I try to be the bigger, better man, but he makes it so fucking hard. Assholes see as assholes do, and this guy really brings out my inner asshole.

  “And by all means, Lieutenant, if you want to flop your dick out too just to convince yourself that your shortcomings aren’t all in your head, let’s go,” Luca says, taking my back.

  Nick’s eyes move from over my shoulder back to mine. “Oh, look. Need your brother to fight your battles for you now, Marco? My, how the mighty have fallen. The department’s golden boy needs his baby bro to defend him.”

  “I don’t need shit, Pierce, especially from you. You’re the one with the problem—not me, not my brother, and not my crew. I have my entire Firehouse at my back but I see you don’t have any behind you. Maybe it’s because they find it hard to respect a man whose big head makes it hard to walk into the damn firehouse.”

  “You’re a real piece of work. I can’t wait to be there when you fall from grace. It’s way past time you were brought back down to earth. You’ve had higher-ups kissing your ass and sucking your dick for far too long now.”

  “If I’ve had anybody kissing my ass, it’s because I fucking earned it, Lieutenant,” I grind out. “And to suggest otherwise is just downright insulting. Some of us don’t need our dicks sucked to feel good about ourselves.”

  Nick’s smirk widens. “Good to know you can’t even get some, Rossi. I’ve never had issues there.”

  I feel Luca’s anger without needing to look at him. I can also feel my squad watching from the truck, and I know they’re already more than willing to wade in if I need them to.

  “What you’ve got, Lieutenant Pierce, are issues—a lot of them. Maybe counseling could help. Maybe an ass-kicking could, too,” my brother says. He’s walking a fine line because he shouldn’t be addressing a superior like that.

  “Luca . . .” I warn, wanting to stop him before he goes too far. My brother doesn’t have many faults but if he had one, it would be his temper. Especially when it comes to defending those he cares about.

  Pierce steps forward and drops his voice for my ears only. “You’ve been a thorn in my ass since the academy, Rossi. I can’t wait to bring you down at the Tough Mudder.”

  I shake my head because I honestly don’t know what’s crawled up his ass. Whatever it is, it’s been there for fucking years. I’ve never seen a firefighter—a lieutenant, no less—with a god complex like Nick Pierce. It’s not even that warranted. �
�Nick, I don’t have a problem with you. My issue is with your attitude toward me as your commanding officer on-scene. I don’t give a single flying fuck about you as a person. I didn’t at the academy, when you were always coming third behind me and Rhodes, and I still don’t. Now, if you’re finished with this little pissing contest of yours, my crew and I are leaving, because it’s been a long fucking night and I’d rather be anywhere but here.”

  I turn around and leave, not missing the shit-eating grins on all of the guys’ faces except for Rhodes and Zach, who look concerned. Rhodes knows how much of a pain in the ass Pierce is and always has been, and the entire crew at Firehouse 22 has rubbed our firehouse the wrong way since Pierce has been there. It seems their sole goal is to beat us to each scene—and for all the wrong reasons. I’m worried that one day this unofficial ‘rivalry’ he has with me is going to cause a major problem. But right now, coffee and some food sound really fucking good.

  What would be even better would be crawling into bed with Renee as soon as my shift ends in a few hours, but given her nine-to-five day job and my seven a.m. finish, that dream is going to have to wait until the weekend.

  “Take us to the station, Luca,” I say, grunting as I drop my body into the seat and close the front passenger door to the truck behind me.

  “I’m sorry, Mar. I couldn’t just stand by and watch him talk shit.”

  “I know. But he has every right to report you. You’ve got to watch yourself.”

  “Wouldn’t ever trust that guy as far as I could throw him.”

  “Makes two of us, but he’s a good firefighter. He’s just got a me-sized chip on his shoulder.”

  “Then maybe it’s you that should watch yourself.”

  “Always do, brother. Always do. Now, who’s up for some food? ‘Cause after that job, I’ve worked up an appetite.”

  “Hear, hear,” the guys in the back answer.

  I shoot Luca a smile as he starts the truck and we leave the scene in our rearview mirror. “You heard them, Firefighter Rossi. Your choice of takeout but I suggest you choose wisely because you’re paying.”

  “What?”

  With a smirk, I turn and lift a brow. “Are you questioning your lieutenant?”

  “Are you acting as my lieutenant right now?”

  “You bet your ass I am, especially if it means free food. What do you guys think?” I look over my shoulder and meet Rhodes’s amused gaze.

  “Aye, aye, Lieutenant,” Luca grumbles, making me laugh. And just like that, Nick Pierce and his asshole complex are left behind and forgotten.

  13

  Renee

  Sunday afternoon and Marco and I are lying down on his thankfully wide sofa, watching the Cubs play the White Sox. Last night, I finally got around to cooking dinner for Marco. He still wouldn’t let me do dishes, but that’s okay because I made sure I rewarded him well after he cleaned up anyway. Then he repaid the favor, which led to us both needing to clean up. It was fabulous.

  I had to pop out for a quick private showing at Ezra and Gilly’s Gold Coast apartment earlier but the minute I came back, Marco claimed me, and we’ve been on the sofa ever since.

  Typically, Hayley and I would’ve gone to this cross-town derby to experience it firsthand, but today is a little different, because in a few hours, I’m taking Marco to meet Grams.

  And if we had gone to the game, Marco couldn’t have used every ad break and mid-innings interval to cop a feel and turn me on. The only good thing is knowing he’s suffering the torture of delayed gratification right along with me since his hips are wedged between the couch at his back and my ass at the front.

  What’s been an added challenge is staying quiet, since Gio worked a night shift and is sleeping just one room away.

  Seeing that the sports channel has cut to a quick news bulletin, I turn around to face my erotic torturer, meeting his glazed, hooded eyes and pressing my front into his.

  “You’re distracting, you know?” I ask, my voice rough.

  He quirks a brow, his lips twitching as he does. “I don’t hear you complaining. In fact,” he says, dipping his chin and rubbing his rough, stubbled cheek against mine, “the way you’ve been squirming and moaning under your breath, I think you like the fact I’m drawing this out.”

  “You think?” I breathe as he gently sucks my earlobe between his lips.

  “If it helps,” he rasps, moving his body down the couch and dragging his mouth over my neck, nipping and sucking and kissing as he goes. I bite my lip, my whimpers muffled in my throat when his hands join the party and start roaming, one drifting down my back, one cupping a breast, his thumb and forefinger rolling over my pert nipple through my thin top.

  He stops and looks over my shoulder, his hands shifting from my boobs to my waist.

  “Hey, G,” Marco rumbles, making my entire body tense.

  “Hey. Afternoon, Renee. Nice to see you again.”

  I bury my face in the crook of Marco’s neck, a snort escaping my lips before I give up and start giggling, my entire body shaking with it.

  “Hi, Gio,” I murmur.

  “Good shift?” Marco asks, still holding me in place, probably more for his benefit than mine since his body is far more obvious about its current state than mine is.

  Then again. Maybe I should have some fun with this.

  Since my hand is now wedged between us, I wiggle my fingertips, brushing them against his hard-on.

  “Yeah. Typical Friday night. Attended a scene with Firehouse 22. He’s on one hell of an ego trip at the moment, isn’t he?” Gio says, walking past the couch and through to the kitchen, leaving us out of view.

  “Yep. He’ll learn.”

  “If he doesn’t, I know a fair few cops that are more than willing to teach him anyway,” Gio says.

  While Gio is talking, I wrap my hand around Marco’s cock and give it a firm squeeze. He grunts and taps my ass in warning. “Be good,” he growls low and quiet in my ear.

  I tilt my face so it’s buried in his neck. “I always am,” I whisper before running my tongue up the column of his throat.

  “Got much planned today?” Gio calls out.

  “Going to Renee’s grandmother’s house for afternoon tea,” Marco replies.

  “Wow. Meeting the nonna. That’s a big deal.” Amusement is obvious in Gio’s voice.

  “Grams is a sweetheart. Fierce but sweet, and one of the scariest, craziest, most overprotective women I’ve ever met,” I say proudly, then I return to the task at hand, giving one last, teasing squeeze of Marco’s hard length.

  “Fuck . . .” he whispers roughly.

  I kiss the hinge of his jaw. “Shh, Lieutenant. We have an audience remember,” I whisper, then roll back over to face the TV and watch the game.

  “You’ll keep,” he rasps roughly in my ear.

  “Anyway,” Gio says, walking past us and stopping at the hallway door, a steaming mug of what smells like coffee in his hand, “I’m heading out to run some errands, then catch up with Val to fix something at the spa.”

  “God, she needs to find herself a man,” Marco mutters.

  “Why does she need one when she’s got three brothers to help her out? Anyway, I’m jumping in the shower so I’ll leave you guys to it.” His amused eyes go from me to Marco. He waggles his brows. “Just don’t mess up the couch,” he says, making me giggle and Marco chuckle. Gio winks before turning and disappearing down the hallway.

  Now that we’re alone again, Marco’s hands resume their languid roaming, and he peppers the back of my neck and collarbone with soft, wet, openmouthed kisses.

  “You’re a menace,” he rasps. “Teasing me when I can’t do anything about it.”

  I turn my head, my amused gaze locking with his. “If the Cubs win, you can do whatever you want to me before we go to Grams’,” I murmur against his mouth.

  His eyes drift to the screen then back to mine, his lips curving up into what can only be described as a devilish ‘I’m gonna get me some’ gr
in. “You’re on, princess.”

  That’s when my own smile widens. “I damn well hope so. But a word of warning. Grams will know. And so will Hayley.”

  His head jerks back. “What?” he asks with a disbelieving laugh.

  “Yep. Grams has a sixth sense about these things.”

  “A sixth sense about sex?”

  I giggle, pressing my ass back against his still very interested groin. “A way of knowing when her granddaughters are happy.”

  Marco nuzzles the back of my neck and tightens his arms around me, holding me close. “Glad I’m making you happy, baby.”

  “Not as much as I am.”

  “Not as much as you will be in an inning’s time either.”

  “Fly the W,” I cheer with a giggle:

  Marco’s chest shakes behind me. “Never mind that. You’ll be flying the O a few times before I’m finished with you.”

  “Then Grams will definitely know.”

  “Bring it on. If I can charm one Hamilton woman, I can charm them all.”

  “Oh wow, aren’t you a big, strapping man,” Grams says as soon as we walk into her den, her eyes looking Marco up and down. Hayley snickers and I bite my lip to hold back my own laugh. “Just imagine all the money I’d save with the handyman jobs you could do for me around the house.” She turns to me. “Renee, I approve.”

  Chuckling, Marco holds out his hand and Grams covers it with hers. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mrs. Hamilton,” he says low and soft. Damn, he’s good.

  “Oh, son, please call me Grams like my girls do.”

  His lips twitch. “Okay.”

  I shake my head with a grin. “Hey, Grams. Remember me?” I ask wryly, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

  “Could never forget you, my sweet child. By the way,” she whispers, her eyes drifting past me to Marco’s butt, “ten out of ten so far.”

  I snicker. “Behave, Grams.”

  “Never,” she mouths back. “Now, take a seat and Hayley can get you refreshments.”