by BJ Harvey
I sigh and shake my head, flicking on the turning signal and pulling into the firehouse driveway.
Backing the bus into our designated spot in the garage, I leave the engine idling and turn to face my partner.
To his credit, he does look apologetic for springing this on me. “Look, I know it’s out of the blue, but knowing you, you’ll have her trained up to be just like me in no time.”
“Smartass,” I say with a laugh. “But Marco’s sister? Really? Isn’t there a policy about siblings working in the same firehouse?”
“Well, considering we’ve already got two brothers, what’s a sister added to the mix? Besides, she’s related to Marco, I bet you she cooks like an Italian nonna which means…”
“Sexist much?” I say, but I can’t help but smile. Corey is twenty-four going on eighteen most days.
He rolls his eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Bet Marco would love to hear it.”
His mouth gapes open before he recovers and narrows his eyes. “You wouldn’t dare.”
I shrug. Who knows? “I guess it would be a shame if you couldn’t walk on your first day back at college.”
“You’re such an asshole,” he says with a grin.
“Just you wait, Cook. I’ll get one over on you before I leave.”
Unease settles at the bottom of my gut. What exactly is going to happen with this surprise new partner of mine?
Hopping out of the ambulance, I’m stopped in my tracks by Marco, and moments later, Luca, their expressions unreadable yet terrifying at the same time.
I anticipated this show of brotherly love. I just don’t entirely understand why I’m the one getting the confrontation treatment. I’m not the only single guy who works here. Although I am the one with the most recent record of fraternizing in-house.
“You’ve got a sister, right?” Marco says by way of a welcome.
“Hello to you too,” I reply with a cocky smirk. I’m playing with fire, but I’m a smartass when I’m eleven hours into a shift. I’m a rebel when I’m tired. “And yes, Marco, I have a sister. No, I won’t touch yours.” I reach out, cup his shoulder, and shoot him a grin. “Good chat,” I say with a nod, stepping around the brothers and walking across the garage and into the main dining room and kitchen, leaving Corey behind with my welcoming committee.
Scotty and Zach, two of our firefighters, are sitting on the couch.
“You get warned off?” Zach asks, quirking a brow. “I gave Marco a good pep talk on your behalf.”
I roll my eyes. “Thanks, man. Just what I needed.”
Zach holds his hands up. “Hey. My best friend has three sisters, one of whom is now my wife. I know the drill because I was the drill.”
“I don’t shit where I eat, Zach. It’s far too messy, and I avoid messy as much as possible,” I reply. Zach gives an approving nod before turning back to the TV.
“Cohen?” my captain says, walking into the room.
“Yes, sir?”
“I need to talk to you before you leave. Grab Corey and come see me, yeah?”
“Sure thing. But I already know I’m getting a new partner.”
He gives a curt nod. “Good. Then all you’ve got to do is meet Skye. She’s waiting in my office.” With a sweeping look around the room and at the rest of the crew, he disappears again.
“You’re in trouble, Co,” Scotty pipes up.
I walk to the kitchen, open the fridge, and grab a bottle of water. “Yeah? And why’s that?”
“‘Cause you haven’t seen your new partner yet.”
“She’s just another person to work with. What’s the big deal? We work, we maybe become friends, and then we go home at the end of our shift and do it all again two days later.” My lips twitch. “Do you know it’s possible to just be friends with women, Scotty?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” he asks. “Zach here didn’t fight it.”
“I tried, but then I couldn’t resist her,” Zach replies.
I point at Zach and pin Scotty with a narrowed glare. “Exactly. Why cause trouble when there’s no need to? I’m not that pent up that I’m panting after every woman with a pulse. Unlike someone…”
Scotty flips me the bird. Zach just laughs.
Corey walks in, Marco and Luca following.
“We good?” I ask Marco as he reaches the kitchen counter.
“Yep. You keep things above board with my sister, and we’ll stay fine.”
“Jesus, Mar. I’m not going to bang your sister!”
“Good to know,” an amused voice says, coming from the doorway to the offices. “It’s always best to set boundaries right at the start of a new partnership.”
I turn toward her and stop, my arm hoisted halfway to my mouth, which has dropped open like one of those Scream masks. Seems Marco and Luca had a reason to give the big brother speech because Skye is infinitely better-looking than those two. She’s fucking stunning: straight platinum-blonde hair that stops at her shoulders, mischievous sapphire-blue eyes, curved lips painted sinful red, and a body that is all woman. Fuck.
I shake my head, but not before I make a point of looking her up and down and sneaking a sideways glance at two glaring Italian stallions who look ready to cause damage.
“Oh for God’s sake, boys,” Skye says, narrowing her eyes at her brothers. “I’m not going to jump my new partner before I’ve even gotten to know him.”
“Or at all,” I add. Her lips quirk up at that as she turns her attention back to me and gives me the same up-and-down treatment. “Nope. Not going to happen. I’m all work and no play.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Scotty pipes up from the cheap seats.
Corey, ever the peacemaker, steps forward and enters the fray. “Just ignore all of them, Skye.” He holds out his arm, and they shake hands. “Cohen is not nearly as bad as you’ve heard. He’s only had to issue one restraining order that I know of.”
Skye’s eyes widen before dancing with amusement. “Oh, so he attracts fire bunnies then?”
“Or girls from dispatch,” Marco says. Laughter from the others fills the air.
I sigh. “That was an isolated cas—”
“Don’t forget the candidate who lasted a whole two weeks after hooking up with our resident EMT Casanova.”
Skye’s mouth curls into a knowing smirk. “I guess I don’t need to come up with a nickname for you then. Casanova, it is.”
Corey laughs, and Marco walks over to his sister and throws his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. “Already giving Co shit. You’re gonna fit in just fine, brat.”
I lean against the bench and watch the two of them, my eyes meeting Skye’s as Luca and Corey join them.
It’s not that she doesn’t tick all my boxes physically, because Skye Rossi just shot to the head of the class in that respect, but I meant it when I said I don’t shit where I eat, and I need my job to get money.
And I need funds to move out of my parents’ house and get my own place. I won’t be able to do that if Marco and Luca Rossi rip me apart limb by limb for messing with their baby sister. So, really, the decision is easy.
There will be no touching, no kissing, and definitely no screwing my new partner. I’m friend-zoning her at first meet.
Besides, it’s a hell of a lot easier to work the hours we do if you actually like your partner.
Decision made—as if there was ever a question—I cross the kitchen toward Skye and hold out my arm. Her skin is warm as she slides her hand against my palm and shakes it with a surprisingly firm grip. “Nice to meet you, partner,” she says with a knowing expression.
“The feelings mutual, brat.”
Her lips twitch. “I think we’re going to get along fine, Cohen Cook.”
In my family, whenever someone full-names you, it only means one thing—trouble.
I’m determined to buck the trend this time. Friends, partners, colleagues—that’s it.
I can be friends with a woman and n
ot sleep with her.
Wanting to, though? Well, that’s a different story.
1
Cohen
“Co, I think you better go rescue Ez,” my brother Jax says, appearing at my side.
My head jerks back before I turn toward him. “Why?” My eyes scan our parents’ backyard, which is full of family and friends here to celebrate the vow renewal of another of my brothers, Bryant, and his wife, Faith.
Then I spot our honorary brother, Ezra, and suddenly Jax makes sense. That’s because my EMT partner and partner-in-crime, Skye, is all over him like white on rice. Her hands look rather ‘friendly,’ like the hands of someone who has been drinking steadily for the past few hours, despite having never said anything more than hi to the guy in the past year she’s been in our lives.
I chuckle and down the rest of my water, having switched from beer as soon as I realized Skye was going to need a chaperone.
Who knows if it’s a wedding thing or the allure of an open bar that was too much of a temptation? Drunk Skye is always a laugh, and we’re rarely off-duty and able to let loose. With that in mind, I figured it would be entertaining to let her do her thing, knowing whatever happens, I’d be close if she got herself into trouble. Looks like I might’ve underestimated her propensity for getting into mischief.
I move around the edge of the makeshift dance floor and across the grass. Ezra spots me and sends me a look of ’save me now’ just as I notice one of Skye’s hands moving down his chest, destination ‘never gonna happen.’ Ezra falls for women far too easily, but he usually goes for models and women far too high-maintenance for my taste—and his wallet if his two divorces are anything to go by.
I purse my lips and whistle just like Skye and I do to each other at work, instantly grabbing her attention. She looks over her shoulder, her lips curving into a huge smile when she sees me. She spins around, almost overdoing it as she teeters on one foot, Ezra seemingly all but forgotten.
She skips over to me and jumps up, wrapping her arms around my neck and her legs around my hips. I lock my knees to stop both of us from falling to the ground, but her momentum is too much. In the blink of an eye, I’m falling backward onto the grass, taking Skye with me, earning myself an unfortunate knee to the balls.
She rolls to my side, still all over me as I turn into the fetal position, my eyes watering, and my teeth ground tight as a low grunt of pain escapes me.
I look up to the black night sky, a deep, burning ache now making itself home where my testicles used to be. Skye burrows into my chest, snorting and giggling like a loopy loon. One by one, like a bunch of nosy meerkats, my brothers’ heads all appear in my line of sight.
“Now that is what I call taking one for the team,” Ez says, his lips curved up.
“How’s the junk, Co? You want me to call it in and get a bus around here to check you’ve still got at least one nut left?” Jax asks, making Bry laugh with him.
“He can be called ‘Balls-no-more Spice.’”
“Still better than your wives carrying yours in their handbags,” I squeak, wiggling my toes to try and get the blood circulating again.
Ez grins. “Not mine.”
“Nah, they’re equally split between your exes and your divorce lawyer,” Jamie says with a shit-eating smirk.
“Touché,” Ez replies. “I’m still better off than this little shit though.” He holds out an arm and grabs hold of my wrist. I mirror his grip, and when Bry and Jax help lift Skye off me, I let Ez pull me up, so I’m at least sitting on my ass.
“Uh, Co. Looks like Ez isn’t the only one who’s going to need your help tonight,” Jamie announces just as a soft snore comes from my right. I don’t even need to turn my head to know who it’s coming from.
I let out a loud resigned sigh before looking back up at my oldest and most responsible brother. “Can I leave her here? I’ll give her a blanket and pillow and make sure she’s still alive in the morning.”
Jamie snorts and shakes his head. “Nope, but we can either carry her up to your bed, and you can set up a bucket, a towel, water, and painkillers, or we can help you get her into your car so you can take her home.”
I look back down at her sleeping face that’s somehow cute and innocent, even if her mouth is open, her tongue is sticking out a little, and I swear she’s drooling too. After I hold my hands up to Jax and Bry, they pull me to my feet, and I gingerly move around, arching my neck from side to side and cracking my back once I’m upright. I even carefully adjust myself and check that I’m still intact down below, earning a few smirks and laughs from my obviously sympathetic brothers. Assholes.
“I’ll have to stay with her and make sure she doesn’t aspirate,” I say, resigning myself to a night on Skye’s uncomfortable, not-designed-to-be-slept-on couch. “So if someone can help me get her into my car, then I’ll take her home.”
Bry quirks his brow. “You all good to drive?”
“Since I had a feeling Skye was in the mood to let loose today, I stopped drinking a few hours ago, and even then, I’d only had two beers in four hours, plus a shit-ton of food. I’m good,” I say with a chin-lift.
“You want to go get changed then, and we’ll wait for you,” Jamie says, proving he’s the wise one. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve crashed out in a dress shirt and slacks, but when given a choice, I’d rather be comfortable.
“Okay. Maybe sit her up and get some water in her,” I say, looking back down at a still-snoring Skye, Jax now on the ground beside her, his leg acting as her pillow. Ronnie, April, and Faith move our way.
“Maybe someone should get a towel and a bucket too, for the car ride,” Ez adds. “Vomit is a bitch to get out of the upholstery.”
Fuck, I hope she doesn’t spew in my Camaro. That car is my baby; 1967, black, my most treasured possession for more than ten years. I’ve kicked many others out on their asses for less than soiling my leather seats.
Ronnie sits on the grass next to Jax, her head resting on his shoulder. My eyes drift to Bry and Faith, who are nearly fucking with their clothes on beside them.
“God, maybe I’m the one who’s gonna throw up,” I mutter at the disgustingly gushy sight in front of me.
“Get a room,” I mutter, hearing Jamie and Ez chuckle.
Jax grins. “I might just do that. Maybe we’ll use yours since you won’t be in it tonight.”
My back goes ramrod straight, and I narrow my eyes. “You fuck in my bed, Jax, and I’ll dish the dirt to Mom.”
“You’ve got nothing,” he says. “I’m a grown-ass man. There’s nothing Mom can do.”
I smirk. “Oh, there are plenty of things I’m sure Mom would love to know about your colorful past.”
He glares at me. “You’re so full of shit.”
I shrug. “Try me.”
“Well, this is fun and all, but we’ve got a passed-out Skye to deal with, and I’ve got a wedding night to enjoy,” Bry remarks.
“You guys have been married for months,” Ez says.
“Yeah,” Bry says, looking down at a soft-eyed, blissed-out Faith. “But I missed our first wedding night; there’s no fucking way I’m missing this one. Besides, we have a whole house to christen.”
Faith laughs, burrowing in closer to her husband. “We’ve already done that.”
“We have, babycakes, but that was before it was our house. Now we have to do it all over again.”
Ezra rolls his eyes. “On that image, I’m gonna go. Give me your keys, Co. I’ll go sort the car out for you.”
I pull them out of my pocket and hand them over.
“We’ll get Skye awake and mobile,” April says softly.
I nod and walk around the circle of brothers and their wives until I’m in front of Faith. I pull her in for a hug, truly happy for the two of them. Stepping back, I give Bry a slap on the shoulder. “Congratulations. We’ll catch up soon. It’s about time I kicked your ass at golf again,” I say with a grin because Faith is the only one who’s beaten me in yea
rs. She let it slip a few weeks ago that she would go to a driving range in Sydney and whack balls for hours whenever she was homesick. Good for her—not so good for my unbeaten record against everyone else in my family.
Being the youngest of five, I cherish any chance to come out on top. Our regular trip to the driving range gives me that opportunity.
Skye groans, grabbing my attention. Right, time to get my way-past-happy-drunk best friend home to bed. “Right. I’ll be back,” I say, giving a short wave over my head as I walk across the yard and up the stairs to go inside.
Mom and Mrs. Baker—Faith’s mom and our next door neighbor—sit on stools at the kitchen island, snifters of brandy in their hands.
“Hey, baby, everything okay?” Mom asks.
I walk over to her, bending down to give her and Mrs. Baker kisses on their cheeks. “I’m good, but Skye’s not.”
Mom gasps. “Is she sick?”
“She will be in the morning,” I reply with a laugh.
“Oh. I hope you’re taking her to bed then.”
My eyes bug out of my head, and a giggle escapes Mrs. Baker’s lips.
“Goodness, I didn’t mean that.” Mom shakes her head. “Although Skye is a lovely girl. She talks a lot, but you need a woman who’ll keep you on your toes.”
“I’ve got more than enough of those in this family alone,” I muse.
Mom’s gaze narrows, her finger pointed my way. “You know what I mean, Co. You’re a catch. You deserve to find the same happiness as your brothers and sister.”
I lean in and press a kiss to the top of my mother’s head. “I’m happy, Mom. I promise.”
She reaches out and gives my arm a gentle squeeze. “I know, baby. Just keep an open mind, okay?”
“Yeah, Mom. But Skye is my friend and partner. We’re strictly platonic.” I turn to Mrs. Baker. “Do you give Ezra this much grief?”
“My Ezra is a good man; he just has terrible taste in women and falls too quickly. There will be a woman who’s perfect for him out there somewhere. I’m happy to wait as long as he is.”