Taking the Heat by Kathryn Shay

Author:Kathryn Shay [Shay, Kathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780425222003
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2008-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

“LIAM O’NEIL, if I wasn’t married, I’d go after you with all I got.” Hannah grinned at Sophie. “Any sane girl would.”

“Why, darlin’, you made my day.” This morning he’d forgone the pub shirt and wore a black long-sleeved thermal top with gray jeans. He looked sleek and sexy. He’d continued to work out and it showed.

The guys chimed in. Cooper asked, “How often do you serve a real Irish breakfast?” The meal consisted of bacon and other pork products, as well as eggs, potatoes and Irish tea Liam had made today.

“Not often.” Next to Sophie’s chair, he bent over to clear plates. His arm brushed hers and she could feel his heat. “It’s bad for your arteries.” He winked at Hannah. “I don’t eat it much because I have to keep my girlish figure.”

“How’s the gym working for you?” Murray wanted to know. Sophie’s coworker had mentioned he’d seen Liam at Paddock’s the other day.

“Lately I’m only getting there twice a week. I need to go more.” He threw Sophie a pointed look. “I’ve been . . . tied up.”

The guys talked while Liam finished up and cashed them out. His movements were swift and economical, but Sophie knew he could be slow and smooth. When she handed him a ten, his brows knitted. “You work here, Sophie.”

“Not today. I pay my way.”

Reluctantly, he took her cash.

As he stacked dishes, the guys talked as if he were one of them. “Another arson last night,” a firefighter from another truck company said. “Don Lucas from Squad 28 got hurt.”

Almost imperceptively, Liam stilled. Sophie saw his eyes narrow.

“Any leads on the torch?”

“Tyler?” Murray asked. “You talked to Carusotti?”

“Joe said it’s looking more like the guy knows what he’s doing.”

“Can’t believe it would be another firefighter,” Jules commented again. He seemed to be having a lot of trouble with that possibility.

“It’ll be a shame if it is.” The captain blew out a heavy breath. “I hate what that does to morale.”

They lapsed into talk about other arson cases, then slowly began to leave. When Mackenzie reached the door, he glanced back at Sophie. “You coming?”

“No, I’m gonna stick around and help Liam finish up.”

When he came out of the kitchen with a cloth to mop up the table, Sophie was alone in the pub and staring down at the jukebox. “They all gone?” he asked.

“Uh-huh.”

From her peripheral view, she could see him cross to the door and lock it. Bailey’s didn’t open for lunch until 11:30. He came to the machine and braced his arms on either side of her, effectively imprisoning her from behind. The sensation was more than pleasant as his body, his scent surrounded her. She leaned back into him. “What are you doing?”

“Stealing some time with you.” He kissed her neck. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.”

“Aren’t the guys coming in?”

“Nope, Pat has the day off and Dyl called last night and said Hogan had something at school today he’d forgotten about. And Ma and Pa are out shopping.”

“So it’s just you and me.

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