Читать книгу Hot As Blazes - Dani Jace - Страница 9

Ray waded through the crowded ground floor of The Casino and around the stage where a band was setting up. The popular ocean-side nightclub was named after a legendary fifties beach club and boasted wooden floors and multi-levels like the original structure. With the flocking summer tourists, the place had become his friend Tommy’s place to scout for strange since his divorce.

Ray would love to run into Jo, but for some reason he didn’t get the feeling she was into the social scene these days. Hell, she’d been putting off meeting him for a beer.

He climbed the stairs and found his tall, lanky ladder truck driver slouched at a table overlooking the stage. His blond hair always needed a cut. At least he’d ditched the flowery Hawaiian shirt tonight for a regular collared shirt. After being in the National Guard, Ray had a thing for tidiness and it continued into his current career. His only slip was skipping a shave when he wasn’t on duty at the fire station.

With a little over a year of firefighting under his belt, he’d acclimated to twenty-four shifts with rotating days off. Today started his first day off in four and he hoped to hear from Jo and ride some waves.

“Is Bobby coming?” Tommy asked, raising his brew.

He passed Tommy an are you kidding eye roll.

“Pussy tied by the new flavor of the month, Sarah?”

“Apparently. Found anything appetizing yet?” Ray scanned the crowd of bodies, some more dressed than others. From bikini tops to skintight dresses he couldn’t find Jo in the mix.

“Too early. The honeys need to soak up a few before they’re ready to party serious.” Tommy lifted his chin.

Ray preferred Papagayos, a small oceanfront bar catering to locals. But tonight he’d play wingman to his brother. Before he sat, a petite brunette bumped into his elbow.

She turned, and smiled.

Not his type.

None were these days. Only a certain sexy surfer held his attention, but California seemed to have made her wary. Surely, it hadn’t only been because she’d been kicked over the surfing circuit.

After giving him a once over, she said, “Oops, sorry. Didn’t spill your drink, did I?”

“I didn’t have one.” He smiled. “How about I get us one?” He gestured, offering a seat at the table where his friend sat. “What’ll you have?”

“Piña Colada.”

“I’ll be right back.” He lingered at the bar, while Tommy spun firefighter tales. Upon his return, he sat her glass on the table.

She barely acknowledged him.

“You guys look cozy, and I saw an old buddy. Be back in a few.” He wandered through the expansive nightclub until he found a table of firefighters from Kitty Hawk. He grabbed an empty chair. “Expecting company?”

“All swinging dicks welcome. It’s guys night out, but then that’s every night for you isn’t it, Ray?” Mark, a stocky engine operator grinned.

“The perks of being single.” He replied with a sarcastic half-smile. And it gets old.

“Heard you guys had a real burner the other day.” Bart, the skinny rookie asked wide-eyed.

A waitress bent close and he asked for another scotch.

Mark eyed her cleavage and shook his head after she left. “That was a sweet view. So how’s the hot little redhead I saw you with at the Black Raven last winter?”

Ray shrugged. “In Jersey, I suppose.” They would swallow their tongues if they knew he hadn’t been with a woman since the ER doctor left without a word. A couple of weeks later, Jo had lost her scholarship and place on the surfing team. He’d called and offered his help, but she’d seemed determined to fix things on her own. His hope of her return had finally been answered.

“Oh, God, you should’ve seen the blonde I hooked up with a couple of weeks back.” Bart wheezed. The young gun wiggled his brows. “Her legs were so long, I got lost working my way back after sucking her pink toenails.”

The table erupted in hoots of laughter.

Ray sipped his drink, feigning interest. He was more concerned about how long Jo planned to stay home. She’d been involved with some surfer named Vic. Had things had gone south and she’d come home for a break? He didn’t know how much time he had to convince her to forget the dick and stay, but he’d better get to work.