Night Fires Read Online Free

an eyebrow at the tone in which Carter spat my name.
    “Carter,” I said, cringing.
    “Watch your food, Bray. She’s probably spiked it.”
    My shoulders stiffened and I glared at him, my patience with him finally wearing thin. “Look,” I snapped. “Yes, I owe you an apology. But I wasn’t to know you’re allergic to brandy.”
    “Allergic to brandy?” Bray scoffed, his wide eyes moving between me and his colleague.
    “I genuinely thought,” I continued, “that you would appreciate my offer. You needn’t worry. I won’t be making the same mistake again.”
    Without waiting for him to give me another snide comment, I about turned and left them both gawping after me when I mounted my bike, kicked it into gear, and pulled across the road.

    “Why don’t you come and join us?” Janie pressed as we locked up the café.
    I twisted my lips, undecided. “I dunno. I’m pretty tired.”
    “Just for the one. I promise not to keep you out late on a school night.” She decided for me as she hooked her arm through my elbow and dragged me around the corner to the only village pub.
    The noise was already deafening as we walked in, nearly all of the community obviously doing the same as Janie and me, and grabbing a quick pint after work.
    “What do you want?” Janie asked as we both leaned on the bar.
    “Pint of Guinness, please.”
    Her eyes widened before her lips twitched. “Bloody hell.” She chuckled. “Is there anything feminine about you?”
    “I take offense to that,” I joked, looking down at my jeans and plain white t-shirt and secretly agreeing with her.
    “I would too,” a man teased from behind me. Turning, I found Bray from the garage grinning at me. “Don’t be rude to the new girl, Janie. She’ll run away before her initiation.”
    “Initiation?” My eyes widened as I moved my gaze between Bray and Janie.
    Janie grimaced. “Bray! I haven’t told her yet. I wanted her to fall in love with us all before she had to… do that .”
    “Do what?” My voice became higher as images from the news channels tormented my mind.
    “Well, it’s not too bad.” Bray sighed but shivered. “Although, it took me months to get the blood off my skin. It’s a right royal pain in the ass, lamb’s blood. Proper gooey and stinks like mouldy liver.”
    My stomach twisted. “WHAT?”
    Janie laughed loudly as Bray nudged me in the ribs. “Bloody hell. Hook, line, and sinker.”
    Shaking my head but sighing in relief, I couldn’t help but smile at the pair. “You’re mean.”
    “Give us a break.” Bray chuckled. “We need some excitement in this retirement village.”
    Janie nodded. “It’s nice to welcome someone our age.”
    “Yeah.” I nodded, taking a sip of my drink and smiling gratefully at the barmaid. “I had noticed the under thirties are a pretty rare species.”
    “Pfft,” Janie said. “With you, there’s six of us.”
    My jaw dropped and I stared at her in disbelief. “You’re joking!”
    “Nope.” Bray gulped at his own pint. “When Elizabeth died, we were actually down to five, but David moved into Carter’s old place after Christmas, and now you’ve joined us.”
    “Well that would make seven of us.”
    When they both tensed and clammed up, I decided to change the direction of conversation. “Wow. So what do we do for nights out?”
    “We have to go to Penzance for a lively night. We usually have a blow out once a month and stay over in Newquay,” Janie told me.
    I nodded, scanning the area for a certain man now his name had been mentioned. “So, Carter not joined you?” Bray and Janie lifted their brows, shock on their faces. “What did I say?”
    “Carter would get the wrath of the full room if he walked in here,” Bray said quietly.
    “Surely he can’t be that unpopular?”
    “Unpopular?” He shook his head. “No, just with it being a pub and all.”
    I frowned and shook my head, puzzled. “And?”
    “Ahh.” Bray sighed and smiled softly at me.