One Fine Fireman Read Online Free Page B

she couldn’t quite put her finger on—went straight to her head. A liquid thrill shot through the rest of her body.
    Oh my! Duncan’s presence never made her lightheaded like this. She inhaled a deep breath, her eyes closing partway so she could savor the scent.
    “Sorry,” he murmured. But he didn’t look sorry. He looked . . . hungry. His head dipped lower, so she got a good, close look at his eyes. They . . . well, they smoldered, there was no other word for it. The intensity in his expression sent another shock of heat blasting through her system. She felt her lips part as she swayed toward him. What would it be like to feel his mouth on hers, taste the essence of Kirk, the power of him? She caught her breath, her lips tingling in anticipation, her body vibrating with one thought, one urge . . . and then . . .
    She sneezed. Repeatedly. Helplessly.
    Suddenly she realized what that other smell was, the one she couldn’t quite identify.
    Dog.

 
    Chapter Three
----
    P ETE COULDN’T BELIEVE his luck. Good and bad. First there was the good luck of finding Hagrid and the warehouse he called home. Then there was the bad luck that poor Hagrid was starving, so that meant Pete had to keep riding out there and giving him food. Then the good luck of the motorcycle. A motorcycle! If that didn’t prove that some magic was working—Hagrid, plus a motorcycle —what would? Even better luck, the motorcycle came attached to a really cool guy who let him work on the bike. Even ride it. But that was part of the terrible luck of forgetting to pay attention to the time. That wasn’t luck, exactly, but still.
    And now, the ultimate bad luck. His mother’s sneezing fit meant that Kirk had taken off in a hurry, Pete had been plunged into a long, soapy bath, and he’d now been banned from ever going near Hagrid again.
    Right. As if that would fly. Hagrid needed him.
    The next day, his mother drove him to school, shooting him stern glances every couple minutes. Generally speaking, his mom was pretty cool. She was fun and listened to him and didn’t get too cuddly at embarrassing moments. If not for Duncan and her dog allergy, she’d be perfect.
    “I expect you at the café right after school today.”
    “Yes, Mom,” he said dutifully. No problem. He could leave school early and ride out to feed Hagrid. Besides, his mother had a shaky concept of time. She’d never notice if he was a little late.
    “Do you think he likes banana bread better or brownies?”
    “Huh?” Pete was used to his mother’s random changes of subject, but he couldn’t follow this one.
    “Kirk. The fireman.” He peered up at her, noticing the pink tint of her cheeks. “I feel bad for yelling at him like that. I should apologize.”
    “Oh, that’s okay. Kirk’s cool.”
    “He is?” Her voice sounded odd. He didn’t want her to think anything bad about Kirk, so he rushed on.
    “He’s the coolest guy I ever met. His favorite Harry Potter character is Hagrid too. And he thinks soccer is boring compared to rugby. He played rugby in college and broke his nose three times. And his arm. Next year I’m going to sign up for rugby.”
    His mother seemed to choke.
    “I mean, if that’s okay with you,” he added hastily, remembering she had some say in the matter as well.
    “Do they even have rugby for fifth graders?”
    “Huh? I’ll ask Kirk. He’d know. He knows a lot.”
    “That’s funny. He’s always so quiet.”
    Pete blinked in amazement. He and Kirk had talked the entire time they’d hung out together. Or at least, he had. He shrugged it off. “Nah, he’s cool. Fun to talk to. Not like Dumbo Duncan. You would’ve seen if only you weren’t sneezing so much.”
    His mom made that choking sound again. “Anyway,” she said, “it’s not going to come up. No more hanging out at that warehouse. No more dog. And I’ll know. The nose never lies.”
    “Of course, Mom.”
    Good thing he had a plan.
    W HEN P ETE DIDN’T show