Free The Bad Boy Firefighter's Secret Fling (Red Hot Reunions Book 3) by Jessie Evans

at the table where dozens of his friends had held their own children, where he’d helped celebrate more birthdays and engagements and anniversaries than he could count.
    Most Saturdays, whether he was on duty or not, there was no place Jamison would rather be than at an SFD family brunch. But today, he couldn’t wait to make his escape.
    Maddie had slept over at his house the past two nights and lingered over coffee and the paper with him both mornings—two of her three mornings off from the bakery—and now the morning felt…strange without her.
    It didn’t help that Naomi was at the firehouse, snuggled up next to Jake, sipping coffee and glowing with happiness, alternating between beaming up at her soon-to-be husband and down at the sleeping bundle in his arms. Noelle was so tiny, she made Jake’s arms look even more massive in comparison, and a massive man holding a tiny baby was bona-fide female-heroin.
    Every woman in the room had stopped by to coo and ooze estrogen all over the new family, ensuring Jamison had to fight his way through a crowd when Jake motioned him over.
    “What’s up?” Jamison said, meeting Naomi’s gaze with a polite smile before giving Jake his full attention.
    Jamison’s secret relationship with Maddie had only made him feel more awkward around her sister. His gut told him that Naomi wasn’t going to be a fan of their relationship—deserved or not, Jamison had a reputation as a womanizer, and Naomi was fiercely protective of her younger siblings—which made Jamison determined to keep him and Maddie under wraps as long as possible.
    So far, sneaking around with Maddie had been nothing but a pleasure, and he saw no reason to mess with a good thing.
    “Some guy called for you this morning,” Jake said. “I told him you weren’t here, so he said he’d call back later. I tried to tell him you weren’t on duty until tomorrow, but he hung up.”
    Jamison frowned. “Who was it?”
    “I don’t know. He didn’t leave his name,” Jake said. “But he sounded pretty intense. You don’t have bill collectors after you again, do you?”
    Jamison rolled his eyes. “No, Dad, not since I was twenty-three. I’m managing my funds responsibly.”
    “Well, we can help if you need it,” Naomi said. “Please don’t hesitate to ask if you get in a bind.”
    Jamison nodded, ignoring the spark of irritation her words ignited somewhere in his pride-center. Naomi wasn’t being judgmental, simply generous. She’d obviously been making an effort to reach out and mend their relationship since their confrontation at the Fireman’s Ball, but so far Jamison had kept her at a distance.
    He was happy for Jake and Naomi, he really was, but for some reason he still felt uncomfortable around his brother’s soon-to-be wife.
    That doesn’t bode well for any of your future relationships, especially with Maddie. She’s already pointed out how weird you act around Naomi.
    “Thank you,” Jamison forced himself to say, knowing it was past time to man up and at least meet Naomi halfway. “I appreciate it, but I’m doing fine.” He met Naomi’s gaze and smiled, a real smile this time, one that made her expression soften and a hopeful light enter her blue eyes.
    “Can I get you two anything?” he continued, finding it easier to let down his guard than he’d expected. “More coffee or a waffle or something? I think Kiki’s getting ready to open the serving line.”
    Jake shook his head. “Nah, I’m good. I’ll wait until everyone else is through. I already had first breakfast with Faith earlier. She couldn’t wait.”
    Naomi laughed. “That girl must have a hollow leg. She eats like a horse.”
    “I heard that,” Faith said from the next table over, where the tall, athletic blonde was entwined with her own Whitehouse sibling, Mick. They’d been joined at the hip since New Year’s and living together for almost as long. So far, however, there didn’t seem to be any trouble in paradise, and