Free Rapid Entry: Firehouse 69, Book 3 by Delilah Devlin

bitch.”
    The front page picture was of a firefighter in his turnout gear, his hand clutching a pretty brunette’s hair as he bent her backward to kiss her.
    Beneath the picture, the caption read, Firefighter and Romance Author Writing Their Own Happy Ending!
    Coop laughed and clapped his shoulder. “Surprised it doesn’t read, ‘Clothed Firefighter…’”
    All the firefighters stood to bend over the paper. Their chuckles didn’t really bother Gage that much. The picture looked great. Like it belonged on his wall.
    Noah cleared his throat. “Hoyt’s on his way. He has Viviana’s things out of her car. He’s bringing them.”
    Gage nodded. He’d already showered. Despite the fact he’d only managed a couple of catnaps between calls, he was wide awake and eager to see her again. He’d been thinking about what she’d said, and he thought maybe they’d started in the wrong place. That maybe they should pull back from having sex because they needed to spend some time getting to know each other first.
    All his fire truck crew had heard most of the conversation he’d had with her. Everyone had offered advice.
    Coop, who considered himself the expert on the female brain because he was the first of them to get a girl to say I do, said, “You know what she likes in bed, but what do you know about her?”
    Gage gave Coop a glare.
    “Nothing, right?” Coop raised both eyebrows. “You should start there. You have a few days off. Talk to her.”
    “And if she doesn’t want to talk?”
    “Then get out the rope,” he said, waggling his eyebrows. “She’ll have to talk if you don’t let her move a muscle until she does.”
    Gage liked that idea. But was it only because he’d just been itching to get her bound?
    “Take her out somewhere you both have to wear clothes,” Noah said. “You two jumped right past getting to know each other to getting it on. A girl, or a guy, likes to know they have more to offer in a relationship than just sex.”
    Gage grunted. Noah was one to talk. He and his biker boyfriend hadn’t wasted any time getting cozy.
    Noah raised his hands. “Just saying. When you have to take a breather, it’s nice to know there’s real compatibility there.”
    Gage turned to Luke, who backed away.
    “Don’t look at me,” Luke said. “I’m the last person you should ask for relationship advice.”
    “I wasn’t asking. Since everyone’s in my damn business, I thought I’d let you offer your two cents so I could ignore it.”
    The three men surrounding Gage laughed. Coop clapped his shoulder again. “You’ll do fine. If that kiss was any indication, you two have plenty of compatibility to work with.” He tucked finger in his collar and pulled on it. “Hope Moira doesn’t have any plans…”
    Gage pushed up from the table, carefully folded the paper, and tucked it under his arm. “I’d say thanks for the advice, but I think I have this handled.”
    More laugher trailed after him. A day or two ago he might have bristled about it, but his steps were light and a grin was tugging at his mouth.
    Viviana Moore was waiting for him at his apartment. And he couldn’t wait to begin the conversation …
    Only she wasn’t there when he stepped inside his apartment.
    Instead, he found a note. “Hope you don’t mind. I made reservations at the Peabody. Ask for a key at the desk.”
    So much for joining her straight in bed. Gage decided to change into something more presentable before he appeared at her door. So far, she’d only seen him naked, in his firefighter’s uniform, and in leather at the club. Before he left the apartment, he pulled his go-bag from the back of his closet and checked to make sure he had everything he needed.
    Impatience rode him as he drove to the hotel. He hadn’t been inside it since he was a kid and his dad had taken him to watch the parade of ducks waddle through the lobby to the fountain.
    The college-aged receptionist at the desk gave him Viviana’s room number