Read Sean's Reckoning for Free Online Page A

her eyes. “Yeah, well, that’s something we should talk about.”
    Deanna blinked at his somber tone. “Meaning?” she asked, noting that he didn’t put the envelope into his pocket. In fact, he looked as if he had every intention of giving it right back to her.
    Sean didn’t reply. Instead he glanced across the room. “Hey, Hank,” he called to another fireman, who looked to be a year or two older. His craggy features weren’t as handsome as Sean’s, but there was a confidence about him and an irrepressible grin that would definitely appeal to most women. “How about showing my man Kevin here and his friend Ruby around the station, while Deanna and I talk? We’ll catch up with you in a few minutes.”
    Hank’s appreciative gaze swept over Ruby and his eyes lit up. Deanna noted that Ruby looked equally intrigued.
    “No problem,” Hank said at once, then forced his attention to Kevin. “You really like fire trucks, huh, kid?”
    “You bet,” Kevin said eagerly.
    “Personally, I prefer the men who drive them,” Ruby said, regarding Hank with frank appreciation.
    Deanna took note of his broad shoulders, dark-brown eyes and only a dark shadow of hair on his shaved head. He was definitely Ruby’s type—unrepentantly male.
    He grinned at Ruby. “Is that so?”
    Deanna shook her head as the three of them left. “Your friend is a brave man. Ruby’s a wonderful friend, but she’s fickle. She has a habit of discarding men like tissues when they don’t live up to her ideals, and they seldom do.”
    Sean chuckled. “Then I think they were made for each other. Hank is a notorious flirt.”
    Deanna shot a look at him. “He’s not married, is he?”
    Sean looked hurt by the question. “Of course not. What kind of guy do you think I am? And even if he were, what’s the harm in asking him to show Ruby and Kevin around the station? I didn’t set them up on a date.”
    “Sorry,” she said at once. “I overreacted. It’s just that Ruby’s a lot more vulnerable than she looks. Most men miss that.”
    Sean stared after them, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, I imagine they do. She looks as if she could handle anything that comes along.”
    “When her guard’s up she can,” Deanna agreed.
    “But she lets it down too often and too quickly?” he guessed, surprising Deanna with his insight.
    “Exactly.”
    Sean turned back to her. “I doubt anything muchcan happen between her and Hank with Kevin along as a chaperon.”
    Deanna nodded. “You’re probably right. Why did you make such a point of getting rid of them, by the way?”
    “Like I said, I wanted to talk to you about the money thing.” He held out the envelope. “I want you to take this back.”
    Deanna’s hackles immediately rose. “Not a chance. And there is no ‘money thing,”’ she responded edgily. “You made a loan, which was extremely generous of you, by the way. I’m paying you back. It’s a business matter.”
    “It’s not as if we signed loan papers and there’s some huge penalty if you miss a payment,” he retorted. “It was a hundred bucks, not a thousand. I wish it could have been more. After the fire destroyed everything you owned, I thought a few extra dollars might help you get back on your feet, buy a few essentials. I certainly didn’t need it back right away.”
    “Maybe in your world a hundred dollars doesn’t amount to much, but it was a lifeline for me.”
    “That’s exactly my point. You need it right now. I don’t. It’s certainly not worth working yourself into exhaustion to pay me back.”
    Deanna groaned. Now she understood why he’d gone all worried and protective on her. “Ruby’s been blabbing, hasn’t she? Did she tell you I was working too much?”
    “She mentioned two jobs and extra hours on top of that,” he admitted. “That’s crazy.”
    “It’s not crazy if I want to start over and get out of her apartment.”
    “Is she complaining?”
    “No, of course not.”
    “Well then,