TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1) by Kallypso Masters (the false prince TXT) 📕

a sheepish grin. “It helps to pass the time and to initiate the new guys.”

“Did Marc go through one of your pranks too?”

“Did he ever!” Tony described how he and another firefighter placed empty soda cans under the legs of Marc’s bed. “The beauty of this one is that they don’t collapse right away or even at the same time. Marc was practically asleep when his bed crashed down. I think he thought the building had collapsed at first.” Tony wiped away the tears from laughing so hard just telling the story. “I think our howls of laughter from the rec room gave it away eventually, though.”

Carm shook her head. Marc had never said a word about it, but then she could see it was all in good fun and happened to all the new guys. “And what did they do to you when you started there?”

The smile left his face. Apparently, it wasn’t so funny when you were on the receiving end.

“It wasn’t even my probie prank that got me the best. And Marc had a hand in it too. He somehow rigged up a syringe to a hidden IV bag and gave it a slight spritz whenever I took a drink during dinner. I thought there was a hole in my cup and changed it out twice.” Tony shook his head but didn’t seem to find it nearly as funny as Carm did picturing him. “Finally, I started to lean over the plate to catch the drips and hoped the guys didn’t notice my drinking problem.”

Carm couldn’t hide her mirth and this time she was the one wiping away tears. “How’d you catch on?”

“Marc put too much pressure on the syringe, and it exploded.” He shook his head. “I have to say I was relieved that it wasn’t just that I was unable to drink right anymore.”

“You all sound like a bunch of kids.”

Tony shrugged. “We don’t treat each other any differently than other brothers do.”

“Yeah, there’s nothing like having brothers.” Carm remembered Marc and Gino’s antics when they were younger, sobering when she remembered the falling-out they’d had just before Gino enlisted after 9/11.

Tony must have noticed her mood change and placed a hand over hers to squeeze gently. “I can’t imagine losing a brother.”

“Thanks, Tony. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”

She didn’t want to put a damper on the day, though, and decided to share something she hadn’t shared with anyone outside the family. “My oldest brothers were full of mischief and loved to tease Mama, who pretended not to like it, but she loved them both so much, Mama usually broke down and laughed in the end.” She sipped her wine to help regain her bearings.

“Anyway, it was Christmas Eve when they were both teenagers. Gino put some yellow food coloring on the bottom of the bar of hand soap. Mama was hurrying us all to get ready for the Feast in the restaurant and Marc went to the bathroom and washed his hands. He couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t get them clean but tried to hide them from Mama. She unknowingly went into the bathroom and, man, was she upset when she wasn’t able to remove the dye and had to eat dinner with her guests with yellow-stained hands.” Good times. “Gino had died laughing at Marc’s predicament, but when Mama discovered what he’d done, she punished him with no computer for two weeks.”

Realizing they’d come to the end of their meal, she pulled out her credit card. “No, let me get it,” Tony insisted.

“Nope. You got dinner last time.” Before he could give the server his card, she’d sent the woman off to settle the bill. “Now, do you want to hike down or take the gondola?”

“I think the gondola might be best. I probably should walk off that huge meal, but we’ll still have to walk back to your condo.”

She didn’t think he’d eaten all that much, but Carm was anxious to get back to town and see what else the day—and night—might hold for them. They’d hit it off so well, but she didn’t get the vibe from him that he wanted to take her to bed the way he’d seemed to want to last week.

Carm had mixed feelings about taking their relationship to the next level herself, but doubted she’d turn him down if he made a move at her doorstep again.

However, when they reached her condo, he kissed her on the cheek like her brothers might.

She trailed a fingertip down his cheek, hoping to entice him to take the kiss to the next level.

“I had a lot of fun today, Carm. Thanks for the hike and for dinner.”

She tried to hide her disappointment that this sounded like good night. “Want to come in for a drink or something?”

“Thanks, but I’m on duty tomorrow morning. And I’ve got some laundry to do.”

He seemed to be distancing himself from her again. Why was he making excuses? “Everything okay?”

He glanced away before meeting her gaze again. “Carm, I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t have a great track record with women.”

She wasn’t particularly interested in hearing about him and other women.

“You’re special. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Carm had to laugh at this. “I’m a big girl, Tony. You don’t have to worry about me.”

He drew a deep breath and expelled it through his mouth. “You turn me on more than any woman I’ve ever known, Carm, but I don’t want us to move too fast then find out we aren’t compatible. That would make seeing each other at family gatherings more than awkward. Let’s give dating a little more time first. Just to be sure.”

“I’ve got all the time in the world, Tony. Why don’t I come to Aspen Corners next time?”

He evaded her gaze again. “There’s a lot going on right now. I’ll call you if I find some time.

More than his eyes were evading her. “Sure. You know where to find me.”

But would there