Julie climbed the ladder and balanced herself precariously at the top
With a screwdriver and a hammer she tried to pry one of the ceiling tiles loose, but theyd been up there for almost a hundred years and they werent coming down easily. Finally she managed to get the hammers claw wedged under one corner. She pried with all her strength, but got nowhere.
The front door opened and a shaft of sunlight cut through the bars dusty interior. A man stepped inside, silhouetted in the doorway. Julie recognized Tonys broad shoulders, his muscular chest, his dominating presence. She took a deep breath.
She started to say somethingand then everything happened at once. With an earsplitting noise, the tin panel above her pulled partly free. Julie clawed at the air as she lost her balance, startled by the falling panel. She braced herself, wondering what kind of injuries shed sustain when she landed.
But she didnt hit the floor. Instead, she fell into a strong pair of arms as perfectly and neatly as if shed dropped into a hammock. It took her a few moments to realize she was okay.
What are you doing here? she asked inanely.
Is that any way to greet a man who just saved your life?
Dear Reader,
In the first FIREHOUSE 59 book I introduced readers to Bradys Tavern, a slightly unsavory bar across the street from the station. In Her Perfect Hero, my heroine, Julie, takes over Bradys. The fun starts when the firefighters get wind of her plans to give their favorite hangout an extreme makeover, and Tony gets caught in the cross fire.
I tried my best to bring Oak Cliff neighborhood to life. Its a place I love because its my home, too. And although Bradys is fictional, I incorporated a lot of real places into the story. As for Tony, hes fictionalI only wish he were real. I hope youll love him as much as I do as he struggles with his divided loyalties.
Happy reading,
Her Perfect Hero
Her Perfect Hero
Kara Lennox
www.millsandboon.co.uk
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Texas native Kara Lennox has earned her living at various times as an art director, typesetter, textbook editor and reporter. Shes worked in a boutique, a health club and an ad agency. Shes been an antiques dealer and even a blackjack dealer. But no work has made her happier than writing romance novels. She has written more than fifty books.
When not writing, Kara indulges in an ever-changing array of hobbies. Her latest passions are bird-watching and long-distance bicycling. She loves to hear from readers; you can visit her Web page at www.karalennox.com.
Books by Kara Lennox
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
974FORTUNES TWINS
990THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR
1052THE FORGOTTEN COWBOY
1068HOMETOWN HONEY *
1081DOWNTOWN DEBUTANTE *
1093OUT OF TOWN BRIDE *
1146THE FAMILY RESCUE **
In memory of my uncle, Captain Henry Pearly Gates, who was a Dallas firefighter for many, many years.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter One
Tony Veracruz climbed off Engine 59 pumped full of adrenaline for which there was no outlet. Around midafternoon his crew had been called to a house fire in South Dallas. But by the time theyd arrived another company had had the small blaze under control and thered really been nothing for him to do.
Back at the station, he halted traffic on busy Jefferson Street so Lt. McCrae could back the engine into the apparatus room. He willed the alarm to buzz again, but annoyingly it remained silent.
For the past ten or so hours in the August heat hed gone on one call after another, including the rescue of a kid stuck in a drainage ditch. All of which had, thank God, distracted him from thoughts of Daralee.
Now, with nothing to keep his brain occupied, he could think of nothing else. He wished he could banish her from his head. She was finished with him, and nothing he could do would bring her back. For the past week, ever since their breakup, the only thing that could wipe her from his mind was the sound of that alarm.
As he followed the engine into its bay and prepared to close the door, movement across the street caught his eye.
Hey, Ethan, he called to his fellow firefighter and lifelong best friend. The lights are on at Bradys.
His announcement got the attention of everyone within earshot. The guys whod been on the engine joined him in the open doorway to gaze at the illuminated beer signs in the front window of Bradys Tavern. The signs had been dark for the past two weeks, ever since Brady Keller, third-generation owner of the best bar in Dallass Oak Cliff neighborhood, had died peacefully in his sleep.
Maybe its opening back up, Ethan said.
Tony shrugged. We can only hope.
Oak Cliff had once been its own town, but Dallas had swallowed it up more than a hundred years earlier. It comprised a large area across the Trinity River from downtown and came with a diverse population and plenty of character. Those who lived and worked there tended to think of themselves as differentoutside the mainstreamfrom other Dallasites. In turn, Dallas proper didnt think all that much of Oak Cliff.
Bradys was an Oak Cliff institution, and Tony had frequented the bar since hed acquired his first fake ID at age seventeen. Located just across the street from the fire station, it was a favorite hangout for cops and firefighters.
And good ole Brady Keller had been as familiar a fixture as his taverns sticky wood floors and antique shuffleboard table. Hed always been there, ready to listen, commiserate and even serve up an occasional beer on the house, provided your tale of woe was sad enough. Whenever Tony broke up with a girlwhich happened with alarming frequencyhed headed straight for Bradys, where he could distract himself with a game of pool, a sporting event on TV and a cold one. Until the bar had closed its doors.
Fire Station 59 had gone into mourning at the news of Bradys death, especially when the For Sale sign had gone up.
Did you see whos inside? Ethan asked.
I think I can see someone moving around, said Priscilla Garner, another of Tonys good friends. She, Ethan and Tony had gone through firefighter training together. Now they all lived on the same block, worked the same shifts and watched each others backs.As the three greenest rookies, they took a lot of grief from the veterans. Maybe someone bought the place.
I saw who went inside, said Otis Granger, whod had a stool with his name on it at the bar. Otis hadnt gone on the last call. Two girls, and they didnt look like bar owners to me.
Girls? Tonys interest immediately picked up.
Well, women, if you want to be politically correct, Otis explained. But one of them was a teenager, I think.
They were all hoping someone would buy the place and open it up just as it had been. Bradys business had fallen off some in recent years as newer, trendier bars had opened in Oak Cliff, but none of his regular customers wanted to see the bar change.
I think we should find out who they are, Ethan said. Brady must have familysomeone to inherit. He talked about a sister.
Tony, go talk to them. Priscilla gave him a little shove.
Why me?
DuhTheyre female. I dont know if youve noticed, but you have a certain effect on women.
Otis and Ethan broke out laughing, but Tony didnt. Whatever effect he had, it never lasted. His longest romantic relationship had ended after only a couple of months.
Just go find out who those women are, Priscilla urged. They must be related to Brady somehow.Ask them what their plans are. Maybe you can impress on them how important it is to sell Bradys to someone wholl reopen it and keep things the same.
Ethan, why dont you talk to them? Tony argued. Youre the great persuader around here.
Yeah, he managed to convince Kat to marry him, Otis said drily. Like she couldnt have done a lot better.
Ethan puffed out his chest, as he did at any mention of his beautiful new bride. Theyd been married less than a month. Okay, Ill talk to the ladies.
Just then, the door to Bradys opened and one of the women emerged.
Even from a distance, Tony could see she was gorgeoustall and sleek, with golden hair that blew in the breeze. She wore snug faded jeans that molded themselves to a body made for love and a clingy cropped shirt that showed off her trim waist and breasts that bounced slightly as she strode down the sidewalk.
She stopped in front of the For Sale sign attached to the front window, then reached behind the iron burglar bars and yanked on the paper until it came loose. She pulled it free and rolled it up, tucked it under her arm, then went back inside.
Hold it, Tony said. Changed my mind. Ill talk to her.
Uh-oh, Priscilla said. Watch out, Tonys on the prowl.
He gave Pris a disdainful look. Daralee and I just broke up. You dont honestly think Im ready to get involved with someone else, do you?
Tonys fellow firefighters laughed so hard at this that Otis nearly fell onto the concrete floor and Ethan had to support himself against the truck.
What? I cant believe youre laughing about my messed-up love life.
Messed up, Ethan agreed, until the next girl comes along. Youve been mooning about Daralee for, what, a week?
We had a good thing going, Tony said more to himself than Ethan. I really thought He stopped. No time for regrets. That woman with the gold hair was undoubtedly the new owner of Bradys, and someone needed to talk to her before she changed anything. Cover for me if Captain Campeon notices Im gone. Without any further hesitation, Tony loped out of the station, darting between cars on busy Jefferson Street, toward the gorgeous goddess of a woman whounknowinglywaited inside Bradys to meet him.
Bradys Tavern occupied a two-story building that must have been close to a hundred years old, and the brick looked as if it hadnt been cleaned since coal stoves went out of vogue. A flock of pigeons had taken up residence under the eaves and the evidence of their frequent presence covered the cracked sidewalk.
The bars door wasnt locked, so Tony pushed it open. A wall of hot, stuffy air, heavy with the scent of stale beer, slapped him in the face. Hello? Anyone home?
A teenage girl bounded up to him like an eager puppy. Hi. Whore you?
Tony. I work at the fire station across the street. Are you the new owner of Bradys?
She nodded. Well, my mom is. This place is so cool. Do you play shuffleboard?
Not only do I play, I was the Bradys Tavern shuffleboard champion two years running. Wheres your mom? Surely the woman hed seen removing the For Sale sign wasnt this girls mother.
My mom is Bradys sister. Was. Whatever.
Then Brady was your uncle. It must have been tough losing him so unexpectedly. He was a great guy.
Not according to Mom. She said he was a drunkard black sheep who couldnt be trusted with a dime. The girl rocked back on her heels, apparently not realizing shed insulted someone Tony had considered a friend. And her mothers information was outdated. Brady had quit drinking twenty years ago.
Could I speak to your mom? He looked around the bar, which seemed strangely empty without the usual smattering of cops, firefighters and siren sistersthe female groupies who were turned on by any man who wore a badge or wielded a hose. But he didnt see the blond woman.
My mom is at work. But if its anything to do with Bradys, youll want to talk to Julie.
Julie?
My sister.
Ah. That made a whole lot more sense.
Shes counting the glasses or something. Trying to decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
Then hed better talk to her right away before she did something stupidlike throw away the Daryl Jones memorial ashtray.
Tony heard some clinking going on behind the long carved-wood bar and figured that had to be where Julie had disappeared to. He made his way to the bar, his feet schlup-schlupping with every step on the sticky floor.
Ah, it was good to be back here. Bradys was lit up like a Christmas tree, with its vintage signs. They covered almost every available bit of wall surface and illuminated the interior, which was crammed full of tables and chairs, pool tables, dartboardsguy heaven. Every corner had a TV, and when the place had been open all of them were always tuned in to a smorgasbord of sporting events.