Billionaire on Fire (Firefighter Billionaire Stand-Alone Romance) Read Free Page B

alienating too. People judge and hate you before they even know you. So I decided I’d do something worthwhile, partly to prove everyone wrong, but also to prove to myself that I could be a decent human being. So after I fulfilled my family obligations of attending the best university and getting a totally pointless diploma, I went right out and signed up to run into burning buildings.”
    Erica watched him. She had never met a fireman before, let alone a billionaire one. “Have you ever done that?” she asked. “Had to run into burning buildings?”
    Duke nodded. “Only once so far. Mostly it’s small stuff: cat in a tree, someone getting too carried away with their grill, that sort of thing.” He turned to the stove and started up the gas burner. He adjusted it to the right height, and then placed a black pan over the flames. “But you never really know what each day’s going to bring. That’s sort of the appeal of it, I guess. It’s never boring.”
    Erica thought about this a bit. “I don’t think I could do it. I think I’d be too stressed out by it.”
    “It’s not for everyone.” He poured the egg mixture into the pan, and it began to sizzle. “Besides, I wouldn’t have a job if everyone did it. And I like saving people.”
    “You certainly helped me out back there. I would probably still be in the woods right now if it weren’t for you.”
    Duke finished the omelets and set up the breakfast on the coffee table in front of the couch, sliding over his helmet and the medical supplies to make room. Erica started to lean forward for her plate, but Duke put up a hand.
    “Nope. You stay where you are.”
    Erica did as she was told.
    Duke returned with two glasses of orange juice, and set them down on the table. Then he pulled up a chair next to Erica.
    “Here,” he said, handing Erica a plate. They were suddenly so close to each other, the excitement of this made Erica’s heart race. She took the plate, but Duke didn’t let go. “You got it?” he asked, his eyes on Erica’s.
    “Yeah,” Erica said, and smiled. This was getting intense for breakfast. Somehow knowing that he was a billionaire had raised the stakes. Not only did she want him to like her body, she wanted him to like
her
too. “Thanks.”
    After she took the plate, Duke leaned back and they both began eating.
    “Wow, this is really good,” Erica said when she tasted the eggs.
    Duke’s confident smirk returned. “You don’t have to sound so surprised.”
    Erica scarfed down her plate and chugged her glass of orange juice. She hadn’t really been thinking about her hunger, but once the food was in front of her, she was starving. It wasn’t long before she was wiping her lips and setting her napkin down on the empty plate.
    “You enjoyed that, huh?” Duke said, looking pleased.
    Erica tried to come up with a clever response, but she was too nervous. She just smiled and handed back the plate. Duke set it on the table, and the two made eye contact again.
    The tension was getting to Erica. How was this guy a billionaire? He seemed so normal. But he wasn’t. And even if she did like him, he’d just think she was after his money. He didn’t invite her here on a date. He saved her. Now if she stayed, he would think she’s some sort of freeloader, using up his supplies and eating all his food and hoping to cash in on his status. Plus she felt really unattractive right now. She was sure she smelled from the run, and she was all muddy still. She looked at the front of Duke’s shirt, and realized she had smeared dirt across his chest while being carried.
    Erica sat up and swung her feet onto the floor. “Well,” she said, “I’d better be going.”
    Duke looked up at her, a smile on his face but something like fear in his eyes. “Nah, stay. I have the rest of day off. I could use the company.”
    “Yeah, but… I mean, you’ve already helped me out, and I really appreciate that, but I should get home and take a shower.” Why