Reduced to Ashes

by Kay Gordon

  “I can’t believe you did that.” I glanced across the cab and saw Victoria shrug.

  “Mom was big on killing with kindness.”

  I reached for her hand. “I like your possessive side. It was hot.”

  “I didn’t even realize I had one until I saw her put her hands on you.” She linked our fingers together. “I doubt she’ll come to you with any of her household emergencies again.”

  No, she probably wouldn’t.

  We pulled along the curb in front of a red brick home that looked almost immaculate. A white van with a WJ Plumbing logo was parked in the driveway, along with a white Ford Mustang that looked brand new. It had Firefighter license plates, the same style Victoria’s SUV had. I knew it belonged to Vincent after seeing it when I went for my run the morning before.

  “Let’s do this,” I told her, taking one of her hands while balancing the cake with my free one.

  She led me up the pathway to the front door, knocked on it twice, and then let herself in, calling out for her father as she did.

  “In the kitchen,” was the reply she got and she squeezed my hand once and offered me an encouraging smile before heading that way.

  The inside of the house was just as beautiful as the outside and it felt both warm and inviting. Warren Jones was obviously the type of man who took pride in his possessions. Victoria’s house wasn’t quite as warm but it was obvious she’d inherited that trait from her father.

  The man in question came into view when we stepped into the kitchen and he grinned the moment he saw his daughter.

  He was about the same height as both Vincent and I were, which was around four inches taller than Victoria. His balding hair was sprinkled with that salt and pepper look but I knew from photos that it’d been a very light brown just years before. His light brown eyes were soft and affectionate when he hugged his only daughter close to his chest.

  “You okay, Vicky?”

  She nodded and pulled away from him with a smile. “Better than I thought I’d be, honestly.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek and turned to gesture me forward. “Dad, I don’t think you’ve officially met Evan Coleman. Ev, meet the guy who taught me to fix those leaky pipes, Warren Jones.”

  I stepped forward with my hand outstretched and didn’t flinch when Warren clasped it in his own. The old man had quite the grip but I wasn’t planning on backing down.

  “I want you to know that I’m watching you,” he warned, obviously a man who didn’t play games. “If you hurt my baby girl in any way, I will make you regret it.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Victoria roll hers but I didn’t pay her any attention as I gave Warren a serious look. “I understand, sir. I have no intention of ever hurting her.”

  He studied me for a long moment before finally nodding and letting go of my hand. “I hope you can cook otherwise you’ll starve to death. My daughter is a danger to herself and others in the kitchen.”

  I let out a bark of laughter and stepped back to drop my arm across her shoulders. “I’ve noticed. The only thing she’s allowed to do when I make dinner is supervise.”

  All of us laughed except Victoria, who was trying her hardest not to join in. She covered it up with a scoff and stepped away from me to go to the fridge.

  “You guys all suck.”

  That just made us laugh louder and she couldn’t hold back her own anymore. I gave her a grateful smile when she handed me a bottle of beer and the four of us sat down at the kitchen table.

  Warren was actually a very nice guy. He didn’t beat around the bush and immediately asked me to explain what went down seven years before. I explained everything to him, just like I had to Victoria and Vincent, and he cleared his throat when I was done.

  “I’m sorry. You have to understand how I saw it, though.”

  “I do.” I leaned back in my chair and dropped my hand to Victoria’s bare thigh under the table. “I completely understand. I don’t blame any of you for your reactions.”

  Vincent finished off the beer he’d been drinking and set the bottle down with a thud. “I’m happy for you guys. My sister deserves to be happy and from the things that have been thrown your way, it sounds like you do, too, Coleman.”

  “That’s some sappy shit, Vin.” Victoria grinned at her brother. “What about you?”

  He offered her a smirk. “I’m always happy, baby sister.”

  Even I could see the lie in that but no one commented on it beyond the sad look Victoria gave him.

  Warren was excellent in the kitchen. He said he had to be, because apparently his wife had been just as bad as his daughter.

  He served beef tenderloin, potatoes, and asparagus and each thing tasted better than the last. We finished it off with the strawberry shortcake that Victoria had made me stop for, which also turned out to be a hit, and then we sat on the covered back patio just talking.

  When she went in to use the bathroom, Warren smiled at me, which was a direct contrast to the look he’d given me when we arrived.

  “Are you in love with my little girl, Evan?”

  I didn’t hesitate for even a second before answering. “I am.”

  “Good. I haven’t seen her this happy since she was a kid.” He looked to Vincent before meeting my gaze again. “Their mother would have approved, too.”

  “Mom would’ve approved of what?” Victoria walked back out and sat down in the chair next to me. Warren smiled at his only daughter and didn’t miss a beat.

  “Of the woman you’ve become.”

  If the blinding smile she sent her dad was any indication, Victoria loved that thought.

  –––

  “There was nothing to be afraid of after all,” she teased later on that night, her naked body sated and curled up next to mine. I smiled and slowly ran my fingertips down her arm, which was still damp with sweat from our lovemaking.

  “Don’t make me tickle you again.”

  She turned her face up and grinned. “Deflecting much?”

  “Whatever.” I pressed a kiss to her nose and rolled us so her back was to my chest. “You’re a pain in my ass.”

  “Feels like you’re a pain in my ass,” she commented, wiggling her butt up against my erection, which seemed to never go down around her. I chuckled and buried my face in her neck with a long exhale.

  Despite her teasing, I could tell she was tired so I continued running my fingertips along her skin and her breathing evened out a few minutes later. I pressed my lips to her neck and allowed myself to drift off, too.

  A phone ringing caused us both to jerk awake and if I’d been conscious, it might have been funny to watch us both roll to the separate nightstands. I managed to fumble around until I had my phone in hand and I wanted to groan when I saw it was barely four in the morning.

  “It’s mine,” Victoria mumbled before clearing her throat and saying, “You better have a good reason for calling me when it’s still dark outside, Owens.”

  I rolled to my side and watched her shadowy figure listen to whatever her lieutenant was saying. After a moment, she sighed.

  “Yeah, that’s fine. I’ll be to the station house by seven. Bye.”

  She ended the call and dropped her phone to the nightstand before shifting so her body was tucked close to mine.

  “They’re calling out the city hotshots to help fight the fire burning east of Los Angeles.”

  I knew all about how her company was trained and certified to combat wildfires. They didn’t have to do it often but they did get called out whenever wildland firefighters needed reinforcements. I wasn’t a huge fan of the idea of her doing something even more dangerous than she normally did but I knew Victoria was good at her job and more than capable.

  “Well, that sucks.” I moved until I was hovering over her naked body and kissing a trail between her breasts. “How long will you be gone?”

  “A week or so. Are you going to miss me?” The last words came out on a
gasp thanks to my lips closing around her nipple.

  I scraped my teeth along her sensitive flesh and ran one hand down her stomach until it was between her thighs. I brushed through the soft curls and teased her opening for a moment.

  “I’m going to miss you so much,” I told her just as I pushed one finger inside her slick warmth. She moaned and arched her back as her fingers grabbed for my hair. “You have to come home to me, Victoria.”

  “I will.” She tugged on my head, pulling me away from her breasts, and forced me to look at her. The expression on her face was completely serious despite the lust I knew was running through her veins. “I promise.”

  We were both desperate when I finally connected my body with hers but the moment our hips pressed together, we froze. The air changed between us and we savored one another. Expressed our feelings without words

  I never wanted to let her go but the sun slowly began to rise.

  The closer we got to six-thirty, the more tension filled Victoria’s body. I knew it was nerves but not about going to California. She was worried about facing her co-workers for the first time since the video was leaked.

  “It’s going to be fine,” I said while handing her the toast I’d made after she’d given me a key to her place for emergencies. “No one’s even going to care, baby.”

  She nodded but her green eyes betrayed her worry and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her as close to me as possible. We stayed like that for about ten long minutes and when we finally parted, she looked miserable.

  “I’ll text as often as I can but it won’t be a lot.”

  “I understand.” And I did. Besides, I had ways of getting information if I really needed it. Perks of being in law enforcement and all that. “Be careful and stick with your team. Oh, and hurry home.”

  The woman I loved gave me a long, slow kiss, and then headed out the door.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Tori

  I stared at the station house from my windshield for several long minutes after I parked. My heart was racing in my chest and it had nothing to do with the wildfire we were about to fight.

  A sharp rap on my window made me jump and I twisted around to see Christos standing next to my SUV with a look of concern on his rarely-serious face. I sighed and turned off my engine before grabbing my backpack from the seat next to me.

  Christos stepped back when I pushed open the door and he offered me a small smile. “Hey, Tori. Ready for some California sunshine?”

  “Oh, yeah.” I locked my car and fell into step next to him as we walked towards the building. “I’m looking forward to working on my tan.”

  His deep chuckle was familiar and comforting. “Kelly still gets nervous when we’re called out so I tried to crack a few jokes to ease the tension.” He shook his head and rubbed his shoulder with his free hand. “She didn’t appreciate them. She socked me so hard that she left a bruise on my shoulder and hurt her hand.”

  “I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of one of Kelly’s punches.” I turned to offer him a grin. “She’s pretty badass.”

  “Yeah. I never know whether to be scared or turned on.”

  The two of us came to a stop in front of the open bay doors and I could hear voices filtering in from somewhere in the garage. Knowing my company was in there, along with members of 22 and 23 who had also received the call, made my stomach hurt.

  “Remember about three months ago when you ran into a burning structure and single handedly saved a little girl?”

  I turned and looked over at Christos, whose brown eyes were staring back at me. When I nodded, he smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

  “You’re still that same person. The firefighter who blew our minds with her strength and courage. There are going to be some assholes who try to cut you down, Tori. They’re going to do it because they’re insecure about themselves and jealous of who you are. That says far more about them than it does you.”

  At some point during his pep talk, Owens, Simpson, and Barthe had all appeared. Each one nodded in agreement with Christos and Owens reached out to squeeze my shoulder.

  “Besides, if anyone gives you shit, you have nine of us to back you up.”

  With my company mates standing behind me, I found the strength to step inside the house.

  The five of us found where the rest of our company was upstairs and other than the quick smiles they offered me, nothing was different. We listened to the captain describe what we’d be doing in Southern California and it wasn’t until we started to head out to the shuttle that I ran into people from the other companies.

  All of our company was wildfire trained so that left our shifts in need of coverage while we were gone. Companies 22 and 23 would be working twenty-four on and twenty-four off in the meantime so each member was there for debriefing.

  Conversations stopped when we passed by them and the whispers started. I held my head up and kept my eyes forward. I heard a couple of my teammates tell people to shut up or fuck off but I didn’t bother looking back.

  I had just hit the bottom stair when someone called my name and I turned to find Laura Hoffman rushing down the staircase. Her black hair was pulled up in a ponytail like my own and our outfits were exactly the same.

  Hoffman was in her mid-thirties and a badass in her own right. She and her husband both worked for NHFD under Company 23 and she had been a huge help when I first transitioned to the department.

  “Hey, Hoffman,” I said quietly when she came to a stop next to me. “How are you?”

  She raised her brows and offered me a small smile. “Probably better than you.”

  “Yeah, having a sex tape you didn’t know you made spread to your co-workers kind of sucks. Especially the second time.”

  “I bet.” She put her hands on her hips and sighed. “Don’t let them get to you, though. Who cares? You have tits. You’re hot. You have sex. You’re also strong and can take almost any one of these guys down with very little effort. Remember that when any of them tries to say anything. I can guarantee you that the 23rd won’t treat you any different.”

  “Thank you,” I replied quietly, feeling emotion hit me hard. Seven years before, very few people stood behind me. Now I felt like I had a whole army there.

  Hoffman gave me a swift hug and ran back upstairs. I turned and followed my company outside to where the shuttle was waiting to take us to the airport. I took a seat next to Lennox and grinned when he squeezed my thigh.

  “Did the boy blubber when you told him you were leaving?”

  I rolled my eyes and shoved him away gently. “He’s worried but he handled it like a pro.”

  “Good.” He didn’t say anything else but he didn’t have to. His silent presence was everything I needed.

  We were just pulling up the airport when my phone vibrated with a text. I immediately grinned when I saw Evan’s name on the screen and then blushed when I read the text.

  Coleman: Multiple orgasms await you when you get home, Victoria.

  Me: Promise?

  Coleman: Cross my heart.

  “That’s a good look on you, Tori,” Lennox said quietly next to me and I snapped my head up to meet his eyes.

  “What is?”

  He raised his brows and his deep brown eyes were serious as they stared at me. “Love. Being in love with Coleman suits you.”

  My first instinct was to deny it, to tell my friend he was crazy, but I didn’t. I couldn’t. Evan and I had only really been friends for a couple of months and actually together even less, but it was true.

  At twenty-eight-years-old, it was almost shameful that I had never been in love. I never even had that high school love that everyone seemed to experience. Tristan Dunsworth jaded me before I had the chance to give my heart away to anyone.

  But then Evan Coleman came bursting into my life like a flashover. It was unexpected, sudden, and unavoidable. In the months that I’d known him, he’d gone from bein
g my enemy, to a pest, to an acquaintance, to my friend, and now? He was the guy I was in love with.

  I was in love with Evan Coleman.

  What a trip.

  Ty gave me a knowing nod and leaned in to kiss my forehead. “I doubted him at first but he’s been good for you. I’m not ashamed to admit that he seems like a standup guy, too.”

  I just smiled at him and nodded in agreement without replying. We didn’t say anything else as the shuttle came to a stop next to a small terminal that was adjacent to the McCarran International Airport.

  Other shuttles were there, telling me that members of the LVFR were going to be joining us in Southern California. I’d run into them from time to time over the years, mainly during moments like these, but those that knew me never acknowledged me and I didn’t them.

  I followed my company to where we were being checked in and sent off a quick text to my brother. He was wildfire trained but rarely went out on the calls since the local Hazmat crew wasn’t very big.

  “There she is,” someone said quietly and I looked up from my phone to see three LVFR guys slow down as they walked by us. One of them looked familiar but the other two didn’t. When they noticed me looking, one offered me a lecherous smile.

  “Hey, darlin’. I hear you’re a slut for good dick. Want to come and give mine a ride?” He grabbed his crotch suggestively and I felt all the blood drain from my face.

  Seconds later, the guy was on the ground, courtesy of a fist thrown from none other than Chad Hughes. Judging by the scene around us, he had just made it first. The rest of my company, sans the captain, was right behind Hughes and looking murderous.

  If that wasn’t crazy enough, I watched as a small group that included Dumbo and Reyes joined and the shouting began.

  Owens and Dumbo were both trying to exert their authority and tamp down their rage but it wasn’t until several men stepped forward that things settled down. Captain Stevenson was with them so I assumed the others ran their own companies, too.

  “Everyone back the fuck up,” Cap yelled, tugging Hughes back by the collar of his shirt. “Does someone want to tell me what the hell happened?”