Yet Arlie had been different from the moment he’d first laid eyes on her at the restaurant. She hadn’t gawked like other women. If the firefighters hadn’t been seated so quickly at the restaurant he would have enjoyed staring at her a bit longer.
Right now she looked frazzled and still afraid. Her thick, shoulder-length auburn hair sprang around her face in disarray. Her youthful round face and tall, curvy bod called to everything inside him. When Junior had pulled the gun on her, Hank had wanted to protect her immediately. Yeah, he realized now he hadn’t been afraid so much as surprised into silence as everything went down. Once he’d talked Junior into stuffing them in this closet, Hank had hoped like hell Arlie’s head injury wasn’t bad. The idea of having her die in his arms had curdled his insides and sent a bolt of fear through him. When she’d awakened, the relief he’d felt was doubled.
She’d smelled like a dream when he’d held her. Like a delicious cinnamon treat. He wanted to stand close to her once more, wrap his arms around her waist and absorb the comfort human contact could offer.
Really, Hank? Mighty touchy feely.
Okay, so he was a big hugger. Big fuckin’ deal. His mother and father were an excellent example of domestic bliss and he aspired to experiencing that in his own home one day.
Wait. How did meeting Arlie in this screwed situation suddenly equate to settling down? Maybe he was dreaming and he’d wake up soon.
Arlie turned toward him and looked at the single window, afternoon sun now obscured by clouds and rain. She hadn’t answered him.
“Arlie? What else are you afraid of? I hope it isn’t me. I would never hurt you.”
Her eyes widened. “No. No of course not.”
When she went into silence mode again for a while, he decided it was up to him to keep the conversation flowing.
“You said your grandmother raised you after your parents died,” he said. “Then you moved away ten years ago for college. When did your folks die?”
Apprehension filled her blue eyes. He sensed a lot behind that look, a fear that didn’t lessen just because he’d reassured her the fire was breathing its last. She sat on the only metal folding chair in the storage room. It creaked. She folded her hands in her lap. “Twenty years ago my parents and I lived in Sulfur Springs. Thirty miles from here.”
“I thought you said you’d lived in Chimney Rock all your life until you moved ten years ago?”
“No, I implied it. Said I was from this area, not Chimney Rock.”
“Why?”
“Maybe because I didn’t want to remember. I figured if I lied it was like forgetting, you know? I was in Sulfur Springs that June when the world caught fire.”
“Shit.” His voice was so low it was more a whisper than a word. “That was a big one. Fifteen thousand acres.”
“Yeah.”
He stared at her for long moments, wanting to ask her to elaborate and give her experience of that day. Yet he sensed part of her didn’t want to explain. Was it because she didn’t trust him or because she hid a far deeper scar inside?
She cleared her throat. “My parents…they’d left me at home to go into Chimney Rock because my grandmother had fallen at her trailer and they were afraid her hip was broken. An ambulance had taken her to the hospital. I begged them to let me stay home because I thought I was old enough to take care of myself. They agreed, but said they’d call when they found out how Grandma was and make sure all was okay.”
“How old were you?”
“Twelve. I was mature for my age, too. Anyway, that was back before social media and big-time Internet. My parents had Internet access but they didn’t let me use it much. I had my head in a book all day. I didn’t know about the fire but something just felt…wrong. Something told me to look outside. I ran to the west window and there it was. This big-ass plume of inky black and gray. I’d never thought of fire the way I did that day. It had this reddish glow at bottom that I could barely see through a clearing in the trees. It was a…monster, like in my nightmares.”
She stopped and he saw her throat work as if she was trying to swallow a lump. She rubbed her arms as air-conditioned, forced air blew over her head. Once more he was tempted to touch, to reassure her by gathering her close and warming her with his body heat.
Hank shoved a hand through his short hair as comprehension filled him. “Oh, my God.”
“Yeah. I froze to the spot at first, completely unsure what to do. Less than a minute later my parents’ friends and next door neighbors a half-mile down the road came roaring up the driveway and saw me standing outside. If I hadn’t been outside looking at the fire they would have thought no one was home…our SUV was gone. Anyway, they’d evacuated; the sheriff deputies were right behind them trying to get everyone out. They threw me in the car, and I was so happy to get away. I was…”
She stopped, staring into space with stark, primitive fear etched into her expression. “I was so afraid, Hank. Up until that moment I’d always seen fire as something to be respected. This was different. This was the most horrifying thing I’d ever seen. The fear was uncontrollable.”
He nodded and stepped a little closer. “You were just a child. I’m glad your neighbors were there for you.”
“I was fortunate. We drove to Chimney Rock. My neighbors took me to the hospital where I thought we’d find my parents and my grandmother. When we found Grandma in her hospital room, she told me my parents had left to go back to Sulfur Springs. They’d heard about the fire, tried calling me and…I’d left my cell phone in the house.”
Ah hell. He thought he knew where this story would end. He caught her forearm and drew her near.
“Your parents went back for you when you didn’t answer the phone,” he said.
“Yes.”
She placed one hand on his chest as if needing the anchor, and the tentative touch of her fingers sent a wild bolt of need straight to his belly. He held back that inappropriate, overwhelming need and cupped his hand over her small fingers.
“I’m sorry. You don’t need to hear about my hang-ups,” she said.
“That’s not a hang up. It’s a trauma. A terrible one. Your parents didn’t make it back, did they?”
She shook her head, and he saw the agony of the memory in her eyes. “They got to the house but the fire moved too quickly. They were found there later after it rolled through.” She swallowed hard and forced the words out. “They were at the front door, as if they’d discovered I wasn’t there and tried to leave…”
He could almost feel her imagination going where it shouldn’t, visualizing what her parents had suffered.
He still held her hand, his gut tight with raw pain for her. “I’m so sorry. A horrible tragedy. You realize it wasn’t your fault, right?”
“At first I didn’t.”
“There’s nothing you could’ve done.”
She eased away from him, and as her fingers slipped from his, he missed the warmth.
“Have you…have you ever been afraid of fire?” she asked.
He smiled. “Hell yeah. Everyone should be respectful and afraid of fire. Even firefighters. If you don’t have a healthy understanding of what fire can do, you can make huge mistakes that can cost your life. But even if you know what you’re doing, Mother Nature still does what she wants, when she wants. We can curb her, but there are times when she wins.”
She took a huge breath. “Of course.”
Apprehension still gave her expression a tight look, as if she held in a great depth of grief and fear. Maybe she’d never released it until now, when the fire and Junior’s pursuit put her here, in a gas station where she had to confront her fears head on.
“I know this is personal, but did you get counseling after your parents died?” he asked.
“I found someone who had a good handle on PTSD, even way back in the day. She was a great counselor.” She switched midstream. “What on earth made you want to be a firefighter? I can’t imagine being the one running toward that type of dang
er.”
“We have a long tradition in my family. My grandfather was a firefighter and so was my dad. They worked in city environments, but I wanted an even bigger challenge, helping people and the land. And there’s a rush to it, I’ll admit it. I love being outdoors with nature, even with a bitch like fire.”
“Have you ever been in a situation with fire that made you fear for your life?” she asked.
“Not yet, but there’s always a first time. I’m not egotistical enough to think there isn’t a situation I couldn’t get out of. Right now, though, I’ve got to beat this asthma or I’m out of firefighting.”
“How long have you had asthma?”
Because she’d given him so much of herself, he didn’t resent her questions, even if they highlighted a weakness. Something he didn’t want to show in front of her. “Only for a couple of years. I don’t know if it’s the exercise or the smoke or both.”
“Will they kick you out permanently?”
A form of despair tried to edge its way in as he thought of abandoning firefighting forever. No pun intended—it burned in his blood. He’d always wanted to do this job and never wanted to give it up. Firefighters formed a brotherhood forged by the same fire they battled. He didn’t want to leave his second family.
“They might,” he said reluctantly.
Sympathy softened her face. “What would you do then?”
“Continue being an instructor. It’ll suck at first, I’ll admit that.” He stuffed his hands in his jeans. “If I could stay in firefighting in some small way…” He shrugged at the sobering thought. “I don’t know what I’d do…what job I’d attempt.”
“You’d figure it out.”
He wanted to believe that, even if right now it seemed a long shot. He stood next to an abyss, looking down and wondering if he dared walk the tightrope threatening his career. The way she looked at him right now, as if he could make a good life without wildland firefighting…it made him believe.
“You’re right,” he said.
She lifted one eyebrow and smiled, just a small twitch at the corner of that full, sexy mouth. “I am.”
“Yeah. I’ve never run away from a challenge before. Giving up isn’t like me.”
Her smile expanded. “Good. I think I forgot that myself when I let Junior come around. I wasn’t paying attention to my own instincts.” She shook her head. “Never again.”
“Never again trust a man?” he asked.
She tilted her head to the side a little. “Never trust a man if my instincts are screaming not to.”
He nodded. “Good advice.”
She raked one hand through her hair and the long red strands fell back to her shoulders in a shiny, thick cascade he longed to touch. “What do your doctors say about the asthma?”
“They’re cautious. I’ve got an appointment in two days.”
“So you live in town? Don’t you travel a lot?”
So maybe she was interested in him? If she was asking all these questions was it pure curiosity or genuine caring? Maybe both? For the first time in a long time he yearned for something closer, more meaningful with a woman.
“As I mentioned, we do most of our work in the summer. We’ve been gone for weeks lately with those fires up in Montana where they needed extra men. This season has been a bitch.”
Silence hijacked the room for a moment as his thoughts careened to their current situation. Although he knew the fire wasn’t coming to devour this gas station, he still didn’t want to be stuck in here.
She rubbed her hands together, and he noted the nervousness.
“We’re going to be all right,” he said, eager to convince her and probably himself.
She planted her hands on her hips. “I almost believe you.”
Rain lashed anew at the window. The wind howled, and the river of water attested to the strength of the storm. Good. More rain to dampen the fire on the mountain. He felt as if he had to express it, though. Maybe it would give her comfort.
“Rain is going to take down the fire.”
“Thank you, Hank. You’re an amazing guy. And you saved my life.”
Nah. He hadn’t saved her life. “You’re tough. You would have done fine without me.”
She came to him and laid her hand on his right shoulder. “I mean it. I don’t think I’d be alive now if you hadn’t stepped in.”
Her gentle touch did crazy things to Hank’s body. He yearned with the physical reaction of a man long deprived of female touch. But he also knew it was her—her bravery moved him. Already he admired the hell out of her. Instinctively he brushed the back of his index finger along her cheek, savoring the silky perfection. And yeah…his cock took notice. For fuck’s sake. He gritted his teeth a minute and reminded himself this wasn’t the time or place to spring a boner. If she realized how his body reacted it might scare the shit out of her, and that’s the last thing he wanted. Still, when this was all over he wanted to know her better. To experience her company somewhere without the spectre of trauma and danger peeking around the corner. Her mouth caught his attention. The lower lip was the slightest bit bigger than the upper, and he longed to soothe the savage need boldly growing inside him. He’d take a taste now, if she’d allow it.
Damn the torpedoes, he was going in.
“I know this isn’t the right time or place, but…” He tilted her face up and slowly leaned in, and seconds later his lips touched hers.
He half expected her to retreat, but she didn’t. Tenderly he tasted her and she responded. It was a sweet kiss that held back, that showed they both understood they needed more time before they took another step. He sensed a deeper and more intimate exploration would come in the future. Before the kiss lasted more than a few seconds, a sound came from outside and broke them apart. Sirens. He walked to the door and listened. Voices echoed outside, their tones urgent.
“Hey!” Hank pounded on the door. “In here! We’re in here.”
She rushed to the door as well, her palms flat on the surface. “In here!”
Screeching noises came from outside. Before long the door opened. Hank’s arm went around her shoulders as they stepped back.
Two sheriff’s deputies walked in, their stances cautious.
“Arlie Davis? Hank Clancy?” the younger deputy asked.
“That’s us,” Hank said, apprehension slithering up his spine.
“Bufford?” Arlie’s concerned voice rose. “The old man who owns the store, is he…?”
“Paramedics are here. He managed to get a 911 call out when he came to,” the older deputy said.
That explained why it had taken so long for someone to find them. No one else had come to the station and Bufford had taken awhile to revive. Thank God he had, for his sake and for theirs.
“What a relief,” Arlie said.
“They think he’ll be all right,” the young deputy said.
The older deputy said, “Are you both okay?”
Hank touched the middle of her back, his palm spreading over her warmth. Arlie sagged against Hank’s side. He drew her closer, his arm slipping around her shoulders. “Arlie needs to get checked out. She hit her head when Junior took a shot at her.”
“Wait.” Fear choked her voice. “Is Junior…do you guys know what he did?”
The older deputy held up one hand. “Bufford told 911 what happened and we’re trying to locate Junior right now. We need to get your statements.”
Hank expected to see skepticism on the law enforcement officers’ faces. Both men wore rather impassive expressions, though, as if they were keeping their own feelings out of it.
“The fire?” Hank asked.
“Radio chatter said something about the rain drowning the flames, but the evacuations are still in effect for the time being.” The younger deputy gestured to the ambulance nearby. “Come on, let’s get Miss Davis some medical attention.”
“Told you we’d be all right.” Hank kept his arm around her as they left with the deputies.
�
��Yes you did.” She smiled up at him, and it was ridiculous how amazing that made him feel.
As they came into the main body of the store, paramedics lifted Bufford onto a gurney.
“Wait,” Bufford said to the paramedics. “I need to speak to those young people.”
“We need to get you to the hospital,” one of the paramedics said, her smile reassuring.
“Just wait a damn minute.” Bufford’s grouchy voice echoed in the store.
Arlie reached Bufford first, taking his hand. The paramedics continued wheeling the older man toward the door.
“You two all right?” Bufford asked. “I thought you were a goner and so was I.”
“We’re great, thanks to you. Let them take you to the hospital,” Arlie said as she released his hand and the paramedics continued to roll him toward the ambulance.
“You take good care of Arlie, you hear!” Bufford gestured back at Hank.
Hank smiled. “You got it!”
Arlie waved to Bufford. “We’ll see you at the hospital.”
As they all stepped into the day, light rain hit them in the face. A glance to the south and west showed smoke still drifting across the sky, but it no longer rolled like the explosion of a volcano, nor was it as thick and dark. The persistent glow of flames had toned down. Damn, he was glad when he was right. The rain was making a dent in the fire, and maybe his fellow firefighters were making a difference.
Chaotic activity greeted them as another ambulance rolled into the parking lot just as the other one took off with Bufford back toward Chimney Rock. Few cars headed south, but the steady stream of cars rolling north continued. He’d been evacuating himself when this mess went down. With Junior still out there he wanted to make certain Arlie was safe, and a surge of protectiveness went through him. He’d be fucking damned if that asshole would get anywhere near her.
Hank steered Arlie toward the ambulance that came to a stop nearby, feeling possessive as he placed his hand at the middle of her back again. “Let the paramedics check you out. Make sure you don’t have a concussion.”
“I’m fine.” Her voice was so low he almost didn’t hear it.
“You probably are, but it’s better to be safe.”
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