by Brynn Hale
“Fair enough…but which is better?”
I roll my eyes and lean to him. “I’d take your version of dessert any day of my life.” I press my lips to his and his eyes stay wide.
“Dairen,” he says when we part.
“Yeah, I’ll have to talk to him tomorrow. We’re supposed to have dinner back at Season 617.”
“I think I might ask him to go for a drink in the afternoon.”
“Okay. Maybe I should be there?”
“How is it that I’ve never heard of you?”
I tell him the story. The good, the bad, the really ugly.
“Wow. So how many times did you see them?”
“About a dozen and they never really seemed to want to have anything to do with me, so I kind of just thought they hated me. I called Deacon, my oldest brother—”
“I know Deacon. He and I play on a flag football team. He’s actually one of my best friends.”
I sit up straighter. “Really? Tell me about him.”
Boscoe chuckles. “You should find out for yourself.”
“Maybe you should talk to him first. Because if he doesn’t like the idea, then maybe we’re dead before we start.”
He sets his fork down in the cardboard to-go container. “I hope not.”
I kiss him and the taste of the chocolate on his tongue is intoxicating. “Maybe we could try your kind of dessert again?”
“Again? You do know I’m thirty-six. I’m an old man. I can’t just be expected—”
I drop my mouth onto his cock that’s outlined in his boxer briefs and blow hot air.
“Oh, fuck it.” He moves the food and rolls us so I’m on top of him. “Dessert is served, Jess.”
Chapter Six
Boscoe
I rub my finger into the condensation on my glass of beer. I debated a glass of tea or water. And finally chose beer.
This morning I dropped Jess back off to get her vehicle. She invited me over for steaks and I accepted. I have her phone number and address now, and it feels almost official that we’re going to make this a go. There are just two big hurdles.
I hope that Deacon’s reasonable about this, but if I had a sibling, I could imagine being protective. Hell, I’m protective of my friends and they’re all dudes.
Deacon walks in and his hand clasps my shoulder. “I hear you’re in trouble.”
Oh, shit.
My back feels like I’ve been stabbed and the knife is still there. I should respect that Dairen went to Deacon but come on…he didn’t trust me. I remember last night and smile. He really shouldn’t have either. Okay, he was right.
Deacon plops onto the bar stool. “I heard you changed the team colors from yellow and blue to red and gold? What’s up with that?”
I relax so fast that I deflate. I close my eyes and realize how much Jess fucking means to me. She means more than anything I’ve ever wanted.
“Whoa, you look sick. What’s wrong?” He motions to the regular bartender. “Whisky and Coke, please.”
“I…I met a girl. I mean, woman. I met this fantastic woman and I think that I’m falling for her.”
“Was bound to happen someday.” He chuckles. “About time one of us did. I’m happy for you.”
“I really think that she and I can have something special. But…her brother has asked me not to date her. She’s younger than me and he’s quite protective of her.”
“If I had a sister, I probably would be too.”
I take a long drink of my beer. “You do have a sister, Deacon.”
He stills. “Oh, shit. I do.” His head turns slowly to me. “It’s Jessica?”
I instinctively lean away from him. I nod while confirming, “It’s Jess.”
His drink is delivered, and he takes a sip. “I think I might need a couple more of these.”
“Dairen doesn’t want me to see her. He thinks that the firefighter life is hard on a partner and that I’m too old for her. What do you think?”
“How old is she?”
“Have you even met her?”
“Well, yeah, a long time ago.”
“You haven’t seen her since she moved back?”
“I’ve been…busy.” He runs a hand through his hair. That ridiculous swoop of his hair. I swear it would reach to his chin if he let it fall down. I think people say “hipster.” I say it’s annoying how he’s always playing with it. Dude, just use some hairspray or something and don’t touch it.
I try to divert his attention. “Maybe you should go see her? She’d really like to get to know both of you.”
“And Dairen might fuck that up with his need to be protective?”
I don’t think it’s necessary to answer that question. I drink more of my beer and ask for a water. I don’t need another beer.
“So…what do you think?” I ask once more.
He grabs my shoulder and gives a shake. “I’d really like to have you as a brother-in-law, is what I think, and if Jessica is happy and you’re happy, then that’s all that really matters.”
The relief rushes me. “Love you, man.”
He pushes off of me. “Stop…” He lifts his drink and toasts to my beer glass. “Back at ya. But…you fucking hurt her and I’ll cut your dick off.”
I cringe. “Figured.”
Deacon chuckles. “Okay, now…why the fuck did you change the colors?”
“Cause the Chiefs won and no one else was red and gold. You know someone will want those colors.” I was leading him down the path.
“And we can use it for bargaining for a better schedule.”
“Bingo.”
“Brilliant.”
But if I’m so smart, how do I get Dairen to understand how much his sister means to me?
Boscoe: Going to stop off at the station for a few minutes and then I’ll be over. Deacon would like to have brunch with you and Dairen in the morning.
Jess: Crap, I forgot that I’m supposed to meet Dairen for dinner. I guess I’ll text him.
Boscoe: That’s who I’m going to go see.
Jess: Maybe just wait until I see him.
Boscoe: No, I have to know now. Deacon’s pumped that we’re together.
Jess: We’re together? When did this happen?
I chuckle. “Funny, baby.”
Boscoe: I’ll show you how together we can be when I get there.
Jess: Starting the grill right now.
Boscoe: I’m starving…for dessert…the steak is just a bonus.
Jess: You make me blush, Mr. Boscoe. See you soon. <3
That creative heart has a kickback in my chest. Love. I didn’t think it would happen again. Maybe I didn’t think I deserved it.
The stations sparkling inside. All the chrome’s glistening and almost blinding and that means one of two things. Dairen’s pissed and taking his feelings out on the metals with polishing liquid. Or there’s a probie—a new firefighter—in the place. I step through the door into the living quarters.
“Hey, Boscoe.” Kelton gives a chin-jut from his place on the sofa. He’s the newest member of the team.
Unless.
“We get a probie?” I ask.
“Yeah. I think her name is—”
“Her?” I know the emphasis isn’t needed, but as the first female firefighter the Passion Point Fire Station has had, this emphasize-worthy.
“Is there a problem with that?” A female voice booms behind me and I straighten my back.
I spin and try to give her one of my dashing, panty-melting smiles, but by her crossed arms and set jaw. If I have a full house, she definitely has a royal flush. I’m losing.
“No. No problem.” I walk forward. “I’m Boscoe.”
“Ridley Lake.” She shakes my hand.
“So did Dairen have you shine all the chrome on the trucks?”
She shakes her head, that blonde ponytail sweeping side to side. “No. He was out there for hours. I took a nap. I like that it’s been quiet, but I came here to—”
An
d like Hephaestus—God of Fire--is listening, the station alarm goes off.
9-1-1 comes over the intercom, “Deck fire, spreading to siding, 1213 Mara Street. Young woman, 23, burn to hand and possible smoke inhalation.”
I open my phone and my body crackles with a chill seeing the address she texted me. They’re already out of the room. I shake out of it and run out to the racks, pulling on my gear.
Dairen’s biting voice crackles in my ear. “Guys…and gal…the lieutenant stepped out; this one falls on me to run.” He grabs my arm. “What the fuck are you doing here? You’re not on duty. Leave.”
“It’s Jess’s house. I have to go.”
He swallows. “My sister?”
“And my girlfriend! Now, fucking get dressed so we can get there. Now, Dairen!” I hop into the driver’s seat and start the truck. I’m pulling out of the station while Dairen’s climbing into the passenger seat and slamming the door.
“You shouldn’t be driving. Hell you shouldn’t be—”
I give him a look and he shuts up.
“Did the radio say that she has a burn?” he asks quietly.
I nod. “Hold on.” I take a hard right and Kelton and Ridley release a few cuss words.
I weave in and out of the traffic. I’m normally not this wound up. Not this urgent. My heart crashes in my chest and my hearing dulls with every thud of the interior muscle.
I pull in and see the flames. “Fuck.” I jump out and look around.
“We’ve got this.” Dairen starts pulling out hoses.
“Where is she?”
“Over there!” He points across the street.
I take out on a dead run. “Baby, what happened?”
“I put a new container of propane on it. I guess I didn’t get it tightened enough. I went inside to grab the steaks and when I came back out to put the steaks on it was a fire ball. I tried to shut the top to trap the…fire.” Her chest hops with fear. “And the fire…it…”
I comfort her to my chest. “It’s okay. I’m here. You’re okay.”
The paramedics show from another station show and I motion them over. “Here!”
But as I say something. A huge boom echoes from the backyard.
The woman that was with Jess, steps in front of me. “Go. I’ll take care of her. I’m a doctor.”
I hand her off, but I don’t want to.
I round the corner and the deck is engulfed and Kelton and Ridley are spraying the house and deck. “Where’s Dairen?”
“He went inside.” The backdoor is blown in from the propane tank exploding.
“Are you okay?” I ask them.
Both nod.
I start my oxygen and run around to the front and inside. “Dairen? Dairen!”
Making my way through the smoke, I see the reflective nature of our uniforms and his body lying near the kitchen island.
I slowly roll him over. He moans. “Shit.”
“Yeah, exactly. Let’s go, buddy.”
He tries to stand, but his eyes aren’t focusing, and he’s definitely got a concussion. “I don’t think I can walk. Just go.”
“I’ve got you.” I lift him over my shoulder and carry him out the front door. The paramedics meet us and we slide him onto a stretcher.
Jess meets me in the middle of the street. “Is that…”
“He’s going to be okay.”
I see the doctor running over to him. She looks like she’s yelling at him. That’s weird. The paramedics make her back off, but I hear her say, “You keep this up and you will die, Mr. Westwood. I told you. Your health needs to come first.”
“Did you hear that?” Jess’s hand presses into my uniform.
“I did.” I motion to her house. “I need to—”
“Go.” She understands.
It’s never done until the last ember is out.
I find my team and they’re going over all the smoldering wood and making sure the attached duplex property doesn’t have any damage. There’s some abutting deck damage and the siding, but nothing that won’t be a quick fix. Unfortunately, Jess’s deck is a full loss. But everyone is okay and that’s all that matters. I direct Ridley and Kelton and they follow my commands. In about twenty minutes, all is out and I’m walking back around the front of the house.
The doctor and Jess are sitting in lawn chairs on the driveway that belongs to the other unit of the duplex. Jess’s hand is wrapped.
“I’m fine!” Dairen’s voice booms to us. “Let me go.”
I take off on a walk toward him. He’s not fine. “Dairen, you’re not okay. You have a concussion from the blast.”
He stills. “Why’d you come in to get me?”
“Because I’m a firefighter.”
“Right. You wanted another save.”
Two women snicker behind me and I glance back at her, motioning her to me. “Dairen, I could give a fuck less about the number of saves. In fact, stop keeping track. It’s not a game.”
I get in his face. “I love your sister. I can’t tell you what happened or why, but I know to my soul that she’s mine and I’m hers. Our scorched hearts are the same. She doesn’t trust love after marriage and I don’t trust love before marriage, but I trust her. I trust that she and I can have something amazing. I know—”
“Fine. Just shut up. Let me get some sleep.” His eyes start to close.
“Officer Boscoe, I’ll ride with him to the hospital.” The doctor hops into the back of the ambulance.
“We’ll meet you there.”
Captain Ford shows and I give a rundown of what’s happening. “Does the homeowner need to go to the hospital?”
She shakes her head overhearing. “I’m okay. It’s not a deep burn.”
“I’ll be taking care of her, Cap.” I wrap an arm around her.
“This someone I should meet?”
“Actually, it is. This is Jessica Saunders. She’s Dairen Westwood’s half-sister and my girlfriend.”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “I can’t imagine how Westwood took that.”
“Might have taken almost dying and being rescued to accomplish it, but I think he’s coming around.”
“Okay, we’ll get the truck back to the station. I’ve called Betts to come in and help out.”
“Do you need to go?” Jess asks.
Captain waves her off. “No, we’ll be fine. No worries, miss. You enjoy him for the evening, he’ll be back on shift in two days.”
“Always goes too fast.” I’d love to spend a full week getting to know her. Maybe a vacation soon.
She blows out a long breath. “Do I want to see inside?”
“You can collect whatever you need, but it’s going to need smoke mitigation and restoration.”
“I was so scared.”
I wrap an arm around her. “Let it out. If there’s anything I’ve found that helps is talking about what happened.”
“No, I was so scared for you. I was scared I was going to…lose you and Dairen. I…I don’t know if I can do this.”
I step back. I’ve been verbally kicked in the chest. And it hurts as much as a physical one, too.
She shakes her head. “I…I think I need a little time to think.”
Dairen called this one and I hate admitting that he was right. Some partners just won’t be made for the danger and the schedule of being a firefighter. The unknown and imaginable is too real, even if it isn’t. Most of our calls don’t involve fire, most involve car accidents and medically related issues, but those ones that do, those scare the people we love the most.
“I understand. Where would you like to go?” I’m not happy, but I can tell she’s not either. This isn’t good for either of us.
“I don’t know. Probably go to my mother’s place for the weekend in Boston.”
A familiar truck drives up. “There might be another option.”
Jess turns and starts walking toward him and when she nears, he wraps his arms around her and drags her close, kissing the top of her
head and letting her release what she needs to. Her body shakes and she sobs, freeing the accident. I don’t feel any jealousy. They’re family. This is what she needs. I’d like to think she needs me more, but maybe our fire just burned too bright and too fast. A flash fire of a relationship versus a tended, controlled burn.
“Hey, man.” Deacon nods to me. “I figured I’d come here before going to the hospital. You wanna come with, Jessica?”
She nods. “I’ll go get my purse.”
We both watch her walk off.
“She okay?” he asks.
“Dairen was right. She just said she didn’t know if she could stand the danger factor of my job.”
He grabs my shoulder. “She’s just in shock. Give her some time. I’ll have her stay at my place tonight. Let’s see what she thinks in the morning.”
There isn’t much more I can do. Walking way feels like too little and yet begging isn’t me.
Jess joins us with a bag in her hand. “I called the landlord. He’ll call the restoration company to take care of closing it up.” Those soft brown eyes glance up to Deacon. The same color his eyes. “Could I, I mean, if it’s not too much trouble, sleep—”
“You’ll stay with me for as long as you need. I have a guest bedroom. You’re all good.”
“Thanks. I know this isn’t the way I wanted to get to know you, but…”
Deacon tugs her close. “But we’re family. It’s okay, sis.”
Her lips pull inward. “Yeah, family.” Her gaze travels to me. “I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Everything.”
Chapter Seven
Jessica
Dr. Lakeman gave me a prescription for some pain meds as the burn started to really hurt at the hospital last night. I slept hard. I think I needed to decompress and examine…everything. Visiting Dairen in the hospital last night was eye opening as to what firefighters faced. He was making jokes and seemed like he was in a good mood, but still, he was in the hospital. Part of me hoped that Boscoe would show, but he didn’t.
Dairen was released to Deacon late and he stayed in Deacon’s third bedroom. It was the first time we’d all been in the same house since I was five. Eighteen years wondering if they hated me or if they blamed my mom for leaving their dad. But they didn’t. They made it clear that their father, when he was alive, made it clear that their problems had nothing to do with her leaving and that our mother was stronger than he was because he couldn’t leave.