Feel the Fire (Hotshots)

by Annabeth Albert

  The first thing he did, as with any fire site, was to walk the perimeter as much as possible, getting a feel for where the fire likely originated, moving from the general area of the fire to a more specific origin area, looking for possible ignition spots. He was looking for possible modifications to the fuel bed—places where branches or other fuel had been deliberately arranged to aid in the ignition and spread of the fire. And sure enough, he found subtle but still telltale signs that certain charred branches and other debris had been specifically placed.

  “Again, this looks intentional, not lightning or other natural ignition, but I doubt it’s kids—whoever is responsible is clean, not leaving behind much if any evidence and is trying to cover their tracks, make it look like a spontaneous fire.”

  “Yeah, I had a feeling we might be dealing with a pro. Damn it.” Tucker’s frown stayed in place as Luis finished up his inspection.

  He didn’t find any obvious ignition sources—no mechanical devices or burnt remains of matches—but he collected a number of other clues to compare with the other fires.

  “You’re good at this,” Tucker observed as Luis came back to stand next to him and take a drink of his water.

  “What part? Telling you what you don’t want to hear?” Luis laughed, the praise feeling damn good. “Or you mean the data collection? That’s the fun part. Like you said, it’s a gorgeous late summer day. Who wouldn’t want to be outdoors? I always get way more insight hands-on like this.”

  “I bet. I just meant... I like watching you work.” Tucker’s cheeks went pinker than exertion alone would warrant. Damn. He was so appealing when he went shy and honest like that.

  “Thanks.” Luis stepped away before he could be tempted to do something foolish like kiss Tucker’s cheek. It might be that professional respect was his newest turn-on, but he couldn’t go there, even if they were alone in the middle of nowhere. He might be able to convince himself that only the trees would know, but he would know. And he would want a hell of a lot more than a peck on the cheek.

  So, he kept it professional and responsible as they made their way back to the Jeep. They talked Luis’s arson suspicions until they were back at the main road, when Tucker’s phone rang from its spot in the console, flashing a picture of a smiling kid.

  “It’s one of the boys. Could you put it on speaker for me?” Tucker asked. “Wish this old vehicle had easier hands-free tech.”

  “Sure.”

  “Hey, Dad!” A youthful voice filled the car, and Tucker’s answering smile was another checkmark in the “too cute” column as the guy really did seem to love his kids.

  “Wade? You’re on speaker. I’ve got a coworker with me.” He glanced over at Luis, pained expression on his face.

  Luis had had to handle family stuff in front of coworkers before too, though, and tried to give him a reassuring smile.

  “Yeah, it’s Wade,” the kid answered.

  “Is this an emergency?” Tucker demanded in a hurry-up sort of tone, but not mean either. He did concerned dad well.

  “Not exactly emergency, but I’ve been trying to catch you. I need the car. Walker’s got a date with Mary Anne—”

  “You know you’re supposed to work out sharing your car with him, not me.” Tucker groaned, the sort of long-suffering sound of someone who’d had this conversation a few hundred times.

  “Yeah, I know. And I’m sorry. I really am.” Wade sounded contrite, but also barreled ahead on his apparent mission to sell Tucker on his plan. “But the guys want to go watch this rodeo tonight, and your car holds more people. Is there any way you could catch a ride home with Garrick or something? Walker can take me to pick up your car then he can have that one and I can have yours. Easy, right? We’ve done it before.”

  “Easy huh? I’m not back at the office yet, and I’ve got another stop before I’ll be free. I’m not sure what time Garrick’s working to either.” Eyes still on the road, Tucker scrubbed at his hair one handed before returning it to the wheel.

  “Please. I’ll owe you big time.” The kid was good at the hard sell.

  “You already do.” Tucker’s voice was stern, but the slackness in his features said he was close to caving. “Let me call Garrick and get back to you, okay?”

  “I can give you a ride.” The words came out without permission from Luis’s brain. Bad idea, bad idea, abort! No way did this end well, but he also couldn’t recall the offer, especially once Tucker gave a crooked smile.

  “Seriously?” Relief was clear in his eyes.

  “We’ll be at the air base.” Luis was trying to talk himself into this as much as Tucker. “It’s not that much trouble to head into Painter’s Ridge, drop you off wherever. I can return the car as easily as you. No big deal.”

  Except for the part where he’d told himself he might not have to go back into Painter’s Ridge at all. And the whole more-time-alone-with-Tucker thing straining his already shaky resolve. No big deal. Right?

  “Well, in that case...” Tucker was already nodding, no time for second thoughts. “Yeah, okay. But Wade? You owe me and my...coworker now, you hear?”

  Tucker’s hesitation over what to call Luis wasn’t lost on him. Could they get back firmly into friend territory? It was ill-advised and not one of his smarter impulses, but he still couldn’t stop the tug of longing in his gut.

  “Thank you. You’re the best, Dad!” Wade crowed, cutting in to Luis’s churning thoughts.

  “Tell me that when you come home safe. By curfew, okay? I want text updates from the rodeo too.” Tucker was back into concerned-dad mode now, full of several other reminders that Wade took in stride before ending the call.

  “Thanks. You didn’t have to offer. I appreciate it.”

  “No problem,” Luis lied with a smile because he had gotten himself into this mess. But surely he could survive a trip to Painter’s Ridge with Tucker. All he had to do was drop Tucker off, after all.

  “You’re a lifesaver.” Tucker smiled then, wide and easy, and somehow Luis knew, deep in his bones, that he was already screwed, but hell if he could see any way out of the coming calamity.

  Chapter Seven

  There was nothing weird about getting a ride home. In a two car/three driver household, it happened, way more than Tucker would like. Garrick probably would have been happy to provide a lift had it come to that. Luis playing taxi shouldn’t have felt any different, and yet, the whole time they were at the air base, his neck tightened every time he thought about it. Which was often because there was plenty of downtime as Luis peppered the smoke-jumping team with questions and handled the inquiry expertly, clearly in his element. He’d been right that he didn’t need Tucker along, but Tucker was happy for the chance to see him work.

  Should he ask Luis in when he dropped him off? Would that look like an obvious pretext? Some sort of move that he wasn’t even sure he knew how to make? Get over yourself. He sounded worse than one of the boys, all hung up on some crush who had no clue about his inner dithering. Not that this was a crush. Even if he enjoyed Luis’s company beyond their past connection, it still wasn’t any sort of infatuation. He had plenty of coworkers whom he enjoyed spending time with. Luis didn’t have to be any different.

  “Thanks again for the ride,” he said as they walked back from the main offices to the parking lot at the air base. “Are you sure Blaze won’t miss you?”

  “You remembered my cat’s name?” A small, pleased smile danced across Luis’s face, early evening sun still plenty bright and glinting off his dark hair. “She’s remarkably independent. I’m honestly not sure she even likes me.”

  “Of course she likes you. You’re her human and you feed her.” Tucker had had more than enough animals to know that food generally equaled love and devotion.

  “Well... Mike’s the one who rescued her. It’s been years, but I don’t think she’s ever forgiven me for him not
coming home.”

  From Luis’s regretful tone Tucker gathered that maybe the cat wasn’t the one who needed to do the forgiving. Tucker knew a little about guilt, and he wanted to touch Luis’s arm or shoulder, tell him that whatever had happened wasn’t his fault, but it wasn’t Tucker’s place to touch him.

  “That’s rough.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. He’d never lost someone, not like that at least. He struggled for the right words. “But Blaze travels with you. There’s got to be some bond there.”

  “She deigns to accompany me rather than terrorize a pet sitter,” Luis joked, but his smile was tight and narrow.

  “How about you?” Tucker tried to keep his voice gentle, not pushy. “Have you coped better than her? Something like that...it had to take some time to get over.”

  “It’s not really the sort of thing you get over.” Even his tight smile was gone now, replaced by a more somber expression. “You move on, sort of grudgingly because there’s no choice but to put one foot in front of the other. But over? If there’s a secret recipe for that, I haven’t found it.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make light.” Tucker paused on the edge of the parking lot.

  “It’s okay. One thing I learned is that people who haven’t been there seldom know what to say. Even Mami, who should know better, harps on the idea of me finding someone new. Not happening.”

  There was a warning there, a note of caution, and it landed square in Tucker’s chest. Don’t get attached. He doesn’t have anything left to give. Tucker wasn’t sure that was entirely true, but he got the message, loud and clear. He wanted to say something else, maybe probe why Luis wasn’t looking for anything romantic, but then he heard his name called.

  “Ryland! What brings you around here?” A smoke jumper, Lincoln Reid, strode across the gravel lot toward them. Tucker had gone to school with him as well as Garrick, and they were at least friendly if not close friends. “Are we about to get a big callout?”

  “No callout. Hate to disappoint you. You look like you’re spoiling for a jump.”

  “Maybe so. I’m working as a spotter this season though, so less jumping for me. Old knees.”

  “Ha. Now you’re going to make me feel old too. We’re here on an arson investigation. This is Luis Rivera. He’s taking point on that and some other fire behavior work.”

  “I know you.” Linc stuck out a hand for Luis. “You were in school with us, weren’t you? Through...sophomore year maybe?”

  “Right as junior year started, yeah. Surprised you remember.” Eyes narrowing, Luis returned the handshake. Back then, Linc had had his own rougher crowd, which had crossed with Tucker via football, but neither Tucker nor Luis had been high on the invite list for any of that crowd’s parties and hell-raising.

  “Of course I remember you. You’re the one famous for starting a fight of some kind with paint. I forget what play it was though...”

  “The Grinch. I was green for weeks.” Luis grinned.

  “Yeah, that was it. How’s it been? Are you back for good?”

  “No. Just helping out a shorthanded office here. On loan from Angeles National Forest.” Luis’s emphatic tone was a good reminder that his time here was short and finite. He rather clearly didn’t have any desire to rekindle a fondness for the area—or anything else for that matter.

  “Ah. Good. We can use all the help we can get around here. Busy fire season this year, that’s for sure. I hope we can get to the bottom of the arson.”

  “We will.” Luis stood taller. His pride in his work sure was appealing.

  “Great. And speaking of busy, I better head home. It’s Jacob’s night to cook. Pray for my stomach.”

  “I’m sure you’ll be fine.” Even as he laughed, Tucker’s chest gave an odd twinge. He’d known Linc was living with someone, of course. It was a small town with a smaller firefighting community, and word got around, but seeing Linc, the former badass, all domesticated...well, that was something. And somehow they were managing a life for themselves here. Garrick and his guy too. Maybe...

  No. Tucker tried to picture a universe where he wasn’t coming home to an empty house half the week, but all his brain supplied were flashes of Luis’s face, which weren’t helpful. Even if Tucker ever did find the inclination to date, Luis wasn’t going to be here to see it, let alone participate. And on that fun thought, he let Linc continue on his way home while they reached the Jeep.

  “I’ll drive to my place, then I’ll help you set your GPS—”

  “I’ll be fine. Save the parenting for the boys.” Luis laughed as he climbed in the passenger seat.

  “Hey, I can’t help it. Worry. It’s in my DNA now.”

  “I know. You’re cute.” Luis didn’t give Tucker a chance to digest that little comment before he was asking, “Who’s this Jacob?”

  “Linc’s boyfriend, although it might be fiancé now. Another smoke jumper. They’ve got a pack of dogs and a place out in the country. You’d remember Jacob’s brother Wyatt.”

  “I remember.” Luis’s mouth pursed, probably because Wyatt had been something of a bully. “Lincoln Reid, though. With a boyfriend. Sure didn’t see that one coming.”

  “Me either, but my radar for that sort of thing has always been off.” That got a laugh from Luis, and he waited until he completed the turn out of the air base before continuing. “They’re good together though.”

  “Nice. It can be tough, being on the same crew.” Luis’s attention was on the rural landscape, not Tucker.

  “Was it for you?” It was surprising how much Tucker wanted to hear about Luis’s LA life, Mike in particular.

  “Oh yeah. Especially at first. We were trying to keep it secret and probably failing at it. I suck at secrets. Stress.”

  “I imagine so,” Tucker said mildly. Again, there seemed to be a message there, a note of defiance that Luis wasn’t about to be secret again. They passed the edge of town, ranch land giving way to a few neighborhoods and small downtown.

  “He...it wasn’t perfect. He could be stubborn. We used to butt heads over the stupidest shit.” Tone fond, Luis shook his head. He straightened as they passed the high school, older brick building with only a car or two in the lot since it was summer. “Same old building?”

  “Yep. They’ve added on here and there, but I doubt the town has money for new. We make do. Boys are pretty happy there. Some of the same teachers even, old-timers hanging on.”

  “Wow. It was so weird, going from such a small school where all the teachers knew my name to one with over two thousand kids. So many choices.”

  “I bet.” Tucker tried to match Luis’s reflective tone.

  “I went a little overboard signing up for clubs. Maybe part of that was trying to outrun how much I missed that place, ceiling cracks and few electives and all.”

  “Understandable. And glad you missed...something.”

  “I did.”

  At a stop sign their eyes met, and there it was again, that energy between them. Not so much a crackle this time, but an ebb, a mutual wave of understanding, same as at the restaurant last night. The harsh edges of the past were softening, and he wasn’t entirely sure what to make of it.

  Painter’s Ridge wasn’t nearly big enough because here they were, turning into his neighborhood, and he still felt rather dazed.

  “New housing?” Luis’s mouth tilted, quizzical expression on his face.

  “Yep. Even Painter’s Ridge expands. And Heidi and I wanted houses close together at decent prices, so it worked out for us,” he explained as he pulled into his short drive. “The tradeoff for me is a tiny yard. No room for a garden.”

  “I imagine that’s a hardship for you. You always did like helping your mom with hers.”

  “Yup. I’ve gotten creative with some containers, but it’s not the same. And the boys wanted me to get a puppy after our old dog
passed on, but it wouldn’t be fair to the puppy, no room to roam.”

  “You need a cat...” Luis got a sly look on his face.

  “Oh no, you don’t. You’re not pushing yours off on us, and no way am I getting talked into a kitten.” He laughed as he shut off the engine. “Say...you want to come in?”

  “Come in?” Luis raised an eyebrow, that way he had of saying volumes with a single look.

  “Uh...yeah...maybe you want a tour? And...” He cast about for another reason to not send Luis on his way. “It’s Friday. You’ve had a week what with the drive up from California and starting with our office. Perhaps you want a beer?”

  Head tilting, Luis considered him for a long moment, probably trying to figure out what he was up to, and honestly, Tucker would like to know that too. Finally, he shrugged. “What the hell. Sure. Give me the tour, and we’ll see about the beer. I’m picky about brands.”

  “Yup. You went and became a foodie,” Tucker teased as he led the way up the sidewalk. “I can remember when we couldn’t wait to get our hands on any beer, no matter the kind. But as it happens, I’ve got bottles from the brewery we ate at last night. You liked that IPA, right?”

  “Yeah. It was decent.” Luis waited for Tucker to unlock the door, then surveyed the open main area of the house. Tucker had let the boys pick a lot of the furnishings, and unlike Heidi’s carefully matching scheme, the room was a bit haphazard. Luis didn’t seem to mind, though, nodding as he took in the oversize leather couch, multitude of kid artwork on the walls, and the farmhouse-style table with benches that the boys had made into everything from a pirate ship to a covered wagon when they were younger. “This is nice. My condo’s in an older building. I kind of moved in a fog after Mike and Dad passed. Tiny kitchen is the big drawback there. I do like the great room like this.”