Kale (The Fire Inside #1)

by Theresa Marguerite Hewitt

  “Piper can spend the day with us together, babe. I’m not going anywhere though, I thought we covered that already.”

  “Stubborn ass. You keep saying that, but I’m telling you, you’re not needed here. Go do whatever-the-hell-or-whoever-the-hell you want.”

  Leaning over the small table between us, I smile as I meet her stare. “Whoever the hell I want is you, but you’re injured, baby, so we can’t do that right now. No worries, as soon as you’re back on your feet, I’ll have you off them and tied to my bed.”

  The blush creeping over her face and neck lets me know I’ve gotten to her. Settling back, I begin to eat as she watches me. She lets out a sigh and finally begins to eat. She looks over at me and smiles a full blown, eyes dancing smile.

  “You used milk?”

  Grinning like a kid who brought home Honor Roll on his report card, I nod. Her surprise evident.

  “How did you know? Piper doesn’t eat oatmeal and she never makes it with milk. Your mom makes it with water, too. How did you know to make it with milk, Kale?”

  “This morning, I realized I’ve always paid attention to you Paige. You’ve always been around, but I’ve always noticed you and all the little things. Look, I know we have a lot to talk about and you think I’ve never noticed you, but I have.”

  How can I explain to her that I, myself, just realized how much I’ve noticed her over the years? Yes, she may be Piper’s best friend, but she has always been around for all of us, not just my sister. One year my mom was sick, Piper was backpacking with her new boy toy of the week, and Paige came over and took care of my mom; cooking, cleaning, and making sure she took her meds. She made oatmeal for my mom as I walked in to help. Telling me, “Oh Kale, it’s my favorite. My grandmother always made it with milk and a splash of vanilla for me when I was a kid. It makes everything better.” Her grandmother had come down with a bad case of pneumonia and died in the hospital just a few months before that day. Vividly, I remember her smile, with tear filled eyes, as she continued making the meal for my mother and herself.

  When I went on a training exercise that was a seventy two hour mission, Paige spent the day before making homemade granola bars for me to pack to stay nourished. She made enough to feed the entire team for the duration of the task. That’s Paige, always doing for others.

  It is so much more than that though. It’s history, it’s us, and everything we have shared. I was home visiting from college when Piper and Paige had a homecoming dance, or something, for high school. Piper was going with the football team captain, typical of Piper, while Paige, on the other hand, was going with the meathead’s best friend because that’s how it goes in high school, best friends with best friends and all. Paige was beautiful in her simple empire cut, spaghetti strapped ivory gown. Their dates picked them up at our house. The guy never complimented her when he arrived. Agitation at his indifference to taking her built inside me. I made sure to lay on the big brother routine thick that night before telling them both they were gorgeous and waiting up for their timely return that night. Looking back though, it wasn’t Piper’s return I was so anxious about. Paige has owned a piece of me for longer than I ever realized.

  The noise of my sister entering brings me out of my musings. Piper makes her way in with a smile as she walks over to Paige and hugs her friend.

  “Hey girlie, sleep well?” She asks with a wink. Paige rolls her eyes and continues eating without answering.

  Sitting down, Piper looks over to me, her smile gone. “You made her cook jerkface? She’s injured. The doctor said she has to stay off her feet, not cook for the Neanderthal.”

  Before I can respond, Paige cuts in. “He made it, Pipe. He drew me a bath, and then made my favorite breakfast – with milk. Cut the caveman some slack.”

  “Never.” My sister replies before taking my bowl from me and finishing my breakfast. What the hell?

  “Okay, Piper is here now, Kale. You’re free to go.” Paige dismisses me.

  CHAPTER TEN

  A full smile spreads across both of the Benson siblings faces at my dismissal of Kale. No one is moving though. Pain is shooting up my leg and throbbing radiates down from my head, both settling into my stomach. The oatmeal Kale made me seems to be gently calming all that my body is dealing with. Too bad it can’t work the same wonders for my heart and mind.

  Looking over to Piper, I give her my very best glare, trying to silently communicate for her to back me up and send her brother packing. She smiles sweetly at me and gives me a wink.

  “Seriously, bro, you can leave for a little while. We need girl time. Go to your place and pick up some more clothes to settle in. I’ll keep an eye on Paige. Stop by the fire house and get your schedule. I’ll work my work schedule around yours as much as possible and what we can’t cover mom will be more than happy to. Paige will have a rough week until we can get the swelling down enough for a boot or cast-“

  “Stop talking about me like I’m not even here damn it!” I cut Piper off. “Kale, you can go do what you need to and don’t bring back clothes because you aren’t staying. Pipe, you don’t need his schedule because I don’t need twenty-four hour care.”

  Pushing my bowl to the center of the table, this conversation has quickly diminished my appetite. I am done eating. My nerves are catching up to me in all that has occurred with Kale. The more I think on it, the more my mind spins. I am full on sulking now. I do not want Kale here. First, I’m a mistake and last night…God, last night, how embarrassing! He really kissed me and I asked for it, thinking I was dreaming. He keeps saying we need to talk. The last thing I want to do is talk to him about us.

  “Kale, let us have some time together,” Piper says calmly, while staring at me with a look that says this is far from over.

  “I need to swing by the station. I’ll be gone for a bit and bring back lunch for both of you.” Kale concedes, giving me at least a momentary break from him and our situation.

  He stands to put away his bowl and mine. Watching him move through my space makes something deep in me pull tightly. As much as I don’t want him here, I do at the very same time. He twists me up in knots like no one else can. He can hurt me far more than anyone else as well.

  Kale casually makes his way out of the kitchen and back to my bedroom and bathroom. Listening, I hear the water turn on from my shower. How does he fit so easily into my home like he’s been living here for years? That’s Kale though, always confident and in charge everywhere he goes.

  Sighing loudly beside me, Piper brings me out of my Kale fog. Turning my head to her, I give her the meanest of stares I can manage. She laughs at me making me more on edge.

  “This isn’t funny, Piper. I’m hurt, in real pain here. I have too much going on to add Kale drama to the mix. Why is he even here?”

  “Because he cares. He’s a little slow to the party, but my brother has serious feelings for you. He’s here to take care of you.”

  “No, Piper, he doesn’t have serious feelings for me like you think he does. That was a mistake remember. I’m a mistake. Only, we have a history so he can’t brush me off because your mom raised him to be a good man.” I shake my head. “He doesn’t owe me anything. He certainly doesn’t need to take care of me. Hell, I’ve been a mistake to my own mother for my entire life and she knows how to cut me loose. Tell him that he can leave me be. I’m just fine without him. He doesn’t need to feel guilty or obligated to be here. He listens to you, Pipe.”

  “Stop it, Paige. I know this is all new to you. I know your insecurities are running crazy. Listen to me, no one, and I mean no one, tells my brother what to do and you know that. He also doesn’t do shit out of obligation or out of guilt other than offer an apology. Kale is here because this is where he wants to be.”

  Her face is set in a hard line letting me know whose side she is choosing. Now how am I going to get him to leave? There is no way I can have Kale in my bed for another night.

  Piper gets up from the table moving over to the couch
, she shuffles my throw pillows around setting them up to keep my foot elevated before coming back to me. This is her silent instruction for me to move to the living room and that our conversation of me getting rid of Kale is over. Before I do more than twist my body to get out of the chair, Kale is in my space lifting me effortlessly from my seat.

  His hair still damp from his shower, the smell of him mixed with his body wash is intoxicating. As much as I want to argue for him to put me down, I find my arms wrapping around his neck and pulling myself closer to him. When he gently places me on the sofa, with my leg laid out over the pillows, I find it hard to let go of him. He is leaning over me, his forehead almost touching mine as he meets my gaze.

  “I’ll be back, Paige. Take it easy.” Then he kisses the side of my forehead. My arms still firmly around his neck, he reaches up and pulls at my wrists to let him go. Smiling at me, he whispers as he pushes off the couch to stand up, “Actions speak louder than words babe, think on that.”

  Finding my inner resolve to keep myself guarded from all things Kale Benson, I snap, “No need to come back. I told you, I’m just fine without you. Go away and go back to the way things were before when I didn’t exist.”

  “Paige, there isn’t a time in my life, since I was little, where you haven’t existed. I’m going to square away a few things at work then I’ll be back. I’m not going away and neither is what we share.”

  I don’t know if I want to throw something at his head or cry. “You are so frustrating!” I yell at him.

  He laughs as he walks away without a second look. He is completely comfortable in all this while I am stuck on my couch full of so many emotions my head feels like a tornado is swirling inside.

  He’s not out the door three seconds and Piper is on me. “Stop it, Paige.”

  “Stop what?” I ask, trying for innocence and fail miserably.

  “Stop trying to push him away.”

  “I know you really want to see this work for us, but it’s not going to okay. I’ve faced that. He gave me a great release, leave it at that.”

  “Get the stubborn stick out of your ass Paige. Be patient with him.”

  “Stick out of my ass? He told me I was a mistake. I get it, I accept it, and I sure as hell don’t need him to remind me of it or try to make up for it.”

  “Stop it, Paige. Quit being hung up on his mistake using that word. Kale has his own issues. I’m asking you to stop pushing him away, please; not just for you but for my brother. Paige, be patient with him. He needs someone like you. He needs his own safe place to fall. He’s always been the man of the house for mom and me. He’s always been the one to pick up the pieces when everything falls apart. One day, things are going to fall apart for him and who will be there?”

  Her words are like a sledge hammer to my chest. Kale has always been there for Piper and their mom. Who is there to support Kale? No one. I feel my hardened face soften.

  “Your mom always says behind every strong, good man is an even stronger woman. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to be that for Kale.”

  “You already are.”

  “How do you figure?”

  “In college, when Kale’s financial aid ran out and he didn’t want to burden mom with the expense, who did he call? You. He came home the following weekend and the two of you spent three days finding every scholarship opportunity available and applying. You were the one he turned to and you were the one who had his back.”

  “We are friends, Pipe. I helped you do the same damn thing.”

  “When he graduated jump school, the guys were only allowed two tickets each to invite family to the final ceremony. He paid Mason for your ticket because he wanted you there. I remember he told mom, ‘she’s family; I couldn’t have done it without Paige.’”

  “Piper, he thinks we’re attached at the hip, you and me. I am in a different category. That doesn’t mean he wants the forever kind of thing with me,” I try arguing.

  “I don’t make granola bars for the entire team when they are going to be out for training. You go the extra mile to take care of him. Kale has lived his life with tunnel vision. Fight fires, rescue innocent people, become a smoke jumper to battle the most wicked of blazes. He couldn’t save our dad, but he’s not gonna lose anyone else. If no one gets close, he doesn’t have to say goodbye. Only with you, things are different because you’re already in there. He didn’t see it before, now he does; he just doesn’t know what to do with that yet. Be patient with him.”

  My mind is a mess with all these new thoughts. Am I really strong enough for Kale? I have always been there for Kale. I have always been drawn to him and everything about him. More than that, he has always made sure I was able to be there. Piper is right about that. I have never missed anything because Kale has always personally invited me and made me aware of what he had going on. Subconsciously, we have both been pulled to each other long before either of us realized what we were doing.

  Arriving at the fire station, my chest tightens when I see Lando’s car in the back lot. We have to trust our lives to one another without question or hesitation. He may not like me moving in on Paige, not that he’s got a chance in hell of stopping me, but we need to clear up a few things.

  I have a battle on my hands of getting Paige to accept that what is going on between us is going to happen. She can try as hard as she wants to push me away but I am not going anywhere. This time together I will use to my advantage to show her that I am serious and in this all the way.

  Walking in, I’m greeted by a few of the guys, I wave my hello and make my way to the Captain’s office. He is sitting behind the computer at his desk as I enter.

  “Benson, what are you doin’ here today?” Captain Laus asks, knowing I took a personal day today since I knew Paige would need me.

  “I came by to fill out some paperwork to take the rest of the week off. Paige needs to stay off her ankle as much as possible and she suffered a concussion; someone needs to keep an eye on her.”

  “And that someone is gonna be you, huh?” He snickers at me.

  “Damn straight it is.” I state, completely owning my situation with Paige.

  “I’m sure if I asked the fellas they would gladly set up a rotation to look after Ms. Lockley.” He goads me as he moves to his file cabinet for the papers I need.

  “No need, Captain. I’m all she needs.” I say with a wink as I take the papers from him.

  “Fill in the dates and sign the bottom. Leave them in Charlene’s box for Human Resources before you leave the building. You know how she is over her paperwork. We screw something up and she’s all over my ass.”

  “Got it, Captain. Thanks.”

  “Take care of your girl and tell her we’re glad she’s gonna be alright. And no more saving all the Bambi’s and Tod’s in the woods.”

  “Tod, sir?”

  “Obviously, you don’t have kids, Benson. Tod, from The Fox and The Hound, he’s the Fox.” He stares at me as if waiting for a light to click on in recognition, but I honestly don’t remember that movie and he just shrugs his shoulders at me, waving for me to get out.

  I laugh as I make my way out of his office and down to the common area. After filling out my paperwork, leaving it for Charlene, I make my way to my locker to grab my stuff before heading out. As I cross through the work out area, I see Lando doing pull ups. I give him a chin jerk so he knows I acknowledge him. When he immediately drops down, I know he is prepared to have the same conversation I am.

  “Kale.”

  “Lando,” I reply as he’s now in front of me.

  “How’s Paige?” He questions with genuine concern.

  “She’s gonna be okay. She’s sore today, waiting on me to get home.”

  Okay, she’s not exactly waiting on me to get home, but he doesn’t need to know that. After all, I watched the two of them kiss, he doesn’t need to think there is any opening for him to creep in.

  “You’re it, huh?”

  His response catches me off
guard. What does he mean by ‘it’? What exactly happened with him and Paige?

  “Look, I know you took Paige out, but I also know it’s not serious. She and I have a history together. We’ve had some, let’s say, miscommunications recently, but we’re working our shit out. She’s off limits. You’re a good guy, Lando…”

  His laughing cuts me off. “I get it now, it’s you.” I stare at him with a look of confusion on my face as he continues. “Yeah, we went out once, Benson, but her heart wasn’t in it. I hoped like hell there would be more there, but she wasn’t feeling it and told me so that very night. Now, I get it. She has serious feelings for you, man. That girl is one to hold onto so whatever your ‘miscommunications’ are, sort that shit out quick, she’s a catch.” Lando adds, using air quotes with the word miscommunication to emphasize my fuck up.

  At his words, I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. She told him she wasn’t feeling it. I don’t know when that happened, but I am sure glad it did. I give him a chin lift in my agreement.

  “Benson, you aren’t gettin’ me. Paige is pure. She’s genuine. She’s loyal. She’s not high maintenance. All the guys love her, she loves the team. With what we do man, there aren’t many women that can handle it for the long haul. Paige is one of them. And she’s not bad on the eyes either. She’s always beautiful, but the way she dressed up the other night, she’s a fuckin’ knock out. Those shy types always turn out to be the wildcats in bed, brother.”

  “I know all this man,” I interject before he goes into more details of his thoughts of Paige in bed. I happen to know first-hand how amazing she is in bed, but that’s all for me, no one else.

  “You didn’t seem to know it not too long ago. She’s waiting for you, the rest of us see it, but you…man, I don’t know where your head has been, or your dick for that matter. Glad to see you’re pullin’ your head outta your ass now, though.”