She looked down at the table with the empty seat between C.J. and her parents. Protocol required her to sit down and watch the slide show with them, but she couldn’t. Breaking down in front of them was something just she couldn’t handle. Tasha had to get out, and quickly!
She saw her escape through the kitchen. No one would question if she was needed somewhere, to take care of an emergency. Hopefully, her physically weak state wouldn’t draw attention.
With every ounce of strength she could muster, she walked as normally as she could off the podium toward the kitchen. Once the doors shut behind her, the tears stinging her eyes became a flood. Tasha’s limp returned. She didn’t know where she was headed, she just needed space to breathe.
C.J. WATCHED TASHA’S poised departure from the podium. He’d been awestruck by her presentation. Now he was filled with conflicted emotions as he looked at pictures of Tim fighting his cancer. C.J. saw himself in one of them with Tasha, the ever beautiful woman inside and out. She was the real hero tonight.
It was a picture of the three of them at the hospital a few days before Tim had passed away. The woman staring back at him was different from the one on the podium tonight. She had been in love with Tim, but now had had a year to mourn him. C.J. was eager to see if Tasha would be willing to try to move on with him.
He turned to her mother. “Excuse me, Genevieve. I need to talk to Tasha.”
She waved her hand in a dismissive gesture as she sipped her wine. “Why don’t you stay here? She’s in charge and is probably busy.”
“I feel I should go find her,” he answered curtly, disgusted by the way her mother just blew her off. How could she not be proud of her daughter’s speech and her ability to think up something this big? C.J. stood and went through the kitchen doors to find her.
TASHA WAS LEANING against the railing of the roof garden. She’d needed a respite from the draining day and had taken the elevator to the top of the hotel. Somehow she’d maintained her cool through the problems of the evening with the chef and band. And somehow she’d gotten through her speech.
Terrance had promised he would call or come find her if another disaster arose. She just needed a few moments to compose herself before she faced everyone again.
Ever since she was a young girl, this had been one of her favorite places to eat lunch with her parents. That’s why she’d chosen to come up here. On this mild night the air was filled with the intoxicating scents of jasmine and gardenias from the secluded bar and restaurant called the Garden of Eden.
It was famous for its fountains and exotic flowers reminiscent of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. The dim lighting invited visitors to find a quiet alcove to sip a drink or get lost with a lover.
Tasha wished she hadn’t run into C.J. at the marathon today. Even if she shut her eyes tightly, she couldn’t block his image from her mind. How handsome he looked in his tux tonight, his smile gorgeous when he gazed at her.
More than anything, it brought back all the feelings of inadequacy she’d felt with Tim. The constant third wheel, unloved. The kind of girl who could only be a friend.
Tasha was feeling very sorry for herself tonight. It was pathetic.
“Tasha?” The deep baritone tones that had been haunting her all day took her by surprise. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
She felt a shudder as he drew closer. “Why?” She knew the one-word question sounded lame, but she was at her wit’s end.
Instead of answering, C.J. handed her a flute of champagne. His eyes never left her face as he rested one arm on the railing. “You’re my date. Or did you forget?”
“I don’t remember it being a date. I clearly recall telling you we were coming as friends in order to remember a friend.”
C.J. gave her a weary smile. “That sounds like one of my lines.”
With that remark, she coughed on the champagne she’d just swallowed, and shook her head. Tasha turned to look at the Golden Gate Bridge, beautifully lit, but her coughing spell continued.
C.J. patted her back. “Let me know if you need CPR.”
“Then you’d get to be—” another round of coughs interrupted her “—a hero twice in one day. I couldn’t bear to put you through that.”
Tasha sipped from her flute to suppress another cough. “Seriously, how did you find me? If Terrance told you…” She could feel herself getting all riled up again.
“You can rest assured he didn’t give you away. I remember you talking to Tim about the views from the garden of this hotel. When I couldn’t find you downstairs, I thought I’d look for you up here.” C.J. gave her a thorough appraisal as he sipped his champagne. “You were right. The sights are incredible.”
“But you’re not looking at the city,” she said, going warm from head to toe. “I mean… Oh, I don’t know what I mean.” Tasha rubbed the tense muscles at the back of her neck.
“Bennington off her guard? I don’t believe it.” His smile was warm and inviting.
“I’m exhausted, C.J.”
“You gave an incredible speech tonight.” He inched closer as she reeled from his compliment.
Tasha found she had to tip her head back to look up at him as C.J. grasped her hand and led her to a quiet spot. “Where are we going, Captain?”
“Somewhere private.”
Too tired to put up a fight, she let him lead her through the enchanting garden. He found a hidden corner behind a large fountain lit from below to create the appearance of an underwater cavern. There were mosaic tiles on the floor and flowers climbing the walls, all designed to provide a romantic ambience.
She found she didn’t care why he’d brought her back here. The champagne had begun to take effect, making her relax a little. That was, until she saw where he wanted to sit—on an overstuffed love seat. She glanced around in confusion, feeling trapped.
“Have you been here before?” she asked.
“No,” he replied lazily.
C.J. sat down and with a simple tug pulled her onto the fat pillows beside him. Their bodies were touching. The contact brought flickers of desire to every cell of her body, terrifying her.
“Do you have any idea how striking you look right now, Tasha?”
She needed to calm that fluttery sensation in her stomach, but when he traced his fingertips across the back of her hand. Tasha felt as if he’d cast a spell on her. She had no option but to give in to her feelings for him.
His fingers grew bolder as they began to make their way up her arm, filling her with a storm of emotions. Against her better judgment she turned toward him. Their eyes met.
“You look like the goddess Aphrodite.”
“Have you ever seen her?”
“No, but I’ve heard of her,” he said in a husky voice. As C.J. rubbed her shoulders and played with her hair, something hot raged in his eyes, causing her heart to beat double-time.
Tasha watched his mouth, and her mind reeled with thoughts of how it would feel against hers. His palm cupped the back of her neck, drawing her against him.
So this was what it was like to be seduced.
A little voice in her head urged her to run, but she was too tired. For once she was going to be reckless.
The tender way he kissed her neck was driving her to distraction. She moved her cheek so it would rub against his smooth jaw. Their lips were millimeters away from connecting when C.J.’s cell phone buzzed.
“Shall we stay hidden?” He flashed a smile that made her think anything was possible with him.
“I’d like to, unless you’re on call tonight?” Tasha queried playfully.
C.J.’s eyes never left hers as he shook his head. “I’m not on call until tomorrow.” She could see him fumble with his phone before turning it off.
“Will you get in trouble for that?”
“No. I carry another phone on me just in case there’s an emergency.” He gave her a slow wink. “Tasha, you always were a worrier.”
“It’s what my clients expect me
to be for them.”
“No more talk of work. I can take care of myself and the station.”
C.J. clearly had other things on his mind. She could see his eyes exploring her face and upper body.
“Okay,” she whispered.
His fingertips ran up her arms to her neck, sending shivers coursing through her. Instead of talking, she decided to enjoy the sensation. Now he was drawing circles at her nape.
The air crackled with electricity. He drew her closer and gave her a light kiss on her lips. Just as he moved to deepen it, a phone with a fire alarm ring went off. C.J. reached into the pocket of his tux and pulled out a sleek silver cell. “Powell here.”
Tasha leaned back in the seat, still aflame from his touch and kiss. He jerked back into firefighter mode as if nothing had happened between them. “I’ll be right there, Chief. Thanks for the tip. I owe you.”
She turned to look at him, and found his whole countenance had changed. She wondered what he’d heard that had altered him so drastically. “Did somebody you know get hurt?”
“Tasha, we need to go!”
“What are you talking about?”
“The station has been trying to find me.” C.J. stood up and grabbed her hand as he began to run.
“Stop! I can barely move.” Tasha was struggling to keep up.
He paused and swung her into his arms. “Your condo is on fire.”
She was stunned. “My cat! Stormy’s there!”
“I know the commander in charge of the fire,” C.J. said, striding to the elevator with her in his arms, “and he’s the best there is.”
They reached the elevator, and he pushed the button frantically.
Tasha’s heart plummeted as they descended. She loved her home, her life, her memorabilia, but only Stormy was irreplaceable.
Chapter Three
On the way out to the car—she was still in C.J.’s arms— Tasha reached into her clutch for her cell phone and called Terrance. Once she’d told him what had happened, she gave him instructions on what to do for the rest of the evening.
“Aren’t you going to call your parents?” C.J. asked after she clicked off.
“No.”
He pulled her closer. “You’re going to need family to deal with this type of upheaval in your life.”
She shook her head. “All they’ve ever done is make matters worse. Didn’t you ever listen when Tim and I used to talk about our parents?”
He put her down, then gave the parking stub to the nearest valet. “I listened all right. I just have a hard time believing parents can be that bad.”
He opened the passenger door for her, then walked around to the driver’s seat. She was happy to let him drive. She pulled out a couple of bills and shoved the money into the valet’s hand, then turned to C.J. “Hurry!” she cried.
They took off as fast as traffic would allow.
THEY COULD SEE SMOKE billowing from the building when they were a block away. “I was hoping the fire would be more contained,” C.J. muttered as he slowed to hunt for a parking spot.
Tasha shot him a confused look. “Why are there firefighters on top of the roof with picks and axes?”
His features hardened. “They’re letting heat out in an attempt to create a safer environment to get inside to check for civilians and animals.”
“Oh! Do you think they’ve found Stormy?” Her voice shook and a tear slipped from her eye.
“Let’s go and find out.” C.J. maneuvered the sports car into a tiny parking spot on San Francisco’s famed Lombard Street, just a half block from the fire. “If they haven’t found your cat, I’ll go in and find him for you.”
“No!”
“Why not?” He looked at her as if she were crazy as he unbuckled both their seat belts.
“I’m not letting you risk your life for me and my cat!”
He took her face in his hands. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. I give you my word.”
“I’m terrified.” Her eyes were glossy with tears.
“I know and I’m going to bring you past the perimeter, to see if we can find Stormy. But we’ve got to hurry, okay?” His eyes searched hers, imparting a sense of assurance. No wonder he was a captain.
Tasha nodded. But there was no way she was going to let him go in. She had to talk him out of it once they were at the fire. She knew she wasn’t thinking clearly. But after that kiss she couldn’t fathom losing C.J. right after finding him again.
Before they even had a chance to get out of the car, a firefighter came running. “Sorry, folks, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave the area immediately.”
C.J. nodded and began reaching for his wallet. “Officer, I’m Captain C. J. Powell. Mac Jefferson, the geographic chief, just called me and asked me to come down.” He showed him his badge.
“I can let you through, sir, but not your girlfriend.” He was emphatic about it.
Frustrated, C.J. got out of the car so he could stare down at this rookie. “This is Natasha Bennington. It’s her condo that’s burning. Mac called us here to see what was going on.” C.J. folded his arms. “You phone him. Go ahead. See what he tells you.”
The officer had the grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry, sir,” he mumbled.
C.J. was done with talking, and turned to comfort Tasha. To his horror, the woman who’d set his heart on fire tonight was gone! He threw his jacket in the car and sprinted down the street to find her.
The scene at a fire was something he was used to, but he was viewing it for the first time through a civilian’s eyes. It looked like a war zone, with engines lining the winding narrow road as far as the eye could see. He could only imagine what Tasha would think, seeing ladders hoisted against the Spanish-style condo, pairs of men rushing into her building with hoses that would run at full pressure once inside. Black smoke billowing out meant the condo was cooling down, but she couldn’t know that.
He thought about all the terrible things that could happen to a civilian at a catastrophe like this, and knew paralyzing fear for the first time ever. His fingers furrowed through his hair as the acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils. Closer to the building, the air became dark with soot. What if she was struck by a hose? Worse, what if she tried to go into her condo?
He ran to the front of the condo, where he finally spotted Tasha. She was standing beside Mac, arguing with him.
She was all right.
C.J. hurried over just as Tasha was saying, “But you don’t understand, Chief. My cat, Stormy, could be in the condo. I always leave his little kitty window open for him, but what if he’s up there and scared? I have to get him!”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go in. I’ll have to arrest you if you continue to interfere in this operation.”
C.J. knew that Mac hated being harsh with civilians, but he couldn’t let her risk her life for a cat.
“Mac?”
“Powell! Glad you could make it.”
“I need to go in.”
“C.J., no!” Tasha cried.
He grabbed her hand. “I’m going to get Stormy. I’m a firefighter. I know what to do.”
“But—”
“Tasha. It’s going to be fine.” C.J. turned to Mac. “Can you find me a partner while I suit up to find her cat?”
The chief nodded and started talking on the radio, then barked, “Get going, Captain.”
Tasha followed C.J. to a nearby firetruck, where he got into gear. She was mesmerized as the handsome man in a tux who’d taken her to the ball changed into a fireman. He then led her back to where Mac was standing.
“Who’s investigating the scene?” C.J. asked the chief.
“Gonzalez.”
“Can you have him talk to Miss Bennington while I’m inside?”
“Any more orders, Powell?” Mac lifted an eyebrow.
“No, sir.” C.J. lowered his face shield.
Mac took Tasha by the arm and moved back, well away from the fire, just as smoke came out of the entryway of th
e building in a whoosh. It caused her to cough and her eyes to tear. She watched as C.J. climbed a truck ladder with another man. She’d never felt so afraid.
Excruciating long minutes passed, and C.J. was no longer in sight. She turned to Mac. “Where did he go? Is he okay?”
The chief answered calmly. “Of course. I just heard from him on the radio. He’s inside. Miss Bennington, have some faith in Captain Powell. He’s one of the best firemen I’ve ever known.” Mac have her a small smile. “Ah—here comes Gonzalez. He’ll have some questions for you.”
She could see a man walking toward her. Dressed in a formal uniform that looked out of place at a fire scene, he appeared to be in his mid-forties.
“Miss Bennington,” he said with he reached her. “I’m Detective Gonzalez.” He held out his hand. “I’m a fire investigator with the San Francisco Fire Department. I’d like to ask you some questions.”
Tasha pulled her hand out of the cocoon she’d created by wrapping her arms around herself, and met his firm grip. The last thing she wanted to deal with was law enforcement. Her home was burning, and C.J. and Stormy might not make it out alive.
“I’m not in the mood to talk at the moment.” Her tone was firm.
“You aren’t the first person to tell me that. Unfortunately, it’s either here or at the station later, Miss Bennington.”
“Well, aren’t you delightful.” She gave him her best courtroom stare, hoping he’d back off.
He gave her a second look as he took in her appearance versus her attitude. “Let’s move out of this danger zone and get you comfortable.”
“Comfortable? Are you kidding? My friend, my cat and my life are all burning up and you want me to get comfortable?”
“Ma’am, I need to start this investigation. We have to move out of the danger zone now.”
Tasha looked at the detective and knew she had no choice. Of course they had to question her.
Detective Gonzalez led her farther from the fire. As he did, he grabbed a blanket, chairs and some coffee from a makeshift triage center. In moments he had her settled in a chair and covered with a blanket while she sipped some coffee.
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