Brave the Heat

by Sara Humphreys

  “Yeah, that’d be great.” Gavin gave the kid a reassuring smile when the boy bit his lip. Who could blame him? Gavin had practically taken his damn head off for no reason. “Make sure everyone’s turnout gear is in the right spot and ready to go in case we get a call. You can bug out after that.”

  “Thanks, Chief.”

  “Hey, kid?” Gavin’s voice stopped the boy dead in his tracks. “You really like this, don’t you?”

  “Yes, sir.” David nodded enthusiastically. “What you guys do is about the most badass thing I’ve seen in real life. I mean, you see stuff like this in movies and video games, but, man, that’s nothing compared to the real thing. It’s a total rush. Way cool.”

  “What about your brother?” Gavin glanced out the window again before cursing himself for his foolishness. “I haven’t seen him here since your official community service was up. He doesn’t share your enthusiasm?”

  “Nah.” David shook his head and shrugged, an air of disappointment flickering over him. “He’s more interested in taking out our boat. He’s actually kinda pissed at me. We were supposed to do one of the local regattas this summer, but I bailed on him.”

  “Why?”

  “I’d rather do this.” David shrugged in the classic noncommittal teenager way and stuck his hands in the pockets of his shorts. “What you guys do is important. I dunno. He’ll get over it. Our cousin is gonna do it with him instead. Thanks, Chief.”

  “You bet.” Gavin nodded.

  “And I know I said it before, but I really am sorry about pulling that alarm.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have let Robert do it. He’s always getting me into trouble one way or another. Ever since we were little. Anyway, I’m sorry.”

  “We all make mistakes, David.” Gavin’s heart went out to the kid. He knew all too well that some mistakes were worse than others and not as easily atoned for. “Let’s consider it done. And if you’re hungry, get on in the common room and grab yourself some chili.”

  “Thanks.” Backing out of the office, the kid promptly bumped into and bounced off of Rick’s barrel-shaped chest. Scurrying around him, David mumbled, “Sorry, sir.”

  “That kid makes me nervous,” Rick muttered under his breath as the boy disappeared down the hall. Turning his tanned face to Gavin, he grinned wickedly. “But not as nervous as I make him.”

  “You’re mean.” Gavin laughed and shook his head. Forcing himself not to look back out the window, he went to his desk and shut down the computer. “He’s been a big help this week.”

  “Yeah, he’s okay.” Rick sat in the wooden chair across from Gavin and hoisted his boot-clad feet on top of the desk. “But I’m surprised you noticed.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Gavin sat down and busied himself with organizing the reports that were strewn across his desk. Paperwork was his least favorite part about the administrative position of fire chief. “I’m the one who gave him the job.”

  “You know damn well what it means.” Rick’s voice grew serious. “Ever since she got back to town, you’ve had your head up your ass.”

  Gavin stilled and slowly turned his eyes to meet Rick’s. They’d been friends a long time and the guy knew him about as well as his own brothers, but Gavin was still his boss.

  “Is that so?” Folding his hands on the desk, he kept his voice even. “Even if it were true, I don’t see how it’s any of your damn business.”

  “Well, your love life might not be my business, but you having your head up your ass sure is. It’s dangerous and you know it.” Rick dug a piece of gum out of his pocket and unwrapped it before popping it into his mouth. He crumpled the wrapper and tossed it at the wastebasket by the window, then put both hands in the air when it landed noiselessly in the bin. “Two points.”

  “Duly noted.” Gavin rose to his feet and struggled to keep his temper in check. He wasn’t pissed at Rick for being out of line; it was exactly the opposite. “Anything else?”

  “Yeah.”

  Rick dropped his feet from the desk and stood up. He might have been shorter by a few inches, but he was as broad and didn’t back down from anyone or anything. He was a hell of a firefighter and an even better friend.

  “When are you gonna stop being a stubborn dick and go over there and talk to her? Listen, I may not have been around when you two dated back in the Stone Age, but according to Maddy, you and Jordan were like peas and carrots until she split for New York.” Rick frowned. “Why did she split anyway?”

  “Hell if I know,” Gavin said in a huff. “It was a hundred years ago.”

  “Yeah, well, it might’ve been, but based on the way you’ve been acting since she got back to town, I’d say you still have it bad.”

  “It’s ancient history.” Gavin lowered his voice. “Like you said, the Stone Age.”

  “Don’t give me that shit.” Rick poked Gavin in the chest. “The only woman you’ve dated since I’ve known you was that crazy Suzanne broad. At the rate you’re going, you’re a regular candidate for the seminary. Here’s the way I see it. There are only two reasons why a single guy isn’t out prowling around for a date on a Friday night. One—his equipment don’t work. And two—”

  “My equipment is just fine,” Gavin interjected quickly.

  “And two—he’s hung up on a broad he thinks he can’t have.”

  “Aw, come on, man.” Gavin made a scoffing sound and waved one hand dismissively. “Damn it, Rick. She left. Fifteen years ago, the woman split without a word and then she married someone else. What could I possibly have to say to her? She’s married. End of story.”

  “No wonder you didn’t become a cop.” Rick leaned across the desk. A slow smile cracked his weathered face, and he slapped Gavin on the cheek playfully. “She’s not, genius.”

  “Not what?” Gavin’s head spun with a hundred questions as Rick strode over to the door of the office. A painfully cruel glimmer of hope tugged at Gavin’s heart. “Rick? What the hell, man? Not what?”

  “If I tell you, you have to promise me that you’re gonna pull your head out of your ass long enough to go over there and talk to her.” Rick turned around slowly and leaned against the doorjamb. “Deal?”

  “Fine,” Gavin said with pure exasperation. “It’s my mother’s birthday tomorrow, and I have to order flowers for her anyway. Now spill it.”

  “Maddy told me and swore me to secrecy, but since you asked, I can tell you.” Folding his arms over his burly chest, he nodded toward the window and winked. “Jordan’s not married anymore.”

  “What?” A combination of relief, fear, and hope shot through Gavin like fire. “When?”

  “Divorced. About six months ago, I think.” Rick shrugged. “I dunno. Something like that. Apparently, the guy was a real piece of work.”

  “And you planned on telling me this when?” Gavin moved across the room, slowly closing the distance between himself and Rick. Hands on his hips, irritation edged his voice. “How long have you known?”

  “Maddy told me when I overheard her on the phone with Jordan. Not long before she came back.” He held up both hands. “And before you flip out, yes, I knew Jordan was moving back here, and, no, I didn’t tell you because, like I said, Maddy swore me to secrecy. I wasn’t allowed to tell you about Jordan’s divorce unless you asked.” He slapped Gavin on the shoulder. “Which you did. Kind of.”

  “Divorced?” Gavin walked to the window and stared at the flower shop. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  “Have you given her a chance, or have you been sitting over here with your dick in your hand for the past two weeks?”

  Gavin stilled as the weight of Rick’s question hit him. No, he sure as hell hadn’t given her a chance. All he’d done was give her a big, fat attitude along with the chip on his shoulder. Damn it all. Gavin turned to respond to his friend, but the doorway was empty and he was once again alone. Letting out a breath, he ran both hands over his face vigorously.

  He peered out the window agai
n and squinted against the glare of the sun that flashed off the shop’s glass door. He watched it close slowly behind a customer while the latest bit of news sank in.

  Jordan was divorced and back in Old Brookfield to start over.

  Maybe that was something they could do together.

  * * *

  Jordan’s first week at work had been busy, to say the least. At the moment the shop was empty, and the quiet was a welcome relief. Between weddings and graduation parties, they might have used up almost every flower in the state. Maddy had new deliveries coming in every day, and it didn’t look like business was going to slow down anytime soon. Luckily Jordan wasn’t there alone. The floral designer, Veronica, and her assistant, Cookie, ran the back room like the couple of pros they were. Jordan’s job was to handle the customers and keep the showroom area presentable.

  At first the job was merely a way to pass the days and keep her mind focused, but she was quickly finding it was more than that. She really enjoyed working with the customers and being around the flowers. The offhanded comment Maddy had made about buying the store lingered in Jordan’s mind. Because they’d been so slammed, there had been more than one occasion when Veronica and Cookie were out on a job or buried in work in the back, leaving Jordan to handle any walk-in requests. It turned out she had a flair for floral design, and she enjoyed creating bouquets more than she had ever expected she would. Who knew? Certainly not her.

  It was a good thing they’d been so busy because she barely had time to stare out the window and look for Gavin.

  Barely.

  When she asked for the job, she hadn’t realized she’d be able to see the firehouse and all of the comings and goings.

  Nope. That was a lie.

  Somewhere in the back of her mind, she’d known damn well she’d be able to look over there any time she wanted. To get a glimpse of that tall, broad-shouldered frame and remember what it had been like to be held in those arms. After her marriage to Ted, Gavin’s tenderness had been even more evident. In hindsight, no one had ever made her feel as special and perfect as Gavin did. Hindsight was a cruel bitch. It made you realize you’d had something beautiful but pissed it away with childish impulsiveness and pride.

  Jordan dusted off the display counter and shook her head at the stubbornness of her youth. Now, here she was, a grown woman with two small daughters, pining over her high school boyfriend and fantasizing about him like a silly girl.

  It was a waste of time to keep thinking about a guy who obviously had zero interest in being around her. He knew she was in town, and she’d caught enough glimpses of him at the station to know that he was totally aware she worked nearby. But the guy had made himself scarce. When she ran into him at the market, he got out of there so fast that he practically left skid marks. Any notions Jordan had about a reunion with Gavin were quickly being squashed.

  “I must have a screw loose,” she muttered under her breath. Satisfied the counter was clean, she squatted down and put the cleaning supplies away in the cabinet beneath the register. “Yup. There’s definitely something wrong with me.”

  “Are you looking for confirmation on that?” Jordan’s heart lurched in her chest as Gavin’s familiar baritone filled the shop. “Or am I supposed to argue with you?”

  She’d been so caught up in her own world that she hadn’t even heard the door open. Rising slowly to her feet, she clutched the edge of the counter and prayed that she would still be capable of speech. His handsome face came into view, those pale green eyes met hers, and a slow smile spread over his face. It set that swarm of butterflies loose in her belly. He looked as strong and sexy as ever, dressed in his blue uniform. The T-shirt with the white emblem molded over his sculpted torso like a second skin.

  “Something tells me you would be more likely to confirm that statement than to argue with it.” Unsettled by his unexpected visit, Jordan adjusted the ceramic mug full of pens next to the register. Folding her hands on the glass counter, she forced herself to look him in the eyes again and stop being such a coward. Her voice remained surprisingly steady, but inside she was a quivering mess. “Can I help you with something?”

  “Flowers,” he blurted out. Gavin stuck his hands in the pockets of his blue cargo shorts and shifted his weight. His six-foot-two-inch frame filled the space in the way that only he could. “It’s my mother’s birthday tomorrow and I want to get her some flowers. Since this is the only florist in town, I figure that you’re the only one who can help me.”

  “The grocer has flowers,” Jordan said, tilting her chin and daring him to admit that perhaps he wasn’t merely here for a birthday gift. “If I’m not mistaken, they have a little display right by the registers. All kinds of assortments.”

  “True.” His voice was soft but strong, and the sound of it tickled something inside of her. He took another step so he was only inches from the counter. It was close enough for Jordan to catch a whiff of that woodsy, soapy scent of his. “But they don’t have what I’m looking for.”

  Silence, thick and full of unfulfilled desires, hung between them, and with each passing second, her heart picked up the pace. How could the sound of the man’s voice have a physical effect on her? Gavin was quiet, but an unmistakable strength lingered beneath the deep timbre. A tingling warmth simmered in her belly, a sensation she hadn’t experienced in years. She’d convinced herself she was no longer capable of feeling like this. Ted had reminded her time and again that she was a cold fish and terrible in bed, a woman incapable of orgasm or pleasure. Yet here she was, standing in the middle of the store, about ready to jump over the counter and accost Gavin.

  How was it possible to still be insanely attracted to someone so many years later?

  Say something.

  “What exactly are you looking for?”

  Her hands spread out on the smooth surface of the counter, the glass cool beneath her heated, sweaty palms. She found herself almost imperceptibly leaning closer to him. Meeting his challenge. For a split second, Jordan thought he might actually lean across the counter and kiss her.

  “Roses,” he said abruptly, breaking the spell. Jordan blinked and immediately took a step away from the counter. “I know it’s been a while, but if you’ll recall, my mother loves roses. Yellow ones, if you don’t mind.”

  The grin on Gavin’s face widened. It brought out that adorable dimple in his left cheek, the one that made him look like the little devil he could be.

  “Yes, I remember just fine.” Jordan straightened her back and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “All of the roses we have available are right over here.”

  That pesky chunk of hair never stayed in any ponytail she wore. It kept falling into her face, making her feel like a mess. As if she wasn’t flustered enough by Gavin’s visit, now she had to feel like a slob on top of everything else! She hurried out from behind the counter and strode directly over to the refrigerator that covered the entire right side of the store.

  Jordan grabbed a pair of gloves from the hook on the wall and tugged them on without looking to see if he was following. She yanked open the large floor-to-ceiling door and shut her eyes when the cold air of the refrigerator hit her. It was a welcome relief for her overheated body. But was she all hot and bothered from embarrassment or lust?

  It was probably both.

  “Here you go, Mr. McGuire.” Holding the door open with her body, the cool glass pressing against her back, Jordan gestured to the flowers. She didn’t look at Gavin out of fear she’d lose her sense and jump him. “Take your pick.”

  “Mr. McGuire?” Gavin’s deep voice drifted over her, and she didn’t have to look to her left to know that he’d moved in to stand beside her. The heat and presence of his body announced his arrival with tantalizing force and whispered over her bare arms in a seductive promise.

  “Jordan?” His voice was gentle and pleading. The sound of it made all the tiny hairs on her arm stand at attention—or maybe it was the cold air from the fridge. “Look at me.”<
br />
  Sucking in a deep breath, Jordan slowly turned her head. Nope. Definitely not because of the fridge.

  She expected to find the same hard, unforgiving look she’d seen in his eyes ever since she got home. She didn’t. Her belly quivered—and not from the cold air. To her surprise, she saw empathy and maybe even a flicker of forgiveness. She stilled and studied him closely, worried that perhaps she was seeing what she wanted to see instead of what was really there.

  When those intense green eyes peered at her from beneath thick, dark lashes, every coherent thought was driven from her mind. His mouth set in a firm line and the muscle in his jaw flickered. She was tall for a woman at five foot ten, but Gavin still managed to make her feel delicate and tiny, as opposed to tall and gangly. Around him, she felt womanly and sexy, a feeling she’d all but forgotten.

  “I think we need to start over,” he rasped. “And I’m not only talking about today. We need a do-over.” His lips tilted. “Just like when we played kickball when we were kids, remember? A do-over.”

  “That’s why I came back.” Jordan barely recognized the sound of her own voice. “To start over.” She was shaking now and that stupid hair fell into her face again. She swiped at it quickly with quivering fingers, but it refused to budge. Nervous, turned on, and totally unsure of herself, Jordan started babbling. “Me and my girls are getting a fresh start, and besides, my father’s ill, and I know my mother’s going to need help. I don’t think that—”

  Her words were cut short when Gavin pushed the hair off her forehead and slowly tucked the wayward strand behind her ear. The sweet gesture totally disarmed her and wiped all the arguments from her head. How the hell could she ever have accused him of being like her father? Gavin was nothing like him or Ted. He was sweet, thoughtful, and protective—a far cry from her old man, to say nothing of the bastard she’d married.

  Sweet Jesus, she’d screwed things up so badly. How on earth could they start over? She had no idea where or how to begin.

  “Why did you leave like that, Jordan?” Gavin’s voice wavered and a shadow flickered across his face. “Can you at least tell me why you never called or told me where you were?”