Perfecting For Love - A Standalone Novel (A Doctors Romance Love Story) (Burbank Brothers, Book #3)

by Naomi Niles

  “It didn’t hurt,” the talking one said. “Now, I suggest you put that car in gear and skedaddle. There are lots of people behind you who have places to go and want to get there today.” With that, they both backed away from the window, turned, and strolled off toward the squad car. Not believing my good luck, I threw the car into drive and made it to Dad’s office in record time.

  “Is Dad busy?” I asked one of the men on duty who was reading a magazine outside Dad’s office.

  He nodded. “I think he has someone in there. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Gwyne. Why don’t you sit down and let’s catch up a bit?”

  “Sure, I’d like that. Today’s a big day for me, you know.”

  “Oh? How’s that?”

  “I got my first job after college.” I was grinning from ear to ear. He looked at me and I sort of remembered his name might be Tom.

  Tom smiled slowly and then asked, “Do I dare ask what kind of job that might be?”

  “Oh, clean up that dirty mind of yours. I got a job as a reporter, and I’m danged proud of it. There’s not many of those jobs left out there, you know. In fact, most of the country doesn’t even hire reporters on salary. They’re all twittering commentators, if you will.”

  “I see. Does this mean we won’t be seeing you around here very much?”

  “Heck no. You’ll probably be seeing me all the time. After all, why would I give up one of my best sources for breaking news?”

  “Does your dad know that’s what you have planned?”

  I frowned. “You know Dad. He doesn’t like the media. Not even when his daughter is part of it. But I have my ways of getting around him and I do know how to stay out of the way.”

  Tom turned back to his magazine, shaking his head. “That, I’ve got to see.”

  I stuck out my tongue at him and walked across the room to the coffee machine. That was one thing you could always count on at a fire station. There was always a fresh pot of brew. I picked up a Styrofoam cup and filled it, stirring in my normal three sugars and one cream.

  Tom was watching me from across the room over the top of his magazine. I always had the idea he had a bit of crush on me. “You gonna drink any coffee with that?” he asked me, grinning.

  “Watch yourself,” I told him. “I’ve got connections, you know.”

  “So I hear. Does this mean you’re going to ruin my reputation in print?”

  “I might do just that,” I swung around to face him, “if you had a reputation.”

  “Whewwwwww…” he uttered as he laid the magazine on the table next to him. “Somebody is sure full of herself today.”

  “And who might that be?” came a deep voice behind him. Tom snapped upright. My father walked over a little closer and looked down at Tom from his full, six foot four height. “Don’t you have something to polish?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Hello, sweetheart,” Dad greeted me, wrapping his arms around me in a bear hug. “What’s my girl doing today?” As he hugged me, I looked around his shoulder and once again went weak in the knees. Standing right behind him was none other than Sean Delaney.

  “Hi, Dad. I just came to tell you about my new job. Other than that, it’s been a very uneventful day,” I emphasized the last three words. Behind Dad, Sean was grinning, and I knew he would keep my secret. I mouthed the words “Thank you,” in Sean’s direction, and he nodded.

  “Well then, come on into the office and tell your old dad all about it,” Dad ushered me in, and as we passed, the sleeve of my blouse touched Sean’s leg and there was an electric current that shot through my body.

  Dad pushed the door shut behind us and pointed to a chair. “Sit down, honey. Tell me all about it.”

  “Who is that, Dad?”

  “Who?”

  “That new guy just outside your door.”

  “Oh, him? His name is Delaney. I’m thinking of hiring him on.”

  “You mean to tell me he’s going to be working for you?”

  “That’s generally what happens when I hire someone on. Not sure about him yet, though. Not sure he’s right for us. Why? What is he to you?”

  “Just eye candy, Dad. Nothing more. I’d hire him if it was me. Women have a sense about these things, you know. He appears fit, respectful, and he didn’t leer at me like some of your guys.” I proceeded to fill dad in on my new job. As I expected, he frowned, but by the time I laughed, I had him smiling. I had described John Warner and Martha; Dad had always loved it when I told stories. I had to admit, I did have a bit of a knack for it and used it whenever it came in handy.

  “We are understood when I say that stories on my firehouse are off-limits, right?”

  “Dad! Why would you do that to me? Why should your house not get the full attention that it deserves? Your guys are brave and need to be recognized.”

  Dad looked a bit sheepish and I could see that I made my point stick. “Okay, you got me, but only with my approval; got it?”

  “Got it!” I wished that all my subjects were as malleable as my own father. That would make my life so much simpler. “So, what are you doing for the rest of the afternoon?”

  “I’m headed out to the training center. That new recruit I just hired, taking my daughter’s advice, will be going over there and running some stairs. I thought I’d drive over and take a look. He looks good—as you say eye candy—but let’s see if he’s got what it takes. If not, he’s going to be doing some major push-ups and scrubbing floors around here.”

  “Mind if I ride along, Dad? That would be a great way to start my career, to do a feature on you and how you train new recruits. Could make a lot of young guys want to sign up.” I let the words dangle there, waiting for him to pick them up.

  “You think you got me wrapped around your little finger, don’t you?” He grinned. “Okay, hitch a ride with me and we’ll talk along the way. Wait in the car, and before you go, tell that Delaney guy to step in here, please.”

  I turned and grinned to myself. Dad was such a pushover.

  “Hey, Delaney,” I called to him. Sean walked toward me and I drew him to the side by pulling on his arm. “So, Dad was on the fence whether you had what it took to fit in here. You might say I put in a good word for you; after all, it was my fault you were late. He’d like to talk to you now.”

  Delaney stiffened, maybe because he’d left doubt using his own credentials and mine had clenched the deal. He looked at me and my eyes clearly told him not to look a gift horse in the mouth. He glanced over me to the door and nodded. I waited in Dad’s car and felt quite pleased with myself.

  * * *

  The training center was located at the North Shore, in an industrial area where the occasional explosion and fire didn’t raise any undue attention. The primary building was the tower; it was twenty stories and there were aluminum steps all the way to the top. The only way to get up to the top was the steps. The only way to get down was to jump, or hustle the steps. It was the sort of place that separated the mice from the men.

  I thought Dad secretly enjoyed sending new recruits there. He had been a Marine in his younger years and the taste of blood between his teeth still got him excited. As for me, I wasn’t terribly fond of watching people puke from a hundred feet overhead, but they usually had their shirts off by that time and sometimes that made up for the inconvenience. In this case, I was not to be disappointed.

  Sean Delaney was in great shape. There was just no other way to describe it. He had stripped off his shirt and tied it around his neck and was hammering up those steps, sometimes two at a time. You had to admire that kind of athleticism. Dad also seemed fairly impressed.

  “Where does he come from?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral and made notes on the notepad I carried in my purse.

  “Delaney? He’s from out of state. One of those flyover states, you know, Ohio, Missouri, Iowa… does it really make a difference?”

  “What’s he doing here in the city?” Again, I tried to keep my voi
ce neutral and reporter-ish.

  “Says he wants to fight fires in tall buildings. I guess they don’t have too many of those in Iowa, or wherever. Anyway, I want to see how he takes the heights. Lots of these punks say that, but when they get up there, they start puking their guts out.”

  I knew that was the show Dad was hoping to see. I was sort of glad that Mom couldn’t see this. She had died five years earlier; the tumor the doctor said was nothing to worry about, turned out to be something to worry about. Dad had taken it pretty hard and it had made him even more gritty than before. I could take it from him. He seldom showed me that hard side and I didn’t live at home anymore; that made it easier. It would’ve been harder on Mom, but then maybe he would’ve softened if she had still been around.

  His attention was on Sean, and I had to admit it was a spectacle to behold. He had made it to the top of the tower and was waving down toward us. Dad gave a single wave back as Sean started back down the stairs, this time leaping three at a time. I held my breath, figuring he’d trip at some point and land on his nose on the broken concrete at the base. I was wrong, though, and secretly my nether regions were screaming for satisfaction. Of course, I could hardly tell Dad this, but if what scientists said was true, Sean should have been able to smell my pheromones even from a hundred feet up.

  Dad shoved his hands into his pockets, a grumpy look on his face. He was disappointed that Sean had made the grade. Dad was rather upside down in his thinking. When they were new, he wanted them to be really raw, really needing his training and wisdom. Then, when they could make the grade, he had something to take credit for. It was that sergeant in him.

  Sean, it appeared, didn’t need very much supervision or improvement. In fact, I ventured to gamble that he could outclimb, outrun and probably outlast any of the guys already in Dad’s station. This was not going to make him very popular. Since he’d be bunking for days at a time with his coworkers, I hoped he had the sense to downplay his skill. Otherwise, he was going to be the focus of every rotten prank and stupid joke they could think of. He was about to go through fireman initiation. I had heard stories from Dad about what that involved, although officially he had to turn his head and pretend he knew nothing about it. They could get pretty rank at times.

  I wondered momentarily whether I should interview some of the guys to get some of the better stories from the past. That could make for some good filler if I ran short of words. I’d have to ask Dad’s permission, of course, just like I agreed. I knew it was going to be important to appear as though I was doing what Dad asked. Therefore, for the really insignificant stuff, I would ask his permission loudly. When it came to the really gritty stuff that I knew would thrill the readers, I might not be so quick to ask Dad in advance. I think Dad pretty much expected that from me; it was a pattern I’d had set years before.

  Sean was trotting toward us now. He had a big, shit-eating grin on his face and he knew he had made the grade. Dad just waved him off, frowned, and motioned for me to get back in his car. Sean watched us pull away. I was glad he had sense not to spill the beans on me to Dad. He might just make it through initiation after all.

  CHAPTER 3

  Having gotten permission from Dad to talk to a few of the fellows, I made my way to the rec room as soon as we got back to the station house. I announced in a loud voice that I was now an official reporter and I wanted to do a little write up about their bravery and what it was like to live in the fraternal atmosphere that was a New York City firehouse. I told them I especially wanted to hear stories about the pranks they had played on one another. They were only too happy to oblige. Dad ignored me and went back in his office, and seemed to do some paperwork.

  I had just finished my first interview when the bell sounded and the men scrambled as though they themselves were on fire. I stood back, my back against the wall so that I was out of the way. In a matter of seconds, I heard the big door go up and the siren kick into action. The men were clambering aboard as the wheels had already begun to roll. They had just cleared the station house garage when Sean ran inside. He realized they’d left him behind and he was frowning. Perhaps he didn’t understand that he wouldn’t be ready to go until Dad had given the seal of approval. I could see he was disappointed. I sauntered over toward him casually to have a little talk.

  “So, you looked pretty good up there. I think Dad was a little disappointed even.”

  “Disappointed? Wasn’t I fast enough?” His face had that Midwest innocence on it and I sort of felt sorry for what was ahead of him. The guys would tear this one apart.

  “Oh, no, you are plenty fast enough. Dad sort of likes it when the guys are not in good shape at the beginning. He used to be in the Marines, you know. A drill sergeant, as a matter of fact. He likes giving orders.”

  “And you? Does he give orders to you?” He had a sort of wry smile, and for the first time I noticed he had a dimple in the cleft of his chin. Again, I wanted to swoon.

  “He thinks he does. I make a big show of asking him and he makes a big show of telling me what to do. Then we both go our separate ways, knowing full well that I’m going to do what I wanted to in the first place. We worked that out over the years and it seems to keep both of us happy.”

  “And your mother?”

  “Mom is dead. Cancer. A few years ago, but Dad acts like it was yesterday. He’s full of bluff and bluster, and if he tells you what to do, I suggest you do it. You won’t get away with what I do. But inside, he’s a marshmallow. He has seen a lot of things in his years with the department. He has saved a lot of lives personally. He deserves respect.”

  “Absolutely,” Sean nodded and replied. “That’s why I’m here. This has got to be the toughest firefighting job in the world. I want to be a part of it.”

  “Well, looks like you got your wish. Dad looked pretty grumpy, which means you must’ve done a damn fine job. So, now that you do have a job, where are you going to be stay?”

  “Not sure. I sort of used up my funds getting here. I was hoping maybe they had a spare bunk I could crash in until I get a few paychecks in the bank.”

  “No way. It’s against the rules. Something about balance in your life keeps you sane. They won’t let any guy work beyond his normal shifts. So you need to find some place to stay, is that right?”

  He shrugged. “I guess so. Any suggestions?”

  I nodded, as though considering his predicament. I took my time, even frowning a bit so it looked like it was giving it extensive thought. “You know, I’ve got an idea.”

  “Oh? What’s that?”

  “Well, it just so happens that for the heck of it, I bought an old firehouse not far from here. It was retired a few years ago and the city put it up for sale. I snagged it at an auction and have been working at breaking it into apartments ever since. I’m not very handy with a hammer, so I’ve had to pay everything out of pocket. You know anything about hammers?”

  I pretended to be a little nonchalant. I didn’t want him to get the idea that I was making a pass at him; he was going to be hard enough to snag without an ego twice the size of his head.

  “Oh, I’ve swung one or two in my time,” he was saying, obviously being just as nonchalant. “What did you have in mind?”

  “What about a swap? You come over and we will set you up a bunk downstairs. I live upstairs. Completely separate quarters, locked doors. When you’re off shift, you can do some remodeling to earn your keep. Nothing out of your pocket. It keeps you in shape, I get my apartments. Everybody’s happy. What you think?”

  “Well… I will admit I’m a little short on funds at the moment. And now I have a car to fix…” he said, a subtle grin lighting that handsome face. “I suppose we could see how it would work out. Heaven knows I have nowhere to go tonight. How soon can I move in?”

  “Two rules. The first is I live upstairs and you live downstairs; no switching things up. Rule number two: my father does not learn about this. He would have me walloped if he knew. He has always kept me
away from his crew, and for good reason.”

  “It’s a deal. I agree to your terms. When do we go?”

  “Follow me.” I started walking out the door. I turned to see if he was following, but he was looking around as though puzzled about what to do next. I called to him, “If you follow me, at least you won’t get hit in the rear end.”

  He nodded in agreement and caught up with me. I gave him my address just in case we got separated. “It’s an old firehouse; you can’t miss it.”

  * * *

  “Well, I see you made it.” I was standing in one of the garage bays waiting for him. “Nice thing about this place is there’s plenty of parking. Just pull around to the back and choose a spot. Eventually, when I have tenants, I’ll parcel them out to the various apartments.”

  He gave a short wave of his hand, nodded, and drove around to the back. I saw his marred bumper as he passed by and I made a mental note that I would have it fixed. The guy was broke, and there was no reason that he should suffer a loss just because he was a decent guy.

  Sean entered the bay and I hit the button to lower the door.

  “It’s going to snow at any moment. I’ve been keeping the heat pretty low down here since it’s just empty space. Now that you’re here, we’ll crank it up so you’ll be more comfortable. Have you had anything to eat?”

  “Nope. Not yet. I was going to grab something after I got my gear in here.”

  “Tell you what: get your gear and I was just headed upstairs to throw together a taco salad. I’ve got plenty for two and I’ll leave my door unlocked. Come on up and let’s celebrate your new job.”

  “That’s pretty generous of you. Are you hoping I’ll overlook the bumper?” he winked at me. Those gorgeous, blue eyes danced and the dimple in his chin appeared. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

  “You can forget about the bumper, if you want to, but I’d rather repair it for you. You saved my tail by not telling my dad. The meal is just because I’d like to invite you to dinner. It’s that simple.”