Rick glanced down at the hard-on he sported. At first, he’d been excited about the phone sex and teasing with Julie, but it had quickly become ordinary…if not a chore. He longed for a warm body or mouth…frankly any body part touching him which wasn’t his own hand. He could see why some of the married guys on the force had a secret girlfriend or a second wife. Not that he’d cheat on Julie, but having a warm body to come home to…heaven.
After his shower, Rick ambled into the station kitchen for a snack. He chose an apple and a bottle of water and sat down at the table to enjoy them before heading back to try and sleep.
“Hey, Rick.” Justice, one of the female fire personnel, wandered into the kitchen. “Couldn’t sleep?”
He shook his head. “The old woman’s been on my mind. I can’t imagine losing my home and my wife in one night. You ever been married, JT?” Rick studied the young woman. It took a lot of guts to be a female in a man’s world. She didn’t hide her feminine qualities, pretending to be “just one of the guys,” either. Everyone knew she was a woman. Rick averted his gaze from the way her nipples stood out against her purple T-shirt. Her dark hair floated around her face and caressed her shoulders. She wore no makeup to hide her natural beauty. He respected her work ethic, too. She worked as hard as he did on site, climbing the ladder with full gear and carrying out survivors.
Justice pursed her lips. “Yep. A while ago.” She rubbed her hand over the back of her neck. “My old man asked for a divorce. The job, the long hours, the distance came between us.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.” Rick took a bite of his apple.
“No worries. You didn’t know. It’s a part of why I’m leaving Detroit. There’s someone else in my life, and I’d like to spend time with him, especially before it’s too late.”
“Sounds cryptic.” He took another bite of his apple. “You okay? Health-wise?”
JT nodded. “The normal stuff. High blood pressure, low iron levels. But, at my age, I’m starting to think about a family. I don’t need the money. I received an inheritance last year. But I love my job, so I don’t want to quit. I want to slow down, not set off the merry-go-round. A small-town station would be perfect for me. Life isn’t about money and work for me anymore. It’s about making the most of the time I have with my loved ones.”
“Now you tell me.” He laughed. “Guess I’ll have to give up the dream of becoming wealthy off this job.”
“Seriously, you’re a good guy. If you are having doubts about staying here, you need to tell the chief. He’ll understand. He was married once, too. We all get how hard being a firefighter is on a marriage. Just the life and death part of it. Then add in missing the holidays and weekends. I’m surprised anyone wants to be with us.”
Rick released a loud sigh. “Things aren’t great with Julie.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “She’s living back in Colorado. She’s not been able to find a house in Detroit she likes. Not that I blame her. She’s a country girl at heart. I’ve realized she won’t be happy without her horses. But we thought if she was closer, things would be better. At least, we’d see each other each week rather than every other month. But even the houses in the burbs like Dexter and Clarkston are out. Some are too much money, while others have ordinances about farms.”
“Yea. That’s hard. Sorta like being divorced but not being able to move on. Living two separate lives. You’re tied together, but each of you has needs not being met.”
Rick stared at his friend. “I am not thinking about leaving her. I love Julie and want to stay married. But, as you pointed out, this job puts a toll on a marriage.”
“Why don’t you have her come out and stay for a bit? I know she came before you took the job, but let her see the passion you have for the city and the people. You’ve made this neighborhood your home. You may not think I notice how the people on the block stop by and drop off cakes and baked goods for you. Or how you’ve been out helping them with their home projects.”
Rick’s face heated. It probably matched the skin of his apple. He hadn’t been helping the people for the desserts, but because he needed something to occupy his time. He’d been missing his wife so much, he couldn’t bear to sit around and party on his days off. He needed to keep busy, to force his body into exhaustion so he could sleep. “Thanks. Back in Whisper, we all take care of each other. It’s a small town mentality many of the city neighborhoods could adopt.” Rick stood and threw the apple core into the garbage. He grabbed his water bottle then held his hand out for Justice. “Thanks for the talk. Think I’m gonna try to catch some z’s before our next call.”
JT’s fingers closed over Rick’s. “Great talking to you. I hope your wife comes out soon. It’ll be the break you both need. She’s gonna fall in love with this town. Mark my words.”
Rick headed back to the bunkroom. With only a soft glow to light the way, he tiptoed into the room and slid into bed. He pulled up the photo of his wife once again. Thinking about his conversation with Justice, he typed a text to Julie.
Come to D-town for a visit. I miss you.
With the message sent, Rick closed his eyes and let his dreams take him back to Julie’s arms.
CHAPTER NINE
Julie grabbed the suitcase out of the overhead bin and set it in front of her. It’d been two weeks since Rick had suggested she visit Detroit. Two weeks of keeping her secret. She hadn’t wanted to tell her husband until she was sure. After seeing her doctor, she’d received confirmation of what Angela had suspected. Pregnant. A baby. Butterflies filled her stomach. Julie laid her hand over her abdomen. Too early to feel anything, she still wanted her child to know she thought of him.
Over the phone, through a text or email wasn’t the way to share her surprise. Also, she wasn’t sure how he’d take the news. She needed to see his face. And she was finally here.
Julie wanted to jump up and down, squeal, or do a little dance…maybe all three. It’d been almost two months since she’d seen Rick, since she’d kissed or touched him. She’d surprise her husband in just a few hours. And a few minutes after that, they’d be horizontal in the bed, ripping each other’s clothes off.
Her face heated. Thankfully, no one else knows what I am thinking. I’d be mortified. She pushed the carry-on in front of her as the people exited the plane. Within a few minutes, she stood at the door and waved goodbye to the stewardess standing there.
As she walked out of the Jetway, the noise from the terminal flooded her ears. The overhead tram system zoomed by. People talked on their phones as they dashed past with their suitcases. Groups of families and schoolchildren were herded like animals, with the leaders checking on everyone’s bags, coats, bottles, food. Julie took a deep breath before wading into the terminal traffic. She paused when she saw a mother pushing a stroller. Her heart thudded. That’ll be me soon. Hopefully, I won’t have to bring my child by plane to see his dad.
The Detroit Metro Airport terminal resembled the structure of a large skyscraper, gray with jutting steel beams and small sitting areas overlooking the gates. Fairly devoid of color, the terminal lacked a warm and cozy feeling.
Julie headed to the escalator to the lower level. There, she’d be able to pick up her rental and be on her way to surprise Rick at the station. She’d reserved a room at the Marriot for the weekend. Excitement, nervousness, she couldn’t be sure what she was feeling. Arranging the trip herself made her proud. She’d kept it a surprise. She had wanted to do something special for Rick since he’d been working so hard and had been so patient about finding a place for her. Never getting angry or upset when she found a problem with each listing. Will Rick’s feelings have changed in the two months since I’ve seen him? Will he be upset about the baby? Rick enjoyed the physical part of their relationship. Will he have been able to stay true to our marriage vows away from home for two months?
***
The alarm rang, sending the firemen running. They grabbed their gear, suited up, and were on the truck in minu
tes. As they sped off to the fire, Rick studied the guys and girls beside him. Justice held her St. Florian medal between her hands. Her lips moved silently before she kissed the piece of jewelry then tucked it back into her shirt. Greg drove, his face a mask of determination as the truck darted in and out of busy downtown traffic. Mike’s grip on the “oh-shit” bar tightened with each turn, but his steely-eyed stare never left the street. The only sounds in the vehicle were the horns and sirens. As Rick mentally prepared himself for the upcoming fire, he whispered a prayer under his breath.
An abandoned home burned against the bright blue sky. Smoke billowed from the downstairs windows, but flames hadn’t yet engulfed the roofline. When the truck stopped, each person jumped into action. They donned their helmets and breathing tanks. Greg angled the ladder over the structure so he could climb up and pour water on the top of the structure, preventing any flames from breaking through. Luckily, the roof contained holes which would make it easier to send the water inside.
“JT, you’re with me. We have to do a sweep of the structure. Many homeless people squat in abandoned properties and I’m not going to take a chance.” Rick motioned to the last man. “Mike, go around the house and look for any unbroken windows, break them, and send water inside.” He pulled his mask down over his face then attached the hose to the truck’s pump.
JT picked up a hose and approached Rick from behind. Rick tested the front door to see if it was warm. “Not warm. I’m going in.” Then he kicked it in. He motioned for JT to lead with the water. Spraying the floor and piles of debris as she went, JT trod carefully on the floor.
Rick called out. “Anyone inside? This is the Detroit Fire Department.” Smoke filled the room, making it hard to see. Moving carefully, Rick shuffled rather than take a chance on tripping over something on the floor.
He flanked JT, using his hose to douse the walls. Flames were visible ahead of them. They needed to get to the fire quickly and put it out. As the team approached each room, Rick and JT looked for victims then sprayed down the area. Torrents of water pounded on the roof and began leaking through the upper floor. Still no sign of any squatters.
As they approached the back of the house, heat beat at them. It appeared the fire had started at the rear of the house. While the electricity and gas were off, it was possible someone had decided to use another method to keep warm. Fire shot through the pass between the kitchen and dining area. It climbed the walls and ceiling. He sprayed in a right to left formation, coating the area. Unfortunately, as soon as they doused one spot, another came back. They needed to get inside the kitchen and assess if any items were adding to the fire.
Rick tapped JT on the shoulder. “Just like we practiced. I’ll open the door, and you shower the area. Expect some flames to shoot out toward the dining area. If they get too close, fall back and let the water do its job.”
JT nodded then spread her legs, bracing herself. Rick moved into position. With a kick out, he sent the door flying into the room. Flames shot forward toward JT. She stumbled then righted herself. Rick opened up a jet of water onto the blowback, trying to keep the flames inside the smaller room.
Suddenly, the hose in Rick’s hand went slack. Water stopped flowing, and the flames crept toward him. Pulling back, Rick sprinted behind JT, but her water wasn’t enough to hold the flames back.
He called into his radio. “We’ve got a problem here. No water to my hose. Repeat no water. JT’s not able to stop the flames alone. I need my hose back, working. Mike, are you in position at the rear of the house? The fire appears to have started in the kitchen. Come through the back door and assist. Do you copy?”
“Copy. I’m on it.”
Within minutes, the rear kitchen window broke and a stream of water shot inside. As the flames died down, Mike took out the back door and carried the hose to the larger opening. JT slowly marched into the kitchen. She sprayed the counters, cabinets, and debris. Both firefighters continued to soak the room until all the flames flickered out.
Rick marched in. Water dripped from the ceiling, and puddles lined the floor. He kicked at a pile of blankets near the stove, spreading the still-warm debris. JT hit the smoldering mess with another round of water. The smell of kerosene filled the space. A small heater lay on its side. The iridescent slick of water and kerosene mixed on the floor.
“Looks like we had a squatter, trying to stay warm. Must have left the heater on, or it got knocked over at some point. At least, no one was inside.” Rick took a few steps back toward the dining room and grabbed his hose.
Loud creaking and cracking sounds echoed throughout the house. Rick looked up. The ceiling sagged. “Get out, everyone out. It’s coming down.” He dropped the hose and shoved JT and Mike out the back door, just as the ceiling collapsed.
The three fell off the stairs and lay still on the grass as dust and water spilled out. When the house stilled, Rick climbed on his knees and examined his team. Both sat up slowly then got to their feet. He didn’t see any blood, but that didn’t mean they weren’t hurt.
Once standing, Rick reached out toward JT. “Are you okay? Hurt anywhere?”
She shook her head. “Just a little startled.”
He turned to Mike. “How about you?”
Mike pulled his helmet off his face and sat in the grass. “I bashed my mouth, but I’ll live.”
“Everyone okay?” Greg called over the radio. “I saw the roof going, but it went down so fast. You all get out?”
“Yes. We’re all fine,” Rick responded. “Let’s find out why my hose stopped working, and I’ll call this in to the chief.” He wrapped an arm around each firefighter’s shoulder as they walked back over to the engine. “Tonight, drinks are on me.”
CHAPTER TEN
After cleaning the truck and putting away the hoses, Rick wasn’t any closer to finding out why his hose had stopped working. He needed to file a report with the chief about the incident. As he sat at the computer to type up the email, his hands shook. Death stared me in the face. The whole thing could have gone very wrong quickly, leaving my wife a widow. He leaned back in the chair. His fingers tightened on the arms, until they hurt. The thought of not being able to see Julie had shaken him to the core. Being unable to hold her, he fought for control. He longed to bury himself inside her and let the worries of what could have happened float away. Sex drove away his fear and anxiety.
He couldn’t let fear become a part of him, or else he’d not be able to do his job. Back in Whisper, one of the local firemen fell through a roof while trying to put out a fire. The gripping fear kept him from ever donning his gear again. The poor guy imagined each fire would end with him burning as he had that night. Rick wouldn’t let that be him.
Finishing the email, he clicked send and stepped away from the desk. Unable to have a beer because they were working, Rick had treated his team to pizza while they put the engine to rights. The group’s somber mood had quickly ended the pizza party.
Rick grabbed his towel. Maybe a shower would help keep his mind off the almost accident. As he headed toward the showers, he heard the sound of running water hitting the floor but not the sound of someone in the shower. He raised his brows. A puzzle. Who left the water on? He laid his towel on the bench and peeked into the room. The water ran, but no one was under the spray. Rick entered, reached out, and turned off the water.
The sound of sobbing hit his ears. He turned and spotted JT on the floor, wrapped in a towel. Her hair hid her face. Her body shook with her crying.
In a quiet voice, he called out. “JT. It’s Rick.” With slow steps, he inched his way closer to the young woman. He kept his voice soft. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
Rick squatted so he was face-to-face with his friend. Gently, he brushed her hair off her face so he could see if she was hurt. A red nose, blotchy skin, and bags under her eyes were the indications of her pain. He couldn’t find any physical injuries. “Hey, what’s got you upset? Did something happen?”
The last he’d
seen of her, JT had been cracking jokes and stuffing her face with pizza. Has someone done something to her? Rick trusted the guys in his unit. They saw her as a little sister, a partner, not really a “girl.” Can something have happened with the boyfriend she mentioned a few weeks ago? He’d recalled how hard Julie’d cried when he’d done something wrong.
When he placed his hand on her shoulder, she leapt up and buried her face into his neck. Settling on the floor, Rick wrapped his arms around her and patted her back, trying to soothe JT. “Shh. It’s okay. You can tell me.”
“Rick.” A woman’s voice called out in the darkness. “Oh my God!”
He twisted at the sound. Julie stood in the doorway, her hand over her mouth. Her eyes wide as saucers. “Julie… It’s not what it looks like,” he called out, but she had taken off before the words left his lips.
***
Julie raced down the stairs. She paused and leaned against the wall at the bottom, gulping air. Her mind kept returning to what she’d seen. Oh, how she longed to erase the image from her mind.
Footsteps pounded behind her. She glanced up to see her husband bolting toward her. “Julie. It’s not what you think.”
Why did he have to be so handsome? She laid her hand over her stomach. Why did she bother stopping by the station? She should have called ahead. None of this would have happened. Rick stood in front of her. His body smelled of sweat, and stubble coated his jaw. She longed to slip into his strong arms. He’d always been the man she turned to when problems happened. She wanted him to hold her and wipe the painful memories away. Tears filled her eyes. “I wouldn’t hold it against you.” She turned her back to him and swiped at the wetness on her face.
Cowboy Six Pack Page 46