Taking the Heat

by Samantha Long

  For an hour he beat on the punching bag with jabs, kicks, and solid hits. When she'd creep into his mind again, he'd force her out with a harder punch. He didn't need to get involved, not after Mia. He was over wild girls.

  God, and as he thought of Mia, the other stuff exploded into his mind. The gunfire, the blood, the shouts of his friends. His chest heaved as he stopped fighting the punching bag. Glancing down at the Celtic warrior shield on his arm, he traced it with his fingers. He and Isaac had gotten it before they'd deployed to Afghanistan, solidifying their lifetime friendship.

  Someone cleared their throat behind him. He spun around, but relaxed when he saw the owner, Luke, standing a few feet away. The guy held out a chilled bottle of water.

  "You look like you need this." Luke continued to hold out the bottle. "In fact, you look like you could use something stronger."

  Finn struggled to get his breathing under control. He didn't want anyone to see how much he hurt or how close he was to losing that control he so desperately needed. "Thanks." He grasped the bottle but didn't drink it.

  Luke watched him closely. "You're new around here."

  Finn nodded.

  "You're on the fire department?" Luke sauntered closer, gestured to the water bottle. "People normally drink those."

  Finn glanced at the bottle, gave in, and sipped.

  "I'm having a get together at my house next Saturday for the football game. I'd like for you to come. It'll be a few close friends and family." Luke's lips lifted into a grin. "You look like you could use some distracting fun."

  He almost refused, but Luke looked hopeful and he really didn't feel comfortable turning him down. The guy didn't seem like he'd take no for an answer. He could go for a while. "Sure."

  "Great. I'll tell my brother you're coming. My nieces will be there, so we won't be getting too rowdy."

  Finn nodded again.

  "I'll leave you to it, then." Luke started to walk off.

  "Thanks." Finn forced out. "For the water and for the invitation."

  "Sure thing." Luke called back.

  Finn stared at the water bottle in his hand, seeing it as more than a plastic container. It was a gesture of friendship, one Finn was uncomfortable with accepting. He'd go to the football party, be on his best behavior for the nieces, and leave as soon as he could.

  On his way to the car after his gym session his text alert beeped. He checked the message, saw he was needed for a fire. He sped the entire way to the fire house and parked haphazardly. The guys were already there. He dashed to his gear and rushed to put it on. Adrenaline burst through his veins, enough to satisfy his craving of it from war, as he hung his air mask around his neck and shoved his feet into black boots.

  "Come on, Finn." Nate passed him, getting into the driver's seat of the fire truck.

  He hustled to join the others in the truck and sat behind Nate. Nate got the big truck moving, picking up speed. It didn't take them long to get to the outskirts of Sanctuary Bay. Flames and black smoke enveloped a beach house.

  They hopped out of the truck, started on their duties. The police officer called to the scene walked up.

  "No one home, neighbors said the fire started thirty minutes ago, but it's going up fast." He was a short, bald man with a muscular build. Finn knew him from some of the other calls.

  The heat pushed on them as they connected the hose to the fire hydrant on the corner of the street. Finn was already sweating underneath his gear but he was used to the work, and loved the burn of his muscles as he fought the fire.

  After fighting the fire for an hour, he looked up and realized that the neighbors crowded on the boardwalk across the street. They whispered among themselves and he resisted the urge to bark at them to move back. They weren't in harm's way where they stood, but they were too close for his liking. His chief, Dwayne, talked with the news crew from the city that had shown up.

  The thought of his face being plastered all over the news made his skin crawl. He wanted to be done with this and get back to the station, out of the attention of several onlookers and the network.

  "Finn, come look at this." Carter waved him to where the guys stood at the back of the fire truck.

  Something meowed pitifully from a blanket that sat on the tailboard of the truck. Finn moved closer and saw a mass of gray fur poke its head out from under the thick, black blanket.

  "We found her under the car. She's alone, no sign of any other kitten family." Caleb scratched the kitten under the chin with the tip of his index finger.

  Finn's first thought was that Addie wanted a kitten. And here one sat, meowing pitifully at him like some fucking sign from God. Before he could think about it, he reached down and scooped the kitten up. "I know who wants this."

  The guys stared at him. He dared them with a hard stare to say anything about what he was going to do with the kitten and who he was giving her to.

  Chapter Five

  Addie

  Since the night of the sports bar, all she thought about was Finn. The way he looked and smelled. Why he acted like such an asshole and why she hadn't already written him off. Something about him got under her skin and she couldn't tell if she liked the sensation or not. So now, as she loaded up on the school bus with Gemma, Autumn, and their third grade classes, she decided not to worry about him. She'd decided that three times this morning but wasn't having any luck so far.

  She sat with Autumn, while Gemma sat with one of the parents that was signed up as a chaperone. Kids' voices and giggles rose in the stuffy air of the bus as they left the school parking lot and headed toward the fire station. Addie knew this was coming and already swallowed some Excedrin. She didn't want to have a horrible headache when she saw Finn.

  The hot sun beamed, making kids drop the bus windows with loud thunks.

  "I think I'm going to break things off with Caleb." Autumn pulled her hair up in a messy bun.

  "Not during the field trip, I hope." Addie used a brochure for the fire department to fan her face, then fanned the back of Autumn's neck. "I thought you were having fun with him."

  Autumn shrugged. "I'm ready to move on."

  "I wonder how he'll take that."

  "His heart will be broken, naturally." Autumn glanced over at Gemma. "But I bet she and Carter will be long lasting."

  Addie peered at her other friend, who was talked up a storm with the mom. She was so beautiful and sweet and Addie wanted what was best for her. If Carter was it, if she wanted to make that leap of faith, she'd support Gemma. "You really think so?"

  Autumn nodded. "Don't question my relationship psychic powers. I'm never wrong. You and Finn will get together soon."

  Addie laughed. "No."

  Autumn raised a brow at her as they pulled into the fire station parking lot.

  "Not unless he does something to change my mind." Addie turned and did another head count of her students. A few were absent today, and she wanted to make sure she left with the right amount of kids. Her pulse picked up and she was warm in places that had nothing to do with the heat outside. How did he affect her like this when she wasn't even sure she liked his attitude? Looks only took a person so far.

  "Okay, kids." Gemma stood and it went quiet. "I want you to line up in the aisle, the front of the bus going first. We will show these fire fighters how mannerly we are. We will not run around like crazy kids full of red dye and sugar."

  The kids quieted down like they always did when Gemma spoke. It had to have something to do with her calm demeanor. When they were in Addie's charge on field trips, they all mirrored her and acted a little wild. The seven moms that were chaperoning filed off first so they could get their groups together.

  Addie glanced off the bus and saw the guys lined up in navy blue Sanctuary Bay fire fighter t-shirts and yellow firefighter pants with the red suspenders hanging loose. Her eyes immediately went to Finn and her breathing hitched. The sun's rays lit up the natural highlights in his blond hair and his green eyes looked more kind. Maybe it w
as because there were children around.

  She came off the bus behind Gemma and Autumn and her back straightened. If he wasn't nice to these kids, or showed his asshole side, she'd make sure he hurt.

  "Hey, kids." An older man stepped forward. "My name is Dwayne, and I'm the fire chief." He gestured to several of the men behind him. Addie struggled to keep her eyes on the chief. "This is my crew. Today we're going to show you what the fire station is like."

  One of Addie's kids, a brown haired, talkative boy, raised his hand and Dwayne smiled at him.

  "What's your name, son?"

  "Tommy. Are we going to sit in the fire truck?" Tommy slid his hand down, grinned to show one of his front teeth missing. His mom smiled behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  "We sure are. First we'll show you the inside of the fire house, and you can slide down the poles." Dwayne chuckled when the kids cheered around them. "You can ask us any questions you have. Who's ready to get started?"

  The kids cheered again.

  "Let's go inside." Dwayne led them in through the giant garage where two fire trucks gleamed inside the bay.

  "Do you have a puppy?" One of Gemma's girls asked.

  "No, do you think we should get one?" Carter grinned at the girl and Gemma beamed at him.

  Addie felt almost like she was intruding on an intimate moment between them, even if there were a bunch of people around. Emotions shone heavy in both of their eyes and she could see where Autumn got the idea they would last.

  Finn fell into step beside her as they walked into the firehouse. Addie hated that she was aware of every movement he made, every glance that flicked her way. She didn't understand how she could be attracted to him when she couldn't stand him. It didn't make sense.

  The kids squealed happily as they entered the station. The bottom floor was an open plan with rooms off to the sides. Firefighter gear hung on industrial size pegs near the door to the garage. A kitchen was off to the right with a large table that held at least fifteen chairs. In the middle of the room was a small living room which had a pool table and a large TV with a DVD player and game consoles. Addie wondered how often the firefighters actually had time to relax.

  "Who cooks dinner? Does your mom come and do it?" Another little boy asked.

  Chief Dwayne laughed. "Nope. We have to do all that on our own. Even our laundry. We also keep everything clean."

  "That's no fun."

  After a few minutes of letting the kids tour the bottom, Dwayne asked them if they wanted to go upstairs to the bunk room and slide down the poles.

  Addie couldn't hold back her smile when the kids started to jump up and down. She, Autumn, and Gemma decided to stay down on the bottom floor to make sure no one got hurt.

  The moms followed the twins and the chief up the stairs.

  A little girl in Autumn's class, Abigail, turned to Finn and tugged on his bright yellow pants. "Is it scary going down the pole?"

  Addie turned a little to see Finn's reaction.

  He knelt down and looked the girl in the eyes. "The first time I went down I was a little scared, but it's fun. Like going down a slide. Do you like going down slides?"

  Abigail nodded, her straight brown hair brushing her shoulders. "Will you go up there with me?"

  "Sure." Finn's gaze moved to Addie and then back to the girl. He reached out a hand, and Abigail took it, her hand looking fragile in his.

  Addie's heart squeezed at the sight. She had no idea why, and turned back to the poles so she could watch the kids slide down. Finn took the girl up the stairs, never letting go of her hand.

  The kids started to slide down, laughing and shrieking. None fell, each having a death-grip on the silver pole. She heard the chief giving them advice, telling them not to put their legs so close around it so they slid down easier.

  The kids' faces flushed and their eyes brightened. Each one wanted to go down again and ran back up the stairs.

  "No running," Gemma called to them and they immediately slowed down.

  "I wish they listened to me like that," Addie muttered.

  "They don't because you're just as wild as they are." Autumn laughed at her.

  Caleb, Carter, and Aaron stood by the poles, taking over the girls' duty of making sure no one fell.

  "Do you really want to break it off with Caleb?" Addie asked when she caught Autumn watching his movements.

  Autumn shrugged. "I think so. I'm not sure."

  "Girls, we don't need to discuss this here." Gemma shot them a look.

  Addie held up her hands. "Okay, okay."

  When the kids finished sliding down the poles and exclaiming about the bunk room, the Chief gathered them up into a group. "Who wants to see the fire trucks now?"

  The kids shrieked again. Addie noticed Finn watching her and raised a brow at him. What was his deal? Why did he want to be an ass and then stare at her in a way that caused her skin to catch fire? He looked away and walked ahead of them.

  She couldn't help but watch the way he moved. She may think he was an ass, but he was a hot ass and she wasn't going to stop herself from looking.

  The chief led them into the garage bay and stopped by the first fire truck. He placed a hand on it, a little reverently, and turned back to the kids. "How many of you have been on one of these?" None of the kids raised their hands. "We'll just have to fix that, won't we? Get in line outside both of the trucks and we'll show you around."

  Addie helped herd the kids to the second fire truck, since Finn stood next to the chief. He confused her, a mix of emotions inside her, and she didn't want to deal with it right then.

  Autumn stayed behind so she didn't have to deal with Caleb. Addie and Gemma walked to where Nate, Noah, Carter and Caleb started to show the kids the stuff on the truck. Addie watched Nate and Noah hold out one of the hoses to let the kids try and heft them up.

  "Take some pictures." Gemma nudged Addie. "We can put them in the end of the year slideshow."

  Addie pulled out her phone and started snapping pictures of the kids. Each had a perfect smile and looked like they were having the best time. Addie envied the easy way they lived, the easy way they saw everything around them with joy. When did that disappear for her? It's not like she'd had a hard childhood, far from it. Her parents and sisters were the best.

  She shook off that mood and focused on taking pictures of the kids as they sat in the driver's seat or climbed in the back. They smiled goofily or stuck their tongues out when they noticed the phone in her hands. She loved these kids and a little of her heart broke each time students left her to go to fourth grade.

  Carter helped them down as he talked to Gemma. She wondered what the topic of conversation was and if Gemma was really going to stick with him. Gemma deserved someone who would make her ridiculously happy.

  After the kids played around for a while the Chief clapped his hands and they went back inside with their sack lunches to sit at the big table. Some of the kids sat on the couches or on the concrete floor.

  Addie stood next to the counter with her little Lunchable. She loved the ham and cheese crackers and Capri Sun that came with it even though she knew it was made for kids. Autumn stood next to her while Gemma went and sat next to Carter on one of the couches.

  "Oh my God, they're sharing their lunches. Where will it end?" Autumn rolled her eyes at the couple.

  Addie couldn't help but laugh even if she was secretly jealous. "Leave them be. She's happy."

  "Oh, I am. I'm just not ready to have all that mushy stuff shoved in my face." Autumn winked at Gemma when she saw them watching her.

  "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

  The rough voice washed over her before she turned and saw Finn standing a foot away.

  "Go, talk." Autumn snatched the Lunchable away from Addie and shoved her toward him. "I'll keep an eye on the kids."

  Addie narrowed her eyes at Autumn, but she didn't have an excuse now, so she followed him out into the garage. He led her over to a row of boxes.
Something meowed from the uppermost one and Addie stopped in her tracks.

  "We found her at a house fire, alone." Finn shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded toward the box.

  Addie shot him a perplexed look before she glanced into the box. "Oh my God." She stared at the grey ball of fur. Deep blue eyes that matched her own widened and stared up at her. The kitten went up on her back two feet and peered over the edge of the box, meowing non stop. "A kitten?"

  Finn rubbed the back of his neck. "You said you wanted one."

  "Yes." Addie reached in and held the kitten to her face. "Hi, there, girl. You're so pretty." The kitten nuzzled her chin and she was lost. "I can't take her yet, not back to school."

  "I can bring her by your place when you get home."

  She glanced from the kitten to him, saw he was as surprised by the offer as she was. Something about the fact that he'd remembered she'd wanted a kitten, and thought of her when he saw one, made her thaw a little toward him. "Okay. I'll give you my number so you can get directions." He pulled out his phone and she rattled off her number.

  "Okay." He shoved the phone back in his pocket and she watched the movement.

  "Thank you." Addie set the kitten back in the box, her heart breaking at the mewling cries. "I'll stop by the store on my way home and get what she needs."

  He nodded but didn't say anything else. She wondered if he was rethinking his decision to bring the kitten to her apartment. Addie wasn't going to let him off easy though, if he wanted to change his mind, he'd have to tell her.

  She left him standing in the garage and went back to the kids. Her heart beat wildly in her chest and she couldn't figure out why his little gesture affected her that much.

  Chapter Six

  Finn

  He pulled into a free parking spot near Addie's apartment building and ran a hand down his face. What was he doing? This was bordering on insane, and he couldn't figure out why he'd offered to bring the kitten to her place. She could've come by the firehouse on her way home from school. But no, he'd opened his damn mouth and now here he was, a box with a kitten in it, preparing to head up to apartment 23.