Stephanie grins at the compliment and yells her best macho yell, “Fuck that, I’m in!”
Who is this girl? She isn’t the same one who fled the restaurant a couple hours ago. Fuck me, I like both sides of her—the soft and the bold. I watch her tits bounce as she gives Octavio a high-five. My dick versus my brain, the same old story.
Octavio tosses her a helmet. “Just in case. You can sit up front with me.” Did he just put his hand on her ass to give her a boost?
Before I can even think about why that matters, Captain Frank grabs his jacket off the rack and runs towards the rig. “Ken, it’s your turn to drive, let’s get rollin’.”
Grabbing my helmet and pulling up my suspenders, I open the door and grab the pillar, pulling myself up. No need for the girly step. I love driving, almost as much as I love first responder medicine.
Driving down Pecos, it’s a short drive to the freeway on-ramp. Traffic’s already backed up a quarter mile. This isn’t good. “Captain, should we go the long way?”
Reviewing the accident coordinates again in his mind, Frank agrees. “Yeah, head up to Eastern, we can come in the other side. I’ll call dispatch and make sure the emergency lane is clear.”
I hope this is just a typical whiplash and minor cuts accident, but the paramedics are always a little behind us in case there’s a problem. I give them a heads up, holding the mic to my mouth. “Octavio, this is Ken. You need to head up Pebble to save time. The entrance on Pecos is already jammed.”
As far as I can see, the westbound traffic is stopped. Merging onto the 215, it’s amazing how few people pay attention to the siren and lights. I hope one day, the car manufacturers make a device that turns off your cell phone and announces our presence over a Bluetooth radio.
I notice a blue Mazda oblivious to us on her ass. “Hey Cap, wanna call our buddy, Dave? Have him give this bitch a ticket?”
Captain Frank points to the “IM HOT” license plate. “She’s punished enough!”
He’s right. Isn’t it always the case?
Taking three minutes longer than necessary to reach the scene, I’m trying to take everything in… two cars involved, seems pretty minor. Why the hell are so many people huddled around the black SUV?
Parked and out of the truck, I grab a kit and rush to the cars. Holy fuck, this woman’s having a baby, now.
She’s in the driver’s seat, a toddler wailing in the back. She’s reclined back as far as she can go, her hand reaching back in an attempt to quiet the screaming child.
“It’s okay, mommy’s here,” she’s saying over and over again, even as she grits her way through another contraction.
“Ma’am, I’m Ken Davidson, LV rescue. Are you hurt?”
Her head whips around as I speak and she nearly screams through another contraction. “Do I look hurt?” She snarls at me, but I can hardly blame her.
“I mean, from the accident. Pain?” Her eyes spit daggers at me. I almost laugh, but don’t dare. “Other than contractions?”
“I don’t think so,” she manages to puff out between breaths, the contraction finally breaking. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”
“Totally okay, yell all you want. How far along are you?”
“Thirty-nine weeks,” she gasps out and then clamps down on my hand as another contraction seizes her. Wow, that was quick. I look around, where is fucking Octavio and the crew? If they don’t get here soon, we’re having a baby on asphalt or in the truck.
The paramedic truck pulls up just as I slip on some gloves from the kit. “Don’t worry about anything. We’re going to take good care of you and your baby. Do you know if you’re giving this guy a little brother or sister?” The boy in back is now sucking his thumb as huge tears continue to fall down his face. He looks okay strapped in his car seat. Captain Frank’s in the backseat with him, checking him out. He’s a grandpa of four; he charms a smile out of the little guy.
“It’s a giiiirl.” Shit, another contraction. “I can feel her. Burning.”
“I’m going to check, okay?” I slip my gloved hand beneath her skirt, grateful she isn’t in pants. Oh yeah, I bet she can feel her, the baby’s head is crowning and pushing through.
“No pushing yet. Don’t push. I know you want to. Just squeeze my hand, but don’t push, okay?” She nods, her face blooming in pain. “What’s your name?”
“Mel-an-ie.” She’s speaking in syllables. That’s okay.
Come the fuck on guys, I silently scream at the guys pulling out the stretcher in what seems like slow motion. I know I can catch this baby if I need to, but a nice clean stretcher would be much better.
“Okay, Melanie, you’re doing great. Fantastic. The paramedics are here and we’re going to get you out of this car and onto the stretcher. Much better place for little Miss Sunshine to make her debut don’t you think?”
Suddenly, Stephanie is here, looking through the passenger door. “What can I do? I can help her with breathing, anything you need.”
“Look here, Melanie. This is Stephanie, she’s training to be an OB nurse, isn’t this your lucky day?”
Melanie nods, but begins to cry again as another contraction strikes her. Stephanie begins to breathe with her, her voice as soothing as a calm lake. “You’re doing great,” she soothes the other woman and, using the towel in her hand, wipes sweat from the woman’s face as the contraction ends.
“Okay, Melanie, the stretcher is here. We’re going to get you out, okay, before the next one hits.” Hands under her legs and back, I begin to lift her. Stephanie instinctively helps too, taking some of her weight and crawling across the front of the vehicle where Melanie settles on the white sheets.
I step back, letting Octavio and Ed take over. Stripping off my gloves, I watch the pregnant woman scream and lean forward. Designed to push, her instincts take over and no amount of determination can stop it.
Stephanie holds her hand, counting through the push while Octavio gets in receiving position. There is no time for the ambulance, no time for the hospital. Mother Nature has declared her wish and it’s being fulfilled right here.
There’s the head, filled with dark black hair. She turns and her shoulders emerge one by one. Another push and a little girl is born into the world. Bystanders are crying, or holding their hand over their mouth. Everyone is in awe.
Then the moment is broken as the baby’s mouth and nose is suctioned and a wail fills the air, the sweetest sound imaginable. Cheers go up all around us and Melanie is reaching for her baby, crying and laughing at the same time.
“Time to go,” Octavio shouts and Melanie yells for her little boy. Shit, I turn to find him sitting happily on Captain Frank’s lap. I look at the SUV, the front wheel is torqued in; it isn’t drivable. I pull open the back door and begin removing the child seat.
“Hey little guy, want to ride in an ambulance?”
The toddler, on second look he’s about three years old, squeals and makes ‘woo woo’ sounds. I’m guessing that’s a yes. I turn and bump into Stephanie, nearly knocking her down as I swing the car seat around.
She only laughs and says, “I’m going to need additional health insurance if I hang around you too much.” Her green eyes are sparkling, the excitement of the day’s events shining on her face.
“I promised Melanie I’d take care of Travis.” I step back and she reaches in for the little boy who goes to her as willingly as a moth to a flame.
“Want to go see your baby sister?” She sing-songs to him and gets a ‘woo woo’ in return. We all laugh, it’s clear he’s more interested in the ambulance than a pesky baby sister. Stephanie hugs him close to her. “Woo woo it is.”
As I follow her to the truck, I can’t help but admire her as a human being. Sure, she’s beautiful and built like a brick shit house, but there’s so much more underneath the surface. I wonder if she even knows how many layers she possesses.
I don’t think she does.
Chapter 10—Stephanie
“It was the mo
st incredible thing I’ve ever experienced,” I tell Beth again. Her smile just grows wider as she twirls another bite of pasta. “When the baby’s head came out, it was the most magical thing in the world.”
I’d called Beth the evening of my ride-along to share my experience, but had to limit my story to a two-minute version. She was at her parent’s for the weekend, but promised we’d catch up after class Monday night. I agreed to cook, if she’d bring a bottle of wine. She even brought two slices of cheesecake. Blueberry for me, strawberry for her. I eye the strawberries with longing and fear. I used to love them, until the day they almost killed me. Funny how allergies can just kick in with no prior warning.
“Did you get to hold the baby?” Beth asks.
“No, her mom wouldn’t let her go, said she planned to ‘kangaroo’ her.” I laugh at Beth’s expression. “I know, right? I looked it up and it’s essentially skin to skin contact. The mom said that if she didn’t get a birthing room and an epidural then she was going to hold her baby all she wanted.”
“Can’t argue with that,” we said at the same time and jinxed each other. God, it feels good to act like a kid sometimes.
“I did get to play with Trevor, the big brother. He rode to the hospital with us and was a total handful. He wanted to touch every button, blast the siren, drive and use the de-fib paddles on his baby sister. He was hilarious.”
“Sounds like it.” Beth is twirling another bite, laughing in the appropriate places, but something is off.
“What?” I ask and feel like a heel for taking up our entire conversation. I’d told her about the pancake house disaster and the ride-along, and was next going to regale her with all the texting I’d been doing with Ken, but…
“What’s wrong?” I ask again when she doesn’t answer.
“Nothing. I don’t know. I think I’m just tired.”
Going straight into future nurse mode, I lay my hand on her forehead. She isn’t feverish, but her pulse is racing. I grab her wrist and clock it at nearly one hundred beats a minute.
“Beth, what’s wrong? Please tell me.”
“I don’t know where to start, I think I’m going crazy.”
“Why, what do you mean?”
“Little things. Like I thought for sure I set the alarm on my phone, but then overslept and missed class because it didn’t go off. My calendar had the dates changed. And…”
“And what, Beth?”
“I failed the nurse admin exam. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I aced it. I’d been so sure, but no, a sixty-four.”
“Oh Beth.” I didn’t know what else to say.
“That’s why I had to go home for the weekend. Dad accessed e-learn and saw the grade. Steph, he was so pissed. Worse, he wouldn’t believe me when I told him I’d studied like a hundred hours and I had. It gave him the excuse to go on another tangent on how I’m wasting my life, blah, blah, blah.”
“Still? After four years he still wants you to be a lawyer?”
She nods.
“Sweetie, I’m so sorry. Have you gone to talk to Professor Riley, see if he would be willing to give you a re-take?”
She nods again. “I went but he said no. Just told me to study harder next time.”
I take her hand. “It will be fine, I promise. This won’t pull you down too much, all your other grades are fantastic.”
She’s still not convinced, but smiles anyway. “I know. It was just such a shock. Then dad, then missing class. Just kinda piled on, you know. Sorry… didn’t mean to be a downer. I’m really excited for you and all that’s happening. How’s the fireman doing?”
I grin. She grins back. I grin bigger and start to giggle. “It’s nothing, I’m sure of it, but it’s been fun. I haven’t seen him in the past few days, not since the ride-along, but we’ve been texting and talking about seeing each other again.”
She leans forward. “Texting or sexting?”
“Beth!” I can’t stop the heat from taking over my face, can’t tell her how badly I’ve wanted to ask him over, can’t find the words to share how Ken makes me feel when he looks at me.
“Come on, Steph, this is the twenty-first century. Pull out his hose and cool yourself off.”
My face scrunches, she didn’t just say that.
“Oh yes I did.” Damn, the girl can read my mind. I’m so glad to see her smiling and laughing, I play along.
“What if I’ve already played with his hose?”
Her eyes grow wide. “Did you? Details. All of them. Now.”
I’m saved as my phone buzzes and have to dive to beat Beth from snatching it up. It’s Ken!
“Hi beautiful. Dare you to try breakfast with me again.”
I’m suddenly twelve years old, practically dancing around in circles. I stop long enough to type a response.
“Double dog dare you to try breakfast with ME.”
That’s stupid. I tap the backspace key and try again. I stare at my phone, my thumbs hovering over the buttons. All my wit, any small amount of cool cleverness I might possess deserts me. I stare at Beth and she yanks the phone from my hand. Seconds later, she hands it back. She’s typed: “I’d love to. When and where.”
I stick my tongue out at her and hit the send button. Moments later, I get his response with the details.
“Huh,” I tell Beth. “He wants to surprise me and come over here, pick me up.”
She gives me a ‘hurry up’ twirl of her finger. “What are you waiting for? Say yes.”
I start to type but she grabs my hand. “You like him, right?” I nod. “He seems to like you.” I nod. “Then just go, have fun. Don’t judge or put limitations on yourself. You’ve been under a thumb for a long time. It’s time for you to explore your options and go for it.”
Deep breath in. Deep breath out. I finish typing out my response and hit the send button. Moments later, I receive: “Terrific, see you before the sunshine.”
Beth laughs. “That’s kind of corny. But sweet. You gonna sleep with him?”
I’d been waiting for the question. Blunt Beth at her best. “I want to. Like really, really want to. Do you think he’ll think I’m a slut?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “You’ve seen him how many times now? Five? Six?”
“That’s the number of times I’ve laid eyes on him… ever. We had dinner at the pub, a non-date. Breakfast, a non-date. I spilled milk all over his crotch, a non-date. A ride-along…”
“All right, all right. But sweetie, here’s the thing. You’ll know when the time is right. Trust your instincts and allow yourself to have fun. It’s been a loooong time since you’ve had fun.”
She’s right.
“Just remember the condoms.”
I throw a pillow at her.
Chapter 11—Ken
Bzzz, Bzzz, Bzzz.
God, I should hate that sound, but I love it. Bouncing out the station bunk bed, I pull off the sheets and thank Hephaestus and Vulcan for almost five hours of sleep last night. I wonder which god or goddess I should thank for this morning wood. Damn, that was a crazy dream I was having about Stephanie.
Stephanie. Why the hell can’t I get her out of my head? She’s more than tits and ass and it scares the shit out of me.
She did such a wonderful job during the ride-along the other day. Jumping in and helping as needed. First she calms the pregnant woman. Then plays with the little boy, a natural. She’ll make a wonderful mom someday.
Fuck! Where did that come from? No way in hell do I want a kid. Or a wife. Nothing to tie me down, no fucking ball on my chain. No woman is going to get a hook through my nose. Ever.
I grab my jeans and party city t-shirt and head to the john, grateful the morning wood is now kindling and I don’t have to do the bend-it-down shit to take a leak. Thoughts of marriage will do that to a man, wither his manhood into an, almost unrecognizable, version of its former self. I’ve seen that—figuratively speaking—to way too many of my friends.
Dressed and ready to go, I watch the clo
ck getting closer to six a.m. My shift’s over in four minutes and I hope to hell one of the 5:57 calls doesn’t come and ruin my plans.
Luckily, it doesn’t and I’m heading toward the door, stopping only to talk to the day crew for a few minutes.
“When you bringing Stephanie back?” Octavio asks with a slap on my ass.
“Yeah, don’t you think she needs some more training?” Robert air quotes the word “training.”
Ty joins in, “Yeah, I didn’t get to show her my hose.”
I gotta get out of here. This shit is on a downhill roll and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.
“Fuck you Ty.” I kick up the kickstand with the back of my boot and decide to kick start the Harley this morning. The deep roar of the hog always pisses off my fellow brothers, but I don’t care. I haven’t had her at the station for months and I feel like she needs a little freedom after the other day.
Flipping off all the guys mockingly, I head up Pebble and stop to get some donuts. I have to bring something; I don’t want Steph to think I’m completely useless.
Pulling into her apartment complex, I throttle down. I shouldn’t have brought the beast here this early, but it’s too late to get my truck. Coasting into the one remaining visitor spot and parking quickly, I hop up the stairs two at a time. What the fuck has this girl done to my brain? I’ve never brought food to a girl before—or been this excited to watch her eat it. This is messed up. I just need to fuck her and get this obsession out of my system. All this emotional foreplay has me worked up.
In Ohio, everyone had wooden doors and the metallic sound when I knock still weirds me out. Of course, here in Vegas wood dries up and warps within a season so all the doors seem to be made of metal. I can’t ring the bell, it sounds too urgent. Why the hell am I over-thinking something as innocent as this?
I hear footsteps on the other side of the door and I’m greeted by the glorious sight of a very sleepy Stephanie. She’s pushing her hair back and rubbing her eyes, clearly embarrassed for having been caught oversleeping.
“I’m so sorry. My alarm didn’t go off. I must’ve over slept. Please, come in.”
Stoking the Embers (New Adult Romantic Suspense): The Complete Series Page 7