by EM Lynley
“I can still bake and you can manage a staff,” Lacey said. She was sitting at the other table, with several attentive crew members. One of the guys, Davis, was married, but he always noticed the pretty girls who came into the station and gave them plenty of attention.
“We’ll need to get back on our feet slowly. And I’ll I have to lay off some people after the holidays.”
“Hopefully, you already did the gingerbread house for Home Sweet Home,” Perez said. Apparently, he was working a double shift; probably traded with another guy.
Alex shook his head. “That’s what we were working on last night. We had about a hundred gingerbread men baked. Half were decorated, and we were going to finish the rest today while we baked the house.”
“How do you bake a house?” Kevin tried not to ask, but his curiosity outweighed his annoyance for the moment.
“A gingerbread house. I build a big gingerbread house that’s auctioned off every Christmas at the annual Home Sweet Home benefit ball.”
For obvious reasons, Kevin wasn’t into the charity ball scene. He shook his head. “Home Sweet Home?”
“It’s an organization that helps foster kids get adopted. The state is only capable of sending them out to homes, but falls down on monitoring the situation or actively working to get kids matched up with suitable permanent homes.” Alex spoke quickly, his smile fading and his voice rising, almost cracking. He shook his head. “I’ll just make a cash donation this year.”
“No house?” Perez asked.
“No house.”
“You should see the plans though. This year it was going to be a palace. It would have been incredible.” Lacey’s voice lightened the heavy atmosphere.
“I’ll make it next year,” Alex said.
“Look, I always buy a couple of gingerbread men,” Perez said, taking his wallet out of his pocket. He pulled out a few bills and handed them to Alex. “Add this to your donation.”
Kevin watched as every other guy followed suit. Alex had a nice wad of cash, and he looked like he might cry. He hadn’t been this emotional in Kevin’s presence since the fire, except when he was trying to get the dog out from under the bed. Most people broke down when they went inside and saw the damage. Not this guy.
“Flint?” Peterson asked expectantly.
“Yeah, sure.” Kevin retrieved some cash from his wallet and handed it to Alex, who glanced up warily at him. Kevin didn’t smile. He didn’t like being forced to donate. He was all for fundraisers and community work. It was part of the job. But he didn’t know whether this money would get wherever it was supposed to go. “You guys done with lunch?” he asked. It was his responsibility to do the dishes while he was on desk duty. He collected a pile of plates and brought them into the kitchen. Perez followed with a plastic bin with the glasses, silverware, and other items to be washed.
As Kevin scraped food into the compost bin, he turned to Perez. “What’s the big deal about this guy Bancroft? Why is everyone so upset about his bakery? And his gingerbread?”
“He’s a neighborhood fixture. He donates unsold food to shelters or kids’ homes, and he always bakes stuff for charity events. He gives kids jobs in his bakery—the ones over sixteen. He’s just a really nice guy.” Perez was grinning as he answered, his voice wavering as he loaded the dirty dishes into the huge dishwasher.
“Can’t the world survive without a gingerbread house for one year?”
“These things are incredible. Kind of the highlight of the holiday auction. One year someone paid like three thousand bucks for it.”
“Jesus, three thou?” Kevin could find better ways to spend that much money. The donation was great, but it was ridiculous to pay so much for a cake.
“It helps that it’s the end of the year and people want to get a tax deduction. But the money goes to a good cause. And that house was beautiful.”
“Well, looks like someone has a crush on Mother Fucking Theresa.” Shit, why had he made a gay joke? That was the last topic he wanted to bring up. But Perez did look a little starry-eyed.
“No,” Perez said and shook his head. But Kevin noticed his dimples showing, and that only happened when Perez was embarrassed. “You done with those dishes?”
“Yeah. I’ll load them and start the washer.”
“Let me just go check there’s nothing else.” Perez dampened a rag to wipe the tables and went back to the dining room.
When he came back a few minutes later, the rest of the guys and Alex and Lacey came with him.
“Here’s the stove.” Perez and Alex stood in front of it, and Alex opened the door and peered in.
“Wow, you guys have restaurant-quality appliances. Sweet.” Alex acted like a kid getting his first two-wheeler bike. He traced a hand along the top of the stove and glanced around. “It might work.”
The other guys made sounds of agreement.
“What are you talking about?” Kevin asked.
“Alex could bake the house here, using our equipment. We’ve got plenty of space in the kitchen, and in between meals no one uses it.”
“Did you ask the captain? And the chief? I don’t think you’re allowed to have civilians in here.” Kevin shook his head, hoping no one saw his panic. There had to be a rule about it. He hoped there was a rule. He didn’t want the Bancroft Buns around any longer than necessary. Being around Alex already raised Kevin’s pulse when he got too close.
“Jesus, Flint, who peed in your eggnog? Why can’t you just help a guy out when he’s trying to help someone else,” Richardson said and made an annoyed tsking sound.
“Fucking Grinch,” someone else said.
“I think it’s a great idea!” Lacey chimed in. She rushed over to Kevin and put her arms around him. That would have worked with every other guy in the room, but not him. Somehow she sensed it and let go. Damn, that was worse. A straight guy would have liked the hug.
He smiled at her. “Well, since you asked so nicely,” he said, trying to sound agreeable and flirty. “I’ll ask the cap for you.”
“Yeah, right.” Peterson turned his back to Kevin and ushered everyone back to the dining room. Perez stayed to help finish the cleanup.
“Yeah, Flint, why’re you so against this guy? I know you made him jump through hoops on the report.”
“I only followed procedure.”
“Sometimes you don’t have to dot the i’s. Sometimes you can just leave a few things undone or a few blanks blank. You’re a Flint for fuck’s sake. You don’t have to impress anyone.”
If only Perez knew being a Flint meant never cutting corners. It was useless to explain.
“Or maybe you’re just homophobic.”
Whew. He’d rather be called that than a fag. He ignored the comment. “I’m starting the machine. You want to sweep or mop?”
“Mop.”
That was the harder job. It was an indication of how macho these guys acted; they always volunteered for the tough jobs, tried to be first in line for the most dangerous task. Kevin did it too. It was part of the firefighter culture. Be first on the truck, grab the hose so you could be on the nozzle, or climb the ladder. There was an extra adrenaline rush in danger, and it lasted longer when you were successful.
Some guys could milk the hero stuff for days after a big rescue, but Kevin didn’t care for that. He liked doing good and helping people. At the end of the day, the job was a team effort. The guy who kept the water flowing from the pumper was just as vital as the one who rescued trapped victims—or dogs.
But Kevin needed these guys to keep thinking he played for their team in every way. He certainly didn’t need walking wet dream Alex Bancroft around all the time making his secret even harder—not the best choice of words—to keep.
Kevin could use a cold shower about now after spending most of the morning with him. He’d been a jerk in order to keep Alex Bancroft at a distance. Up close he was far too appealing, and that was far too dangerous.
ALEX hadn’t expected the support he’d gott
en from the firefighters. All but one. He’d been touched when they’d donated the cash, but the suggestion he use their kitchen to bake gingerbread really floored him. He tried to keep his excitement in check until they got the captain’s approval.
No matter what, Kevin Flint was never going to approve the project, and Alex hoped he didn’t have a say in the decision. He must be worried Alex would out him, but there was nothing to be gained by doing so. Even if there were, Alex had no desire to do that to anyone. Kevin made his own life difficult; it wasn’t up to Alex to tell him he was wasting his time stressing over it.
Alex and Lacey sat in the captain’s office after the rest of C crew gave their full support to the idea.
“Alex, I’m behind this too,” Captain Turner said. He leaned back in his chair. “We give back to the community, and if anyone’s earned that, you have. I just want to call the chief’s office and run it past him.”
“Riggs, what do you say?” Turner swiveled in his chair to ask the other man in the office, Captain Riggs from the shift that had just gone off duty. He was doing paperwork at the rear desk.
“Fine with me. You let us know how we can help.”
“As long as you’re sure. We don’t want to get anyone in trouble if there’s a rule about things like this.” Alex held his breath. It couldn’t be this easy.
“There’s no rule. You been talking to Flint? I think the guy swallowed a rule book and pukes up some new regulation every time he opens his mouth. Don’t listen to him.” Riggs laughed and picked up the phone and pushed a speed dial button. “Riggs here. Is the chief in? … Oh, then a deputy? … Sure, I’ll hold.” Riggs put his hand over the mouthpiece. “That boy, Flint, he’ll be chief one day if he can get the stick out of his ass.”
Lacey giggled and Alex couldn’t help smiling too. He suspected it wasn’t a stick in Flint’s ass that made him act like that.
“Oh, Chief Flint, thanks for taking my call. … Yes, everything’s fine … No, this isn’t about Kevin.” Riggs chuckled. “He’s, uh, doing fine.” Riggs closed his eyes and shook his head. “We had a call last night. … Yes, Bancroft. They’re without a kitchen for at least a few weeks, and we wanted to offer use of our kitchen for them to bake some holiday donations … Yes, the gingerbread house … Sure, I’ll ask them to make something just for you and the other chiefs … Okay, thank you.” He added a few pleasantries and hung up. “No problem. Just make a few extra gingerbread men for the chiefs, if you don’t mind?”
“I’d be glad to.” Alex couldn’t believe this. But the conversation intrigued him. “The chief you talked to, Flint, he’s related to Kevin Flint?”
“Yeah, his dad. The whole family’s in the department. If they aren’t firefighters, they’re cops. Even the girls. Flints have been keeping this city safe for three generations.”
“Really?” That was interesting. Maybe it explained why Kevin was such a dick. Not that Alex had much experience in carrying on a family dynasty. Taking over his own parents’ bakery was hardly in the same class as spending your life running toward danger instead of away, just because of your last name. What must that responsibility be like?
“He’s a good firefighter. He just needs some work on people skills. When his grandfather was in the department, that wasn’t as important as it is now. He’ll learn. Or he’ll be out. Let me know if he gives you a hard time about anything.”
“Okay, Captain Riggs, Captain Turner. Thank you.” Alex got up, shook both men’s hands and left, with Lacey following.
“I’m sure you’d like a hard time from Kevin Flint, wouldn’t you?” Lacey teased.
“A boy can dream.” He gave her a wink, but he pulled her into an empty room next to the captain’s office and shut the door. “But that’s just between you and me. No jokes in front of him or the other guys. They don’t know.”
“Seriously?”
“Why do you think he’s avoiding me?”
“Come on, Alex, why are you suddenly so interested in keeping the guy’s closet locked?”
Alex shrugged. “You heard the captain. This is more than a job for a guy like him. More than a career. It’s part of who he is, who his family is, and who he thinks he needs to be for reasons we can’t understand. Until the Bancrofts took me in, being gay made my life hell. I won’t be the cause of someone else getting even a fraction of that.”
“But no one’s going to… hurt him like….” She blinked a few times. He knew she got upset thinking about what he’d been through as a kid and teen, and she got more upset when she thought about why. He never blamed her for anything. It had been his choice. He hadn’t put their horrible experiences completely behind him, but it didn’t hurt to think about as much anymore. It gave him strength and determination. Lacey couldn’t understand that either, even after what she’d been through herself.
Alex pulled her in for a hug. “Not the same way. In a different way, I guess. And he’s not ready to risk ripping his world apart. So let’s not do that to him.”
She wiped at one eye and nodded. “Okay, I get it. Let’s tell the other guys we’re approved for using the kitchen and then go get ingredients.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
They went upstairs to share the news, and Perez showed them around the kitchen, pointing out the utensils and other equipment they would need. Alex could do the jobs that only needed one hand while Lacey would do everything else. The crew volunteered to help during their free time.
This might actually work.
AT SEVEN that evening, Captain Turner told Kevin to go home. “Take twelve and come back in the morning.”
“What? I’m off till Sunday according to the calendar.” Kevin knew he shouldn’t have talked back to the captain, but he had plans for the next two days and they didn’t involve being here. So far he’d avoided cookie duty by doing rookie chores and an extra session in the gym. He needed to burn off the excess energy being around Alex Bancroft generated. Even the cold shower after his workout didn’t keep his imagination from painting arousing pictures of Alex performing a dizzying array of sexual acts on Kevin.
“Bill White on A Shift needs to take a personal, so I swapped your shift with his. Besides, you’re on paperwork, and I want you to ride the inspector’s ass to get a resolution on the Bancroft fire before Christmas. Otherwise he’ll have to wait till after New Year’s to file insurance forms.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.”
“May I just ask why this guy is so special?”
“He’s not special. He’s getting whatever we can do to help. We do that for everyone. We don’t just do the minimum around here. We have the ability to help him out, so we will. Especially because he gives a lot to our neighborhood. If you stick around here long enough, you’ll see.”
If. The captain’s word choice wasn’t lost on Kevin. He was relatively new in Station 7 and he still had to prove himself on the fireground—and the station—to captain and crew. He’d left his previous station because he was sure at least one guy suspected he was gay. Kevin had “engineered” his exit by mouthing off to an officer, knowing it would get him transferred. Only now that was a rep he’d have to live down.
And he could. Other than that, he’d done everything expected, often more, and he followed instructions and regs to the letter. Until the other day when he ran into the bakery alone after Alex. Alex Bancroft had suddenly turned Kevin’s life upside down.
“Yes, sir.” Two simple words he’d been saying since he could speak. His father joked about those being the first words he’d said. His mother disagreed, but not in front of Dad. Kevin missed his mom. He’d see her around Christmas. He was scheduled to work, but their family always had two Christmas dinners so the on-duty members could enjoy Christmas the day after. Maybe he’d try to visit before Christmas if he had any days off.
He cleaned up his rack and headed home.
His brother Nick called around ten. “Hey Kev, Tom and I are going to get Mom�
��s present tomorrow. You coming?”
“Nah, I gotta work.”
“Aren’t you on now?”
“No. I’m home. Cap Riggs and Turner shifted my schedule around.”
“What’d you do?”
“Why do you always think it’s my fault?” Kevin’s heart rate zoomed. When they were kids, Kevin got punished for things Tommy and Nicky did. Dad always took their side. When Mom was home, she usually figured out who was behind any mischief. But Kevin never retaliated or blamed his brothers.
“Tell me.”
“I called a guy whose bakery burned down an idiot.”
“Bancroft Buns? Were you on that call?”
How did everyone know about that place besides him? “Yeah. Bancroft ran into the building before we could check for hotspots. Didn’t tell us about a dog.”
“I take it you went in after him?”
“Yeah, got him and the damn dog. Luckily, it was in the only room not touched by the fire. Just some smoke and heat. Poor thing was scared out of its wits.”
“The dog or Bancroft?” Nick chuckled.
“Both actually. No, I take that back. Bancroft actually handled everything amazingly calmly, except the dog. He was dog sitting and forgot it was up there.” He emphasized “forgot.”
“You seem to know all the details.”
“I’m on the paper for this one. I know all the details. Now that I think about it, he was a little too calm for a guy in his situation.”
“You think he started the fire? No one was hurt, right?”
“Right. If he was going for insurance, then he did a good job. Everything’s a loss and he got everyone out safely. The retail shop is in good shape, barely touched.”
“That’s weird. But would he burn his place down and leave the dog even if it wasn’t his? Is he that kind of guy?”
“No. Everyone around the station worships the water he walks on. But I think I should call Bronski from the arson squad and tell him what I observed.”