Burning Desire

by Marie Harte

  “Sofa’s? Sure, let’s hit Station 44 today. Great idea.”

  He grinned.

  When they arrived, Brad nodded at them to join him by the engine in the vehicle bay.

  “Why aren’t we going upstairs?” Bree asked.

  “Because Hernandez and his cronies are circling like buzzards.” Brad glanced around to make sure they had the bay to themselves. “LT brought in his wife’s banana bread, and the guys are all over it.” He grinned at Tex. “Poor Ed has to take a break from the magical bread to work out with the battalion chief this morning.”

  “My dad’s here?” Bree blinked.

  “Good.” Tex grinned. “Let him compete with Ed and keep them all busy kissing ass. That leaves us with Sofa’s.”

  They met Mack and Reggie at a counter along the wall. Today it held a carafe of coffee, paper cups, and plates and napkins to go along with the delicious aroma of baked goods in a box Mack opened.

  “Here. You win.” Mack’s sour expression made everything sweeter.

  “When are you and Reggie cleanin’ my truck?”

  Mack ignored him. As did Reggie. “Hi, Bree.” Mack took her hand and kissed the back of it. “Don’t you look like a fresh spring daisy today?”

  She laughed. “Flatterer.”

  Reggie smoothly cut in front of Mack and guided Bree to the treats. “Ladies first.”

  “Right. Brad, after you.” Mack bowed.

  “Asshole,” Brad muttered.

  Bree grabbed a blueberry muffin and coffee while Reggie chatted her up.

  “How’s it going?” Brad asked in a low voice as he joined Tex a few steps away.

  “Okay, so long as her dad stays off my ass.” Tex sighed. “I’m really confused, man.” He made sure Bree couldn’t hear him. “I want to be with her. Like, dating and shit. But that threat from her dad, screwing with my job? This is my life, you know?”

  “The guy’s probably just messing with you. Chief Gilchrist is a good guy. Everyone knows it.”

  “Yeah, maybe.”

  Mack had hung back and said in a low voice, “You know, you’re making too big a deal of this. Just hang out with her in private. See where it goes. Then if it’s serious, you make some decisions. If not, you two crazy kids have fun, and no one cares because no one knows.”

  Tex tried to consider taking things one step at a time, but for some reason he kept envisioning a future with the sexy photographer. “Oh, ah, yeah, that’s a thought.”

  Brad left him to flirt with Bree, or be personable, as he liked to call it. Bree didn’t seem to mind being surrounded by his friends as they let her inside the engine to take all the pictures she wanted. Mack held her coffee for her, and Reggie guarded her muffin in the event the idiots upstairs came down.

  They ate and drank, enjoying the lovely morning. The food really hit Tex’s happy spot, and he made a mental note to visit the bakery to tell Elliot how much the firehouse enjoyed his food. Maybe he’d bring Bree with him when he did.

  That would be fun. But not a date. Their date would have to be enjoyable and creative while also being private. Hmm. He’d have to think on that.

  Reggie called out, “Yo, Tex, get your head out of your ass. Bree wants us to pose for a picture.”

  “You mean she wants to frame me with you less-than-handsome bookends.”

  “Oh, whatever.” Mack huffed. “I’m the centerpiece here, Tex.”

  “Gentlemen. You are all drool-worthy.” Bree gave them directions, moving them just so, adjusting her camera and fiddling. She shot a few pictures before the alarm sounded. The guys shot to their lockers to get their gear on. And man, did they move.

  Bree continued to take shots as they geared up and got ready to leave.

  Excitement filled him even though Tex wouldn’t be taking part. “Okay, guys, we’ll follow along.” Then he realized they were missing a body. “Where’s the new guy?”

  “We left Rob upstairs with the others.” Brad rolled his eyes. “He’s got the personality of a rock.”

  “And not a pet rock, because they’re fun,” Mack said.

  Bree bit her lip. “They really are. I had one as a kid.”

  “I’m coming,” Rob said as he raced into the bay followed by Hernandez’s crew hopping into the aid trucks.

  Wash frowned. “I didn’t know the photographer was here.”

  “Why should you?” Tex asked.

  “Do I smell food?” The giant homed in on the Sofa’s box like a bloodhound. “Yo, Hernandez. They had food and the pretty lady and didn’t share.”

  Hernandez flipped Tex off before heading into Aid 44. “I’ll remember this, McGovern.”

  “Whatever.” He turned Bree’s attention to both trucks. “Aid 44 and Aid 45 are going out with the engine on this one. Sounds like we need to follow.”

  “Uh-oh.” Daughter to a firefighter, Bree would know the seriousness of having everyone out on a call.

  He hustled with her to the battalion truck outside as the engine screamed out of the bay, followed by the aid vehicles, and flashed the lights as they headed out.

  With the scanner on, Tex picked up the information. A bad fire in an abandoned building that used to be an auto shop not two miles away. Bad news, as the place hadn’t been completely cleaned out yet and likely still had oil and chemicals inside.

  As they neared, an explosion rocked the air.

  “Shit.” He followed the sirens and pulled in a bit behind, away from danger should another explosion happen but close enough to feel the heat.

  “Oh my God.” Bree gaped, her camera in hand, as she left the truck with Tex.

  “Shoot, woman.”

  “I know, I know.” She snapped photos fast, moving closer and around while Tex continued to guide her back, away from the blaze and responding personnel.

  There had to be an accelerant in play, because the fire had spread rapidly and continued to burn like crazy.

  The lieutenant was directing people, making sure they established command, an ops link, and had people on the hoses. Brad and Mack were already on one of the hoses to water down the blaze closest to them while Reggie and Rob readied to head inside. Hernandez and Wash suited up as well, two more ready to go in and scope things while the other two on Hernandez’s team remained with the aid truck.

  Tex listened to the handheld and said to Bree, “Station 28 is on the way. They had something come up, or they’d have been first on scene.” He steered Bree back when she wanted to move closer.

  “But I need that shot.”

  “Come on. With me.” He hurried them around the action toward the back of the warehouse, which hadn’t yet burned like the front, though smoke poured from the broken windows on the second floor.

  Bree gasped.

  “What?”

  She zoomed in on the building with her camera. “Tex, I see people inside!”

  “How many? Can you tell?” He radioed the lieutenant and told him what Bree relayed.

  “Looks like three people, no, four. Two older women, a teenage girl, and a young man. They don’t look so good.” An odd mix of folks to be hanging around an old, empty auto shop.

  “LT, Bree can see four people. Two older women, a young man, and a teenage girl. Stuck on the second floor. Wait. I can see the girl waving.” He waved back and yelled, “Stay there. We have help coming,” though he didn’t think she could hear him over the noise of the fire and more sirens. “Make it fast, LT. The smoke is bad.”

  “Roger. Out.”

  It killed Tex not to go inside and help, but he waited while Rob and Reggie rushed around the back, found an open door, and headed inside. Hernandez and Wash stood by outside. Tex changed the channel on the handheld to listen to the operation inside. The guys would communicate via their breathing apparatuses on the ops channel.

  He listened as Rob
and Reggie scoped the area and were able to locate a set of stairs that hadn’t yet been touched by the fire.

  Bree listened with wide eyes, her camera lowered as the action unfolded. Hernandez and Wash continued to wait. The two-in-two-out rule applied, making safety a priority not just for the victims but the responders as well, so one team always had the other’s backs.

  “This is scary,” Bree said, her voice quiet. “I mean, I know the job. I’ve seen my dad do this, but it’s still hard.”

  He put a hand on her shoulder as they watched and listened.

  Rob and Reggie reported they had the two older women, but the younger pair had decided to try to get out themselves.

  Bree left Tex behind as she darted to the other side of the building.

  “Damn it, Bree. Wait.”

  She kept running then stopping to look up through her camera, and he realized she wanted to see if she could help from a better view outside the building. A different perspective.

  “There. I can see movement inside. But it’s on the ground floor, and I can’t be sure…”

  Tex called it in. Hernandez responded, still waiting for Reggie and Rob to exit. The other two on Hernandez’s crew pulled an aid truck around back as well, so everyone was ready. More firefighters joined the team, waiting out front.

  Tex heard through the radio that Rob and Reggie had exited with two women needing medical attention for smoke inhalation but no burns or obvious injury otherwise. Hernandez and Wash then went inside and quickly found the two younger people and escorted them out, the teenage girl in a fireman’s carry.

  They put her in the aid vehicle and rushed away while the others helped the older women to medical attention.

  Invested in the action, Tex hadn’t realized Bree had kept taking photos. He hoped she got what she needed. He knew he hadn’t, wishing he’d been inside with the others. That desire to help, to be a part of it all, only emphasized that firefighting was in his blood. These men were his people, and he could allow nothing to come between him and his passion.

  He glanced at Bree and sighed, wishing his life could go back to being uncomplicated. “You did good, Bree.” He escorted her around to the front of the building, where the captain and her father stood watching as Ed took charge. Her father gave her a sharp look before giving Tex a short nod.

  As if Tex would let Bree fall into danger. The thought of that happening didn’t comprehend.

  And Tex realized his grand passion might not just be for firefighting, but also extended to one gorgeous blond with a caring heart.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Wednesday, their last day together on the project, had come and gone, and by Friday, Bree had butterflies of steel warping the inside of her stomach as she waited for Tex to pick her up for their first official date…not at all counting the one where Bree had thrown Tex’s water in his face. They both pretended that one had never happened.

  They’d decided to go out at the end of the week. Bree and Tex both needed the break from the constant work on her project, and Tex had off until his regular rotation began again the next week. They could, ostensibly, relax and just focus on enjoying each other.

  They’d both agreed to make the date a low-key affair as well as private, away from prying eyes. Tex thought he had the perfect solution. He called it a getting-to-know-you date. And he’d said he’d take care of all the details.

  Sadly, the only detail she wanted had to do with whether he wore boxers or briefs and how long until she could get those suckers off his glorious body.

  Bree groaned. Do not think about sex. Try to get to know more than his package, doofus.

  To take her mind off her date, she called Carrie, sadly not expecting an answer. As she waited to go to voicemail—again—she plucked at her silky shirt, wondering if she’d dressed up enough for her date. Tex had said to be comfy casual, so she’d worn a sporty skirt that reached her knees, a comfy but stylish tee, and cute sneakers with sparkles, because, you know, sparkles.

  The air felt cool but not cold, and she had an insulated though lightweight jacket for warmth.

  To her surprise, Carrie actually answered the call, and it took Bree a second to respond to the unusually meek hello.

  “What the hell, Carrie?” she snapped. “You’ve been ducking me with stupid texts. Are you okay? What’s going on with you?”

  Carrie blew out a breath. “Okay, you can’t freak out.”

  “Oh, no. What? What?”

  “You’re freaking out.”

  “Damn it. Talk, or I’m coming over there.”

  “No, you aren’t. You’re waiting for Tex for your big date. That’s why I answered your call now, actually, because you can’t come get me.”

  “Wait. How do you know that?” Bree had been keeping her date with Tex a secret, planning on sharing with Carrie after it was over since her best friend couldn’t take it upon herself to talk on the phone like a normal human being.

  “I made out with Melissa.”

  Totally not what Bree had been expecting to hear, and she had no idea how to respond.

  “I know.” Carrie groaned. “I didn’t mean to. She had questions. Now I have questions. And that’s it though. It was just a kiss. Nothing else.”

  “Wait. Nothing else?” Bree’s brain was on pause. “What?”

  “It’s too early to tell, but my lesbian theory might just hold water.”

  “I’ll cancel my date with Tex. We need to talk about this.”

  “No, we do not need to talk about this. This business is between Melissa and me. You got a courtesy answer because I love you. And because I know what a pain in the ass you can be if you think someone’s keeping secrets from you.”

  “Not true.” She paused. “Well, kind of true. You could have called and told me though. You didn’t have to hide it.”

  “I totally did. I’m not handling this well myself. It’s…weird.”

  “Yeah.” Bree cringed. “Please, just don’t become a couple with her or anything. You’re my friend. And yes, I heard myself say it and know I sound like a terrible person. But we’re talking about Melissa.”

  “I know. But Bree, she’s hurting. She’s pretty messed up. And I’m not sure how she feels about all this, so you really can’t say anything.”

  The perfect revenge for all of Melissa’s bitchiness over the years. And something Bree would never in a million years do. Gay, straight, and whatever else her sister might be, her personal life belonged to no one but Melissa. Heck, Bree wished Carrie hadn’t told her.

  Bree heard Tex’s truck pull up. “She’s actually talking to you about her issues?”

  “Yeah. I think it’s about time too. But enough about me, what about you? What are you guys doing, besides each other, for this date?”

  Bree appreciated the change in subject. “We’re not having sex.”

  Carrie laughed.

  “We’re going to try not to.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because we want to get to know each other beyond how we look naked. We need to have more than sexy times to be a couple.” She blinked. “Oh, wow. Are we trying to be a couple? I don’t know. The sex makes me want that, but there are problems. My dad, Tex’s many exes, my best friend kissing my sister…”

  “I’m going to pretend you didn’t mention that again and that you aren’t freaking out. Okay, while you’re dealing with your sexed-up Texan, I’m going to drink. Heavily. It’s been a tough week.”

  “Sorry, Carrie.” Sometimes Bree spent so much time bitching to Carrie that Carrie didn’t get a fair shake. Then again, Bree seemed to have a messier life. “Want to hang out this weekend?”

  “Sunday brunch?”

  “Deal. And I promise not to go wacko on you about Melissa. Okay, he’s here. I have to go.”

  “Later. Try not to be too easy.”

 
“Idiot.”

  Carrie laughed, and Bree disconnected. She answered the door, only to see Tex standing with a large, black duffel bag.

  She stared at the bag, trying to focus past the handsome cowboy wearing tight jeans, an even tighter T-shirt, and a cowboy hat. Because the hat really did quadruple his sex appeal. Oh, mama.

  He tightened his hold on the duffel, and she said the first thing that popped into her mind. “I hope that’s not for my body when you’re done with me.”

  “What? No. Wait, what?”

  “I like to watch true crime on TV. Best way to move a body is to chop it up into smaller pieces for ease of movement.”

  Tex frowned. “O-kay. And see, this is why we needed a date. I had no idea you were so into crime shows.” He paused. “Or crime. Should I be scared?”

  “Maybe.” She grinned. “So where to?”

  “Come with me…”

  Half an hour later, she stood over the plate, ready to swing again. “This is actually a lot of fun. I haven’t been to a batting cage in almost twenty years.”

  “A little birdie told me you liked softball and tennis. I have the perfect night planned.”

  “Would that little birdie be six-two and have very scary eyes?”

  “That’s the one.” He grinned. “Carrie told me I’d owe her big, and she’d make me pay. I’m officially frightened.”

  “You should be. But I’m flattered you sold your soul to make our date fun.”

  “What can I say? You’re worth it. Especially when you wriggle as you wind up. Nice ass.”

  “Tex.” She shushed him. “There are little kids around here.” They were at a fun center that catered to games for the younger crowd and a few brave older souls who didn’t mind whack-a-mole, birthday parties, and cosmic bowling. With any luck, she’d get a shot at the retro arcade before they left.

  “It’s eight o’clock, and we’re surrounded by teens and old guys like me, in case you hadn’t noticed.” He chuckled. “Man, you’re brutal, Bree. These poor kids are going through puberty and dealing with your skirt. That’s gotta be tough.”