by Jaci Burton
“Oh yeah?”
They followed her grandfather as he made his way into the bathroom. Carmen turned on the shower, and Jimmy stared up at the rainfall showerhead.
“Hot damn.”
“You also have a handheld to use yourself.”
Jimmy turned around and shook Rafe’s hand. “Thanks for doing this. I don’t know why you did, but I sure appreciate it.”
“Your showerhead was crap. It needed changing. My treat.”
“Thanks, kid. I’m gonna enjoy the hell out of my next shower.”
“Hey, Rafe, you wanna come over and check out my house?” Theo asked. “I’ve got a few fixtures that need replacing. I’m sure my wife won’t mind.”
Rafe laughed and grasped Theo’s shoulder as they all made their way back into the living room. “Sure, Theo. Anytime.”
“No way,” Jimmy said. “He’s my personal handyman now.”
“And your personal handyman is heading home. I’ve got some laundry to do before I head on shift tomorrow.”
“Sure,” Jimmy said. “Thanks again, Rafe.”
“I’ ll . . . walk you out. I’ll be right back, Grandpa.”
Carmen stepped outside with Rafe. “I’m really sorry about my grandfather’s terrible timing.”
Rafe shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. There’ll be another time.”
Even now, he was kind about their make-out session getting interrupted. She wanted to kiss him right there, but she knew if she did, she wouldn’t stop.
“So, I’ll see you later?” she asked.
He nodded and smiled. “Yeah. Later, Carmen.”
As she watched him head across the lawn toward his house, the feeling of loneliness crept over her for the first time in a very long time.
She walked inside and shut the door.
CHAPTER 14
“NINETY-SEVEN, NINETY-EIGHT, NINETY-NINE, ONE HUNDRED.”
After those hundred push-ups, Rafe jumped up and did a walk around the workout room to cool down, moving in circles around Kal, who was doing shoulder presses with kettlebells.
“One hundred push-ups.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Kal set the kettlebells down and rolled his shoulders. “I did a hundred yesterday on my day off.”
Rafe downed a couple of gulps from his water bottle, then screwed the cap back on and shot a look at his brother. “Video or it didn’t happen.”
Kal laughed and went over to pick up the sandbag. “Unlike you, I don’t need the attention. You’ll just have to trust me.”
“Not buying it.”
“Okay, fine. We’ll put hundred-pound sandbags on our backs and do a mile around the track.”
“You’re on.”
By the end of the mile, sweat poured heavily down Rafe’s neck and back, and his legs felt like limp noodles.
They both collapsed onto the floor.
“I sure as hell hope we don’t get a call right now,” Kal said. “I don’t think I can walk.”
“Hey, dumbass. This challenge was your idea.”
Kal stared up at the ceiling. “It was a stupid idea.”
Jackson stuck his head in the door.
“Kal.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m still waiting on your CEU certificates. You’re missing two.”
Without looking at Jackson, Kal said, “Yeah, I’m on it.”
“You’ve been saying that for two weeks. I need them by the end of this week’s shift, or you’ll be sitting out calls until you get them done.”
Kal sighed. “I’ll get them done, okay?”
“Make sure you do.” Jackson waited until Kal gave him his attention, then pinned him with a look that made Rafe wonder what was going on with his two brothers.
After Jackson left, Rafe rolled over to face Kal. “What’s up?”
“With what?”
“With you and Jackson.”
Kal frowned, then popped up to a standing position. “Nothing’s up. I just have some work to do.”
“Not that.” Rafe got up and grabbed two towels, tossing one at Kal. He took a seat on the bench to look at his brother. “I felt the tension. You two fighting?”
“No. It’s not that.” Kal took a seat on the bench across from Rafe and ran the towel over his face, then stared down at his feet. “I don’t know. I just feel . . . frustrated.”
“About the job?”
“I guess. I’m not sure.”
This was the first time Rafe had heard his brother complain. “Are you unhappy being a firefighter?”
Kal looked up. “God no. I love this job.”
“Then what is it?”
Kal hesitated, and Rafe added, “You know this won’t go anywhere but this room.”
Kal nodded. “I just feel that since I’m the youngest Donovan, I’ll never get a leg up as long as I’m at the same station with you and with Jackson. Jackson’s a lieutenant, and he’s making his move up the ladder toward captain. You know with your seniority you’ll be the next to make lieutenant. And I’m just . . . stagnating with nowhere to go. There are three people ahead of me, rankwise. I’m not even on engine. And I’m not happy where I’m sitting. So I’m frustrated.”
Rafe could see his point. “That’s fair. So what do you want to do?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think you do. Maybe you just haven’t voiced it yet.”
“I love the job I do, but being under Jackson’s thumb makes me feel as if I’m being double judged. First as a firefighter and second as a brother.”
“You know he pushes all of us to be our best.”
“Logically, I know that. But I just want to be treated like anyone else. And I don’t feel like I can shine as long as I’m in this station.”
“I had no idea, man. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. I just want what I do to matter.”
Rafe laughed. “And you think what you’re doing now doesn’t?”
“That’s not what I meant. I just need more than what I’m getting here.”
Kal paused, but Rafe knew there was more he wanted to say, so he waited. He’d known his brother for a long time. Kal was thoughtful when there was something on his mind. And when he had something to say, he’d mull it over first.
“There’s a training class for the Technical Rescue Team coming up.”
Rafe arched a brow. “The TRT does some dangerous work. High-angle rescue. Confined spaces. Water emergencies. High-risk, Kal.”
Kal grinned. “I know.”
“They’re the best of the best.”
“Yeah.”
This was some big-time shit. He knew Kal could do it, but . . . damn. Then again, no matter what, he’d always stand behind his brothers.
“And they’re probably all current on their CEUs.”
Kal rolled his eyes. “Fuck you.”
Rafe laughed. “Hey, I can’t help that I was in the room when Jackson popped in to tell you what a loser you are.”
“Fine. I’ll do those today.”
“You should. And then you have to talk to Jackson. And Dad. Because if there’s something you want, you should go for it.”
“You’re right. Hey, thanks for not telling me my idea is stupid.”
“I think it’s dangerous. But elite as fuck. You’re a great firefighter, Kal. And you can do anything you set your mind to.”
They stood and hugged.
“I appreciate your faith in me,” Kal said.
“Anytime. You know you can talk to me about anything.”
“Thanks.”
“Now go do your CEUs.”
Kal grinned. “On it.”
“Let me know what Jackson says.”
“I will.”
Kal left the room, and Rafe continued his workout. After he finished, he put the equipment away and wiped down the room, then refilled his water jug. He walked past the training room and saw Kal in there with his headphones on, typing into the laptop.
He nodded in satisfaction. When his br
other wanted to focus, he could shut out the world.
He hoped Kal was on the right track. And he hoped Jackson would listen to him. The outcome of that remained to be seen and was out of Rafe’s hands. All he could do was be there to offer his support. And he would be. Like always.
Just like his brothers had always been there for him.
CARMEN ADJUSTED HER POSITIONING IN HER CHAIR IN THE nursing supervisor’s office, a room she didn’t get to occupy all that often because she was typically running a hundred miles a minute going from one end of the ER floor to the other, or hanging out at the desk charting and scheduling. But if she didn’t finish staff evaluations today, they were going to be late. And the one thing she wouldn’t tolerate was turning things in late. So her nurses had to fill in for her on the floor, and Tess was handling triage duties while Carmen was occupied in the office doing freaking paperwork.
She looked down at her watch. It was two o’clock, and she’d been at this since she’d come on shift at seven this morning. She liked to be up and moving around, and sitting on her butt for this long staring into her laptop was making her eyes cross.
She loved her job, loved supervising the nursing staff, but the paperwork part? Not so much. Fortunately, this only had to be done twice a year and she was almost finished. She only had one more eval to do, and that was Tess’s, whom she’d deliberately saved for last.
Tess was her right hand and could do Carmen’s job as well as Carmen, which meant she was qualified for a supervisor’s position. Carmen knew that Faith Stansfield was moving to Pittsburgh at the end of August, and that there’d be an opening on the ICU step-down floor for a nurse supervisor when she left. Tess had excellent skills and had stepped in for Carmen in a supervisory capacity when needed. She knew Tess could handle the position, and she intended to recommend Tess to replace Faith.
Of course, she wouldn’t put that in Tess’s performance review, because she didn’t want Tess to know about it in case she got turned down for the job. But Carmen knew all the nurses on all the floors, and no one was better qualified for the job than her friend. Plus, Carmen’s recommendation held some weight.
She finished Tess’s eval and filed it, along with the note suggesting the promotion. The head of the nursing department for the hospital would review her recommendation, and then, hopefully, Carmen would find out soon.
Of course, losing Tess would leave a huge hole in her department, but she’d never hold back any of her nurses from promotion. Her job was to make them all better so that they could rise up.
She looked up when there was a knock at the door. Tess popped her head in. “Thought you could use a cheeseburger and a chocolate milk.”
Carmen grinned. One of the other things she loved about her best friend was how well Tess knew her. “Oh, God, it’s like you read my mind. Come in.”
Tess carried the tray in and set it on Carmen’s desk. “I don’t want you to think I’m buttering you up, because I’m not. I figured you’d be hungry. So am I.”
“Shut up and sit down. Of course you’re not buttering me up. Besides, I just finished.”
Tess grabbed her own cheeseburger. “You did? That’s great. And even earlier than you thought you would.”
Carmen took a long sip of the chocolate milk, letting its sweet goodness slide down her throat before answering. “Yes. I’m so happy to have that done with.”
“I can’t even imagine how tedious that project is. And then you have to actually do the evals with each nurse. Ugh. We’re all such pains in the ass, too.”
Carmen laughed. “This is true.”
They ate while Tess updated her on the status of their unit.
“Pretty quiet today, all in all. We had a patient come in obviously looking to score drugs. Complaining of a sore shoulder, said it was an ongoing thing from a previous injury and said some pain meds should take care of the problem. No insurance, refused X-rays or an MRI. Doc said his range of motion was fine. Dude didn’t even wince once during physical examination.”
“So what did you do?”
“We sent him on his way with a referral for physical therapy. And no pain meds.”
Carmen took another bite of her cheeseburger, then smiled after she swallowed. “Bet he was pissed.”
“He wasn’t happy. Told Dr. Lange to go fuck himself.”
Carmen laughed. “Not the first time Lange has heard those words.”
“True. You don’t make it to ER attending without pissing off a few patients. And other doctors, too.”
“Lange can handle it, though. And he didn’t toss the punk out on his ass, so there’s that.”
Carmen’s phone pinged with a message, so she took a quick look. Her heart did a dance when she saw it was from Rafe.
Still thinking about our kiss. Want to see you tomorrow.
She sucked in a deep breath.
“Wow,” Tess said, emptying her glass of milk. “Who was that from?”
After reading the message about five times, she lifted her gaze from her phone. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You are lost in that message. Love note?”
“It’s a text from Rafe.”
Tess gave her a smirk. “So it is a love note.”
“Not a love note.”
“Right. You were breathing so heavily it got ten degrees warmer in here. What’s going on with you two?”
Carmen shrugged and picked up her glass of milk, sucking the liquid up in her straw. “Nothing much, really.”
Tess tilted her head and shot her a look. “You are so lying. Tell me.”
“Fine. We kissed yesterday.”
“Is that it?”
She frowned. “It was a really good kiss, Tess.”
Tess shrugged and leaned back in the chair. “I’ll be more impressed when you see some action. Like actual sex action.”
“I don’t disagree with you there. Sex would be nice. We were headed in that direction, but my grandfather came home.”
“You should go to his place next time. Then you won’t be interrupted by returning grandpas. Or at least I assume you won’t be.”
She laughed. “He lives with his brothers.”
Tess stood and started piling up their lunch leftovers on the tray. “Then I assume his brothers don’t interrupt his sex action.”
“I would hope not, though I have no idea what goes on over there. His older brother lives with his girlfriend. I would think they respect each other’s privacy.”
“Good. Go over to his place and jump on that hot man. Then tell me all about it.”
Carmen shook her head. “I’ll give it some thought. Thank you for bringing me lunch.” She took out her purse and handed money to Tess.
“No, my treat.”
“You can buy me lunch when we’re not on duty.”
“Okay.” Tess slid the money in her pocket. “And you’re welcome. I’ll see you out on the floor.”
After Tess closed the door behind her, Carmen picked up her phone and read Rafe’s text message again. Her fingers hovered over the keypad, uncertain how to reply.
She typed out, See you tomorrow? No, that wasn’t right.
Delete.
Maybe, I keep thinking about that kiss, too.
No, that was terrible.
Delete.
She blew out a breath.
Maybe she should just put it all out there with a Hey, how about we have hot sex tomorrow.
Ugh. Delete, delete, delete.
She laid her head in her hands. Nothing felt right. Why was she so bad at this?
She shook her head and typed her response.
Want to see you, too. And that kiss . . .
She ended her text with a fire emoji.
She half smiled at her reply, then hit send before she changed her mind—again.
Perfect.
She tucked her phone in her pocket, then went back to work.
CHAPTER 15
“OH, BY THE WAY, I NEED YOU GUYS OUT OF THE HOUSE tonight.”
Jackson and Kal looked up from the backyard of their parents’ house. They had spent the day there trimming trees and sweating their asses off clearing the backyard, trying to get the house finished up so their parents could sell it.
“You got a hot date?” Jackson asked.
“I invited Carmen over.”
Kal arched a brow. “ Next-door neighbor Carmen?”
“Do we know another one?”
“Hell if I know,” Kal said. “I can’t keep track of all the names of the women you date.”
Rafe lifted his chin. He didn’t date that many women. Or maybe he had. But that was before. “Yeah, it’s next-door neighbor Carmen.”
“I didn’t know you two were dating,” Jackson said.
“We are. Or we just started. I don’t know. Anyway, I want some time alone with her, so if you two wouldn’t mind . . .”
“I’ll take Becks out after she gets off work,” Jackson said. “She’ll like that.”
Kal nodded. “Consider me gone.”
He knew he could count on his brothers. “Thanks, guys.”
“Now let’s get this landscaping done before I die of heatstroke out here,” Jackson said.
“See, this is what happens when you get old,” Kal said.
Jackson frowned. “Fuck you, little brother. I can outwork you any day of the week.”
Kal shook his head. “You poor old man. Need a cold glass of ice water?”
“Actually, that sounds pretty good,” Rafe said. “Would you mind, Kal?”
“Yeah, since you’re the youngest, and since you just insulted me, you can go grab us all some ice water.”
“Normally, I’d tell you both to go fuck yourselves, but since I can go inside and cool off, I’ll go make us drinks.”
Kal put his shovel down and pulled his gloves off, then went inside.
“I think he baited me on purpose,” Jackson said.
Rafe laughed. “Probably. But at least he’s getting us a cold drink.”
“True enough.” Jackson shoved his booted foot on the shovel and into the dirt against the fence line where they’d be putting in new shrubs.
“Hey, speaking of Kal, did he talk to you at work yesterday?”
“About?”
It wasn’t Rafe’s place to give Jackson a heads-up about what Kal talked to him about, so he knew he’d have to keep it vague. “Work stuff.”