“Thomas.”
She opened her eyes. She couldn’t let anyone see how much this was affecting her.
Focus. She had a job to do, people to help, possibly lives to save. “I’ll take the minivan. You take the SUV. Let me know what you have so we can see if we need more help out here.”
The rig stopped.
She opened the door and jumped out. The frigid air made her suck in a sharp breath, one that hurt her lungs.
Screams and cries filled the air. A child wanted his mommy. Familiar sounds. Smells. Emotions.
Bile rose in her throat.
Focus, Thomas. Leanne grabbed equipment from the rig. People were counting on her to be able to hold herself together. She’d done it more times than she could count. She could do it again.
Hang on. They’ll be here soon.
Not soon. Now.
With the trauma kit in her hands, she ran to the minivan.
The chatter over the radio told Christian this accident was more serious than the fender bender they’d responded to last week. At least one casualty.
The engine approached the scene.
Two vehicles. One minivan. One SUV. Police cars blocked traffic. A stuffed pink elephant lay on the snow-covered road.
Damn. His jaw tensed.
On the ground, Thomas performed CPR on a patient. A sheriff’s deputy, Will Townsend, assisted her. At the mangled SUV, O’Ryan leaned halfway inside.
“This doesn’t look good,” Paulson muttered.
“Nope,” Christian agreed.
“Welton,” the lieutenant said through his headset. “Jaws of life.”
“Got it,” he said.
The engine stopped. Christian unfastened his seat belt and opened the door.
Time to get back into the game. He was ready.
After dinner that night, Christian emptied the dishwasher. He felt as if he’d worked a double shift, but still had half of his single one to go. Outside the kitchen window, an overcast sky hid the moon, but he wondered if the big, round ball of light was hanging up there somewhere. A full moon could explain the craziness of today. Since this morning’s car accident, they’d barely had time to restock supplies after each call before being sent out again. The entire crew seemed wiped out, especially the medics.
The din of the television in the other room could barely be heard over O’Ryan’s snores. The EMT had fallen asleep in one of the lounge chairs as soon as dinner was over. Thomas was nowhere to be seen. She’d been quiet, almost distracted, during the meal. She’d barely touched her dinner—one Christian had offered to cook in Paulson’s place—before disappearing. Upstairs in the bunk room, perhaps?
Christian wouldn’t blame her for calling it an early night. He understood why she might be upset. The car accident’s three fatalities would have been enough for one day. But also losing a heart-attack patient on the way to the hospital, a teen with a traumatic brain injury following a sledding accident and a baby bitten by a dog didn’t make for the easiest of days. The medical reports alone had to be daunting. Not that easy was part of the job description.
Paulson entered the kitchen. He made a beeline for the brownies the lieutenant’s wife and kids had dropped off during dinner. He placed one on a napkin and wrapped it up.
“Midnight snack?” Christian asked.
“For Thomas,” Paulson said. “She’ll be hungry later.”
His comment piqued Christian’s curiosity. Paulson had a reputation around town with the ladies. Unless that was a smoke screen for his so-called “friendship” with Thomas.
“I haven’t seen her since dinner,” Christian said.
“She’s up in the bunk room.” Paulson wrapped another brownie in a napkin. “Calls with kids are the worst. She takes them pretty hard.”
Christian nodded. He would never forget one of his first. A crying father had placed his nonbreathing two-year-old in Christian’s arms. That had shaken him up for days. He’d learned fast to focus on the calls they could help and forget about the ones they couldn’t. Easier said than done.
“Maybe it’ll be a slow night,” Christian said.
“Maybe.” Paulson scribbled Thomas’s name on the napkin.
Familiar tones sounded over the loudspeaker. “Rescue 1 and Engine 3 to RV fire.”
“And then, maybe not,” Paulson said.
Christian exited the kitchen. Before he reached the truck, Thomas had jumped into her bunkers.
Damn. He climbed into his gear. How did she get down here so fast? She looked sleep rumpled with her crooked ponytail. Dark circles ringed her eyes. Christian’s stomach knotted. Upset didn’t begin to describe the sadness he saw in her eyes or the uneasy expression on her face.
Leanne didn’t need a brownie. She needed a hug.
He took his seat in the engine.
As the engine followed the rescue rig out of the station, Christian couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wondered who would be the one hugging her when she finished her shift tomorrow morning. Some guy here at the station like Paulson or…someone else?
Christian wished it could be…him.
At one o’clock in the morning, Leanne restocked medical equipment on the rig. She needed to have the necessary supplies in case they received another call. Given the day so far, they most likely would.
A shiver inched down her spine. Not in anticipation of what might happen, but dread.
Ridiculous.
The car accident this morning was to blame for the way she felt, not the other calls. But she’d held herself together, done her duty and transported a critical patient to one of the best trauma centers in the Pacific Northwest. She hadn’t had this kind of reaction in a couple of years. Maybe this would be the last time.
She knew the routine.
Never show weakness. Never admit you care. Empathy would only lead to a nervous breakdown.
As Leanne added additional IV supplies to the trauma kit, images from the car accident flashed through her mind. Not even a shower could get rid of the smells. Not that they were real. Just her imagination now.
She closed the kit and latched it. The rig was ready to go the next time a call came in. The rest of the crew had called it a night after the long day. But she wasn’t ready for bed. A much needed nap after dinner had given her a second wind. Maybe she’d…
Leanne sensed a presence behind her. The familiar soap scent filled her nostrils. She wanted another sniff.
Bad idea. The guy was trouble with a capital T. “What do you want, Welton?”
“You’re still awake.”
“Wow.” She didn’t turn around. “They really teach amazing powers of observation at OSU.”
“How do you know I went to Oregon State?”
She heard the surprise in his voice. “The Portland paper published your entire biography in the paper. Owen’s, too.”
He swore under his breath.
“You didn’t know,” she said.
“No.”
The one word spoke volumes. Leanne shouldn’t take the way she felt out on Welton.
She turned. The moment her gaze met his, unexpected warmth surged through her veins.
“I’ve tried not to pay attention to the press coverage or the comments that must have followed,” he said.
Smart man. “A few details were mixed up in the articles, but that happens when you have reporters, who aren’t climbers, trying to write stories.”
“The comments…”
She didn’t want him to worry about something out of his control. Not that he seemed like the anxious type. “Typical rants about taxpayers having to pay for rescues, climbing Hood in the winter, the need for Mountain Locator Units. You’ve probably read the same comments every time something goes wrong up there.”
“Yeah.” His gaze grew serious. “Even if we’d had a MLU, you wouldn’t have reached us any sooner because of the storm.”
“Exactly. An MLU would have made no difference. You gave us what we needed to find you, but try tellin
g that to the Monday morning quarterbacks,” she said. “They always think they know best even if they wouldn’t know a biner from a key ring.”
Christian’s easy smile crinkled the corners of his blue eyes. Those eyes hinted at a secret hidden in their depths, captivating her.
Leanne didn’t want to look away. She couldn’t.
Something between them had changed since the rescue. Leanne wished she knew what. Sure, she’d always found Welton attractive, but she’d never been so…aware and affected by him before.
He didn’t seem to be in any hurry to break the contact, either. “It was a rough day. You okay?”
Her pulse quickened. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”
“You seemed a little uneasy, distracted at dinner. You’re up now.”
Her heart pounded against her ribs. Forget that he was a hottie, she didn’t like that Welton could read her so well. “I’ve had a few things on my mind. Your dinner was good.”
“I didn’t see you eat much.”
“You’re not turning into some watch-my-every move stalker type, are you?”
He smiled. “Nope, just concerned about a fellow firefighter.”
His words wrapped around her heart like a fleece blanket. Exactly what she needed right now. She really didn’t like that. “Uh, thanks. But I’m fine.”
“Hungry?”
Not hungry. Starving. Nodding, she lowered her gaze to his lips. Her mouth went dry.
“Paulson saved you a brownie,” Welton said.
Leanne would rather have a taste of him. Uh-oh. Where had that come from? Okay, she’d been staring at his lips, but she shouldn’t be thinking of Welton that way. Look, don’t touch or taste. She nearly groaned as the sharp desire to do just that gripped her in a tight vise. “A brownie sounds good.”
The words came out in a rush like water spewing from a broken fire hydrant. So unlike her. Maybe she should forget the chocolate and call it a night before she did or said something stupid.
“It’s on the counter in the kitchen,” he said. “Paulson wrapped it up in a napkin and wrote your name on it.”
For all of Paulson’s lack of maturity and womanizing ways, the guy was such a great friend. Always had been. “Thanks.”
Eager to put some distance between her and Welton, Leanne walked toward the kitchen.
He fell in step next to her. “You and Paulson are close.”
She wished the guy would leave her alone. “We’ve known each other for almost twenty-five years. He’s one of my best friends.”
“Close friends are hard to find.”
“They are.” She entered the kitchen and saw the wrapped brownie. “Especially ones who know the importance of chocolate.”
“You climb with Paulson.”
“I let him climb with me.” Christian laughed.
The rich sound filled the kitchen and made her a little dizzy. He had a great laugh. Not that it mattered. She bit into her brownie.
“So are you just friends or…?”
Welton’s suggestive tone made Leanne choke on the brownie. She swallowed. “Friends. Period. Why would you think—?”
“He saved you a brownie.”
She pointed to another wrapped brownie on the counter. “He saved one for O’Ryan, too.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Why do you care anyway?” Leanne eyed him warily. “You’ve never seemed interested in station gossip before.”
“We’re going to be working together on the Christmas event,” Welton said. “I thought it might be good to get to know you better. You know my dating situation. I figured fair is fair.”
“I’m not dating Paulson,” she admitted. “Love the guy like a brother, but that’s as far as it will ever go.”
“But you are dating someone…”
She raised an eyebrow. “Is this really relative to us being cochairs?”
“Do you always answer a question with a question?” Welton countered.
“I’m not dating anyone at the moment.”
Even the most macho, secure guys seemed intimidated by her job, her hobbies and especially her male friends and coworkers. She took another bite of the brownie. At least she had chocolate.
“So you were dating someone,” Christian prompted.
She’d really liked Blake. Thought it might go somewhere. “It was a while ago. Summer.”
“What happened?”
Most of the crew, with the exception of O’Ryan and Paulson, only cared about their own love life, not hers. “You really want to know?”
“Yes.”
Welton sounded genuine. He really seemed to care. She kind of liked that. “Blake was a physical therapist from Hood River. A decent guy. We had fun, but he had issues with me working on an all male twenty-four hour shift. He didn’t want me spending any time with my mountain rescue friends, either.” Leanne stared at her bare ring finger. The one thing she’d dreamed of was having a family of her own. But that didn’t seem likely of happening anytime soon. “Blake resented my job at the station and my volunteering with OMSAR. He told me he wanted a woman who needed to be taken care of by him not one who worked in a team surrounded by other men.”
“That sure isn’t you.”
“Those were almost his exact words.” She’d heard from a mutual friend, who worked in the nearest Emergency Department, that Blake had gotten engaged to a real-estate agent. Leanne raised the brownie to her mouth. “No big loss.”
She took a bite. Chocolate always made things better.
“A guy like that would never be able to make you happy,” Christian said. “So tomorrow…”
She wiped her mouth with the napkin. “What about tomorrow?”
“You and me. A little Christmas magic.”
Seriously? Leanne gave him a look that should have sent him scurrying back and ducking for cover. He didn’t flinch. She would try another tact. “Please tell me you’ve never actually used that line on a woman.”
His grin could charm the underpants off an avowed spinster. “You have to admit, it’s a pretty good line. Might have to add that to the arsenal.”
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips. The guy was something else. She had to admit he was making her feel a little better. “You have weapons?”
“WMDs, baby.” Mischief gleamed in his eyes. “Want to inspect them?”
Leanne laughed. Welton was good for lightening the mood around here. She appreciated that about him. “I’ll pass, but I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding someone who wants to give them a close examination.”
“So tomorrow—”
“I’m hitting the backcountry.” Maybe that would remove the weight pressing against the center of her chest from this morning’s accident. Fresh air and snow were the perfect combination to make her forget everything else. “All that powder is calling to me.”
Maybe now he’d leave her alone.
Christian rocked back on his heels. “I’d be up for making a few laps if you want some company.”
Anticipation shot through her. She hadn’t expected him to want to go. “Do you have the gear?”
“If by gear you mean skins, shovel, probe and beacon. Yeah, I’ve got them.” He set his chin. “I know how to use them, too.”
Leanne really shouldn’t. But she had offered to go skiing with him when they’d been at the Sno-Cat. Maybe she should get it over with tomorrow. She wanted things to go back to the way they’d been before the rescue when she was satisfied looking at Welton, but not wanting to touch him. Kiss him.
His charming smile spread all the way to his eyes and took her breath away. “Wondering if you can keep up with me?”
“No.” Welton might be hot stuff down here, but up on the mountain was another story. That was one place she could hold her own against any guy without even trying. “Wondering if you can keep up with me.”
“I’m always up for a challenge,” he said. “In fact, we can put a little wager on it.”
She raised brow. “S
uch as.”
“Dinner.”
Her heart leaped. Oh, no. Wrong reaction. “I hope you don’t mean a date, Welton.”
“I know better than that, Thomas. I meant the loser has to take the winner’s turn cooking dinner at the station.”
Leanne should have known he wasn’t talking about a date. She ignored the twinge of disappointment. Welton was a coworker. Nothing else. As long as she kept remembering that, she would be fine. And this outing was going to be good. Fun. Exactly what she needed. “You’re on.”
“You’re going down, Thomas.”
She fought the urge to laugh at her impending victory. Welton would be begging for oxygen by the time she finished with him. She would stop thinking about him as anything more than a showboating rookie who she had rightly put back in his place. Yeah, this was exactly what she needed to put the rescue and all these weird feelings behind her. “We’ll see about that.”
CHAPTER SIX
A PERFECT day for backcountry skiing on the northeast side of Mount Hood. The sun shone bright. No goggles, only sunglasses required. A breeze blew over the snow and through the trees. The temperature was comfortable.
Christian wore a thermal top over his ski pants. He’d shoved his jacket in his backpack before leaving the parking lot. The uphill climb would make him sweat if he wore too much. Layering clothes was key to comfort out here.
The trail from the Cooper Spur Ski Area was well traveled. With skins on the bottom of his skis to grip the snow, Christian led the way following the path of skiers and climbers who’d come before him that morning.
He glanced back at Thomas.
Two braids dangled from beneath the brim of her wool beanie. She also wore a thermal top that stretched across her chest. Her breasts bounced as she moved.
His smiled widened. A nice view. Too bad he couldn’t skin backward. “Thanks for letting me tag along.”
Sunglasses hid her eyes, but nothing could disguise the huge grin on her face. She looked like he felt. Carefree and loving life. “It’s more fun to have company out here.”
“Do you ski here a lot?”
“It depends on the weather and conditions. I try to get in as many turns in a year as I can,” she explained. “There are lots of places to ski around here.”
Firefighter Under the Mistletoe Page 7