“First of all, Donnie–” I began, smacking Don’s hand off me.
“Don,” he interrupted, agitated at the use of the nickname he hated.
“I don’t give a shit, Donnie. You’ll be the second brother I put my hands on today over that woman.”
Even Don, who was the station’s known prankster, looked at me in shock and then a stern seriousness. I eyed him back until I heard chuckling from Eric’s direction.
“Something funny?”
“All that shit talking you were doing when I was dating Angela is coming back to bite you in the ass. I’m just glad I’ve got a front row seat.” He chuckled some more, and I cracked my neck, which made Sean and Don join in on the laughing.
“Fuck all of you,” I growled, walking away, pulling out my phone from my pocket. I frowned when I saw that I had no messages or missed calls. I had so much pent-up anxiety in me that I needed a release. I prayed for another fire or something to pass the time over the next few hours of my shift. Thankfully, God answers prayers, because moments later, as I was at my locker checking my phone, the station’s alarm sounded.
I grabbed my gear, stepping into my suspenders and tossing my fire protectant jacket halfway on, knowing I’d finish getting dressed after I slid down the pole. My boots hit the station’s hardwood floors with a thud and I was running toward the truck.
“Power outage at a senior living facility. Reports of at two people trapped in an elevator,” Eric told me as I piled into the driver’s side. This was a small job, so it was Eric, myself, and Corey bringing up the rear. Once I heard the door in the back shut and Corey give the okay, I tapped the outside of the truck and we were on the move.
It took less than ten minutes to get to the four story apartment building that housed residents who were fifty-five and older. There was a power outage all up and down the main highway that the apartment building sat on. There’d been a car accident farther down, and a car spun out, hitting a pole. Another squad had responded to that call, but now we were dealing with the mess caused by the power outage.
“‘Medics on standby?” I questioned Eric as we exited the rig.
He nodded. “Dispatch says they’re trapped on either the second or third floors.”
“Oh shit!” Corey grunted, causing Eric and I to look up.
I noticed three women who appeared to be in their sixties or seventies standing outside the building. They were grinning in our direction.
“Rock, paper, scissor?” Corey demanded.
“None. I’m lieutenant. I make the calls,” Eric retorted.
“That’s fucked up,” I told Eric. “Rock, paper, scissor, shoot!” I tossed out my hand in a scissor position to catch Corey off guard but he was a hair quicker that time. He’d thrown out a fist for the rock, thereby breaking my scissors.
“Good luck, man,” he stated, laughing.
“I got your luck,” I ground out.
“We’ll check the sides of the building,” Corey laughed, following Eric back to the rig. Assholes.
“Hello, ladies. How’re you all doing today?” I asked, giving them a dazzling smile.
“Ohh, we’re a lot better now,” one of the women spoke up.
“Glad to hear it. Generator not working?” I questioned, passing them.
“No! But I can show you where the elevators are,” a second woman answered, taking my arm in hers, and blinking her eyelashes at me. I moved forward but looked back at Corey and Eric, amusement all over their faces as they saw my dilemma. We’d made a number of runs to this building for different reasons and … well, like most women who saw firefighters, these elderly ladies turned it all the way on when it came to flirting. Whoever said that you lose it once you hit your sixties, obviously hadn’t been dressed in firefighter gear in an apartment building full of elderly women, most of whom were widows.
“Thank God! My friends are trapped.” A short man in his sixties came up to me. “They’ve been screaming that it’s dark in there.”
I pulled out my flashlight, since the entire hallway was nearly pitch-black save for the flashlights of the residents. I heard the sounds of the trapped residents the closer I got. Scanning the outside of the elevator to make sure there was no obvious damage, I lowered the crank I’d brought in with me to pry the doors open. I would have to wait until the doors were open to see where exactly the shaft had gotten stuck. Hopefully it wasn’t in between floors and the elevator would be there with the residents once I got the doors undone.
“He’s so strong.”
“Look at those muscles.”
“Handsome thing he is.”
I chuckled to myself at the sounds of the women behind me. Instead of just the original three from outside, a larger crowd had gathered, in part due to residents coming out of their apartments to see what was going on. I ignored the banter of those around me, working to free the trapped residents. By the sounds of the voices they sounded like they were doing okay in there, but that could change at any moment, given the circumstance. I didn’t know the age or health of the two people inside.
“Oh, thank God!” The first man praised, hand raised in the air when the doors pushed open.
The second man moved out, yelling, “I was stuck in there for an hour!”
“Are you gentlemen okay?” I questioned.
“No, I’m not alright. This building is a piece of crap. As much as we pay in rent!” I stepped out of the way as one of the men went toward one of the building’s administrative staffers.
“Two males, free from the elevator,” I stated into my walkie-talkie. “Going to check the rest of the elevators just in case,” I told Eric when he came back over the line.
“Don’t get caught in there too long. Might not make it out,” Corey laughed into the line.
“Fuck you, Sanders,” I retorted.
“No thanks, but maybe I’ll see if that pretty, thick thing you had at the station is available.”
My entire body stiffened at the rage that rolled through me. I squeezed the walkie in my hand so tight I heard a small cracking sound.
“Corey, if you value for your fucking life, you’ll never say anything like that again.” My voice was deadly calm. I’d used that same voice countless time while serving my country. Right before I ended another man’s life. It wasn’t a practiced voice. It just came out whenever this feeling came over me.
“Shit,” I heard Eric curse into the walkie.
I didn’t have time to analyze my feelings that moment. Instead, I went back to what I was doing in the apartment, letting my feet carry me around the corner to the next set of elevators to make sure no one was trapped in those. After checking a few more doors and the rooms where the trash was kept just to make sure no one had gotten stuck in those, I emerged from the building. Eric and Corey were waiting for me, standing at the sides of the rig. Both eyed me warily.
“All clear,” I grunted, tossing the equipment into the bottom of the truck in the compartment where we kept it.
“Ready to roll?” Corey asked, sizing up my mood, no doubt.
I nodded and went to climb in the passenger seat. Once inside, I felt something vibrate in my pants. I lifted to pull out my phone. It was a text message from Andy.
Andy: 123 Lennoxville Rd. Apt.320.
I grinned. Short, sweet, and to the point.
“Hey, Carter, you know I didn’t mean that shit, right? We always joke,” I heard Corey yell from the back of the rig as I continued to stare at Michelle’s address in my phone.
“Don’t joke. Not about her,” I returned, not even turning back.
“Shit,” I heard Corey say at the same time Eric chuckled. “You’re worse than Eric was with Angela.”
I peered to my left and caught Eric looking at me as we pulled up to a stop light.
“He’s got a point.”
I rolled my eyes, shrugging, and moved back to stare out the window. I wasn’t about to explain myself or my actions to anyone. Not to my blood family, and not even to the
men I walked into fire with everyday.
****
I rapped at the wooden door with the metallic numbers that read “320” on the outside. I was tempted to cover the peephole with my finger so she wouldn’t see who was at the door, but then I thought better of it. She might be more hesitant to open the door if she didn’t know who it was. I hoped she wasn’t still as pissed as she was the day before, although I could’ve dealt with that, too. Seeing her pissed off sort of turned me on a little. Okay, a hell of a lot. But after I got a text message from Aaron early this morning that he’d spoken with Nancy, Michelle’s boss, and got her to rescind the week-long suspension, I knew it was time to make my appearance at her door.
“Who is it?”
I watched the peephole darken as she looked through. I took a step back so she could see my face. I heard a tiny gasp on the other side, and the door abruptly opened.
“Are you a stalker or something?” she demanded.
I was too caught off-guard to answer, staring at her voluptuous body in the dark red silk robe she wore, which stopped a few inches above her knees. She tightened her robe around her body when she caught me staring at the exposed cleavage. I finally raised my eyes to her bare face. No makeup, clear caramel skin with cheekbones that looked like they could cut glass, towel over her head … she was perfect in every way.
“Morning, sugar.”
She frowned. “Are you a stalker?”
“I can be for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Be serious.”
“I am serious. But to answer your question, no. However, you left the station yesterday before I returned. I asked you not to leave.”
“You demanded that I not leave.”
I gave a one shoulder shrug. “Po-tay-toe. Po-tot-toe. I see you’re readying yourself for work.” It was a little after seven in the morning. I had a hunch she’d be up already getting ready for the day.
Her honey eyes widened. “What’d you say to my boss to get her to change her mind?”
“I didn’t say anything to her.” I brought the coffee cup I held to my lips while holding out my other hand for her. “Coffee?”
She eyed the bag warily before looking back up at me.
“The orange juice is for your little guy. There are four donuts inside. You like the place not too far from the station, right?” I’d stopped at the donut shop she’d bought donuts for the station. I remembered her saying they were her favorite.
“You remembered?” Her brows dipped as if she couldn’t believe such a thing.
“I remember every word you’ve told me thus far.”
Her eyes widened again, and she pulled her bottom lip into her mouth.
I groaned. “Sugar, you really shouldn’t do that. Not if you want to make it to work on time.” Memories of the previous Friday night when I’d pulled that very same lip into my own mouth assailed me and I felt myself harden in my jeans. That along with seeing the outline of her heavy breasts in the robe, her protruding hips, and the curves of her exposed legs were too much for even a man of my strength to resist. She sucked in air when I moved closer, lowering my head to hers. But just before my lips were able to make the contact, a sound startled the both of us.
“Mommy.”
The door widened and a little boy with sun-kissed skin and dark curly hair stood, looking up at Michelle, in a pair of superman pajamas, rubbing his right eye.
“Diego,” Michelle called, standing erect, and gazing down at her son. His eyes were now trained on me, staring.
“Are you a firefighter?” he questioned. “Is there a fire?” His dark eyes glittered in awe, wiping away the sleep that was there just moments ago.
I knelt down, getting to his eye level. “I am a firefighter, but I’m not here on any official work business. I’m a friend of your mommy’s.”
He eyed me up and down, digesting my work T-shirt that prominently displayed the name of my fire department and station house.
“Do you ride in the big truck?”
I grinned at the wonder that filled his voice and nodded. “Yes. I do.”
“Is it loud in there?”
“It is.”
“Are fires sc–”
“Diego, baby, go back inside and use the potty and brush your teeth so we can get ready for school.”
“Mom–” he started to whine, but he stopped short at the look his mother gave him.
I chuckled as I stood, watching his little face frown up as he retreated back inside.
“You’ve got that whole mom look down.”
“Six years of practice, plus the years I spent babysitting neighborhood kids before I had him,” she retorted turning back to me.
“It’s paid off, I see.”
It went silent for a little while, as we both stared at one another.
“I have to get ready for work and get Diego to school.”
“You haven’t taken your donuts yet.” I held out the holder that held the two drinks and the bag of donuts. When she went to reach for it, I circled my other hand around her wrist, pulling her to me.
“Wha–”
“Have dinner with me.”
She didn’t resist or pull away, instead staring up at me. She shook her head, a small, hesitant smile opening up on her lips.
“This is crazy,” she stated just above a whisper.
“I’ll agree to that.”
“This can’t be normal. I shouldn’t … this shouldn’t be so much so soon.”
I knew what she meant. We’d barely met a month ago under some pretty dire circumstances. Hadn’t even been out on an official date but I’d already drawn the line in the sand with my two distinct families where she was concerned. Yes, it was too much too soon, but that was how I lived my life. Either both feet in, or none at all.
“Sugar, you should realize by now that where you and I are concerned, there is no normal.” I ran my thumb up and down the soft inside of her wrist just before I brought it to my lips. “You’re a sight for sore eyes first thing in the morning.”
Her head lowered. “I just got out of the shower. I look a mess.”
“Fresh out of the shower or fresh out of a deep sleep with your hair messy spread out over a pillow, you look like my dreams turned reality.”
Her eyes bulged. I was remembering what she looked like when she woke up first thing in the morning. I’d watched her as she slept, mouth partially opened, tiny snores coming from her mouth. Heat began to spread over my entire body. I hadn’t had her nearly enough that one night and I was starting to think that even a lifetime together wouldn’t be enough.
“How did you get my boss to end the suspension?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Had a friendly conversation with my brother.”
She pulled back to give me a doubtful look. “There’s nothing friendly about your brother. Not Aaron, at least.”
I gave her a half-grin. She’d assessed my brother perfectly. I brought her knuckles to my lips, kissing them. “You’re right about that, but I was able to get him to see things my way.”
“How?”
“You don’t have to worry about the how. Your job is safe and he won’t be bothering you again on the matter. Have dinner with me. Are you free tomorrow night?”
“I have Diego.” She glanced over her shoulder at the partially opened door.
“Can you find a sitter? I won’t keep you out all night,” I promised. I saw the moment she decided. Her eyelids fluttered a little and her eyes sparkled at the decision she’d made.
“Yes.”
“I’ll pick you up at six o’clock.” I bent down and stole a quick kiss from her lips. I’d teased myself enough with putting my lips on her wrist and hand. I needed the real thing. “Any type of cuisine you like or don’t like in particular?”
“I hate Italian.”
“Noted.” I nodded and reminded her, “Six o’clock. Here.” I finally let her wrist go and she took the donuts and drinks from me. “Go inside.” I nudged with my h
ead. I stepped back and watched as she turned and moved back inside the door. I marveled at the plump outline her ass made in the robe. My fingers itched, but not for violence that time. They longed to feel the softness of her ass once again.
In due time, I promised myself, turning to the end of the hallway to take the stairs back down to the street level where I had parked my bike. I was already compiling a list of places I wanted to take her the following night.
****
Michelle
This was a mistake. What the hell was I doing going on an actual date? It’d been so long since I’d been on a date. I didn’t know what to wear or say. It was dumb to be that nervous, I knew that, but the tension I always felt just being around Carter, combined with the fact that I knew I shouldn’t even be going on said date in the first place, was almost too much. I didn’t date because Diego’s father had seen to it that I wouldn’t. It was his sick way of keeping control over me, even though he had a wife and three adult children in his “real” life. There’d been men in the past few years that I wanted to get to know, wanted to date, but I’d easily turned them down when the threats made by Gabriel resurfaced in my mind. Now, here I was, standing in front of my full-length mirror, wearing a low cut electric blue dress that stopped at the floor but was open in the front, showing off my legs. I paired the dress with my grey suede over-the-knee boots because why the hell not? I dressed up often for work events, but rarely had I had the ability to dress up for a fun night out that wasn’t work related. It felt good to wear something nice for me. I pushed the insecurities and fears I had regarding Diego’s father to the back of my mind. I wasn’t going to let him ruin my evening. Besides, he barely made contact with me anymore, save for the occasional run-in, such as Friday night. Maybe he was over bullying me.
I frowned in the mirror, not believing my own thoughts, but not ready to call this date off with Carter.
“Mama, what do you think?” I questioned, emerging from my bedroom and coming into the kitchen where she was fixing Diego a plate of spaghetti. I fluffed the wand curls I’d put in my hair and they fell around my shoulders.
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