Hot As Blazes (16 page)

“The day before your high school graduation.”

She turned and hugged his neck.

Afterward, he led her upstairs. The newer facility had gender specific showers and bunkrooms.

“Lucky Georgia. She doesn’t have to listen to you guys snore. Do any of the other companies have women?”

“Not yet.” He smiled. “Come on, I’ll show you the workout room.”

“Awesome.” The space boasted free weights, a couple of treadmills, and an elliptical machine. “So who’s your crew’s bench press champ?” She pinned him with a stare as she sat and patted the bench. Clearly, he was the biggest guy on his shift.

“Who to you think?”

“What about the other shifts?”

“Four-twenty is the house record.”

By the way he’d said it, she knew he held it. “My stud.”

“You got it.” He flexed a rock hard bicep making her knees liquefy.

She grabbed his muscle in a sensual grope. Her thoughts fell deep in the gutter, and the weight bench began to look like a jungle gym for sexual exploits.

Ray pulled her against his other hard body part. Hot and demanding, his kiss sent sparks heating her most intimate domain.

“Damn, too bad I don’t have a condom on me.” He narrowed his gaze.

“You won’t need one anymore. Merry Christmas.” She batted her lashes. “It’s not a present I could put under the tree.”

His eyebrows arched as his hands cupped her rear. His teeth gleamed in a wolfish grin. “No, but I can put you under there and give you
my
present. As for now—” He sat on the weight bench and pulled her onto his lap. “How about some light foreplay?”

God, he was serious. A bolt of heat shot to the juncture of her thighs.

An ear-piercing alarm echoed through the building.

Jo slid from Ray’s lap as he shot to his feet.

“Hell!” He grabbed her hand and hauled her down the stairs. After a peck on her cheek, her hurried to the bay.

Others firefighters filed from the kitchen in a quick but professional manner. An automated voice stated the code and address of the call and fire apparatus needed.

She headed out to the parking lot toward her truck. Heavy doors chugged upward with a whine and clank of metal. The engine and ambulance sped away and the ladder truck roared under its heavy load.

Captain Brody pulled his SUV out of the bay and stopped beside her. “You going volly?”

Her test presented itself on Christmas Eve. “Just waiting to be invited.”

“Got your gear?”

“In my truck.” Her blood sang.

“Then you’re with me. Hurry.”

The Bronco’s rear window took forever to lower. After grabbing her gear bag, she bolted for the captain’s vehicle. The passenger’s door hung open. She dove in, and he hit the gas.

She levered the seat back as far as it would go and nervously squirmed into the bunker pants before stuffing her feet into her boots.

He roared along the bypass, approaching eighty miles per hour. In less than a minute, he’d closed in on the engine and truck.

Finally, after wiggling into her turnout coat, she clicked her seatbelt in place.

With siren blaring and red lights flashing, they sped through a traffic signal, and then exited the bypass. They followed the ladder truck along the narrow two-lane to the town of Duck. The mammoth took both lanes in the curves. Chatter on the radio between the engine and ladder truck indicated a car on fire beneath a two-story home.

The engine crew already had a hose connected to a hydrant when the captain and she arrived. Georgia and Terrance unleashed a torrent of water onto the burning vehicle parked under the house. The hit doused the car fire, but smoke billowed from the underside of the structure. Georgia aimed the nozzle at her new target while her partner stood behind her at the hose.

Ray and Tommy waited with axes and pike poles, ready to check inside the house upon the lieutenant’s signal. At his nod, they donned their masks, dropped to their knees and followed the hose crew inside. She wondered if they were excited or their task had become routine.

Captain Brody angled his SUV onto the driveway with the front mounted wench aimed at the burnt car. “Once the house is clear, I’ll show you how to hitch the car and drag it from underneath.”

A loud pop and glass rained from windows as the truck crew ventilated for smoke. Her heart pumped like an engine piston on overload ready for the captain’s challenge. Ray and the others voiced their positions as they moved to the second floor.

An all clear squawked over the radio, and the captain powered up the winch. Jo hooked the cable around the axle per his instructions. The motor whined as the line tightened and towed the charred heap from beneath the house. The accomplished feeling mimicked scoring a ten on a wave.

After the crew exited, she climbed atop the engine with Georgia. “Need some help?”

“Thanks.” The woman moved effortlessly in her heavy coat and pants as she racked the hose.

“How long does it take to get used to this gear?” Jo squatted awkwardly. “I feel like the Michelin Tire guy.”

Bright teeth gleamed against her mocha skin. “I still feel like him, girl, only with florescent stripes.” She laughed, finishing another layer of hose. “You know, Ray’s never had a woman drop by the station before. Heck, until he started seeing you, I’ve never heard him even mention a chick by name.”

Ray went out with many girls in high school, but they usually stalked him. He never brought any to the house as dates. And if there was a party, he never showed any affection in front of her. That he never showed serious interest in other woman when she was around made sense now. “I wouldn’t say he’s shy, but definitely a man of few words.”

“Yeah, I like teasing him about being the quiet one. Sometimes I’ll ask, ‘what cha thinking about behind those baby blues?’”

“I bet you make him blush.”

“Yeah, he doesn’t like being the center of attention. He leaves that for Tommy and me.” She laughed. “But he’s a real cool-headed firefighter, girl. Someone you know has your back. How’d you guys hook up?”

Jo didn’t think he’d mind her telling her about their past. “Ray and my brother are best friends. We sort of grew up together.”

“Oh, you’re Bobby’s sister?”

“Yeah.” In a small public safety community, she supposed the employees eventually met and got to know one another.

“You know, Ray did mention once in passing he’d had a thing for his friend’s sister. I didn’t make the connection.”

“Neither did I. Until recently.” Jo moved back on the engine.

Georgia turned her head. “Ray’s doing, or your brother’s?”

“My father’s.”

“Ouch.” She rose after laying the last of the hose.

“Yeah. God rest his soul. I love him, but it’s something I’m going to take up with him in the hereafter.”

“I heard that. So how’s the academy going? Is Ray helping you train?”

“Oh yeah.” She tried not to smile.

“And how is
that
, girl?” Georgia winked.

Avoiding her gaze, she answered, “Ruined for life.”

“Shit, yeah. It’s always the quiet ones.” She patted her shoulder.

By the time she and Georgia had crawled off the engine, the guys had finished their duties and were bullshitting about football.

The lieutenant swaggered up to them. “Alright, we’ve had our crispy Christmas call. Let’s head home for dinner.”

* * * *

Back at the station, Jo stowed her gear in the Bronco.

“See what happens when you bring cookies and try to jump my bones?” Ray stepped behind her.

“You can’t say it wasn’t a thrill. You’re not bored anymore.” She faced him and tugged on his red suspenders.

“No, just hard.” He stepped closer.

She cupped his crotch. “Yeah.” Even smoky, he turned her on.

“Christ, don’t tease me and leave.” He dropped his head back.

“Sorry. Think of all the fun we’re going to have goofing under the tree.” Adrenaline from the call fueled her naughtiness.

“So, when did you find the time to get a script for birth control?” His pale eyes raked her.

“Holiday magic.” She glided her arm around his neck, brought his lips to hers. Using the tip of her tongue, she edged along his teeth as he answered her searching kiss. As promise of tomorrow’s morning fun, she slid her mouth to his exposed neck, found a thick cord of muscle and played mistress of the dark. After a nip, she sucked brazenly, hoping to leave her mark.

“Dahlin’, you better be ready when I walk in the door tomorrow morning.” He checked his neck for blood.

“Count on it, Hemanus.”

Bobby’s personal car sat in the driveway when Jo arrived home. After a great day, she didn’t want to fight with him, especially on Christmas Eve.

“Where have you been?” he asked as she swung through the kitchen door.

Hanging her keys on the rack, she grew hesitant at his tone. “I went by to see Ray at the station. They got a call, and the captain asked me to ride along.”

He made a fist pump. “Wow, keep it up and you’re bound to get picked by one of the captains when you graduate.”

“That’s the plan.”

“How about a cocktail?” From the cabinet, he grabbed his scotch and her brand. He filled her glass with ice then free poured.

She accepted the offering and followed him onto the back deck. Clouds piled at the western horizon. The clean scent of rain rode on a slight breeze.

“Can we talk?”

“You first.” Jo reclined in one of the Adirondack chairs.

“I already did after Thanksgiving…more harshly than I intended.” He leaned against the railing.

“You pushed Ray and me to get together when I first got home. When it finally happened, you attacked him. What’s up with that?”

He scratched his head. “I thought he’d be good for you, but then you went off the deep-end about Dad keeping you two apart. You took so long to recover from Vic’s shit, I thought another blow might wreck you.”

She sipped her drink. It warmed her empty stomach while she considered his words. “It could still happen.”

He frowned. “Dad put you on a pedestal after Mom split. He wanted the best for you. You were his angel and the only woman he believed really loved him.”

A knot formed in her throat. She blinked back tears and grew cold. She never wanted special treatment. She would have rather had a mother. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s not what I meant. We wanted to protect you from further hurt. Ray put you there, too, seeing girls for the short term so he could move on. His heart belonged to you. Dad knew it, but he wanted you to be the best you could be. Ray would have kept you here like Dad did to Mom.”

And she left. “So why do you think he’ll break my heart?”

Bobby sighed. “He didn’t have the best role models for relationships, and you know it. What will happen when you two don’t agree on something?”

And there it was, her fear put into words. Today she refused to dwell on it. “Okay, doctor, now shrink yourself. Something besides me has your goat. Is it work?” She scooted to the edge of her seat.

He downed the rest of his scotch and set the glass down. “DEA is nosing around, and the Internal Affairs division is hyped about something. They’re digging through personal e-mail accounts. I suspect they believe someone in the department is involved in something illegal.”

“What does your gut say?” Her heart drummed while Harley’s chat came to mind.

“It’s gotta be drugs if the DEA is involved. Could be prescription fraud or illegal drugs coming in off the coast. I don’t suspect any of my comrades, but hell, one of their spouses could be smuggling. Wouldn’t be the first time. You remember when the Home Depot opened and only two hundred of five hundred applicants could pass the drug test?” He rubbed his forehead. “It’s scary to think one of our own might be a major supplier.”

“It’ll all work out.” She wished she believed her own words.

He stepped near. “I’ve always felt the need to protect you. I still do, but it doesn’t mean you aren’t on the receiving end of my shit sometimes.” Lowering his head, he eyeballed her.

She laughed and punched him in the shoulder.

He grabbed her arm.

She wrestled free without much effort.

“Ray’s got to have his hands full with you.”

“Oh, and Sarah doesn’t?”

He rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m going to ask her to marry me, Jo.”

“Wow.” She stood and kissed his cheek. “Have you bought a ring? A decent ring?”

He laughed. “That’s my sister. Yes, I had her partner, Nate, design and make it since he knows her style. You’ll see it tomorrow. You guys are coming over to the house, right?”

If they ever got dressed. She had something special planned for her hunky Santa. Jo felt her cheeks warm. “Of course. You’re going to ask her then?”

“It’s a surprise.” He grinned.

“Congratulations.” She gave him a rib-cracking hug. “Let’s have another to toast.”

The wind shifted carrying large drops of rain forcing them inside.

“I knew Ray was hopelessly in love with you.” Ice tinkled in the glasses as he studied her. “I was afraid after Dad died he’d spill his guts.”

“I know about your phone call to him after the funeral.”

He cringed. “You were both vulnerable. It would’ve been a mistake. If you had slept with him, you never would have left for college.”

“It should have been my decision.” The coldness in her voice shocked her.

“Sorry, but I couldn’t allow you throw your dream away. Especially, after you worked your ass off. You wanted both worlds and it was impossible. We’d coddled you and you needed to grow up. Look at you now.” He shoved a fresh drink in her hand. “You’re an independent, not to mention beautiful, woman.”

Shit. The job had certainly taught him diplomacy. “You running for office or something?”

“Sorry the process was more painful than it should have been.” He pecked her forehead with a kiss. “We have a lot to be thankful for this Christmas.”

“Yes, we do.” She clanged her glass against his. “To you and Sarah.”

After a sip, he said, “Personally, I think Ray’s getting the worse end of the deal with your wayward tail.”