Hurricane (12 page)

I need to be patient. She’ll let me fully into her life in her own time.
At least, he hoped she would.

Keenan set his pen down and stretched. Absently he glanced at the cramped office he shared with two other fire investigators for the A shift. At the moment, it was empty, as it had been when he’d arrived a few hours ago. His fellow investigators were probably out working on a case.

Altogether there were nine investigators based in Delko Street Firehouse, and they shared three offices. Although they all worked out of the Delko Street, they handled all the fire investigations for that station and the other firehouses in Singleton. The scheduling of shifts for fire investigators was on the same rotation as the firefighters. For any shift there was always coverage of at least three fire investigators on at all times.

Keenan liked working the A shift, which meant he worked days through the week, no evenings or weekends, though he was occasionally on call for emergencies. It was preferable to shifts B and C—a string of days followed by night shifts, with every other weekend.

Moving his mouse for his personal laptop, Keenan looked at the image of himself and Julianne that she’d sent earlier via email. Since he worked on Shift A, he would not have ordinarily met her. But the night of the fire he’d been called in when one of the other shifts needed another investigator.

Keenan shifted in his chair wanting to see her now, but knew he had to make it through his shift before he could. He was glad he would be in her presence soon. For the past few days, Julianne had been busy with work then had been spending all her free time helping Rissa with a project that she had to have completed for when her class started in the new school year. He’d talked with Julianne each night over the phone and she’d filled him in on how the project was coming along. Keenan had got a kick out of hearing her enthusiasm—Julianne had been really into making the best presentation for Rissa. Personally, he thought it was her competitive nature coming through. Keenan smiled as he read her message again.

“A little temptation to get you started for later. Looking forward to a quiet night in.

Jules”

She was right—it did tempt him. The picture was of him and Julianne from the last time they’d gone rollerblading. He had his arms around her as they posed, and she had on one of her sexy rollerblading outfits. Keenan smiled, remembering they had rushed to his place and he had enjoyed stripping it off her, piece by piece, kissing each part of her he’d revealed. “What has you smiling so goofily?” a gruff, raspy voice asked.

“A picture.” Keenan glanced at Morgan James, one of the other fire investigators.

Morgan’s lanky frame moved slowly towards him. His tanned face was strained and his limp more pronounced than usual. He sat in the chair beside Keenan’s desk and sighed, rubbing his fingers through his black hair. He turned to him. His dual coloured eyes—one brown eye and the other hazel-green—studied him.

“Is it the secret woman you’ve been seeing?” Morgan asked.

Although there was no admonishment for not introducing her in Morgan’s tone, Keenan felt guilty he hadn’t. Morgan was a local, like he was. He’d served in the military before coming home and joining the fire department about eight years ago. He’d actually signed as a firefighter and had extensive paramedics training, but due to an accident, he’d changed fields and become an investigator. It wasn’t until Morgan became an investigator that Keenan realised they’d gone to school together. Morgan had been about three years behind him, so Keenan hadn’t really known him until they’d met at the firehouse. They had clicked, becoming fast friends, and hung out often—except for lately, when he had been so busy with Julianne and reconnecting with Harmon. Remorse filled him.

“Mor—”

“Don’t,” he cautioned.

Knowing Morgan, Keenan knew he was warning him to not apologise. He frowned, wanting to say something, but knew it would only piss Morgan off.

“Live with it. Now tell me about your lady,” Morgan said.

Keenan turned the laptop so that Morgan could see the picture.

“Ahhh…someone who shares your passion for skating. Wait a minute… I know her,” Morgan said.

“How do you know Julianne?”

“Yep. That’s her name. Julianne Locke. She was my first call when I joined the station eight years ago. I’m glad to see she’s okay,” Morgan said.

Keenan frowned. “When you had your accident.”

“Yep.” Morgan’s face blanked, and his tone clearly said he was through discussing it.

“How would you remember that?” Keenan prodded.

He hadn’t read the full report when he had investigated the fire at Moments Deuce. There had been no need.

“How would you remember an accident from eight years ago?”

“What accident?” a jovial voice interrupted.

“Morgan seems to know my girlfriend, Julianne,” Keenan replied without looking at Tommy Gibbs, who had spoken.

“What? You introduced him and not us? Wait until I tell Willy this.” Tommy harrumphed.

Keenan turned to him. Tommy had a sly smile on his face. Keenan could just imagine the tall tale Tommy was already concocting to tell his wife, Wilhelmina. She wouldn’t believe Tommy, but would still call him to guilt him about leaving her out of the loop.

“Don’t set Willy on me. I haven’t introduced Julianne to anyone yet. We can have a barbecue next weekend. I’ll let you know what day,” Keenan said.

“I’ll tell Willy. She can bring her four cheese macaroni. How does Morgan know your girlfriend?” Tommy asked.

“He recognises from her from her picture.” Keenan gestured.

Tommy looked at the screen. His brown eyes widened, then he muttered, “I’ll be damned. It’s her.” He glanced at Morgan. “Wasn’t she—?”

“Tommy.” Morgan’s tone was mild, but there was a warning behind it.

Uncharacteristically, Tommy stopped speaking. Keenan wasn’t sure what it was the two men didn’t want to say.

“Is there something I should know?” he asked.

“It’s not relevant to you and Julianne.” Morgan stood, then continued, “She’s strong, and a hell of a woman. You’re lucky, buddy.”

Morgan squeezed his shoulder. Keenan opened his mouth to pursue it. The radio crackled at the same time the bell for a fire rang out. They all went into motion, recognising the call was going to be a bad one and they would be needed. Keenan grabbed his bag and headed for his SUV. Tommy and Morgan were ahead of him. He donned his shades before he stepped into the midday sun. The humidity had increased steadily over the last few days. It was just early July, and, if this was any indication, Keenan knew they were in for a nasty, hot and
long
summer. When he got into his vehicle, he followed behind Morgan’s.

When they pulled up to the scene of the fully involved fire, Keenan studied the blazing commercial building, realising that this would take a while. He took out his phone and sent Julianne a text, cancelling their plans. After getting out of the car he strode over to Tommy and Morgan. They conferred as they watched the firefighters work. Morgan was called away to help with triage as people were brought out of the burning building. He and Tommy helped, carting away bodies to be worked on and those who couldn’t be saved.

Hours later, tiredness weighed on Keenan as he turned onto Sheffield Avenue on the way to his house. The fire had been nasty and the aftermath even worse. The scent and sight of all those people would fill his mind for a long time. He exhaled as he pulled into his driveway. Surprised, Keenan spotted Julianne’s SUV and shut off his vehicle while he rolled his aching shoulders before getting out. After grabbing his bag he closed the door then walked towards her SUV. At the driver’s side door he bent, peeking in, and saw she was asleep. He knocked softly on the window. Julianne jerked and looked at him. A smile curled her lips and she opened the door.

“Have you been waiting long? I’m sorry—I sent you a message I had to work late. Didn’t you get my text?”

“I did. But I saw about the fire on the news, and you at the press conference. You looked so tired, I was worried about you. So I came by to be with you.” Julianne got out of her SUV, bringing her purse and an overnight bag with her.

Keenan grunted. As supervisors of the fire marshals, he and Tommy had had to be in on the press conference. Just in the background, since they didn’t have any information yet. Julianne laced her fingers with his, tugging him towards the house. He was too tired to even protest. He would be sucky company after the day he’d had, yet he was grateful she’d come. At the front door, he fumbled with his keys. She took them and opened the door, her hand on his back urging him in.

“What do you need more, food or sleep?”

“Sleep. But I need to eat something. And shower again,” Keenan murmured.

He had taken a brief one at the station, but had wanted to get home.

“Okay. Shower first, food, then sleep.” Julianne tugged him down the hall to his room.

She placed her purse on the dresser by the door and overnight bag on the floor, took his bag and did the same, then pushed him towards the bathroom. Keenan lifted his hands to undress but Julianne brushed them aside, removing his clothing. She undressed quickly and led him to the glass standing shower. Julianne opened the door, then turned the water on, testing the temperature. A few seconds later, she gestured for him to get in. Keenan did, not saying a word.

Julianne washed him. Her firm touch smoothed his shoulders before digging in, working on the ache. Keenan lowered his head under the spray, moaning.

“Shh…let me take care of you.” Her soft kiss brushed against his back.

Julianne cleaned him, massaging various places. Keenan enjoyed it as she helped him relax. The hot water and her touch eased his sore muscles. She reached around him, turned off the spray, and escorted him out. With a plush towel, she dried him, then herself. Holding his hand again, she took him to the bed.

“Lie down and I’ll get you something quick to eat. A sandwich,” she said.

She kissed his forehead, then strode across the room and picked up her robe from a chair by the walk-in closet. He’d given her it to keep here. Putting it on, she belted it, blew him a kiss and left. The familiar gesture of her sending him a kiss and her wearing the gift he gave her made him sigh. Keenan shuffled to the bureau and opened it. Pulling out what he needed, he went back to the bed and sat with his back pressed against the headboard. He closed his eyes as he waited for her return.

“Keenan, come on. You need to eat.” Julianne’s voice jerked him awake.

He blinked. She was sitting on the bed by his thigh. His gaze dropped to the sandwich she held out. Taking it, he ate without really tasting. Julianne ate hers, her eyes on him. The worry was there on her face. Keenan finished the food and drank the juice she’d brought him. She went to stand. He put his hand on her arm, stilling her. Julianne met his gaze.

“Here. So you can come and go as you please.” He held out a key for his house.

Julianne looked startled. She cocked her head to the side and played with the edges of her hair. She opened her mouth.

He cut her off before she could speak. “Take the key. I’m too tired to debate about why you can’t. You don’t have to use it if you don’t want to. I just want you to have it.”

Julianne took it, standing, then went to her bag to tuck the key inside. She returned and reached for the empty plate and glass.

“Leave it.” Keenan reached for her.

She turned off the bedside lamp, then slipped off her robe and lay naked, across his lap, putting her head against his chest, fingers stroking his skin.

“Unless something comes up, we’re still on for our date Saturday night.”

“Are you finally going to tell me where we’re going?” she asked.

“It’s a surprise, but, believe me, it’s worth it. The place is phenomenal.”

“Okay.”

“Oh…I wanted to have a barbecue here next weekend so you can meet my friends.”

Julianne’s touch stilled. She tipped her head back. Keenan studied her expression. He couldn’t tell how she felt about the idea.

“You want me to meet your friends?”

“Yes. You can invite your friends and family, too. So, is next weekend good for you?” he asked.

“Can’t do Sunday, but Saturday will work,” Julianne said.

Keenan frowned. Except for that one and only time he’d stayed with her on a Sunday, she gave the same response whenever he tried to make any plans for the weekends. Sunday was the one day she would not meet with him. She never said why.

Her question brought his attention back to her. “What do you need me to do?”

“We can work out the menu once we figure out who’s coming. Tommy already said he and his wife would bring macaroni,” he said.

“Good. It’ll be fun meeting this Tommy and his wife—you talk about them so much. Is Morgan coming, too?” Julianne stroked his chest again.

He didn’t think she realised she was doing it.

“Yeah. Although he’ll probably duck out early, since he doesn’t like crowds.” Keenan leaned his back against the headboard.

They were silent. Julianne’s voice broke the comfortable silence.

“Let’s lie down so you can rest.”

“Umm…can you stay, or do you have to go home?” he asked.

“I brought my bag.”

“Oh…sorry. I forgot,” he murmured.

“You’re burnt out. Rest.” Julianne moved beside him.

Keenan slid down, reclining on the bed. Julianne tugged on him until he shifted, resting his head on her breast. She touched his hair gently. Keenan listened to the sounds of the house. Although he was tired, sleep eluded him.

“Can you talk about it?” she asked.

Keenan didn’t say anything, not wanting to burden her.

“Look at me, Keenan.”

He did as she asked. The moonlight from the window let him see her face. Julianne’s gaze was understanding and open.

“Talk to me.” She ran a finger down his nose, as he had done to her so often.

“There were so many casualties,” he said hoarsely.

She cupped his cheek. Keenan pressed it against her hand.