“I got a scratch. Shep sent me here.” He gave a self-conscious shrug. “You know the drill.”
“I know if Shep sent you to the ER, there must have been a reason. Let’s have a look.”
Mike cautiously peeled off his shirt, then faced Tracey. Her fingers were gentle as she removed the gauze and tape from his burned side.
She gasped.
“This is no scratch.” She glared at him, irritation radiating in her eyes. “Mike Armstrong. You should have been in here last night.” She turned to a cabinet and retrieved more gauze and ointment.
“Welcome to the club.”
“Excuse me?”
“You sound like everyone else.”
“Well at lease everyone else has the God given sense that you don’t. Get on the table.”
“Can’t you—”
Her glare had him groaning and hiking his hip up on the examining board.
Fifteen minutes later, he stepped from the hospital out into bright sunshine. He glanced at the paper in his hand and then the other holding his prescription. Tracey could be intense. Although he could have done without the lecture.
Next stop, the station. Mike shoved his shades on his face and sprinted down the front steps.
Traffic was calm at this time of the day, with most everyone at work and kids in school. Last week, a school bus had wrecked. With heavy morning traffic, he’d feared the worst. Dispatch calls involving children frightened him the most. The entire team had been on edge. Thank God, when the crew had gotten to the accident sight, they found all the kids were okay.
He unlocked his truck, then climbed into the cab. Just before he turned the key, he caught a hint of something sweet. Cassie’s perfume. She’d driven his truck home last night and her scent still lingered in the cab. He’d gotten a good dose of her fragrance. It was one of the fixations that drew him. He couldn’t get enough of her alluring scent, her softness, her little moans … God. He couldn’t stop thinking about the woman. He wanted to see her again.
Damn. He slammed his hand on the steering wheel. With his pager going off at her place, he’d dashed out of there without getting her phone number. No way of getting in touch with her, other than driving by her apartment. Would she mind if he showed up without warning? She’d been sweet and caring, even interesting. After the night they’d shared, though, he wondered if she’d be one of those females who’d sit by the phone expecting him to call.
Shit. How the hell did he get himself into these things? He liked free and easy. No attachments. He didn’t need a woman clinging to him.
But Cassie didn’t strike him as the clinging type. The woman was a knockout, yet she seemed unaware of it. She had a rack that any man would praise, but more than that drew him to her. When Mike looked at Cassie, the first thing he saw was her eyes. Green with a hint of blue. Expressive. So telling, he could read every sincere thought in her head. So significant, he could feel every emotion they conveyed.
He did want to see her again. She was fun and smart and grabbed him right in his gut.
That should alarm him. He considered it for a moment, then shook his head. No woman had ever led him around by the balls and none ever would. Why was this one stuck in his head?
As he drove, he took advantage of the quiet to get his thoughts in order. When he pulled into the lot beside the firehouse, he saw the bay doors open and Laredo out front spraying down the quint. His baby. You’d think the guy had nothing more to do than wash the rigs. This time, the radio blared to a tune of John Cougar Mellencamp, one of Mike’s favorites. If Jared had been out there, he’d turn it to a country station just to piss Laredo off. Knowing Laredo wouldn’t hear him, Mike waved, grabbed the bag of food he’d picked up and carted the groceries inside.
Shep stood at the counter, already busy cutting up tomatoes.
“Your turn to cook?” Mike asked.
“Got something for me?” Shep glanced up and lifted his brows. “And I’m not speaking about that bag of groceries.”
Mike pulled the release paper from his back pocket. “Signed, sealed and delivered.”
Shep gave a nod and went back to chopping.
“Hey Cap. Mike. What are we having tonight?” Cooper strode into the kitchen, leaned over Shep’s shoulder and snatched a slice of tomato. Shep smacked his fingers with his blade.
“Dude!”
“Keep your fingers out of the food.”
Cooper caught Mike’s eye and smiled, oblivious to Shep’s scolding.
Cooper arrived on the scene close to two years earlier. In less than one, he’d captured the respect of the entire team. All the guys gave Coop a rash of shit because he was the new guy. If they didn’t like him, they wouldn’t needle the kid. Cooper fit the team like a finger on a glove.
As for Shep, Cooper had won him over with hard work and dedication. It was good to see the easy camaraderie the kid had with the Captain.
“We’re having chicken fettuccini and salad,” Shep said.
“You’re the best, Cap.” Before Cooper cleared the doorway, Shep stopped him.
“Finished with the tanks?”
“Yep. Full and ready for the next run. Spares are gaged and loaded on the shelves.”
“Then you can stay and heat up the sauce pan.”
“Come on, Cap. No one can make the sauce like you.”
“It’s time you learned.” Shep turned to Mike. “What did you bring?”
“I figured we could use some fresh fruit.” He called out the items as he unloaded the bag. “I got apples, bananas and oranges. Picked up some butter and mayo. Have you got everything you need for your fettuccine?”
“Yes. Cooper. Use the butter from the fridge before we open this one.”
“Like I wouldn’t,” Cooper said, rolling his eyes. He took the container Mike brought and asked, “What about rolls?”
“Ms. Daniels brought a supply of rolls.”
Mike locked eyes with Cooper as he flashed a knowing grin.
Alice Daniels was a real estate agent who’d set her sights on Shep. The two mixed about as well as oil and water. The woman showed up anytime of the day, right out of the blue, making it clear who held her interest. She brought food most times, so the men liked her well enough. Shep tolerated her, but no matter how many hints he threw her way, she never got the message he just wasn’t interested.
“Al-lice,” Cooper purred in a sing-song tone.
Shep ignored him.
“She tried sneaking by me while I was loading the tanks. I pretended to be busy. Figured she wanted some alone time with the Captain,” Cooper explained to Mike.
“That woman has a nasty habit of sneaking up undetected. I’m going to have to insert security alarms.” Shep frowned. “Cooper. Get the pot boiling.” The kid jumped to execute his duty.
“Do they have booty-call alarms?”
Shep shot Cooper a look meant to kill.
“Just asking?”
“Don’t you mean booty forewarning?” Mike couldn’t help himself. Cooper hooted.
“Knock it off, you two.”
“Come on, Cap. You don’t have to worry about getting lucky. She’s doing the chasing.”
“Alice is attractive, but too aggressive for my taste,” Shep grumbled.
“She’s got a one tract mind and I don’t see it changing.” Mike grinned at Shep, having fun tormenting his boss. “How are you going to handle that?”
“Security alarms,” Cooper answered for Shep and received another glare.
“I’m trying. The woman refuses to understand I’m not going out with her.”
“Then, I guess she will keep coming here,” Mike said.
“Okay with me as long as she brings food.” Cooper snitched a slice of cheese and dodged before Shep could catch him.
“You’re not the one she’s after.”
“Who’s after who?” Jared asked as he came in the kitchen.
“Alice is after Shep,” Cooper answered.
“You decide to
show up?” Shep asked. Jared ignored him.
“She been by here again?” Jared aimed his question to Cooper. “Someone should give the woman a suit and teach her how to fight fires.”
“Shep thinks she’s here too much already.” Cooper’s grin was infectious.
“That was my point.”
“But she does bring us food.”
“She’s a real estate agent. Doesn’t look the part of Susie homemaker to me.”
“She doesn’t bake.” The group stared at Cooper. He shrugged. “She picks the stuff up over at Mason’s Bakery.”
“How do you know that?” Jared asked.
“Seen her over there.” Cooper grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. He tossed it to Mike, pulled out one for Jared and then got one for himself. Shep already had one on the counter. “After she left, I went in and asked old man Mason.”
“You sly, young dog.” Jared sniggered.
“The stuff she brings in here isn’t from his place,” Mike said with a frown. “None of it has his packaging. And she comes back later to pick up her dishes.”
Cooper made a sign of crossing his heart. “I swear. The old man told me she comes in there every week. I asked him what all she got and it’s the same stuff she brings here. Probably takes it home and puts it in her own glassware.”
“Which gives her the excuse she needs to make another trip to the station.” Jared hiked his brow and smirked. “She gets her dish and gets another shot at Shep.”
“Didn’t you notice the apple cobbler was cut up and squished in the corners?” Cooper nudged Mike.
“I just figured that’s the way she did it. Didn’t matter to me. Tasted great,” Jared added. “All this time I was in love with her cooking … You know what, Cap?”
“I’m afraid to ask,” Shep said in a droll tone and kept his eyes on his task.
“If we can get rolls and stuff at the bakery, we don’t need her.”
Shep hiked a brow. “We don’t need her period.”
“Then you’re the one who’s got to tell her to stop coming here.”
“But she brings us food,” Cooper piped up.
“Just marry the woman and put her out of her misery,” Jared told Shep with a shrug.
That did it. Shep looked ready to blow up.
“Who’s getting married?” Laredo’s voice cracked in the room.
“Shep,” Cooper answered. The boy might be young, but he gave as good as he got.
“I’m not—”
“You?! And I’m just now hearing about it?” Laredo’s voice bellowed and his eyes grew big in their sockets.
Mike laughed out loud. That’s what happened when one walked in on the tail end of a conversation. When these guys found a target, the whole gang jumped on the bandwagon.
“Oh, for God’s sake,” Shep exclaimed. “Will you guys give me a break? Why don’t you hound Mike about why he was late this morning?”
Thrown to the dogs.
Shep must be flustered. He wouldn’t normally squeal on another guy. The silence in the room was almost deafening. Laredo and Cooper stared at him with puzzled expressions while Jared grinned like the cat that swallowed the canary.
“All right, big guy. Where were you?” Naturally, Laredo had to ask.
“Couldn’t take the heat?” Mike grumbled, glaring at Shep who busied himself with stirring the sauce.
“Come on, Mike,” Cooper cajoled. “We never hear any stories about you.”
“Does this have anything to do with that hot babe at the Mexican restaurant?” Laredo asked with a leering grin.
“Hey man. I saw her first.”
“Down, pup.” Mike turned his glare on Cooper. “You did not see her first, and I’m the one who went over and talked to her.”
Cooper gave him a shit-eating grin, making Mike aware of what he’d just admitted. “So, it is her. The hot blonde.”
“Of course, it’s her,” Jared agreed. “What I want to know is why you were late.”
“Bet you did more than talk.” Cooper grinned like a stupid idiot. If he stood closer, Mike would wallop the kid.
An uncomfortable wave smacked Mike in his gut. He’d had a wonderful night with Cassie and had no intention of enlightening these jugheads.
“Only thing in the world that would make me late would be a wild night of sex,” Jared boasted.
“Did he come in all wet?” Cooper asked.
“Shower sex.” Laredo joined in the fun. “Great in the morning.”
“Knock it off,” Mike said, his voice heavy with irritation.
“Dish it out but can’t take it?” Jared teased.
“Someone doesn’t like sharing.”
“Not this,” Mike snapped at Laredo. “Cassie is a class act and I’m not sharing a damn thing.” He knew the guys were just razzing on him, like they always did. But Cassie was unique. His time with her special.
“Okay, bro.” Jared slapped him on the back. “We’re just funnin’. Cassie huh? She is a beautiful woman and nice, too.”
“Yeah, man. I think you like her. Like, really like her.”
Mike glanced at Cooper. The kid was smarter than he looked.
“You guys got me. Yes, I was with Cassie. I wasn’t scheduled to be here in the first place. Yes, I was running late. But I sure as hell am not telling you why.”
“There’s my answer. Right there.” Laredo nodded to the others.
“You guys ready to eat?” Shep, the instigator. The one who set the wolves on him.
“I’ll get the plates,” Cooper said as he opened a cabinet door.
“Who else has a girl keeping them up all night?” Jared asked as he took a seat at the table.
“Not me,” Cooper answered.
Jared glanced around the table. “You mean Shep and Mike are the only ones getting action?”
Laredo hooted. “I think you better rephrase that one. Every man at this table is getting action.”
“Don’t include me in that category. Alice Daniels will have to focus her attention on someone else.”
“Come on, Cap. Alice is a fine-looking woman.”
“I’ll be sure and tell her you said that the next time she stops by,” Shep said with a pointed stare.
“Oh, no. Don’t pawn your girlfriend off on me.”
“She’s not my—”
“Don’t you like her, Cap?” Cooper kept a straight face, but Mike knew the mischief-maker’s question was far from innocent.
“Why does everyone keep interrupting me?” Shep braced his arms on the table. “All joking aside, I need to find a way to rid myself of that woman. She’s becoming a nuisance.”
“She brings us food,” Laredo said after sucking down a mouthful of noodles.
“Hey, dude. She brings stuff from Mason’s Bakery, passing it off as her own.
Laredo hiked a brow then gave a shrug. “It’s still food.”
So much for the serious approach.
“I see what you mean,” Mike said to Shep. “If the woman goes out of her way to pawn off another person’s cooking and claim it as her own, who knows what she might try next?”
“You mean, she could be like fatal attraction?”
Guess everyone had seen that movie, even Cooper.
“There’s that. And if she’s hanging around, it could interfere with Shep’s actual love life.”
All heads turned to Shep. Each one sizing him up, trying to decide if he was seeing a woman they didn’t know about.
“Hmm. Never thought of that.” Laredo shrugged and took a bite of pasta.
“That’s because you guys are always joking,” Mike informed him.
“Would you rather we were a bunch of cranky old farts?” Jared asked.
“It’s harmless,” Laredo added.
“Hey. Wait a minute.” Cooper put down his fork and a puzzled expression crossed his face. “You got a new woman, Cap?”
Activity at the table stopped. Jared froze with his fork mere inches from his mouth. Lared
o’s expression turned from mocking to one of surprise. Each man waited for Shep to answer.
He didn’t. Shep forked a gob of food and stuffed his mouth, making it clear he wasn’t about to.
“Is that why you turned the heat on the big guy?” Laredo prodded.
Shep glanced at Mike. “Sorry about that. It just slipped out.”
Nothing ever just slipped out with Shep. If he’d gotten flustered, there’d been a reason. Shep had been acting a bit off this past week.
“I’ve got big shoulders. I can take it.”
“Didn’t appear that way when you told us to knock it off.”
“Down, pup.”
“You talk to me like I’m a dog.”
“Sometimes you act like one.”
“Yeah, always sniffing around …” Laredo laughed. Mike and Jared joined in.
Shep never did reply to Cooper’s question. He ate his food and washed it down with coffee rather than answer. Did Shep have a woman he’s been hiding?
Naw. The guy hadn’t had time.
But something was on his mind.
Chapter 11
Several days after the nightmare of training day, some of the guys from Station Eight had visited Ryan in the hospital. His wife had been sitting faithfully by his bed, holding his bandaged hand. He’d been doped up on pain meds and bandages covered ninety percent of his face. He didn’t even know his visitors were there. With all the tubes and monitors Ryan had been hooked up to, the guys prayed daily for his recovery.
After a three week stay in the hospital, he’d finally been released to go home. Jared and Mike rode to Ryan’s house to see if he was ready for visitors. His wife greeted them at the door.
“I hope we’re not interrupting,” Jared said.
“Certainly not. Come on in. Ryan’s in the den. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.”
Mike and Jared wiped their boots, then stepped inside and followed—he’d forgotten the wife’s name—to a cozy room where Ryan reclined in an easy chair.
“Hi, Mike. Jared.”
“How’s it going, Ryan?” He did not offer his hand. Jared and Mike were both conscious of Ryan’s injuries and purposefully sat without touching him. Both could see that Ryan had endured a rough road and neither of them wanted to make him uncomfortable. The bandages were gone from his face, leaving red, raw tissue in their place. A cast covered one arm from wrist to elbow, and Mike wondered what the blanket on his lap was hiding.
MIKE The Firefighters of Station 8 Page 10
