by Charity West
EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ®
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2017 Charity West
ISBN: 978-1-77339-254-7
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer
Editor: Audrey Bobak
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
A very big thank you to my husband and kids for giving me the time to write. Thank you to my grandmother, who always encouraged me to keep writing, even when times were hard. And a huge thank you to my readers...I appreciate each and every one of you.
RISING FROM THE ASHES
Flame Kissed, 1
Charity West
Copyright © 2017
Chapter One
I stared at my reflection in the oval mirror, the cracks on the surface reflective of the inner and outer scars I bore. I’d been plunged into darkness, had nearly given up the fight a year ago, but I stood stronger now than ever before. I was hardy, a weathered Sequoia standing tall and proud, sturdy from the roots up. My past had tried to beat me down, to end my existence, but I was still here, still fighting. I’d learned that I was invincible. The horrors I’d faced had only made me tougher, fearless in my resolve to build myself back up, brighter and better than ever. The phoenix tattooed on my back was a reminder that I’d risen from the ashes and had reinvented myself after losing so much.
Stretchmarks marred my flat belly from what almost was, and scars lined my arms and the backs of my hands, the silvery ribbons marking my golden skin. I didn’t miss the stares whenever I wore a sleeveless shirt, or the few times I’d been to the beach and worn a bathing suit. My body, once beautiful and resilient, was now strong in other ways. I might not have been model perfect, but I was a survivor, and that was more important to me. I’d been body slammed by life, had the breath knocked from my lungs, but I’d fought my way back to the top.
At the age of nineteen, I’d been through more than most women endured in their entire lives. I’d fought hard to get where I was, and I would fight harder still to break through that glass ceiling and realize my dreams. I was already signed up at the local college, for classes starting in the fall, a new beginning. Nothing was going to stand in my way, and no one would stop me. My faith in myself was unshakable.
My life was going to be different from this moment on. In an hour, I would start my new job, in my new town, and for once, while people may stop and stare, they wouldn’t know my life’s story. If someone wanted to know about my scars, they’d have to ask. And even then, I didn’t have to tell them if I didn’t want to. I had a new beginning, and I was going to take advantage of it. I’d been in Silver Springs for all of three weeks. Long enough to find an apartment, get moved in, and land a new job. I didn’t have a single friend in town, just yet, and there definitely wasn’t a boyfriend in the picture.
I turned from the mirror and stepped into the bathroom, turning on the shower. As I waited for the water to warm, I brushed the tangles from my hair and then brushed my teeth. Steam billowed from the shower stall, fogging the mirror, and I stepped under the hot spray. As the water pelted my skin and soaked into my hair, I tipped my head back and breathed a sigh of relief. It was amazing what a shower could do for a person. I let my tension melt away as I lathered and rinsed my hair. The strands squeaked between my fingers as I got the last of the bubbles out. Then I soaped my body, my fingers caressing the web of pale, pink marks marring my belly.
“One day it won’t hurt so much,” I said softly.
Maybe I could still have the life that fate had denied me. I’d always believed things happened for a reason, but the only reason I could come up with for my loss was that sometimes God created psychotic assholes who should have never been born. The anger over what happened to me burned in my veins as I shaved my legs. It was for the best. That was what everyone said. I knew better. Price had known exactly what he was doing. He’d planned the entire thing, probably spent hours making sure it would go as intended, and then he’d turned my world upside down. All because he was a selfish asshole. It wasn’t like I’d asked anything of him.
I finished my shower, dried off, and then wrapped the towel around my body. I pulled my brush out of the drawer and slowly detangled my long, blonde hair, and then blew it dry with the small hairdryer I kept under the sink. It fluffed out and looked a little ridiculous, so I plugged in my curling iron and applied a light layer of makeup while I waited on the wand to heat. By the time my hair hung in spirals down my back, I knew I didn’t have much time left. I was normally a shower-and-dash-out-the-door kind of girl, but I wanted to look nice for my first day on the job.
My outfit was already thrown across the bed. I’d asked about a dress code, and my new boss had said business casual was fine, unless I preferred a uniform. Just the thought of wearing one was almost enough to make me break out in hives, so I’d told him a uniform wasn’t necessary. I’d picked out a nice pair of black capri pants and paired them with a white eyelet lace top.
I looked at the clock by the bed and squeaked in surprise. “I’m going to be late!”
I hastily threw on my clothes, slipped on a pair of low-heeled sandals, and spritzed on some of my favorite perfume, and then I grabbed my purse off the dresser and made a dash for the front door. My poor, battered car sat at the curb out front. As always, I said a little prayer as I turned the key, hoping the engine would turn over. When the car sputtered to life, I wiggled in my seat victoriously and pulled away from the curb.
Silver Springs had four fire stations, and my job was at the one on Jefferson Avenue. I’d met with the captain last week for my second interview, and he’d offered me the job on the spot. I’d caught a glimpse of some of the firemen, but before the captain had been able to introduce me to anyone, a call had come in and everyone had rushed to the shiny, red truck in the bay. I was a little nervous, not knowing anyone other than the captain, but I knew I could do the job I was hired to do. Being around so much testosterone wasn’t my idea of a picnic, but the job paid better than most I’d applied for, and the city had great benefits.
As I pulled into the parking lot, I saw the firetruck was still in the bay. Since I didn’t have a key to the building, I’d have been screwed if they were gone on a call, unless they left the place open. I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror, making sure my hair was behaving, and then grabbed my purse and got out. I didn’t bother to lock my car, because really, someone would be doing me a favor if they stole it. With my luck, they’d return it.
I pushed through the glass double doors at the front of the station and went back to the captain’s office. Peering inside, I didn’t see him at his desk. There hadn’t been time for a tour, but surely I wouldn’t get lost if I got a little nosey and checked the place out. I followed the corridor to the left and it eventually opened into a large room that was part living area and part kitchen. A group of guys sat on the sofas, more interested in a video game than my presence, and three more were in the kitchen, one of which was the captain.
“Captain Thomas,” I called out as I approached the kitchen area. “I hope I’m not late.”
The captain glanced at his watch. “Only by a few minutes, and I’d imagined you used that time trying to locate me. Welcome to the first day of your new job, Miss Witherspoon. Do you want an introduction to the guys now or later?”
I looked at the sofas again and stifled a smile to find they’d stopped their game and were all staring at me. Excluding the captain, there were seven men total. I had done enough research on my new job to know this crew worked a two-day shift and then had two days off while the other crew came in. Which meant I had fourteen names to learn. I hoped they would be patient with me.
“Now is good,” I told him.
He clapped a red-haired man on the back. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties. “This is Roarke Hayes. He’s been with us three years now.”
I shook hands with Roarke. “I’m Kaycee.”
The captain patted the back of a swarthy-looking guy who didn’t seem much older than me. “And this is Zarek O’Donnell. Don’t let the name fool you. He’s Persian, but was adopted by an Irish couple.”
I reached for his hand, and sparks shot through my palm and up my arm. Wow! As I gazed up into his chocolate eyes, I felt myself falling a little under his spell. I’d seen plenty of hot guys in my life, but none on par with Zarek. There was a hint of merriment in his eyes, and I realized I was still holding his hand. My cheeks flushed as I quickly took a step back and tried to get my rioting hormones back under control.
“These two are both on the engine,” the captain said. “Over on the couches, from left to right we have Jared, Liam, Nix, Sean, and Oliver. Nix and Oliver are on the engine as well. The other three are paramedics.”
“It’s nice to meet all of you, but please don’t be offended if I forget your names.”
Nix—at least I thought it was Nix—winked at me. “Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll make sure you can remember me.”
I heard a snort to my right and regarded Zarek, who looked disgusted. It made me wonder if this was typical behavior for Nix. Definitely, someone to watch out for. Not that I thought an office romance was going to be allowed. The captain hadn’t said anything about it before now, but maybe I should have asked for clarification on a few things. Better safe than sorry. Especially if those tingles Zarek gave me turned into something a little harder to ignore.
I followed the captain back to his office and claimed the seat across the desk from him. He took a sip from the cup clutched in his hand and it made me crave a cup myself. As far as I was concerned, coffee was the nectar of the gods. The only thing I loved more was chocolate, especially white chocolate-covered raspberries. Not a craving everyone got, but I’d never claimed to be normal.
“You went to orientation the other day?” the captain asked.
“Yes, sir.”
His lips tipped up on the corner. “I’m only ten years older than you. You can drop the sir and just call me Captain. It’s what everyone here calls me.”
“Yes, s— I mean, yes, Captain.”
“Better.” He set his cup down. “So, did they assign you a login for the city’s system, as well as get your email set up?”
“I have everything on a piece of paper in my purse. I’m set up for Meeting Maker, Outlook, and the city’s system. The IT guy said if I needed anything that he was just a phone call away.”
The captain grinned a little. “I bet he did. I guess we should cover a few rules about boyfriends.”
“No interoffice dating, right?”
“Actually, if you hit it off with one of the guys, it doesn’t bother me. What I won’t tolerate is you playing one against the other, if you catch the attention of more than one guy. I need them focused and not jacked up over some girl. I’m not saying that you would do something like that, but it’s happened here before. I ended up not only losing my assistant, but two firemen as well. I’d prefer not to go through that again.”
“Understood.”
“If you do decide to date one of the guys, I’d be a little careful with Nix. He’s something of a player, and I’m not sure he even knows what a serious relationship is. You’d be better off with pretty much anyone but him.”
“I kind of figured that out from his comment earlier.”
The captain smiled. “Let me show you where you’ll be working, and I’ll let you get familiar with your surroundings. As I mentioned previously, your hours will be eight to four with a half hour for lunch. If you’d prefer to work until 4:30, then you can take a longer lunch. I’m flexible as long as I know what’s going on.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to work the extra half hour to have a longer lunch. I’ve signed up for some online classes this fall, and I may need the time to study or work on homework.”
“Not a problem. And congratulations on furthering your education. It’s none of my business why you take time off, but depending on what your degree is in, maybe we can upgrade you from Administrative Assistant to Executive Administrative Assistant. I believe there is a significant pay increase, unless you prefer to get a job in your field.”
“I appreciate the offer and will consider it, but I have a long way to go before my degree is completed. I’m just going part-time until I see what my schedule and free time look like compared to the amount of classwork and tests I have. I don’t want to take on too much.”
The captain smiled. “That’s smart.”
He motioned for me to follow him out of the office, and we walked down the hall to the desk at the front of the station. It was a well-lit area, and I was certain I’d be happy working here. Before I took the time to start my computer and get logged in, I backtracked to the kitchen in search of coffee. If I was going to stay sharp and focused, I was going to need a little help.
Zarek still stood at the kitchen counter, but the rest of the guys were involved with the video game again. I wasn’t up on my gaming, but it looked like a popular military game I’d seen advertised the other day. It figured that men who made their livings running into burning buildings would unwind by shooting people and blowing things up.
“Are the mugs here for anyone to use, or does everyone have their own?” I asked Zarek.
“We’ve each brought in our own stuff. The plates and utensils are free for all, but the guys tend to be picky about their mugs.” He tipped his head to the side. “But I guess you didn’t bring one with you since you didn’t know that.”
“No. It’s okay. I can survive without coffee.”
He smiled a little. “You could, but should you?”
“Well, I’m not going to go full-on Exorcist, if that’s what you’re asking. But yes, I’m crabbier without my caffeine, and I didn’t have time to enjoy a cup this morning before I came in.”
Zarek reached into the cabinet and pulled out a black mug with flames and handed it to me. “You can use this one today. I promise it’s clean.”
I took the mug. “Thank you. I promise I’ll be careful with it.”
“If it breaks, it’s no biggie.” He shrugged. “My cousin thought it was a funny present to give a fireman. I didn’t want to bring in my nicer one, in case one of these lunatics decided to use it for target practice or something.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at the picture that brought to mind. Moving over to the coffeepot, I poured myself a generous cupful and stirred in a little sugar. I didn’t dare touch any of the creamer or milk in the fridge since I didn’t know if it belonged to someone in particular. I’d know tomorrow to bring my own creamer and some mugs to work. I wanted to fit in, and having to borrow the guys’ stuff wasn’t the way to do that. Although, just thinking of placing my lips on the same mug Zarek drank from gave me a little zing of pleasure.
Giving him another smile and a little wave, I went back to my desk and turned on the computer. I grabbed the paper from my purse and logged in. It didn’t take me long to open up everything I would need to start my day, and then I made sure my purse was stashed in the drawer before going to find the captain. I might have known how to do my job, but if he didn’t give me anything, I’d be twiddling my thumbs all day.
I knocked on the captain’s door and peeked inside when he called out for me to enter.
“I don’t mean to bother you, Captain, but there wasn’t a
list of things on my desk that you need to have completed today. Are there any reports that need my attention, or meetings you need to have scheduled?”
“I have some files that need to be created, both in Access and in hard copy. You’ll find some manila folders in the supply room two doors down,” he said, pointing to my left. “You’ll need three folders, and I’ll bring everything out to you in a moment. In the future, you may want to bring a book or something with you. I’m not always going to have work for you to do, and I don’t want you to get bored in between phone calls. The line doesn’t light up all the time, but we do have our busy times.”
“Yes, sir.”
He glowered.
“I mean, yes, Captain.”
I smiled when he grunted and began rummaging through things on his desk. I stepped down the hall, found the folders easily, and grabbed some pens, highlighters, and permanent markers. As an afterthought, I snagged some sticky notes and then made my way back to my desk. It only took a moment to put things away. I made another trip to the closet for a stapler, tape, and some paperclips. After another few minutes, my desk was organized. The captain hadn’t brought me any work yet, so I folded my hands on top of my desk and waited patiently. I did keep a paperback in my purse at all times, just in case, but I didn’t want to drag it out within my first hour on the job. It seemed tacky, even if the captain had given me permission.
The sun was shining brightly outside, and I longed to feel the rays caress my skin. It had been a while since I’d gone to the beach, even though it was only an hour away now. I would say that I deserved some time off, but really, other than moving and finding a new job, I hadn’t done much the past few weeks. Before that, I was working and trying to get through the grieving process. Eventually, I’d had enough of the stares and whispered conversations, and decided it was time to leave my hometown and strike out on my own. Leaving my parents’ house hadn’t been as hard as I’d thought it would be. Maybe because they hadn’t exactly been supportive this past year. They didn’t like what Price had done to me, but they agreed with the end result. Assholes, all of them. I was better off on my own.
