Ladder 54: Five Firefighter Romances

by Maren Smith

  “Aren’t you going to answer me?” she demanded.

  “You never asked a question. Fasten your seatbelt.”

  * * *

  The tiny pre-teen he remembered was long gone. In that shy, awkward kid’s place was a smart, sassy woman with a body that made him ache, and the changes left him very unsettled. There was no way she was supporting herself well enough to drop the kind of money she’d spent tonight, and he sure as hell didn’t want to explain any of this to her dozens of male relatives. He could only think that she was borrowing unwisely. Her parents didn’t have the kind of money to support spending like that, especially when she probably owed thousands for student loans.

  Her curvy figure, bright eyes, and long legs weren’t as easily dismissed. If he’d met her a year ago like their families wanted, would he have made the same decision to leave town? Maybe. She’d certainly grown up over the last ten years. But she wasn’t the submissive woman he wanted, and he had no desire to get dragged back into the soul-crushing dynamic of Greektown.

  “You can’t run around like this anymore, Selene,” he snapped while driving toward his apartment. “You need to stay home, get married, and make your family happy.”

  She snorted, but didn’t reply.

  “What are you going to do when you get older? You’re not going to be young forever, and the community can be cruel to old maids. What about children to take care of you?” As he spoke the words, a mental image of his grandfather came to his mind, but he shook his head to erase the comparison.

  Reaching over the console, she turned on the radio, scanning through the satellite options to find a grunge station. The thumping, raucous music made his head ache, and he turned it down.

  “Aren’t you going to answer me?” he demanded.

  “You don’t deserve an answer, you chauvinistic bastard. What century are you living in, anyway? I’m not staying with you. Take me to the bed and breakfast in town. I’ve already paid for my room.”

  Having too many sisters of his own, he’d long since learned to pick his battles, and the B&B was a good compromise. Besides, a little distance between them would reduce the temptation of her curvy frame.

  “Fine. Are you going to tell me what you plan to do?” he asked through gritted teeth.

  “I’m going to ignore the misogynistic and idiotic things you just said. I’m going to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, just to keep you from harping on it, I’ll find someone of my choosing to ship my car, and after that I’ll hitch a ride to Missoula and get out of this godforsaken state.”

  “Those aren’t answers, Selene. You can’t keep pretending to be something you aren’t.”

  She held up a hand to interrupt him. “Stop right there, Theo. I will respond to each and every one of your concerns. The multiple degrees and professional certifications on my office wall, not to mention the two-year waitlist for my expertise, are irrefutable proof of my professionalism. I make more in a year than my father has made in his lifetime. I worked hard for that, and I’m so well-compensated that I can write a personal check for an expensive car. I’m not some virginal maid waiting to be taken care of by a sanctimonious asshole who’s so full of himself that he forgot that not everyone subscribes to the Greektown social structure.”

  Snapping the radio off, she turned in her seat. “You also forgot I’m only two years younger than you are. I love what I do. I don’t need to pump out babies to make my life meaningful, nor do I need a husband. The advent of birth control makes it possible to get laid without worrying about that shit.”

  “Watch your language. Your father—”

  “Has absolutely nothing to do with my decisions. I moved out of his house almost ten years ago when I went to Texas A&M. I don’t rely on him for money or self-validation, and I haven’t since I was a child.”

  “What was wrong with a school in town? Chicago has good schools.”

  “A&M offered a full scholarship. So did Stanford and Caltech. All I had to do was teach a few classes.”

  He rubbed his forehead, trying to ease the budding ache between his eyes. “I can’t believe your father let you—”

  She cut him off. “I’m not your responsibility, Theo, and I don’t have the time or interest to explain my choices to you.” Her voice took on a crisp edge. “Nor is it any of your business.”

  The brakes jerked as he parked in front of the B&B. The fool woman was going to end up in serious trouble, but she was right about one thing. She wasn’t his responsibility. He just needed to get her home to her father. A husband and a few babies would nail her into one place. He ignored the stab of jealousy when he realized he wouldn’t be the one to settle her down.

  Handing her his phone, he said, “Put your number in so I can check on you.”

  Grimacing, she took the device and did as he asked before handing it back. She slid her curvy body out of the cab without waiting for him to open the door like he’d been taught, and her brilliant dark eyes glared at him with a look of ice before she strode up the sidewalk. Hurrying to catch up, he snatched her key and opened the door for her.

  “Stay put until I come get you in the morning, Selene. I’m not taking no for an answer.” It was the least he could do for his family’s little friend.

  Giving him a suspiciously sweet smile, she murmured, “Whatever you say, Theo. I’m done arguing with you. Good night and get lost.” The curvy bottom hidden under that killer dress made him ache to spank it again as she stormed through the front door.

  Sitting in his truck, he stewed for a long few minutes before pulling out his phone and doing a little innocent stalking on her name as Sophie suggested. The rich meal he’d eaten tumbled and threatened to make a reappearance as his world view crashed down around his ears in a flaming mess of outdated stereotypes.

  He’d left Chicago to escape the old-world attitudes, but they’d been so deeply ingrained in his psyche that he never saw them until he’d used them against an innocent woman who must have been just as desperate to escape as he was.

  As co-owner of Athena Construction, she’d worked with some of the best-known architects in the business. He recognized the corporate logo. It was inked on her shoulder. But her busy profile didn’t stop there. She had a fucking image search page. And a mini-fan club. The media said she made math sexy and thousands followed her on social media, not to mention the charitable foundation where she raised money to encourage young girls in STEM education. She wasn’t exactly world famous, but she wasn’t completely unknown, either.

  And how the ever-loving fuck had he missed that Maxim spread? She’d worn a hard hat, a man’s white dress shirt, and absolutely nothing else. Though everything was covered, there was nothing traditional about the seductive eyes and a body that leapt off the page with pert nipples in full erection. Faced with her near nudity and obvious acumen, the thought of having a conversation with her father about a trip to Montana made him feel like an idiot.

  He wasn’t sure if he was madder at giving up a date with a fucking rock star, or if it was because he’d misjudged her so badly. Who was he kidding? Even if he’d kept their lunch date, he’d never have had a chance with her. Especially not now that he’d denigrated and insulted her every time he opened his mouth. Fuck.

  Chapter Three

  Theo was so frustratingly Greek she wanted to scream. His domineering attitude, his obnoxious tone, and his prehistoric ideas on women all demanded retribution. It didn’t help her mood when her inner self reminded her he was raised to believe the bullshit he’d spouted.

  Yet part of her still wanted him. Damn it! Her body sure had liked being hoisted across his shoulder and spanked. She could still feel the heat of his massive hand on her backside. A tiny twisting of sensation gathered around her clit and she shuddered. She had to get the hell out of Montana. Now.

  She tapped Walt’s number into her phone and his husky voice answered on the second ring.

  “Hi, Walt! This is Dr. Alexiou. I know Theo told you to drop Lolita off at hi
s place, but—”

  “We’re just a few blocks away from the B&B, honey. We didn’t figure you’d agree to staying with him. We’ll meet you out front in about ten minutes.”

  “Thank you so much! You’re the best, Walt.”

  She ended the call and raced to the room Mrs. Asher, the owner of the charming bed and breakfast, had given her. With its antique Shaker furniture and a pretty gas fireplace, the place reminded her of her house in Braidwood. Slipping out of the cocktail dress, she changed into jeans with a warm sweatshirt snuggling over her tingly breasts before going outside with her suitcase.

  Walt stood on the sidewalk in front of the Camaro, his arm around Sophie. With a quick hug for each of them, she asked, “Walt, I have a huge favor to ask. Can you keep Theo here for a couple of days? I’m skipping Mexico and driving Lolita home.”

  He dropped the keys in her hand, his expression pensive. “Are you sure about this? You two seem to have some history—”

  “Positive. He’s a friend of my father’s, and an annoying one at that. I need time to get home without him bothering me.”

  “Blake’s running things at the station since I’ve been sick, but I think he’ll support this.” He nodded as if he’d come to a decision. “Don’t worry about Theo. We’ll take care of him.”

  “When are you planning on leaving?” Sophie asked in a worried voice. “It’s already dark.”

  Selene tossed her bag into the trunk and said, “Right now. I can get a few hours in before I get too tired. I’ll call you when I get home so you know when it’s safe to let Theo go, but it won’t be more than two or three days.”

  She got in her pretty baby and started the engine, purring along with the throaty hum. Mint and original were all well and good, but some things were more important. She smiled as she turned up the splashy stereo unit, complete with satellite radio and an iPod dock. Walt was a god among men.

  Nestled into the leather seat, she wanted to kick herself for offering the car back to Walt. With a last wave to Walt and Sophie, she successfully resisted the urge to flip off the entire town of Big Banks and drove down the quiet main street. On her way out of town, she gave Lolita a drink, checked her fluids and tire pressure, and yes, bought a pair of sunglasses.

  She’d lie if anyone asked whether she’d put the Blues Brothers soundtrack on.

  * * *

  Theo got home in a foul mood. Walt hadn’t arrived with Selene’s car, but he didn’t worry. He was probably busy with after party duties, and it could wait until morning. Tossing away the idea of calling to check on Selene, he stripped out of his turnout pants and got in the shower, only then remembering that he’d left his tuxedo and the rest of his gear behind at the CCC.

  Damned woman. His cock hadn’t gone down all night. Cursing the memory of her firm bottom under his hand, he squeezed the offending flesh as water coursed over the tight muscles in his back. Selene Alexiou had a world-class backside, round and perfect for fucking from behind. His dick twitched in his hand when he remembered spanking that amazing ass.

  And that magazine spread. Smooth velvet skin barely covered by that dress shirt. Fuck. He’d never get those images out of his mind. It was a good thing she wasn’t his. If she’d dared to pose for such risqué photos under his watch, she wouldn’t have sat comfortably for a week.

  Part of his world that he’d never been able to share with any of his Chicago family, the Crystal Cabin Club was uniquely kinky and not an easy subject for sensitive girls from Greektown. Yet she hadn’t seemed surprised to find him in a BDSM club nor had she appeared shocked by any of the auction script.

  His imagination refused to be silenced, and he pictured her bent over a spanking bench with her thighs spread apart, her round backside framed with black leather restraints. He’d decorate her bottom with streams of hot wax then flick it away with the tails of his favorite flogger. And maybe he’d use ginger in her pretty ass to keep her mind on him and all the dirty things he wanted to do to her.

  Given the chance, he’d spend their whole scene teasing her until she dripped for him and begged for an end to her torment. He’d put her on her knees and paint her sweet lips with pre-cum. The thought of her plump red lips wrapped around his cock sent a shudder down his spine.

  The chrome taps creaked under his hand as he shut off the water. Grabbing a towel, he swiped it over his body and tossed it toward the hamper. A good night’s sleep would make everything right. Tomorrow, he’d get Selene on a plane and out of his life. Things would go back to normal after that.

  * * *

  He woke early the next morning, but the nagging weight from the previous day’s drama hit him like a hangover. He dragged his aching muscles out of bed and walked to the big picture window that had tickled his fancy from the moment he’d pulled into town, but there was no Camaro in front of his house.

  A quick call to the Lassiters sent his heart to his stomach. “She’s gone,” said Sophie without a word of apology. “Walt’s still asleep and I’m not going to wake him up for this, but she took her car and went home. Leave her be, Theo. She’s fine. She even texted me to let me know she got to a hotel around two last night.”

  “Why the hell didn’t you guys call me?” he growled into the phone. “How could you have let her leave so late?”

  Sophie was silent for a moment, then let out a sigh he heard over the phone. “Theo, there’s an ugly word that policemen use to describe someone who holds another person against their will. You have no more right to do that than we do.”

  His temper rose with her patient answers and he ended the call before he said something he’d regret. Damn… That fireball of his was badly in need of a cropping. Depending on when she’d left and what time she’d gotten up this morning, she was probably past Deer Lodge and halfway to Bozeman, if not further. He resisted the urge to throw his cell across the room and stormed to his truck.

  The silence that greeted him when he walked into the station made him clench his teeth. Nobody could quite meet his gaze and those who did had a self-righteous grin that needed to be smacked off their faces. Did everyone know his bidder had walked out on him?

  Not stopping to talk to anyone, he headed straight to Walt’s office. Acting Fire Chief Blake Anderson sat behind Walt’s desk, unsuccessfully holding back a smirk while the door slammed behind Theo. “I need a few days off. It’s personal.”

  “Nope.” Blake was a well-respected substitute for Walt during his illness, but it took everything in Theo’s power not to deck his buddy.

  “I can’t wait, Blake—”

  “No. I need you here. I’ve already talked to Sophie. Your girl’s hours ahead of you. She’ll be home before you have a chance at catching up to her. Now get out of Walt’s office. Your shift starts in half an hour, and you could use a shower to cool off.”

  “Next week,” he gritted slowly. “I want next week off.”

  * * *

  After cooling his heels for too many days, he drove to Missoula and caught a plane to Chicago. He’d wanted to start looking for Selene when he arrived, but his mother had other ideas. The minute he walked in the door, she started cooking. Though he didn’t want to waste the time, he wasn’t about to miss out on one of her meals. After visiting with his extended family for too many hours, a four-course meal came from the freezer. His mother even took the fork out of his father’s hand to feed Theo, making the older man roll his eyes and give him a commiserating smile.

  “Eat, Theo. You’re still a growing boy and you have all those horrible restaurant meals every time I talk to you. I don’t understand what you see in that place, and I worry you’ll get eaten by a lion!”

  “Mountain lions, Mama,” he corrected with a sigh. “We don’t have lions in the states.” He wisely refrained from mentioning the bears coming into town in the spring to look for food.

  He went to bed in his old childhood room, still wondering why he was in Chicago. He had to apologize to Selene. That was definitely on the agenda, but he could have
sent a letter to her office or called the personal number she’d scribbled on the back of her business card for Sophie.

  The truth was, he wanted to see her. He wanted to give her the night she’d paid for without either of them suffering under his prejudices and preconceptions. Those had been well and truly dashed away under the weight of her accomplishments.

  Not quite sure where Selene was living, and unwilling to give his mother visions of little Greek grandbabies, he started his search at the Alexiou house late the following morning. Her father, Evzen, was thrilled to see him.

  “Theo Papadakis! You’ve come all this way to visit with an old man? Or did my little girl win your heart over there in those mountains?”

  He’d always liked the man and chose his words carefully. “We weren’t able to catch up, sir. She was busy with a meeting. Did she tell you she was there?”

  Evzen laughed. “No, I heard it from my cousin. His son detailed her new car a few days ago. Selene travels for work so often, it’s impossible to keep track of her. Maybe you can stay for dinner? She should be here soon. We have a nice lamb on the grill and you look hungry.” His eyes narrowing into a cagey expression, he said, “She’s a good girl, though. Selene works very hard. Did you see her Camaro? She says she got it from an auction when she was in Montana.”

  “Yes, sir. It’s a nice car.”

  “Sure is a beauty, isn’t it?” Mr. Alexiou’s face grew wistful. “I wanted one of those when I was a kid. I’m a little jealous, but I’m glad to see she’s spending money on something besides that old farm. A young lady should be having fun instead of taking care of two old houses.”