by Ashlyn Chase
A few moments later, she had an oxygen mask over the guy, who had apparently fallen inside. She applied a C-spine to stabilize him. Fortunately he hadn’t lost consciousness and didn’t seem to have any broken bones. Suddenly Haggarty appeared with a woman in his arms. “Do you think you could grab another stretcher—you know, when it’s convenient?” he sneered.
Chloe did her best to ignore the sarcasm and made her duty to the injured her priority.
“So, do we take these two to the hospital?” she asked Haggarty.
He rolled his eyes but never answered her.
As soon as she was sure the second victim was secured, she rushed back to the lieutenant. “Should we take these patients right away or see if there are more serious injuries, sir?”
He glanced at Haggarty and frowned, then gave her a brief smile. “If the two patients you have are stable, hang back a bit to be sure there’s nothing more serious. Ambulance 2 is on the way. When they get here, you can take off.”
She nodded once. “Yes, sir.”
“Keep up the good work, Arish,” the lieutenant said.
She assessed and treated another four individuals, all of whom were walking and talking; meanwhile, her coworkers fought the flames with everything they had.
She knew she could do more. She wanted to be inside the structure with her superior senses and fireproof scales. This club encompassed the basement and ground floor only, and the fire was quickly contained.
Okay, Chloe. So you weren’t needed inside this time. But there will come a day…
She glanced behind her to see if Haggarty needed anything. He stood by the ambulance with his arms crossed.
Scowling, he barked out, “Anytime you’re ready, Arish…” As if she’d been waiting for her nails to dry.
“Feckin’ arsehole,” she muttered under her breath. As soon as they loaded the stretchers into the ambulance she said, “I assume you want to drive,” and swung up into the open back.
“Ordinarily I would. But you should probably do it to get some experience finding the Brookline Avenue hospitals.”
Who the hell couldn’t find the Brookline Avenue hospitals? Might they be on, oh, say, Brookline Avenue? Chloe doubted he wanted her to get experience as much as he wanted to show her who was boss. He seemed to tell her to do the opposite of whatever she was planning to do at any juncture—probably for no other reason than to create doubt in her own assessments and decisions.
Well, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She was a good EMT and firefighter. If Haggarty wanted to, he could turn her into a great one. It seemed as if he wanted her to fail instead…but why?
At least Ryan had a reason for hating her back when they were locked in competition. One job. Two candidates.
His family pride had added pressure to his need to succeed. Even his fear of being “bested by a girl” was less of an issue once he understood that the welfare of the public took precedence over everything else. Eventually, whatever competition that remained had become friendly.
Was Haggarty coming from the same place? If so, would he eventually get over himself? They weren’t in competition for the same job. He clearly had seniority, and if he wanted the second ambulance position, making her look bad wouldn’t do a damn thing.
Clearly he had issues, and she might never learn what they were. Maybe even he didn’t know.
* * *
Ryan had made a complete sweep of the station—twice. Where the hell was Chloe? The way she’d stormed off after they returned from the nightclub fire had him worried. He gave her a few minutes to calm down before going to her room, but the door was open and she wasn’t there.
Where could she be hiding and why? He thought she lived for that sort of excitement. His own inner adrenaline junkie was still riding high. But that high was rapidly fading the more he became concerned over Chloe.
“Has anyone seen Arish?” he asked the others gathered in the kitchen.
He saw a few grins and heard a snicker or two.
“Oh no. What did you guys do?”
Haggarty sipped his coffee. “Nothing. Just sent her off to do the rest of her job.”
By now some of the guys were laughing out loud.
“C’mon, guys. Where is she?”
One of the quiet ones, Henry was his name, finally answered him. “Check the basement. She’s doing everyone’s laundry.”
“What?” Had Chloe lost a bet? Or had they duped her? Oh shit. If they made her think she had to do the laundry because she’s a woman, there’ll be hell to pay.
He jogged down the two flights of stairs to the basement laundry and found her angrily cramming clothes into one of the heavy-duty washing machines.
Ryan approached with caution. “What are you doing, princess?” he asked, trying to seem casual.
“What the feck do you think I’m doin’?” She slammed the door shut and added the soap to the washing machine.
“It looks like you’re handling more than your share. We’re all responsible for washing our own stuff, you know.”
She swiveled her head toward him. “Each time?”
Uh oh. She had been duped.
“Yeah. Why? What did you think?”
“Me partner—I mean, my partner, that asshole Haggarty, said we took turns doin’ everyone’s laundry after a fire. Bein’ I was a probie, he said it was my turn.”
“God dammit,” Ryan muttered under his breath.
Apparently Chloe had figured out she was being hazed again, but this time she wasn’t laughing. Her eyes flashed with something that looked like fire.
She strode toward the stairs.
“No, Chloe. Don’t give them the satisfaction…”
She ignored him and began stomping up the steps.
“Whoa.” He raced up after her and before she reached the door, he whisked her off her feet and into his arms. “I’ll help you. Just don’t go up there. Please.”
“Why the feck not?”
“Because I’m afraid you’re homicidal right now.”
That got her to burst out laughing. “I just want to give them a piece of my mind. I wouldn’t kill anyone.”
He turned and carried her back down the stairs. “I don’t know… They were laughing pretty hard when they told me where you were. Listen…let’s just finish our own and leave theirs in a big wet pile on the floor.”
She grinned. “I like that idea.”
And he liked the idea of helping her. Maybe it was that protective streak coming out again, but it wasn’t without a benefit to him too. He got to be alone with her for a while.
Ryan grabbed her hand and pulled her into the empty space under the stairs. Before she had a chance to ask what he was doing, he captured her mouth, fully intending to kiss her until her toes curled.
She returned the heat of his kiss with her own. Jesus.
He didn’t know how long they made out under the stairs, but he felt they’d better cool it before she had to go upstairs with swollen lips and stubble burn. He reluctantly pulled away.
“Ah…that was an unexpected benefit of doing the laundry,” she said.
Fortunately, the wash cycle finished and they yanked out their own clothes, putting them in the large capacity dryer. Then they piled the rest of it in a heap on the floor off to the side. Soon a lake surrounded the pile. To his surprise, she filled the washer with the next load.
Was she over it so quickly? He was glad to see she had calmed down. Her accent was all but unnoticeable, but he was surprised by how much he missed it. The capacity for that kind of forgiveness was impressive. Ryan gazed at her and smiled.
She shrugged. “They said to do the washing. Not a word was said about the drying.”
He laughed. “That’s the Chloe I know and lo—”
Shock rippled through him. Was I about to say I loved her
? Crap. She’d probably laugh in his face—or worse. Avoid him at every turn.
Fortunately, she acted as if she had no idea what he was about to say. She leaned against the dryer. “Why aren’t you upstairs laughing with the rest of them?”
“It didn’t seem right. I was afraid they’d said something about your having to do the laundry just because you’re a woman, or something along those lines.”
She laughed. “No. If those words had been spoken, you’d have seen a bunch of bloody noses. They said after a fire it got so crowded down here, and there was such a long wait for the washer or dryer by doing it individually, that they’d just changed the policy amongst themselves and now took turns doing the whole thing. It made enough sense for me to believe it.”
“I should have known you wouldn’t fall for it any other way.”
She strolled across the room to get more soap out of the supply closet. “I could fall for you,” she whispered to herself.
Holy shit. If he hadn’t been paranormal with superior senses, he’d never have heard her…or believed she could ever utter those words.
Chapter 8
The next day, Lieutenant Streeter called Chloe into one of the private offices.
This had better not be about leaving the laundry damp. She couldn’t imagine the guys tattling on her, especially because it was the result of their hazing, but she wouldn’t put it past Haggarty to find a way. She was rapidly tiring of her so-called partner.
“I’ll get right to the point, Arish,” he said as they sat opposite each other. “Two of our guys have been on light duty, healing from minor injuries. Nagle is ready to return to the field. His previous assignment was on Ambulance 1, and he’ll be returning to that position. That will move you down a rung and place you in the front lines. Do you have any problem with that?”
Front lines? And away from Haggarty? Hallelujah! “No, sir. No problem at all. In fact, I welcome the challenge.”
“Good. That’s what I like to hear. So…how’s it been for you here?”
Ugh. “Well, there’s not much I can tell you that you don’t already know.” And not much I can divulge without getting the others in trouble and being labeled a tattletale.
He rocked back on the chair legs and looked at her askance. “I’m here 24–7, just like you are, but I can’t get inside your head. Do you like the job?”
“Oh! I love it. And as soon as I feel like I’m contributing fully, I’ll probably love it even more.”
His eyebrows raised. “That’s good. I kind of thought the guys might take it easy on you, but I know they haven’t.”
Oh. Is that what Haggarty was doing? Not taking it easy on me? “No, sir. But I didn’t want to be treated any differently from other new firefighters.”
He smiled and rose. “Good attitude, Arish. I thought I noticed you scowling from time to time and wondered if you were okay.”
“I’m A-one.” She smiled back.
He scratched his head. “That’s a steak sauce…”
She felt her face heat. She must have butchered another American expression. “A-OK?”
“That’s the one.” The lieutenant opened the door for her to leave and followed her to the kitchen, then asked Ryan to come to his office. Chloe wondered what he was being called in for. She wanted to wait for him, but Haggarty was camped out next to the stove, watching Nagle make stew.
“Hey, Arish. This should make you homesick. Nagle’s making Mulligan stew.”
“As long as that’s the only kind of sick it makes me, I’ll be fine,” she quipped. The other guys around the table laughed.
“Good one, Arish,” Nagle said. “But insulting my cooking isn’t something I want to hear again…especially from a probie.”
“Usually anyone who has a problem with Nagle’s cooking gets to make the next meal,” Haggarty said. Then a grin that could only be called evil crossed his face.
Feckers. What’s he “cooking up” now?
She noticed the bowls stacked beside the stove. If there was spit in the top bowl and they insisted it was “ladies first,” she’d have none of it. I ought to check that top bowl.
She wandered over, appearing to take a look at the stew, but glanced in the top bowl as she passed. It appeared clean. If there was something funky in the brew, they were all getting it.
“It smells delicious,” she said.
Nagle smiled at her. “Thanks. I hope it’s just as good as what your mother used to make.”
Chloe laughed. “Mother never made…” She broke off quickly, remembering they couldn’t and shouldn’t know that her mother was an Irish dragon queen and had cooks for that. She returned to her seat at the long table.
Nagle cocked his head. “Your mother never made Mulligan stew?”
“I—uh. I don’t remember. We lost our parents at an early age. Me brother raised us.”
The kitchen fell silent. A couple of the guys shot disapproving looks at Haggarty.
Under his breath, Haggarty muttered to Nagle, “Oh, boo hoo. A lot of people were raised by strangers. At least she had some family.”
She suddenly wondered what his story was.
* * *
Ryan returned to the kitchen, looking dejected. He slumped into a vacant chair at the head of the table.
“That’s the lieutenant’s spot,” Haggarty was quick to point out.
“Of course it is,” he muttered. Then he rose and took the open seat across the table from Chloe. At least the view is better down here.
“Bad news?” she asked.
“Not yet.”
Haggarty said, “He’s probably being transferred to another firehouse now that we’re at full capacity again.”
Nagle looked his way. “Sorry about my rotator cuff healing.” Then he smirked. “Sorry. Not sorry.”
“I get why you think that. Low man on the totem pole and everything, but no. You’re stuck with me.” Then he focused on Chloe. “Does that mean you’re off Ambulance 1?”
“Yeah.” She seemed to be suppressing a smile. “I’ll be fightin’ fires with the rest of you.”
Some of the guys glanced at each other but didn’t comment.
“We’re lucky, guys,” Ryan said. “I didn’t think this girl could make it through training. A lot of us didn’t, but she proved everyone wrong. She’s strong and fast. She’ll be an asset.”
They nodded. He couldn’t tell if they were really agreeing or just shutting him up. It didn’t matter. She’d prove herself.
Haggarty shrugged. “Not to mention, she’s little. I’ll bet she can get into tight spots.” He glanced around at the others and some of them grinned, as if there was an inside joke.
Finally, the stew was ready and Nagle took the first bowl for himself. Haggarty took the second bowl, and the rest lined up to grab whatever random bowl was next in the pile. Chloe got into the middle of the line and Ryan, not having much of an appetite after the news, took the last bowl.
When everyone was seated, Nagle said, “What are you waiting for? Dig in.”
Ryan scooped up a spoonful and identified most of the ingredients. Carrots, potatoes, onions, meat… Why was Chloe waiting?
The guys began eating, but everyone’s eyes were on Chloe. Ryan couldn’t imagine what was going on until he had his first bite…and it bit back! Hot sauce. The ingredient many people in this part of the world didn’t tolerate well. Of course, Phoenixes were fire birds and loved the stuff. Ryan would add it to everything if he could.
Chloe took a bite and her eyebrows raised. To her credit, she didn’t spit it out or make a face. She smiled!
“This is delicious,” she said. She took several more bites, then looked around the table at the surprised expressions. “What? It’s not what I’m used to, but Mulligan stew can be made with anything you have left over. Usually it’s kind of bland. This is
much better. Thanks, Nagle.”
The guys just went back to gingerly sipping their portions.
Haggarty received a few pointed stares. Apparently he had something to do with the extra “flavor.”
When Ryan and Chloe had finished their bowls with lip-smacking compliments and tummy rubs, some of the guys got up and poured what was left of their stew in the garbage.
“Let’s order a pizza,” one of them suggested.
“Yeah. Haggarty’s paying,” Nagle added.
Several grumpy firefighters exited the kitchen. Haggarty pointed to the rookies and said, “You two have KP duty.”
Chloe looked to Ryan. “Can you translate?”
“We get to do the dishes,” he explained.
“Ah. Of course. Whoever cooks doesn’t have to clean. That was the rule in my house too. I did a lot of dishes. Do you want to wash or dry?”
“Since there’s a dishwasher, how about if you scrape, then I’ll rinse and load it?”
She rolled her eyes. “I forgot about the dishwasher. There’s not enough work for two of us, then. How about if I just do it all?”
“Nope. I won’t hear of it.”
She shrugged. “Sure’n I don’t mind the help, but…”
He stood so close to her she stopped talking. He wanted to kiss her, but not in a public area where anyone could walk in.
She backed up a step. “Okay then. Let’s get this chore out of the way and see if there’s any pizza left.”
He didn’t want pizza, but he’d sure like to have her for dessert.
A moment later Haggarty walked back in. He stopped suddenly and eyed the other two.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Ryan took a step back. “Not at all.”
A sly smile tugged Haggarty’s lips. “I know the stove was on a while ago, but I could swear the heat in here suddenly spiked.”
Chloe turned her back to him and began scraping and rinsing the bowls.
Ryan took his cue from her and tried ignoring the jerk who was implying…what? That there was intense sexual chemistry between them? He’d better squash that quick. He no longer wanted Chloe transferred, but he didn’t want to leave either. She needed him here.
