Catcalls and whistles break out around the room before BC Hamilton quiets them down. “The whole family, Decker. I suspect your parents will already be there.” With a quick dismissal to expect the unexpected, we’re all hustling out of the room, getting our gear ready and planning the shift’s meals.
Typically, it’s me, Caleb, or Flint Evans, one of the firemen on my engine, cooking because the rest of them couldn’t make a meal to save their lives.
Growing up in the world of firefighters and protocol, I’ve been ambitious to rise through the ranks and become what my father was.
Fire chief.
When he took over twenty years ago, he rebuilt the department from the ground up, choosing the men he commanded with ruthless precision. While he wanted men dedicated to the job, he didn’t want those only worried about their next promotion.
I still remember the office firings. Numerous threats were made when he canned the then assistant deputy chief, district chief, and assistant district chief. Heads rolled that first year, but afterwards, as the fires died down and the dust settled, everyone saw the advantage to what he’d done. And when he retired a few years ago and backed our present chief, everyone else had as well.
Now, aside from my dedication to the JFD and my ambition to become the next fire chief, Ophelia has taken over my thoughts. There’s not much more I want than her, and that’s saying something.
Ophelia
Staring down at my phone in frustration, I shut the dumb thing off and shove it in my pocket. Baxter has been texting me all morning, attempting to be charming. He must have forgotten that I saw through his mask at the end of our date.
I’ve received four messages from him so far. All of which I’ve left on read with no intention of answering him back.
“You should just block him,” Laken mutters as she chews on one of the mini banana bread loaves I pulled out of the oven fifteen minutes ago.
“Where did you find him?” She still hasn’t answered that question.
“Church.” That surprises me. Trevor, the boring banker, I can understand meeting at church, but not Baxter. He doesn’t seem the type.
“I’m surprised he didn’t ignite the minute he stepped through those doors.” The man is pure evil. Maybe not pure, pure, evil, but something close. He’s inarguably a douchebag.
“God doesn’t see all evil in all men. That’s what husbands are for.” Laken grins as she rubs her belly. Hale is most certainly one of those husbands who sees everything. His obsession with my friend leaned towards some stalker tendencies in the past, which has had me wondering if his brother could be the same way.
I wouldn’t object to it. I know I should. But the idea of a good man being so obsessed with me that he watches everything I do is kind of hot.
“You’re thinking about him,” my friend points out, a huge smile on her face. I shrug and continue pouring the muffin batter into the pan before depositing it in the oven.
“Hey, Ophelia. Hey, Mom.” Jesse stalks in through the front of the shop, dropping his bag in the office on his way to give his mom a hug. “Do you need anything?” The way his hand goes to her bump is the cutest thing. Hale is not the only one under Laken’s spell and obsessed with her.
“I’m good, sweetheart.” Brushing her fingers through his hair, she leans forward to kiss his forehead.
“Got anything for me to do, Ophelia?” He looks back at me while getting Laken a glass of milk.
“If you want to take the garbage out, I’d appreciate it.” Pointing to the two trash bags by the backdoor, he nods his acceptance and gets right to it.
“Thanks for letting him help out. I think he feels helpless when it comes to what he can do for the baby.” Laken’s eyes don’t leave the boy until he’s out the back door.
“You know I love that kid. Of course, he can help out.” His parents are against me paying him, however. Not because he doesn’t deserve it but because they both feel like I’m doing them a favor. The opposite is true.
“Fire!” is yelled from outside, and panic erupts on my friend’s face.
“Go out front; I’ve got him. You call 911.” Rushing through the back door, I find smoke billowing out of the garbage bin’s open lid and Jesse standing just a few feet away but too close for my comfort. “Jesse! Get away from there. Your mom’s out front; go find her.”
He nods and rushes off. I wait until he’s out of sight before acting. Peeking over the top of the giant bin, I see smoke but no flames. Thankfully, an empty parking lot runs behind my building, so I slam the lid shut and shove the heavy metal contraption away from the building.
It’s not just my shop that would be affected if this gets worse, four other places would be in ruins. Hearing sirens as I push the container along, my breathing gets easier. Nothing’s going to happen. The fire department will save the day.
Which, in turn, causes me to think about Torque. Will it be his fire company that responds? I don’t even know which station he works out of.
I see the red coloring of the fire truck just as squealing tires sound, and I realize Hale is here also. There’s no way he wouldn’t show up.
“Philly!” I freeze when I hear that name. Only one person calls me that, and I guess it was his firehouse that was dispatched.
Turning, I watch as Torque barks out orders on his rush over to me. “What the fuck are you doing?” His tone takes me by surprise.
“It’s not that bad.” I glare up at him. Why does he have to be so tall? And handsome? It should be one or the other, not both. It’s cruel on my body. “I didn’t want it to catch the building if it ignited.”
Gripping my elbow, he pulls me away as his men come over with a hose, fire extinguishers, and some tools. “You shouldn’t have touched it. If it exploded, it would have killed you.” His fingers brush up and down my cheek.
Well, when he puts it like that. He’s not so much of an ass anymore. “I’m fine. I just didn’t want to be responsible for anyone’s business going up in flames.”
His eyes narrow as he watches his men work before asking me, “This is your bin?” His head swivels to look back at the building, noticing that we each have our own.
“Well, yeah. Jesse was taking some garbage out for me—he won’t be doing that again—and he raised the alarm. So to speak.” I feel like I’ve lost his attention.
“Fire’s out!” one of the men calls.
Torque nods before addressing them. “Check the others.” Three men start running over to the back of the building while one guy jumps in the trash bin and comes out with what appears to be a bunch of firecrackers tied together.
“Kids?” he asks Torque.
“Need to go talk to Jesse.” He still hasn’t released me, so when he starts walking, I can either move with him or fall on my face. I opt for choice number one. “Yo, Jess!”
In my effort to keep up, my eyes are downcast, but when I gaze up again, my cheeks tinge as hot as that potential fire because a large crowd has gathered.
It’s the height of summer, so of course, everyone is around to witness the commotion. Jesse is currently curled up against Laken’s side while Hale and Dorian interview the lookie-loos.