“It’s nice to meet you too,” I manage to say.
“If you need anything, just come and see me and I’ll sort you out,” the chief says as both men stand up. “Give him a tour, Grace, and then show him the locker room. Your locker and everything you need will be ready.”
Lean ropes of muscle strain against his pants, and as if pulled by an invisible force, my gaze rises to the bulge at the front of his pants. Catching myself, I scramble to my feet and meet his amused gaze. To say that I’m embarrassed is an understatement. I tear my eyes away and lead the way to the door. Jack shuts the door and follows me down the hallway. I slow down and wait for him to catch up.
“You’ll enjoy it here,” I tell him. “Everyone is friendly and welcoming.”
“That’s good to know,” he says, casting a glance at me that makes goosebumps clothe my bare skin.
In the day room, I introduce him to the guys hanging around drinking coffee or reading the papers. Michael, Jason, Ace, and deputy Collins. My closest friend, Isla, walks in as I’m doing the introductions. She winks at me, and I stifle a giggle. The station tour takes us to the kitchen, the fitness room, the training, the bay, the backyard with a basketball court, finally ending in the changing rooms.
“I’ll be in the bay when you’re done,” I tell him.
“Thanks, I appreciate this,” he says, holding my gaze.
I blush as if I’m sixteen years old. “You’re welcome.”
As I head to the kitchen for another coffee, Isla follows me. She comes to my side and grips my arm. “That is one hot guy! Is he married?”
I laugh. “We never got to that part, but I didn’t see any ring.”
“So you did look,” she says. “I don’t blame you. If I were single, I would definitely be interested. I assume the chief has partnered him with you.” Isla has been dating a pediatric doctor for the last year or so, and from the way things are going, I wouldn’t be surprised if he pops the question soon.
“He did.” I don’t want to say too much in case I get disappointed. It’s true there was some serious chemistry between us, but it could end up being meaningless.
We are interrupted by a dispatch call. Silence fills the station as the dispatcher’s voice comes through. There’s a fire in a fried chicken place on Park Street. I pour my coffee in the sink, and as I leave the kitchen, I bump into Jack.
“This is it, I guess,” he says, his voice calm. I’m impressed. I was sure that this was his first time in a fire station.
“You ready to rock and roll?” We put on our protective gear and head to the rig.
There’s no debate over who will drive, plus I love driving. Adrenaline flows through me as I turn the ignition key and start the siren. In minutes, we are driving out of the station, heading to Park Street. There are five of us in the rig and my co-driver, Michael, mans the GPS, picking the shortest routes. I hit the horn a few times when a driver won’t give way. It always happens. Some people are just rude … until the day they are caught up in an emergency.
I’m tense as I navigate through traffic. Accidents are pretty common, and all it takes is a driver on his phone or with music too loud in his car. Thankfully, we get to the fried chicken place without incident, and for the next couple of hours, we get people in the building and adjacent buildings out and then work to put out the fire.
All the while, Jack, the apprentice, is glued to my side, which is perfect as I don’t have to worry about him. I shout instructions to him. He’s a quick learner, and soon, anyone watching him would think he was a seasoned firefighter. I’m glad he’s all covered up, and I don’t have to keep staring at his sexy body.
By the time we’re done, we’re filthy and tired but exhilarated. We haven’t lost any lives, and although there are a few injuries, none are serious.
Lucas drives on the way back to the station, and I sit at the back with Jack.
“You were great out there,” he says, his voice filled with awe.
“So were you,” I tell him. “Is it your first time doing this?”
“Yes,” he says. “It’s just a taster of what it’s like to be a firefighter.”
The other guys hear our conversation, and they weigh in with questions of their own. Not that Jack offers a lot of information, but I figure he’s in the army and wants to change careers. It’s not uncommon for them to request a short stint at the fire station to see if the job will be a good fit. It makes sense as well because whatever job Jack does, he works out a lot.