“Focus on what’s important, Sheriff,” she said, neatly dodging his second question, and fair enough. By her standards, yes, he was. “We can’t keep using the local laundromat to clean our gear, because then it’s not always on site and mission ready. It can sometimes be a few days before we get it back.”
He hadn’t thought about that. She was right. It was a situation he couldn’t allow to continue. They absolutely needed their PPE to be ready to go at all times.
“All you had to do was ask for them, you know,” he said. “I’d have prioritized them higher.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’m not used to managing an unlimited budget.”Unlike some people, her neutral tone implied—and they were right back to square one, with him getting the sense that he’d done or said something wrong.
Maybe he was reading criticism where none was implied. References to money, no matter how slight, always made him defensive. Too many of Grand’s citizens, most of whom had known him his whole life, had felt the need to point out how it changed a person, and yet Dan didn’t feel any different. He didn’t throw it around as if it grew on trees, either.
He did agree with Jazz, however, that working with very few financial constraints took getting used to, which was why he was more than happy to let Ryan deal with the headache it caused. “I wouldn’t say it’s unlimited, exactly. Expenses that are above and beyond still have to make sense.”
“You mean like the new ladies’ washroom, complete with a shower and bathtub, when there’s only one woman working here?” Her voice was gently teasing, but this time there was no mistaking the hint of reproof in her blue eyes.
He shrugged. She might be used to roughing it when she was firefighting, but she had an office job now and there was no reason for her to be roughing it every day. He knew the way guys talked in locker rooms. He wouldn’t want one of his sisters working under those conditions.
“I believe in planning ahead. Next year, yours might be an all-woman team.”
“In which case a men’s room would have worked just as well. The ladies’ room is nice, don’t get me wrong, but the expense could have been better spent on installing the men’s room first. The guys have been using the ladies’ room so they don’t have to shower outside anymore, anyway.”
He scrubbed his brow with his thumb. He was developing a real hate for money. Who knew spending it—or not—could be such a big deal? “Most people would just say thank you and let it go.”
Jazz’s cheeks colored. “Thank you.”
The way she blushed was the one anomaly about her he couldn’t quite figure out. It didn’t fit.
“Do you miss smoke jumping?” he asked, even though he already knew that she did. He hoped the off-topic question might catch her off guard enough that he’d get a genuine response.
She shot him a lopsided smile. “Every time the alarm rings.”
“Then why give it up?”
“Because as a woman, my shelf life as a smokejumper is only about industry average. I’d rather give it up on my own terms than be forced out by a bad back or damaged knees, or worse, patriarchy. At least as a base manager I can still take part in operations. Besides, I have my job in Helena to return to at the end of every season, so I haven’t given up firefighting entirely, and I can always go skydiving on my days off.”
She had a practical outlook, which he admired, but her sense of self-preservation?
Holy crap.
His neck and shoulder muscles cramped up again. It was past time for him to leave.
“Pick out the washer and dryer you want and send me the information,” he said, testing his legs to make sure they’d hold him before prying his butt off the stool. “I’ll need it to figure out the hookup requirements.”
*
Even though Danhad already installed the new washer and dryer, a deal was a deal and he’d upheld his end of the bargain.
By the time Jazz arrived at the Endeavour Ranch for the open house, the yard was packed with vehicles and the house was bursting with people. A large crowd had gathered on the lawn at the side of the house closest to her, its attention focused on something she couldn’t see. A steady buzz of voices drifted across the yard.
Heads turned to stare as she squeezed her motorcycle into a tiny space next to the garage. She’d already figured out she was the only woman in Grand who owned a bike—or at least, one of very few—and while she didn’t think her panties were showing, by the looks on some people’s faces, she couldn’t be sure.
She took another quick chance on exposing them as she dismounted, then smoothed the short skirt of her dress to make sure it hadn’t hiked up in back. She rarely got to dress like a girl during the summer smoke jumping months, so, since the ranch wasn’t far from the base, she’d abandoned her usual leather bike gear and helmet and dug out the one sundress she owned. She’d put on makeup and painted her toenails too, although sadly, she’d only packed flip-flops, not pretty sandals. She could only carry so much in her saddlebags.
She’d had to come alone because it turned out she was the only one at the base who worried about keeping a deal with the boss. One team member wanted to FaceTime with his wife and daughters. Three others remained on call and were packing equipment. One had simply refused.“He provides the facilities, Jazz. I don’t care what he thinks. My job doesn’t depend on him. If this base closed, I’d be moved to a different one. Besides, I already get free food and I’m allergic to horses.”
As a base manager, with more competition for her position, Jazz’s employment options were no longer as secure as a jumper’s, so when it came to workplace politics, she told herself she should play along. Dan’s friendly blue eyes, and the warm smile that made her lose track of time, not to mention the way he paid attention to her when she spoke as if he really cared about her opinions, had nothing to do with her being here.
Nothing at all.
She’d make a quick stop, find him and say hello as proof she’d held up her end of the bargain, then be on her way.