817 Fireman Ln. (Cherry Falls)

Her lip lifts in a smirk. “What? You want to hear about my daddy issues?”

I shake my head and try to explain. “I didn’t mean that when I said it. I really am sorry.”

She laughs, and it’s then I realize she’s just messing with me. “It’s all right. I forgive you. I come from a long line of firefighters. My grandfather, father, and both brothers are firemen. I followed in their footsteps, and my dad’s not happy about it. He’s the fire chief in Syn City and he hired me—reluctantly. He sort of didn’t have a choice when I was the top of my class. It was a rough first year. I fully expected to have to prove myself, and I did.” She sighs. “Over and over I proved myself. Anyway, there was a fire at a high-rise, and there was a close call. I was fine, but my dad put me on desk duty after that.”

She stops as if she’s lost in thought.

“And so you found your way to Cherry Falls?” I ask.

She nods. “It’s definitely a slower pace, but I always loved visiting here. I could have gone to another station in the city, but when I found out Chief Malone was hiring, I had to apply.”

I lean forward, wanting her to keep talking. I could sit here and listen to her all day. “So tell me about the close call.”

She shrugs as if it was nothing. “I did what any other firefighter would have done. I saved a boy that was stuck in the high-rise. We couldn’t get out on the east side of the building, and I had to take him to the west side. I did what I had to do to get us both out alive.”

I gasp. “It was you. You took him through the vents to get to the other side.”

She takes a deep breath and tells me defensively, “Yeah, that was me. I know it wasn’t the best decision, and it could have turned out really badly, but at the time, it was all we had.”

“It was the right call. Everything I’ve read about that fire, it was the right call.”

She smiles, and a look of relief hits her face. Fuck, I love that smile. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure you’ve already won over all the guys.”

“So now all I have to do is win you over?” she asks and looks away.

6

Ava

I look away because I’m afraid of what I’m going to see. He moves from the couch and sits down on the coffee table in front of me. “Look at me.”

I lift my eyes and look at him. We’re so close, it wouldn’t be hard at all to reach out and touch him. I’m itching to... but I don’t.

“I feel like I need to be honest with you.”

I hold my breath and wait for him to continue. It doesn’t sound good so far, and I prepare myself for the worst. “This is hard for me. I like you, and I want to get to know you.”

I let out my breath. Well, that wasn’t so bad. “I like you too.”

He nods and reaches for my hand. “I just don’t know how it will work if we’re working together.”

I try to pull my hand away, but he doesn’t let me. “I’m protective by nature. That’s just who I am. I literally can’t imagine walking into a burning building with you and not worry about your safety.”

He looks so conflicted, and I shake my head. “I’m sure you feel that with all your coworkers. I do. I want them all to come out alive.”

His hand tightens on mine, and he brings it up to his lips and kisses it. “It’s different with you, Ava. I’ve not felt like this toward another person in three years, and I don’t want you to be in harm’s way.”

He’s waiting for me to respond, and I don’t know what to say. I’ve experienced almost the same thing with my brothers and my father, and I don’t want to go through this with Kent. My thoughts are clashing in my head, and I’m not sure what I should say or be feeling right now, but I do know that I’m not going to be held back. Being a firefighter is my dream, and I’m not going to give it up for anyone.

“I understand what you’re saying. I do. And everything that you’ve gone through, I understand why you feel the way you feel. But I’ve been through this... where my brothers and my father didn’t believe in my capabilities. I can’t do it again. I won’t do it.”

I stand up, ready to walk him to the door, and he follows behind me. His arm goes around my waist and he pulls me in. I should pull away and kick him out, I know I should. But it feels so good to be in his arms. My hands are on his chest, and instead of pushing him away, it’s like I’m pulling him in.