817 Fireman Ln. (Cherry Falls)

Fuck me. I drop the helmets in my hand and step over them to get in front of the guy that’s asking about my woman. “Who the fuck are you?” I practically growl at him.

I’m normally a nice guy. I keep to myself, but I’m not a dick. But this thing with Ava has me completely on edge. I’ve never felt so territorial in my life. I’m putting a damn ring on her finger the first chance I get.

The guy holds his hands up in front of him. “Damn, dude. What’s your problem? I’m Bailey. I’m Ava’s brother.”

My whole chest deflates, and my hands uncurl at my sides. “Brother?”

He nods as Porter comes to stand between us. He’s shorter than both of us and looks ridiculous as he tries to edge the two of us apart. “Okay, okay. Way too much testosterone in the building today. So I’m Porter. This protective asshole is Kent. And Ava’s not here.”

I’m already pulling out my phone, and I hold it up to Bailey’s face. I take his picture and send it to Ava. This your brother?

The reply is immediate. Yes. Is he at the station?

Yes. Do you want me to send him to you or run him off? I type back to her.

Kent! Send him to my house the next text says and then another one pops up. But thank you for looking out for me.

I reply one word. Always.

I pocket my phone and look at her brother. It’s obvious now that he is related to her. They do have the same coloring and features. “Ava is at her house. She’s expecting you.”

Bailey is still taken aback, no doubt by my Neanderthal welcome. I’m definitely not making a good impression with him. “Do you have the address?”

“Sure, I’ll write it down for you. So you in town visiting?”

I walk over to the counter and start writing the address down while Bailey stays rooted to the spot. “Yeah, I wanted to check on her. Make sure she was okay and hopefully talk some sense into her.”

I grip the pencil in my palm even tighter and finish the address before turning to him. “Sense into her?”

He nods. “Yeah. We need her back in the city.”

I shake my head. “Why? So you can put her at a desk? I don’t think she’s going to go for that.”

He takes the paper from my hand. “I guess you know her story?”

Porter butts in. “Yeah, he and Ava are dating.”

I glare at Porter, and he finally gets the hint and walks away mumbling something about me being rude.

Bailey looks me in the face. “So you’re dating my sister?”

I nod. “I am, and I know her well enough to know she’s not going to be happy working a desk while the rest of your crew is out fighting fires. She’s a hell of a firefighter, and frankly, her being at a desk would be a waste.”

Bailey crosses his arms over his chest. “Are you done?”

I force myself to relax. I’m not going to win over Ava if I knock her brother out. I grit my teeth together. “Yeah, I’m done.”

He nods. “Well, first of all, it’s good that Ava has someone looking out for her.”

I shake my head. That’s the last thing I want to do. I don’t want her brother to think she’s weak. “She doesn’t need it. She’s proven she can take care of herself.”

He puts his hands in his pockets and rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet. “You’re right. She has. And I’ve finally convinced our father of that too. I’m here to ask her to come back to the city. The station needs her. My father and brother and I need her.”

My heart starts to race, my palms get sweaty, and I grip on to the counter next to me to stop myself from going down. The man smirks at me and holds up the piece of paper with his sister’s address on it. “Thank you for this.”

He turns and walks away, and all I can do is watch him and wonder if my heart is actually going to explode out of my chest or not. If Ava leaves me, I have no doubt it will.

Ava

I hear Bailey’s car pull into the driveway, and I open my front door. He barely reaches the steps, and I ask him, “What are you doing here?”

He opens his arms up wide. “Really? Is that how you say hi to your brother?”

I want to be mad at him. I really do. But I love my brother. I love all my family, and I miss them more than anything. I walk toward him and let him wrap his arms around me.

He has his chin resting on the top of my head. “So I met your oafish boyfriend.”

I pull back and smack him on the shoulder. “Kent is not oafish.”