AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ve been around firefighters all my life. My dad took me with him to the firehouse a lot. Guess it grew on me.”
“I think there’s more. You’re good at your job. I’ve seen you in action, remember?”
“Can’t deny that. I like helping people, putting out fires.” His eyes bore into hers. “It’s what I do.”
She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to make of his expression. Okay, change of subject. The question of his mom nagged at the back of her mind. She bit her tongue. What could be so bad? She took a plunge.
“What about your mom?”
A cloud covered Mike’s face making Cassie wish she’d kept her mouth shut. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a painful memory.”
“I don’t usually talk about her because she walked out.”
Way to go, Cass. Here was a wound that obviously had not healed.
“What about your family? Are you from around here?” He smoothly steered the subject to her.
“Born and raised in Staunton. My parents are from Highland County. Both grew up on farms. Moved to the big city when they got married. I have one sister, thank God. If I had another one like her I would not have made it to adulthood.”
“That bad?”
“You have no idea.” Discussing her sister would put her in a bad mood. She had no desire to waste time chatting about Jennifer. “Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“None. I’m it. Just me and my dad since I was little.”
“He never remarried?”
“Nope.” Mike flipped the check over, glancing at the amount. Cassie took his short answer as meaning end of discussion.
“You ready?”
“Are you kidding? I can’t wait to get back in your muscle car.”
***
Mike had hoped to spend the evening with Cassie, but she received a phone call from her sister and it upset her. She didn’t want to talk about it and suddenly the pleasant harmony of the afternoon changed to a dark cloud hanging over their day. Listening to her end of the conversation, he gathered the sister had called Cassie to come pick up their mother. That wasn’t the part she’d been upset about. The sister was supposed to take care of her mom and changed her mind. She wanted to go out and told Cassie she had to come get their mother. There was more to it, but he could tell she didn’t want to argue over the phone. That put an end to their evening.
It wasn’t all bad. He had one hell of a goodbye kiss. If she hadn’t been in a hurry, he might have had more. Their quick, passionate embrace gave him something to look forward to.
His phone beeped. He didn’t text when he drove, but being a firefighter, he kept up with alerts in case he was needed at the station.
Jared.
He called the station. Jared answered on the first ring.
“What’s up?”
“Hey, man. Shep is calling the team in for a special meeting.”
“Why?”
“Don’t know. Hooley’s here. They had a powwow and Shep told me to get you guys in here.”
“Be there in ten.”
Mike took the next right and headed to Station Eight.
Ten minutes later, he strode into the firehouse and found Jared reclined on one of the sofas with his boots propped on a low table. Laredo and a new volunteer were trying to kill each other on the big TV screen via video game. Two teenagers, regular hangouts who had dreams of becoming firefighters, urged the players on with shouts of instructions and cheers. When Jared saw Mike, he dropped his feet to the floor and stood.
