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He was quiet for several beats. “I have to go!” I announced. “Have a great day!” I sounded like an overeager store greeter.
“You too,” he said, dipping his chin, his voice a little raspy.
I hurried away, all but running up the stairs to the second floor where my office was inside the executive suite. A moment later, I was in the bathroom, breathing rapidly with my back against the door. This was beyond ridiculous. I didn’t need Griffin Cannon to get me all hot and bothered like this.
I didn’t even have to go to the bathroom, but I did need to cool off. I rinsed my hands under cold water and dabbed my face with a damp paper towel.
“What the hell is wrong with me?” I muttered to myself before I smoothed a few loose strands of hair back, tucking them into my ponytail where it rested high atop my head.
A few minutes later, I was busy checking my email, the heat generated in my system by the mere presence of Griffin finally dissipating. A few boring emails from HR would do that to a person.
Chapter Seven
Griffin
As I walked out of the building, my gaze arced over the sign for Fireweed Industries, recently updated by Haven. Among other things, she was a graphic artist. She’d updated the logos for all of our various projects. I loved how she’d woven small fireweed flowers in every design.
My thoughts skipped back to my conversation with my twin brother the other day. Wyatt was busy trying to get me to join him at the brewery, or to do anything for our family’s business. Yet, he understood better than anyone that I enjoyed firefighting. It suited me. I knew the score. I couldn’t do it forever. Wildland firefighting was an intensely physically demanding job, so at some point, I’d need to change course. I’d deal with that when it was time.
A salty breeze gusted off the harbor as I continued walking down the street to the fire and rescue station. I planned to take care of some admin stuff, meet a few of my fellow firefighters, and so on. I shouldered through the door, walking through the main entrance. The woman at the desk was on the phone. She glanced up and held a finger up when I stopped on the other side.
I nodded and spun around, casually looking around the room. The fire station I had volunteered at in high school had been updated significantly. It was easily twice the size now. What had previously been a tiny desk in the reception area was now a large circular desk. The space had huge windows that offered a view of Main Street and beyond to the harbor.
“Okay, all set,” the woman said.
Turning back, I smiled at her. “Hey there, I’m Griffin Cannon. I’ve stopped by, but I don’t think I’ve met you yet.”
“I don’t think so either. I’m Sassy.” She stood and held her hand out, and I reached across her desk to shake it. “I heard you were coming. I’m supposed to set you up with a bunch of HR paperwork. Give me a sec.” She released my hand and spun around, running her fingers along a row of files in a cascading stand. “Here you go.”
“Are you HR here?” I asked as I accepted the file folder from her.
“Oh, my gosh, no. That’s the Juneau people. We’re busy here, but we don’t have anyone from HR. I’m just the messenger.” At my nod, she continued, “I understand you used to volunteer here in high school. I would’ve been in middle school at the time.” She gave a saucy shrug. “It’s nice to officially meet you, and you can call me Sass or Sassy.”
I chuckled. “Nice to meet you, Sassy.”
“Of course, I know who you are because your family is like, you know, a big deal here. I’m just a nobody from Fireweed Harbor. My parents moved here when I was in middle school, so I don’t even know if I count as a local yet.”
“I’m sure you do,” I assured her.
She flashed a smile, her cheeks dimpling. “Well, anyway, just fill that paperwork out. You’re welcome to sit here in the waiting area, or you can go in the back. Actually, wait, you have an office. Oh, my gosh!” She spun in a circle, looking around.
A moment later, she thrust some keys at me. “It locks?” I asked.
“Well, I don’t think anybody keeps it locked, but it’s an option.” Sassy gestured for me to follow her.
Bemused, I followed her down the hallway. As I walked behind her, I took in her appearance. She had wild blond curls pulled up into a ponytail. She wore bright blue glasses that framed her big blue eyes. She had a sparkle to her. And yet, for me, it was purely objective, like looking at a pretty sunset. The contrast to my encounter with Tish moments earlier was stark. With Tish, the moment I was in her presence, it was as if there was a wire on the ground between us, shooting up sparks.
Sassy led me through another doorway into a back hallway. She gestured to a few offices before we came to the back area, which had also been expanded considerably. What used to be a small break area with a few workout machines now had a kitchen with a big table, a workout room behind a glass wall to one side, and a luxurious hang-out space with two large sectional sofas and a massive flat-screen TV mounted on the wall.
“If you need to sleep here, go for it. That has a pull-out couch,” she explained.
I chuckled as I glanced over. “Good to know. Seeing as I’m on the hotshot crew, I won’t sleep here too often.”
Sassy grinned. “Let me show you your office.”
There were a few guys working out. I waved when I saw Jack Hamilton, my brother-in-law, glance up from where he was currently moving at a punishing pace on the treadmill. I recognized Hudson Fox as well. He was in the midst of lifting weights and dipped his chin in acknowledgment. He was on the hotshot crew, along with Jack.
Sassy stopped in front of an open door. “Here you go. You and Hudson share this office. I guess it’s where you meet for… I don’t know, stuff.” She pointed to another hallway to the side. “That takes you over to the police side of the building. I handle reception and dispatch for everybody though. It’s very exciting.”
