Mike: The Firefighters of Station #8

Chapter 20

Mike lay panting, Cassie’s heart pounding crazily against his. She’d kill him if they kept this pace. She still hadn’t told him what had happened to make her call, but he wasn’t going anywhere until she did.

“Coffee or shower?” If she chose shower, they’d be at it again—which would suit him just fine.

“Definitely coffee. I suppose I owe you an explanation.”

Seeing her vulnerability made his heart sting. “You don’t owe me anything. But I’d like to know what happened. You were damn near frantic.”

She chewed on her bottom lip.

“Why don’t I make coffee?” he said, taking pity on her. “Then we can talk.”

Relief flashed in her eyes, he gave her a kiss on her forehead.

He threw the covers back and looked for his pants. Realizing they were in the living room, he stood, uncaring of his nudity, and strode down the hall.

Until she told him what bothered her, he was at a loss. Last night had alarmed him. He’d thought she’d been hurt. When she’d said I need you, everything had gone out of his head but the desire to rush to her side.

Now that it was morning, would she change her mind? What if she no longer needed him? What if she’d just wanted to use him for sex, to get over her distress? Her hesitation this morning made him nervous. She couldn’t just push him away—use him and then send him out the door without an explanation. He wouldn’t allow it.

Besides, the anguish he’d seen on her face last night had nearly brought him to his knees. He wanted to crush the person who’d put it there.

He stepped into his jeans and pulled on his shirt, leaving it hanging open, then started the coffee. He stood staring at the dripping brew, listening to the hissing sound. He poured two cups of coffee and added milk to hers when the hair tingled on the back of his neck. Cassie had slipped into the kitchen. He turned and handed a mug to her.

“Thank you.”

She wore a T-shirt that fell to her knees and had her hair tucked behind one ear. The urge to press his lips to her neck surged in his gut. But he and Cassie needed to talk.

“Feeling better?” he asked after she’d taken a sip.

“You always make me feel better, Mike.” She turned and padded to the living room. She took a seat on the sofa and he sat beside her.

“Cassie, whatever it is, just say it.”

Her gaze jerked to his. “It’s nothing bad. I mean, it’s nothing to do with you and me.”

He released the breath that had been squeezing his lungs and lifted her hand, lacing his fingers with hers. The connection solid, grounding him. Linking her to him.

“You can tell me anything.”

She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. He had little patience when kept in the dark. The only way to take charge of a situation was head on. If she would just tell him, he could deal with it. Now he really started to worry.

“Would it be better if I held you?”

Again, her head jerked to him, her eyes filled with indecision.

“Come here.” He pulled her into his arms, pressing her head to his shoulder. She slid her hand under the flap of his shirt and rested it lightly on the center of his chest. He began to relax as her fingers played with his wisps of hair.

Contented to stay just like this, he massaged her back. Having Cassie in his arms brought peace and a feeling of belonging. He’d never allowed a woman to get close, but Cassie had already gotten under his skin. She made him hope for what he knew he couldn’t have. She fit perfectly into his life—until he remembered she would leave.

Yet he had allowed her in. Allowed her to be important. This woman could break his heart.

Lost in his thoughts, he scarcely realized she’d spoken.

“Hmmm?”

“My sister.”

“Is something wrong with your sister?” His hands stilled.

Cassie gave a little sound very much like a snort. “You could say that.”

“You want to tell me what happened?” He rested his chin on the top of her head.

“You know my mom had surgery.”

“Was that yesterday?” He’d been so focused with her distress on the phone last night, he’d completely forgotten.

“Yes. My sister, two of my cousins, Mom’s preacher and her best friend were there.”

“She get along all right?” If something had gone wrong, surely she’d have told him before now.

“Mom did fine. When she came back from recovery, everyone left but me and my sister.”

When Cassie paused, he rubbed her back, offering comfort, letting her know she was safe in his arms.

“My sister attacked me.”

He forced himself not to flinch. Cassie spoke as though it was a normal occurrence. No change in her voice, no agitation in her body. Attacked as in how? He hadn’t seen any evidence of a fight.

“She said some horrible things. With Mom lying in a hospital bed not three feet away. Mom could have heard us. I was so mad I said some pretty mean things too.”

He hugged her tighter. “I can’t imagine you saying anything mean. I bet this will blow over after you both have had time to think about things. Your mom just had surgery. I’m sure your nerves, and your sister’s, played a factor in the argument.”

Sitting back, Cassie pushed against his side, bringing her eyes level with his. “I don’t think so. The things we said … this has been building up for some time. What made me so mad, she picked the day of Mom’s surgery of all days to pick a fight?”

“She must have some insecurities.”

“I’m the one with the insecurities. She’s a barrel of attitude.”

Cassie? Insecurities?

“Maybe she has a problem you don’t know about.”

“She’s got problems, all right.” Cassie settled back against him, her unique scent invading his senses. He closed his eyes and basked in her essence.

After a few moments, he noticed she still seemed anxious. “Is there something else?”

“Yes.”

He waited.

When she buried her face in his shoulder, he tightened his embrace. “Honey. It’s okay. I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere.” He meant it. He wanted her and, God help him, he wanted to keep her.

“We were arguing about Mom and … money and stuff, and she … Out of the blue, she brought up our dad. He died seven years ago.”

Mike slid his arms around her waist and lifted her onto his lap. Long strands of hair hung in her face. He shoved them out of the way.

“She went on to gloat and tell me that Dad called her the night before he died. He said I was drunk and came to his hospital room and upset him.”

If he had her sister here, he’d ring her spiteful neck.

Cassie swiped the tears on her cheek. Mike pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her.

“I remember that night. I went with some of the teachers to dinner. I had one glass of wine.”

“Your sister made that up. For whatever small-minded reason, she wanted to hurt you.”

Cassie burrowed into him. God, he wished he could take away her pain. Undo the confrontation. She unburdened her soul, ripping his guts right along with hers. “I loved my father. We didn’t agree on everything, but I respected him. I joked with him, no one else did. My sister is picking at anything she can to upset me.”

Her lips quivered into his neck as she spoke. The woman had no idea what her fingers toying with his chest hair did to him. Yes, he desired her, but he cherished her. Cassie owned his heart. He was damn thankful he was the one holding her. Thankful he was the one comforting her.

“Keep your good memories of him, Cassie. Put what your sister said out of your mind.” Mike could only assume Cassie and her sister were strung out over their mom’s surgery. Stress made people behave irrationally. He’d seen it firsthand after responding to many 911 calls.

If it wasn’t worry or release of built up tension, then her sister was one real piece of work. He couldn’t imagine anyone attacking Cassie. She was the most sensible woman he’d ever met. A lot of fun, too.

He never had a sibling. Still, it didn’t seem right to fight in your mother’s hospital room. Sounded like Cassie’s sister had some real issues.

“Thank you,” she said cuddling deeper into his chest. “Thank you for being here. Thank you for coming when I called.”

Holding her tight, he tried showing her without words how he felt. Her clinging was sending some serious signals prompting urges of desire. Triggering the impulse to turn her on his lap and drive himself into her heat. Like he had last night.

But for now, he’d hold her.

“Anytime.”

Every time.

All the time.

It amazed him how much he meant those words—with a passion bordering insanity. Fierce possessiveness, violent protectiveness, savage yearning—feelings beyond any he’d imagined.

He was in way over his head.

***

Mike figured he spent so much time thinking about Cassie he might as well be with her. And he wanted to do something nice. She deserved nice after the scene with her sister. He’d asked Cassie on another date and she’d accepted.

He’d been doing a lot of thinking about what he wanted lately. What did he want?

A woman who’d accept him. Accept his job. Accept the fact that he would never quit. Fighting fires was in his blood. Whether the adrenaline rush or the need to protect and save, when the siren went off, his instincts kicked in. His training took over and he did what needed to be done. Second thoughts could get a man killed. When Mike charged into a burning building, the only thing on his mind was search and protect.

Wishes and fantasies were not for him. He lived in the real world. A world where his profession presented risk. Women wanted their man safe and be a good provider. A three-piece suit would choke him. He loved what he did and he wouldn’t give it up for any woman.

But he couldn’t resist Cassie. The woman drew him, grabbed him by the gut. Maybe this thing would blow up in his face, but he planned to enjoy her for as long as he could.

Fresh from the shower, Mike lathered his face with shaving cream. Before he picked up his razor, the phone rang. He grabbed a cloth, slung the linen around his neck and tightened the towel dangling around his hips while he strode into his room.

“Mike here.”

“Hello, Mike.”

“Hey, Dad.” Mike dropped onto the rumpled covers of his bed.

“How are you, boy?”

“Doing good. How about you?” Mike lifted one end of the towel from his neck and rubbed the shaving cream off his face.

“Some days are good. And some days are even better.” His dad laughed. An everyday comment since his dad had quit working. Shame his mom hadn’t stuck around to share Dad’s retirement.

“You must have been fishing,” Mike said.

“Fish don’t talk much. Not like your Aunt Lucy. She darn near pecks my ear right off.”

“But she feeds you good, huh?” Aunt Lucy was the best cook in the state. Everything she made was from scratch, no box fare for her family. She thought it her duty to fuss over her little brother, since he didn’t have a woman to look after him.

“Let’s see now,” his dad began. Mike could imagine his dad scratching his head. “This is Thursday. She’ll be bringing spaghetti over tonight. She always makes her homemade sauce on Thursday. When you coming down, boy?”

Same question, same evasive answer. “Soon, Dad.”

He stayed on the phone another ten minutes, solving the world’s problems before telling his dad bye. The old man sounded good. With his aunt’s cuisine, no need to worry about him starving.

Mike scrubbed a hand down his face. His shift didn’t begin for another forty-eight hours. If he didn’t have a date with Cassie, he’d be tempted to leave his brush of whiskers. He shoved from the bed and he padded to the bathroom. Half of his face was covered in lather when the phone rang again. Cursing under his breath, he grabbed the towel and mopped his face again. Calming his irritation, he answered in a reasonable tone. It wouldn’t do to yell when the person on the other end might be Cassie.

“Hello.”

“Mike.”

He ran a frustrated hand through his spiky hair. Not Cassie. Then his alert system kicked in. “What’s up, Shep?”

“There’s no emergency and we’re not on call, so relax.”

“Habit.” Mike rolled the tension from his shoulders and settled back on the bed.

“I just talked to my brother.”

Shep has four brothers. Then Mike remembered their last conversation where Shep had mentioned the possibility of his brother helping Tammy with her ex-husband. “The lawyer?”

Mike glanced at his watch. Hope Cassie wouldn’t mind his dark shadow.

“Yes. I mentioned Tammy’s ex and he’s going to look into it.”

“That’s great.” Tammy was a sweetheart. She didn’t deserve her asshole husband giving her shit.

“Thought you should know, so you can tell her.”

Mike frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Thought you could tell Tammy about Eddie and she could give him a call at his office.”

Mike’s fingers tensed on the phone. Sounds like going around the barn to get to the barn doors. “Why don’t you tell her?”

“Well, I’m not too sure of the reception I might get.” Shep let out a sigh.

“Did something happen? Or is there something you didn’t tell me about when you took her home last week?”

“No.”

Just no? Nothing else.

“Then what’s the problem?”

“You know how women are. They get these things in their head.”

Yeah. He knew. “What things?”

“How’s Cassie?”

“What’s she got to do with it? And don’t change the subject.”.

“Not changing the subject,” Shep drawled. “Just saying, maybe she said something.”

“Who, Cassie? What would she have to say?”

“Whether or not her friend freaked when she found out I’m the one who took her home.”

“You haven’t talked to Tammy?”

“Nope.”

“You’re usually not so dense. Or chicken. Give the woman a call.”

“If she’s embarrassed, she won’t want to talk to me. But if she wants me to call, and I don’t … see what I mean? You never know with a female.”

Laughter erupted in Mike’s chest. “I don’t believe this.”

Shep feared nothing. But he shied away from a conversation with a woman?

“Believe what? That I’m considering her reaction before I put my neck in a noose? Save a lot of trouble if Tammy doesn’t want to see me again.”

“I doubt she feels that way. According to Cassie, Tammy wants you to call her.”

“When did she tell you that?”

“I didn’t tell you?”

“No, you did not.”

“I guess I had other things on my mind.”

“She say anything else?”

“Wait till the guys get a load of this.” This was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your mouth shut.”

“Come on, Cap. All’s fair, you know?”

The guys picked on each other all the time. Shep did his fair share of jokes and teasing, although he did have to keep his crew in line. Seemed only fair they should have a chance at the boss.

“Bad enough to have you poking at me. I don’t need the team sticking their nose where it don’t belong.”

“Why don’t you give the woman a call and put an end to your misery?”

“Misery? No hardship thinking about her. She gets a man distracted.”

Whether or not Shep meant to, he’d just confirmed what Mike had guessed. His friend had the hots for Tammy.

“Distracted, huh? I call it good ole lust.” Hell, Mike knew the feeling. He lusted after Cassie. Once he had a taste, he needed more.

Shep laughed. “Yep. That too. But I need to know which way the wind is blowing.”

“Something did happen, didn’t it?”

“Nope.”

Shep drove Mike crazy with his short answers. The man kept his thoughts to himself, not one to blow his own horn. Getting information out of Shep was like pulling teeth.

“So, what’s the deal?” Mike pried, hoping for more information.

“She’s fun. Plain ole fun. Down to earth. When she laughs, she doesn’t snicker or act coy or none of that snooty, high and mighty stuff. She’s easy to talk with. Hard not to like her.”

“Didn’t mention her looks.”

“Red hair means fire. Paid close attention,” Shep said with certainty. “She has a zest for life.”

“Fire as in passion?”

“Who’s to say we’ll be anything more than friends?”

“You aim to be friends with her?”

“At least that. If my brother takes her case, we have a reason to see each other.”

I’ll be damned.

“You sly dog.”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. She’s a mom. With two boys, she has to present a proper image. Tammy is a lady and needs to be treated like one. But she’s still a healthy young woman with needs of her own. Who knows? She may want a fling. Or she may want to get back at that dickhead husband of hers.”

“Ex,” Mike reminded.

“If I have my way, it will be ex-dad. Asshole doesn’t deserve kids if he can’t be faithful to his wife. Or at least civil. Filing for custody and not having the balls to notify her—he’s asking for a boot up his ass. Eddie’s the one to give it to him.”

“You planning on giving a relationship a chance?”

“Well, now. There’s different levels of involvement in relationships. You know that, Mike. You won’t let a woman get but so close.”

Shep was right. Cassie created a gnawing hunger in him he tried to ignore. When he lay between her thighs, he felt more than just satisfying his need—even if he didn’t want to admit it.

Hell. Who was he kidding? He’d clung to her like his very existence would cease if he let go.

Avoiding that topic, Mike asked Shep, “What will you do?”

“Take it one day at a time, my friend. And ride the ride for as long as it lasts.”

That sounded like good advice.