Curvy Girl and the Firefighter Chief (Pine Valley: Fire Department #1)

Chapter 1 - Luke

I rub my temples, staring at the mountain of paperwork on my desk. Another Friday night at the station and the headache brewing since morning isn't helping my already sour mood.

At forty-one, I'm the youngest fire chief in Pine Valley's history, but the administrative side of the job makes me miss being just another firefighter on the team.

The station's alarm suddenly blares through the building, its harsh sound jerking me from my thoughts. I'm on my feet before my daughter’s, the dispatcher, voice comes through.

"Structure fire reported at 1247 Maple Street. Possible victim trapped inside. All units respond immediately."

My heart rate kicks up as adrenaline floods my system.

"Team, gear up!" I shout, already moving toward the engine bay where my men are scrambling into their turnout gear.

Kane, my right-hand man for the past five years, is already climbing into the truck. Ashton and Max, the inseparable duo who've been with the department since I started, are right behind him, and so are Damon and Shane, the newest additions. Danny, our paramedic, grabs the medical kit before jumping in.

"Details?" Max calls out as I take the driver's seat.

"Single-family home, one potential victim inside," I respond, hitting the sirens as we pull out of the station. "Neighbor called it in after seeing smoke coming from the second floor."

The engine roars through the streets of Pine Valley, other vehicles pulling aside to let us pass. My mind is already running through scenarios and strategies. A single-family home usually means a smaller structure but typically more wooden construction, which means faster spread.

We turn onto Maple Street, and my jaw clenches at the sight of orange flames licking up the side of the two-story Victorian house. Smoke billows from the upper windows, thick and black – telling me this fire has been burning for a while before anyone noticed.

"Damon, Max, Ashton, and Kane – take the first floor. Shane, you're with me upstairs. Danny, get set up out here for medical," I bark orders as we jump out of the truck. "Watch for structural weakness in the stairs."

The heat hits me like a wall as we enter the house. Smoke reduces visibility to almost nothing, forcing us to rely on our thermal imaging equipment. The roar of the fire fills my ears, along with the crackle of burning wood and the hiss of our oxygen tanks.

"Fire department! Call out if you can hear us!" my voice booms through my mask as we climb the stairs.

"Chief!" Damon's voice crackles through the radio. "First floor clear. Fire's worst upstairs!"

"Copy that. Moving to the second floor now."

I lead the way up the stairs, testing each step before putting my full weight down. The thermal scanner shows the fire is most intense in what appears to be a home office, but there's another heat signature in what looks like a bedroom.

"Over there!" Shane points toward the bedroom door, which is closed – a lucky break that has probably bought us some time.

I approach the door, checking it for heat before pushing it open. The smoke is thick, but my scanner picks up a form huddled in the corner by the window.

"I've got her!" I call out, moving quickly to the unconscious woman's side.

She's curled into a ball, a wet cloth pressed to her face – smart thinking that has probably saved her life.

As I scoop her into my arms, something unexpected happens. Even through my gear and the chaos around us, I feel how perfectly she fits against my chest.

She's soft and curvy, and despite the soot and smoke, I catch a hint of something sweet – like vanilla and flowers.

I get my first real look at her face as we reach the clearer air near the stairs. Even with smudges of soot and what looks like a nasty bump on her forehead, she's beautiful. Dark lashes rest against pale cheeks, and full lips are parted slightly as she takes shallow breaths.

Something protective and primitive stirs in my chest, an urge to shield her from harm so powerful it nearly stops me in my tracks.

"Shane, clear the path!" I order, tightening my hold on the woman as we descend the stairs.

The fire is spreading rapidly now, and I can hear the ominous groaning of stressed wood above us.

We burst out of the house just as a section of the roof collapses behind us. I move swiftly to where Danny has set up the medical station, reluctant to let go of my precious cargo but knowing she needs immediate attention.

"What do we have?" Danny asks, already pulling out his stethoscope as I gently lay her on the gurney.

"Unconscious female, probably smoke inhalation. Found her with a wet cloth over her face, so she was conscious enough to try protecting herself at some point," I report, stepping back to let Danny work but unable to tear my eyes away from her face.

As Danny checks her vital signs, she stirs, coughing weakly. Her eyes flutter open, revealing striking green eyes that lock onto mine for a moment before closing again.

"Pulse is strong, breathing's a bit labored, but she's getting good O2 sats now," Danny reports. "We should get her to the hospital for observation, but I think she'll be okay."

I nod, relief flooding through me even as confusion swirls in my mind. In twenty years of firefighting, I've never had such an intense reaction to anyone I've rescued. There's something about this woman that calls to something deep inside me, some primal instinct to protect and possess.

"Sir?" A police officer approaches me. "We talked with the neighbors. The victim's name is Stella Morrison, age twenty-two. Lives alone and works as a children's book illustrator."

Stella. The name suits her somehow.

"The fire appears to have started in the home office," Damon reports, joining us. "Probably electrical, but we'll need to investigate to be sure."

I nod absently, watching as the paramedics arrive and load Stella into the ambulance. I should be focusing on coordinating the cleanup, making sure the fire is entirely out, and starting the incident report.

Instead, all I can think about are those green eyes and the way she felt in my arms.

"Chief?" Damon's voice breaks through my thoughts. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I reply, forcing myself to look away from the ambulance as it pulls away. "Yeah, I'm fine. Let's get this wrapped up."

But as I turn to direct my team in their final tasks, I know I'm lying. I'm not fine at all. Something has changed in that burning house, and somehow, I know my life will never be quite the same.

Stella Morrison has crawled under my skin in the span of a few minutes, and I have a feeling she isn't going to be easy to forget.