Chapter Six
THE TELEVISION PLAYED in the day room at the firehouse, though Shauna wasn’t sure anyone was really watching it.
The firefighters were all busy—Lance and Trey were playing cards, Mike was focused on his phone, as usual, and Paul was lying on a sofa, his feet propped up on the coffee table, reading a thriller and working his way through a bag of Doritos.
Shauna was sitting sideways in an armchair, her legs hanging over one arm, tapping her pen on the word search she was working on.
It was early Wednesday evening, and they hadn’t had a call since three.
Downtime at the station had been the hardest part when she’d first become an EMT.
She hadn’t wanted to let her guard down, for fear she wouldn’t be mentally ready when a call came in.
Because of that, she’d stayed on high alert every waking hour, which she’d quickly learned could take a toll.
Busy times like the beginning of today’s shift, when they’d had one call after another, had taught her to treasure the moments they had to breathe and recharge.
Still, there was that underlying feeling of the calm before the storm, but she didn’t mind.
Helping people who wanted to be helped was an easier storm to weather than wanting to help a best friend who wasn’t ready yet.
As she circled a word, she said, “Hey, Mike, you’re in my word search.”
“Yeah?” He glanced at her, smirking. “You found ‘sexy beast’?”
“No. ‘Pompous,’” she said.
The guys laughed.
Mike smirked. “When you’ve got the biggest engine in the firehouse, you earn the right to be pompous.”
“Then that would be me,” Paul said, his eyes still trained on his book. “As your sister can attest to.”
Lance snorted.
Howie sauntered in through the garage door. “Hey, Flores, you didn’t tell us you were into bikers.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not into bikers.”
“You did help that toddler who fell off his tricycle a few weeks ago,” Trey chimed in.
She rolled her eyes.
Howie hiked a thumb toward the garage door. “Well, there’s a Dark Knight in shining armor out there looking for you.”
Her eyes widened. “What?” She shoved her feet into her boots and bent to tie them.
“Who is it?” Trey asked.
“The guy she saved the morning of New Year’s Eve. Zander Wicked,” Howie answered. “Dude’s got a hell of a rep—careful Flores.”
No shit. What is Zander doing here?
Brian was home when Zander had finished working at their house yesterday afternoon, and Zander told him he’d be back today to finish the job. She hoped Brian hadn’t caused a problem. She headed for the door, and the guys hurried after her. She turned and glowered at them. “Do you mind?”
“What do you mean? I’m just going to check the rig,” Paul said.
“Me too,” Trey said, and the others said the same.
“Way to go, Flores,” Mike said. “Save a guy and pick him up. I need to try that.”
“I did not pick him up, and don’t follow me.”
As she stalked toward the door, Mike said, “No way I’m missing this,” and they all barreled out after her. Thankfully, the guys headed for the fire truck.
Shauna tried to play it cool despite her racing heart as Zander came into view.
He was looking over his shoulder out the open bay door, holding a bag in one hand, his other hand casually tucked into the front pocket of his jeans.
She slowed her stride, enjoying the view of him in his leather vest over a black T-shirt, his muscular legs wrapped in worn denim.
Scuffed black leather boots made him that much hotter. Maybe I am into bikers.
Ugh. No.
It wasn’t like she was even looking for a guy, and if she were, it wouldn’t be a player. But there was no denying the flutter low in her belly.
Zander turned, an easy smile stretching across his face as he closed the distance between them. She realized she’d stopped walking and was staring at him. What was he doing to her? She’d always been more comfortable around guys than women. Except around this guy, apparently.
“There’s my savior. How’s it going, Angel?”
A soft laugh escaped before she could stop it. “Did you forget my name already?”
“No. You might be Shauna Flores to everyone else, but to me you’ll always be the angel who saved me.”
“Okay,” she said, dragging out the word, unsure how else to respond. “What are you doing here?”
“I finished that work at your place today, and wanted to give you a thank-you gift, but you weren’t home. So, I tracked you down.”
“Damn. Dude’s got game,” Mike said loudly from across the bay by the fire truck.
She shot Mike an annoyed glance. He and the guys turned around like they weren’t eavesdropping. “Sorry about him,” she said, trying to wrap her head around the idea that Zander had brought her a gift and tracked her down.
“Don’t be. He’s right.” He cocked a playful grin. “But that’s not why I’m here. I felt bad for ruining your coffee the other day, so I got you this.” He held out the bag he was holding.
Her pulse was going crazy, and she couldn’t stop smiling. “You didn’t have to get me anything.”
“You didn’t have to save me.” He put the bag in her hand.
She peered into the bag and laughed when she saw a large box of her favorite French vanilla creamer cups. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Feel free to shower me with eternal gratitude in the form of baked goods.”
He was ridiculously smooth, and somehow, also sincere. “Trust me, you don’t want to eat anything I bake.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that, but I’m happy knowing you now have a reason to think of me every morning.”
She couldn’t tell if he was teasing or flirting, but it didn’t matter because he’d taken up residence in her mind three months ago without even trying.
“Do you have a few minutes to chat?” he asked.
“Um. Sure.” She glanced at the guys, who were still watching them. Nosy bastards.
Mike gave her a thumbs-up.
“Let’s go outside,” she suggested.
Once they were outside, Zander said, “Brian was in pretty bad shape when I was at your place earlier. Is he okay?”
The question took her by surprise. She hadn’t talked to anyone about Brian’s issues, and as much as it would be a relief to talk about it, she didn’t know Zander well enough to breach her best friend’s confidence. “Yeah. He’s just going through a rough patch.”
Zander nodded, but the muscles in his jaw flexed, like he wasn’t buying it. “And you? How are you doing?”
“Me? I’m good.” Hoping to change the subject, she said, “This guy brought me a whole box of my favorite creamer. It’s like Christmas in April.”
He chuckled. “I saw the way you were burning through them at Cumby’s.”
“Everyone’s allowed a guilty pleasure, right?” That earned a devilish grin.
“Absolutely. I’ve got a list a mile long,” he said, full of innuendo.
I bet you do.
He glanced at the firehouse. “So, how do you like being an EMT?”
“I love it. I really enjoy helping people.”
“A hot woman with a savior complex. That’s cool.”
Did he call her hot? A flicker of heat hit her cheeks.
He raked a hand through his hair, eyeing her with confusion. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m really not trying to pick you up.”
“Wow. Way to insult a girl.” She was only half teasing.
“That’s not what I meant. You’re gorgeous, but I’m not trying to take you home.”
“I’m glad you cleared that up. For a guy with a reputation for being charming, you’re falling a little short.” And for some reason, I find your honesty alluring.
“Damn it,” he gritted out. “I’m sorry. I just want to get to know you, and that’s new for me.”
“So, you don’t usually get to know women? Given your reputation, I think that says a lot about the kind of guy you are.”
“Yeah, that’s the problem. If I were just trying to pick you up, that’d be easy, but that’s not the reason I’m here.
I feel this pull toward you, and I don’t understand it.
I mean, I’m attracted to you, so don’t get all weird and think you’re not hot.
It’s bigger than that. It’s like I’m supposed to get to know you, but I’m totally screwing this up. ”
She couldn’t believe he felt the magnetic pull, too. “It’s kind of endearing, seeing Mr. Salacious get flustered.”
“Great,” he said sarcastically.
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone you slipped off your player pedestal.”
He laughed. “I don’t give a shit about that. Can we start over?”
“Sure. Do you want to crash your truck now? Because I’ll need to grab my crowbar and first aid kit.”
He shook his head, laughing. “Can we walk and talk? I’m not good at standing still.”
“A mover and shaker, huh? I can’t go far in case we get a call, but we can walk around out here if you want.”
He fell into step beside her as they walked along the grass beside the building. “So, are you from around here?”
It was kind of adorable that he asked such a simple question. “No. I’m from Jersey. What about you?”
“I’m a Cape boy, born and bred,” he said proudly, like he’d never want to live anywhere else. “What brought you here?”
“I’m not sure I should tell you,” she said, but she was only teasing.
There was a time she’d been ashamed of her parents and how she’d grown up.
As if she’d been the thing that had set them off course.
After she’d started AA, she’d learned their addictions, lifestyle, and faults had nothing to do with her, and she was proud to have gotten away.
“Were you running from the law? I can see that. What’d you get caught doing? Stealing coffee creamer?”
“No. That’s free at Cumby’s. I was running from my parents,” she admitted. “They weren’t very nice, and they had substance abuse issues. Brian and I grew up together, and his parents were no better than mine, so we took off.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like you and Brian have been together a long time.”
The way he said it made it sound like he thought they were a couple, so she clarified. “We have an unbreakable bond, but we’re not a couple. We were, but we’re not now.”
“And you still live together?” he asked as they walked around the back of the firehouse.