Chapter Twenty-Five GRAHAM
Chapter Twenty-Five
GRAHAM
Madison sat on my lap, a dewy bundle of curves. With every breath, I inhaled her scent. Raw, elemental need had taken over. A small part of me wanted to believe it was just chemistry. There was absolutely no doubt it was chemistry. But it was also more.
As I held her, a sense of tenderness, strong and sure, stole through my heart. I didn’t know what to do with Madison. I knew I wasn’t ready to go home and tell my daughter I was dating anyone.
Despite my best intentions, Madison was more than a secret.
No matter how much I tried to tell myself otherwise, she was more than a fling.
For now, I was relieved beyond what should be sensible at the fact Allie was gone for two nights.
Because unless Madison kicked me out, that meant I could have two nights with her. That was a luxury, pure and simple.
Somehow, we untangled ourselves and actually put on clothes. Madison offered me a beer while she had a glass of wine. We watched television. I held her against my side, my arm resting over her shoulders. She snuggled right in as if she belonged there.
Wilbur decided the other side of me was perfect for him, and I discovered he didn’t like me to ignore him for too long. Madison laughed, offering, “He’s ridiculously spoiled. Sorry. All you have to do is rest your hand on him every now and then, and then he doesn’t get fussy.”
I chuckled, and it was all so easy and felt so good. Later, I had her again. This time, we were tangled in her sheets with her legs curled around my hips. Afterward, I fell into a deep, dreamless slumber.
She didn’t kick me out the next day, and I showed her a hiking trail nearby. It was an offshoot along the path that connected Harold’s property to mine. He’d used it for hunting. It led through the trees to an open field in a valley with a glittering glacial river in the distance.
I spent the next night with Madison. Every minute of the weekend felt like stolen time, and I supposed it was.
Allie had plenty of friends and loved slumber parties, but two nights in a row was not as common.
This was the very first time I’d had two nights with any woman since Allie had been born.
I didn’t count the month with her mother because we hadn’t once slept together.
As I drove into work after that second night, I shook my head, recalling the month after Allie came into the world.
Jesus. It was weird to think about now. My parents had converted the space above their garage into an apartment for us.
Maybe if we hadn’t had a newborn, it would have been fun.
I loved having a newborn baby, but it was nerve-racking and scary.
Even though I didn’t know she was about to walk away, I knew Allie’s mom didn’t like it. That month was a blur in my memory.
I took a breath, slowing as I turned into the parking lot at Willow Brook Fire & Rescue. My crew was filled now. I had twenty-five people to manage. We’d done a few training exercises together, but this was our first week on call.
Rex had told me he had some dead trees for us to burn in an area on his property that had been hit hard with beetle kill.
It was an ideal way to practice and close to town.
As I strolled down the hallway at the station, I paused when I heard my name.
Taking a few steps back, I peered through the door into a shared office. “What’s up?” I asked.
Cade grinned, gesturing me in. “Close the door for a sec, if you would.”
Stepping through, I closed it behind me. “Now you’ve got me worried,” I added as I sat down across from him.
“Just thought I’d give you a heads-up that Russell and Paisley had a small spat, I guess.”
“Spat?”
He shrugged. “Yep. I don’t know what Russell said, I don’t even know if he said anything, but she told him to stop being a sexist asshole. He told her that she’d have to prove to him she could handle the work.”
I rolled my eyes, letting out a groan. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve known Russell for years. I’ve never seen him be a jerk about women.”
“Me neither,” Cade agreed.
We’d all grown up in Willow Brook together. “Want my two cents?” he asked.
“What do you think?”
“I think he’s got a thing for her, and that’s the problem.”
“Fuck. I can’t deal with an office romance. Is that what we should call it?”
Cade chuckled and shrugged. “They’re sure not a couple now. They wouldn’t be the only couple, though. Susannah and Ward used to be on a crew together.”
“I know, but they’re married, and they have a baby,” I replied.
“It wasn’t that way at first. Maybe have a word with each of them. That’s what I’d suggest.”
I nodded. “Thanks for giving me the heads-up. I’m going to talk to him now. Anything else I need to know?”
Cade shook his head. “Not a thing. Dad is stoked you guys are doing that training burn on his property, though.”
I grinned. “It’s convenient.”
He dipped his chin in agreement. “You guys are on the call rotation starting this week.”
Tapping my knuckles on the armrest, I stood. “We are. Thanks again.” On my way to find Russell, I swung through the kitchen to get some coffee. Once I had that in hand, I searched out Russell in the weight room and gestured to him. “I need a minute.”
He set the weights down, and I could tell from the look on his face that he probably knew why I wanted to talk to him.
I took him to one of the shared offices.
The very Ward that Cade and I were just talking about, who was married to Susannah was just leaving.
“Mind if I use it for a few minutes?” I asked.
“It’s all yours. I’m headed over to grab some breakfast. Need anything from Firehouse?”
“Can you grab me a bagel and cream cheese?”
With a thumbs-up, he was gone, and a moment later, Russell appeared. I closed the door behind him, and we sat down at the round table.
“Let me guess, somebody told you I had an argument with Paisley.”
I nodded.
Russell leaned back in his chair, wincing slightly. “I’m sorry. She gets under my skin. I know women are good firefighters, I swear.”
“I know you do. I’m not sure what your deal is, but you need to clear the air with her. Is there anything I should know?”
He shook his head quickly. “I’ll talk to her.”
“I’m going to talk to her first, and then I’ll let you two have the office. How’s that sound?”
Russell let out a quiet sigh and nodded. After he left, I scouted out Paisley in the break room. As soon as I asked her to come meet with me, she rested a hand on her hip. “Is this about Russell?”
“Let’s talk in the office.”
I liked Paisley, and I liked Russell. They were both great at their jobs and great with everyone else on the team. Cade’s observation might be on point.
A moment later, Paisley sat across from me, her shoulders tense and her jaw set.
She didn’t even give me a chance to start slow.
“I don’t know what the deal is, but Russell has an issue with me.
I snapped at him, I admit it, but…” She shook her head slowly, releasing a puff of air that expertly got a loose lock of her auburn hair out of her eyes.
“I’d think he had an issue with women as firefighters, but he doesn’t behave that way around anyone other than me. ”
“Is there something I should know?” Maybe she’d be more open with me than Russell.
She shook her head before I could even finish asking. “Absolutely not.”
“I hope this doesn’t affect your work together.”
“It definitely won’t. I promise,” Paisley assured me.
Maybe they hadn’t acted on it, but I’d bet chemistry was sparking between them.
I imagined myself attempting to work with Madison as a firefighter.
The mere thought of it had me wanting to run.
I’d be too worried about her. It simply wouldn’t work.
I knew it wasn’t because she was a woman.
I’d been on the town crew with Susannah for over two years.
I trusted her completely, and she was an absolute badass in the field.
I also knew Ward was prone to worrying about her, which was precisely why they weren’t on the same crew together.
I left Paisley in my office and went to chase down Russell again. It only took thirty seconds in the small office with them together to realize they both had it bad. Paisley’s cheeks flushed pink, and Russell cleared his throat uncomfortably.
I looked back and forth between them. “We’re officially on call, so sort this out. All I expect is for you to be able to work well together. The rest, I don’t care about.”
With a nod, I closed the door behind me and left them in there alone. I trusted they could work it out. Russell was as solid as they came. I trusted Paisley, even if I hadn’t known her as long as him.
Only one day after that, my crew got called out to a fire.
Allie went to stay with my parents, and off we went.
I experienced an unfamiliar moment as I was walking out to the helicopter that would take us to the backcountry.
I wanted to text Madison and let her know I’d be gone, but it didn’t feel quite right.
The weekend we’d spent together had been enough to set the sheets on fire, but we weren’t a couple.
I was still trying to convince myself it was nothing more than some serious chemistry.
But the urge to let her know I’d be gone for five days spoke volumes.
She’s just your neighbor.
That’s not all she is to you.
Fuck. I kicked that thought to the curb. If she needed something, she might wonder where I was. Ah, I rationalized a reason to tell her. I slipped my phone out and zapped off a text.
Me: Allie will be at my parents’ for five days. I’m headed out to a fire in the backcountry. If you need anything, Janet’s your best bet.
I was sitting down in the back of the helicopter when I could feel my phone vibrate. Slipping it out, I glanced down to see her reply.
Madison: Be safe.
My heart thumped in reply.
“What are you smiling at?” Chase asked.
Whipping my head up, I shrugged. “Nothing.”
Bullshit.
Any chance for conversation was drowned out as the helicopter started, the thwack, thwack, thwack of its blades filling the air.
I leaned my head back, picturing Madison—her dark hair tangled on the pillows.