Chapter 3
Chapter Three
EMBER
“It really is you.” The words burst out of me as I look up into the face of the most rugged, handsome man I’ve ever seen—and he’s smirking like catching me is all in a day’s work.
Of course, it is. My hero. He’s even dressed for the occasion.
Navy shirt hugging broad shoulders, fire department patch on one sleeve, navy cargo trousers with high-vis stripes, and that faint mix of smoke and soap clinging to him.
My heart thumps as if it’s trying to batter its way out of my chest. I really should’ve worn something nicer than this frumpy old dress.
“Do you just go around rescuing women and kittens all day?” I say, hoping my voice sounds cooler than I feel.
The corner of his mouth lifts, slow and teasing. “You looked like you were about to fall over. Can’t have you breaking any more bones, can we, Miss Sparks?”
“I’ll have you know I’m perfectly capable of staying upright.
” When I’m not blindsided by a man in uniform.
I thought I’d dreamt him up the night I fell off my roof.
I woke up in the back of an ambulance and never saw him again, thinking he was a figment of my imagination.
But this is worse. He’s very real. My cheeks heat as my brain scrambles to remember what I said that night.
His eyes drop briefly to my cast. “Mm-hmm. Sure. First the roof, now this… It’s becoming a habit, Miss Sparks.”
My stomach flips at the way he says my name. Warm, amused, like he’s already decided I’m trouble. I clear my throat. “You’ll get used to me… Mr.…” I try to remember his last name from his daughter’s file.
“Mr. October.” His grin widens. “Though you also called me Mr. July. Something about fireworks.”
“Oh my goodness. I was delirious. I banged my head.”
“Pretty sure you landed on your ankle.”
“Are you a doctor now?”
“Training to get my EMT certification.”
“You can release me now.”
His eyebrows shoot up, amusement sparking in his blue eyes. “You sure you’re not gonna lose your balance?”
Heat floods through me. I’m not sure about my balance; I’m losing my mind under his gaze. “Well, gravity and I have never really been on speaking terms.” Balance isn’t my issue. Firemen in uniform are.
He chuckles, the deep sound curling low in my belly.
From behind him, a small voice pipes up. “Daddy, are you going to carry my teacher to the chair?”
I nearly choke. Carry me? He’ll have a job lifting me. But the thought leaves as quickly as it entered when I’m hauled against his broad chest. My hand grips his hard shoulders, and I never want to let go.
He lowers me down into my chair behind the desk as if I weigh nothing at all. “There. Make sure you’re in one piece when I come to collect my daughter later.” He picks my crutch up from the floor and leans it against my desk.
“Are you not staying for Fire Safety Week?” I say, my arm still tingling where his hand was. I smooth my dress down, trying to pull myself together.
“What’s that?”
“We’re having some firefighters in this week to talk to the kids about fire safety.”
He winks. “I’ll see what I can do. Someone needs to keep their eye on you. You’re a walking disaster.” He turns to kiss his daughter’s forehead. “Have a great day, bug. I’ll pick you up at home time.”
He winks at me as he leaves. “Stay off those roofs, yeah?”
I swear he’s enjoying this.
“Thanks for the save, hero,” I murmur, forcing myself to break eye contact.
“Anytime.”
He looks back at me, and for a moment it’s just the two of us, the noise of the corridor fading into the background. His smile is… dangerous. The kind that could make a woman believe in second chances.
I can’t help but match his smile. He’s dreamy in the best way, but I remind myself, I’m probably too old for him, not to mention that he’s probably married.
There’s no wedding ring, but I know firemen don’t wear rings when on the job.
I make a mental note to reread Sienna’s file at break, but married or not, there’s no harm in admiring the man before me.
It’s not like he’d be interested in me anyway.