Chapter 5
“They had to have heard something wrong.” Rick raised his voice so he could be heard over the wail of the fire truck, not to mention the squad car in front of them and the ambulance behind them.
Pierce, behind the wheel, shrugged a little and kept his eyes on the road as they raced through the night. “It sounds weird, for sure, but we’ll find out when we get there. We’ll only be another minute. The plaza isn’t far.”
“Right.” Rick knew where it was. Even in only a part-time role with the fire department, he’d gotten to know the wayward curves and dead ends of Truro quite well for an outsider.
This place wasn’t neatly gridded as much of Eugene had been, probably because it was settled so much earlier.
They’d be there in a moment, and they would find out what had really happened on the beach.
Rick enjoyed the jostling and careening of the fire truck around him, both because it was familiar and a great distraction.
He’d initially thought it might be rather inconvenient to work a night shift right after his date with Carol, but it wasn’t like they’d planned things out in advance.
At the time he’d agreed to dinner, Rick had figured that perhaps fate was working in his favor by making sure he was free, even if it meant he’d have to get to work only a few hours after their dinner.
Now, he knew he was even more fortunate than he’d initially imagined.
That outing with Carol had left him reeling, and their kiss had his head spinning.
She was so vibrant, witty, and sexy. If he could go back in time and tell a much younger version of himself that he could still think of a woman in her sixties as sexy, that younger version would’ve laughed at him.
But she was, and he could still feel the touch of her lips against his. If he’d been stuck in his apartment afterward, he would’ve driven himself crazy thinking about her. Now, at least he had something productive to do at the same time.
Pierce slowed the engine as they neared the plaza. “The caller said it was around back on the beach, so the parking lot is a no-go. I’ll have to find some other place to put this thing.”
Rick leaned forward to help look around.
His heart flipped when he saw a bright yellow sign in the shape of a dog bone over one of the stores.
It wasn’t illuminated, since it was so long after closing time, but the letters were defined enough that he could read them anyway.
The Biscuit Box. That was Carol’s bakery!
She’d told him all about it, and he’d hung on to every word simply because they came from her lips.
She’d even told him where it was, but he hadn’t been thinking about that when the department got the call.
“You all right?” Pierce asked.
“I’m fine.” He felt a stab of guilt that his private thoughts should distract Pierce from an important job.
At least it was only for a moment. That was Carol’s business, but the fire was out on the beach, not in any of the buildings.
Besides, the place had been closed for hours.
There was nothing to worry about, though his wolf was on edge.
Pierce swept the fire truck around the buildings, rumbling over a bit of the beach before coming to a halt.
As soon as his eyes landed on the fire, Rick’s training took over.
He’d been on the job for a long time, even serving as chief back in Eugene.
It was a shock to see that exactly what they’d heard from dispatch had been true.
A woman was bound and gagged in a ring of flame!
He was out of the truck in a flash, unwinding the hose.
“I’ve got her!” Pierce called over his shoulder as he pulled on his helmet and yanked down the faceguard. He charged straight through the flames and put his arms under the woman.
Rick saw a problem, though. Pierce couldn’t bring her back through the flames since he was the only one in protective gear, nor could Rick blast the hose at the fire since that would only cause further injury.
He charged forward, knowing instinctively that Pierce already knew what he would do.
He kicked aside the flaming logs, creating an opening.
The heat warmed his legs, but it couldn’t touch him through the multiple protective layers of his boots and pants.
As soon as Pierce had carried the victim to the paramedics, the two firefighters went to work on the rest of the flames. The logs were huge pieces of wood that could’ve burned for hours if they’d gone unattended. But they were no match for the vast amounts of water from the hose.
“Not as hard as a housefire, at least,” Pierce said once they’d turned off the water.
“That’s true. It’s still weird, though.” Pierce’s mention of a housefire made Rick glance over his shoulder toward the backs of the stores.
The multitude of lights from the emergency vehicles illuminated the buildings, and he felt a bolt of fear.
Was she the one who’d been in the center of those flames?
“Rick?” There was no shortage of surprises tonight as Carol walked toward him. “Is that you? I wasn’t sure while you still had your helmet on.”
“Carol, what are you doing here?” It was no wonder his wolf had felt so antsy. Rick had been ruminating enough on their date and his feelings for her that he’d blamed it on that. He knew now that the beast inside him had sensed her proximity even before he’d seen her.
“Well, I was just in the right place at the right time. Or maybe it was the wrong place,” she corrected with a shrug. “Is she all right?”
Pierce glanced at the two of them before he stepped back. “I’ll go check.”
His wolf surged anew as he put his hand on her shoulder and they stepped further back from the burned spot on the beach. “She was at least still alive when Pierce carried her out of there. Are you the one who called this in?”
“I am. I guess that’s one hell of an excuse to get to see you again.” She fiddled with the hem of her pajama shirt.
It wasn’t the form-flattering dress she’d worn earlier, but Rick knew those same curves were still there under the loose cotton. “What happened here, exactly?”
She raised her eyebrows and held out her hands. “Beats me. I couldn’t sleep, so I came here to get some work done. I smelled smoke, and I saw the fire. I tried to put it out, but my fire extinguisher is apparently not functioning right now. You guys got here just in time, I think.”
“We’ll have to get that fixed right away.” It was an automatic response because he knew the importance of having a viable fire extinguisher on hand. Rick felt tension rising within him, though. “You could’ve been hurt.”
“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem that the victim was,” Pierce reported as he came back. “She’s sitting up and talking, and other than needing a good trim on her hair, I think she’s all right. Carol, she wants to talk to you.”
“Of course.” Carol hurried over to the back of the ambulance.
Rick followed, not wanting to be away from Carol. What’d happened there was disturbing, and it bothered him even more that Carol was involved.
The girl that Pierce had pulled from the flames now sat in the back of the ambulance with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
Streaks of soot smudged her face, but even so, it was easy to tell that she was young and attractive.
She gave a bright smile and reached out her hand as Carol walked up.
“Oh, there you are! I’m glad you’re still here so I can say thank you.
I don’t know what I would’ve done if it hadn’t been for you. ”
Carol took her hand. “I’m afraid I didn’t do as much as I would’ve liked.”
“You made a huge difference. I’m alive thanks to you, as well as all these wonderful men who showed up when you called.” She smiled benevolently at the paramedics and police officers who were clustered around her, their eyes glued on her. “My name is Lorelei, by the way.”
“What a lovely name. I’m Carol.” She hesitated for a moment, her eyes scrunching up a bit. Rick already knew that was something she did when she was thinking. “I know you’ve been through such an ordeal, but I’m so curious. What happened out there?”
Lorelei’s face dropped, and she squeezed Carol’s hand harder.
“I’m still trying to understand. It was two men; I know that much.
I was taking a late-night walk on the beach when they grabbed me and tied me up.
I thought for certain I was being kidnapped, but then they did…
that…” She glanced over her shoulder at the smoldering logs.
Rick’s teeth grated together as he fought to control himself. How could people like that even exist in this world? He noticed that his fellow first responders were looking rather uncomfortable as well, although some of them were openly fawning over the pretty girl.
“We need to get you down to the station to file a report,” one of the officers reminded her. “Once you’re medically cleared, of course. Then we’ll have to get started on tracking down these men.”
“I’m fine,” Lorelei assured him. “Thank you.”
“You take care of yourself,” Carol said. “I’m glad you’re all right.”
“Thank you again.”
Rick followed Carol as she turned to leave. “Carol, I’m concerned about all of this.”
“Don’t worry. I wasn’t the one who started the fire. I know you have to call it in to the fire department first,” she retorted with a wink.
He loved her sense of humor and the fact that she was always ready with a sassy remark.
It made her fun and lively, even a little unpredictable.
But the feelings that were swirling inside him were far too serious.
“I don’t like thinking about men like that being in the area.
It has me worried about you. You can stay at my place tonight so you don’t have to be alone.
I’ll take the couch, and you can have the bed.
” Not that he’d mind sharing the bed with her, and his wolf certainly wouldn’t have a problem with it.
Carol smiled but shook her head. “That’s sweet of you, but it’s really not necessary. I spend every other night alone, and I don’t see what’s different.”
Alone. How could a woman like Carol possibly be alone? Yet he knew they both had been, despite the fact that their families surrounded them. This wasn’t just about being lonely, though. “We don’t know who these men are or what their motive might be. I’d like to at least make sure you’re home safe.”
She studied him for a moment, her face a mixture of amusement and uncertainty. “All right. If it means that much to you. I just have to button up the bakery, and I’ll be ready to go.”
“I’ll talk to Pierce.” He made the arrangements. Pierce would take the fire truck back to the station. Rick would ride with Carol in her car since it was almost the end of his shift anyway. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“No, that’s fine.” Pierce had a grin on his face. “You do what you need to do, Dad.”
A short while later, he and Carol were headed back to Brigham territory. She drove easily through the night, relaxed behind the wheel. “Whatever happened out there, whatever the motivation was, I doubt it had anything to do with me.”
“You’re probably right.” At least, he hoped she was. They really couldn’t be sure of anything at this point. “Be careful when you go back to work tomorrow, though. Keep your eyes peeled. If you see anything even slightly suspicious, you can call me.”
“Or the police?” she asked, one brow raised as she diverted her gaze from the road for a moment.
“Or them,” he agreed, although he knew he wanted to be the one. His wolf pulsed toward her even as they sat together in the car.
When she rolled into her driveway and turned off the car, Rick put a hand on hers where it rested on the gear shift. “You really can stay with me tonight if you’d like. No pressure or games. I just want to make sure you’re safe.”
She turned to him. “I’m fine. And the doors will stay locked all night. I promise.”
“All right.” They got out of the car, and he once again walked her to the door.
There would be no passionate kiss this time, no cherry on top after a fantastic date.
His heart felt too heavy for any of that.
His protective instincts were in full swing, and the only thing he could do to enact them was to ensure that she was behind that solid door.
Carol gestured with her chin toward his place as she pulled out her keys. “Now, who’s going to make sure you get home safe?”
“I’ll be fine. I promise,” he echoed.
“I’ll take your word for it.” She planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for helping to save that girl tonight. Things could’ve turned out much differently if you hadn’t been there, and I’m grateful there are people like you in the world.”
Before he could think of an appropriate response, Carol had slipped into the house and shut the door.
He sighed and headed for the sidewalk but turned back as he passed her car.
Rick looked up at the house. Carol was a woman who took care of herself.
She didn’t rely on anyone else to do that for her.
Logic said that she was probably right, and the men who’d threatened Lorelei’s life were likely long gone.
Still, it felt so wrong to leave her alone.
He went back to his apartment, where he knew he wouldn’t be getting any sleep.