Chapter 6 Vulcan
Vulcan
The beat of the music pulses through my chest as I step into The Beaufort’s grand ballroom.
The Heroes Gala is the kind of event I generally avoid like cat memes on the internet.
Charity functions have a way of making me feel like a monkey in a suit, and I figure my presence is usually neither required nor missed.
But this year is different. This year, I’m one of the honorees.
So here I am, swallowing my reluctance like a bitter pill.
The ballroom is packed with firefighters, police officers, paramedics, doctors, and hospital staff all dressed to the nines.
It’s clear that no expense has been spared in putting this event together.
Crystal chandeliers hover like upside-down ice castles from the high-vaulted ceilings, casting a dazzling light over the packed room.
The black-and-white marble floors gleam beneath my feet, adding to the opulence.
A five-piece band plays from a corner, putting a jazzy spin to the decade’s hottest music.
They’re currently belting out “Beautiful Soul” on the sax while the vocalist loops in some soft effects.
Waitstaff in crisp uniforms weave skillfully through the mass of partygoers, balancing trays laden with frothy flutes of champagne and intricately garnished hors d’oeuvres.
I swipe a glass from a passing waiter, thanking him with a nod as I take a sip. The bubbly liquid slides down my throat as I scan the crowd, searching for any familiar faces. It’s like being lost in a sea of people, wondering how I ended up shipwrecked on this particular social island.
“Captain Montgomery.” A man in a tux nods my way, and I return the gesture, briefly recognizing him as the fire captain from station 37.
I busy myself greeting others while trying to find a corner to hide for the rest of the night.
I move away from a group of ladies who are less than subtle with their advances and spot a solitary table tucked away from the commotion.
I make a beeline for it and take a seat, drumming my fingers against the linen as I scope the ballroom for Harry.
“Mind if I join you?” A soft voice pulls me from my thoughts, and when I look up, there she is—Karina. Her black hair cascading down her shoulders like a raven’s waterfall, her warm, brown skin complementing the emerald green of her dress.
“Please,” I rush out, motioning to the chair opposite mine. “You look…” I start, leaning in once she sits down. “Breathtaking.”
Karina gives a small, humble smile. “Thank you, and you look handsome.”
“Thank you.” I clear my throat. “Look, Karina, I need to apologize for not reaching out. Work was—”
“Work. I get it,” she finishes. “I’ve been busy with other plans anyway.”
I arch an eyebrow. Other plans? I think back to Harry’s mention of her chatting up a guy from 118 at Riley’s…
“I also know better than to sit around pining for a man who’s married to his job,” she adds. “Besides, I’ve got plenty to keep me busy at the hospital.”
“Touché.” I grin, appreciating her quick wit. “I don’t want to come across as intrusive, but are you seeing anyone? Any, um, firefighters?” I internally cringe. What is wrong with you, Vulcan?
“It’s very intrusive,” she says, though I catch her smile. “But no, I’m not. I’m barely seeing a fire captain and I actually gave him my number.”
A relief, but I still feel like shit. The days have zipped by with me barely sleeping in between shifts, eating stale donuts for breakfast, and pushing through endless paperwork.
I know I should have made the time and effort, but between the madness at the station and my plans for the commissioner, I’ve been swamped.
Now, seeing her again, I realize just how much I screwed things up.
“Well,” I say, my voice hesitant. “What do you say we grab a coffee sometime next week?”
Karina tilts her head, considering my offer with a bemused expression that makes my chest tighten. She hesitates, and the pause is long enough for me to think she’s going to blow me off completely.
“Hmmm,” she finally says. “I don’t know. You said something similar three weeks ago, and my phone was dry like the Sahara Desert.” Her words are teasing but pointed, and I can’t say I blame her.
“I promise not to keep you waiting too long this time. One of my crew was injured, and I had to take care of things. I’ll be putting your number to good use this time.
” I hope she can hear the sincerity in my voice, because I sure as hell don’t trust myself to express it any better.
Karina’s smile softens, and for a fleeting moment, I catch a glimpse of longing in her gaze, as if she’s considering taking a chance on me again. It’s gone as quickly as it appeared.
“I’ll let you know when I’m free.”
“Understandable,” I say, swallowing my pride with a grin. “I suppose I’ll just have to wait patiently.”
“I guess so.” She laughs. I realize that beneath her playful exterior, she’s giving me another chance, and damn if I’m not going to jump at it.
The song shifts, and it’s as if the melody tugs at something deep inside me. Without really knowing why or how, I’m on my feet, the motion fueled by a raw impulse. I extend my hand to Karina. “May I have this dance?” I ask, holding my breath and wondering if she’ll turn me down.
Her eyes flicker, a quick dart from my extended hand up to my face, revealing the conflict stirring beneath her calm facade.
Her fingers slip into mine, a gentle webbing of warmth that sends a shock straight to my chest. My whole body reacts, alive to the contact of her skin against my own calloused palm.
I lead her toward the dance floor, aware of every eye that might be on us.
The captain and the doctor. But all that fades away as she rests her palm lightly on my shoulder, like she’s testing the waters, and I savor the sensation.
As I slide my other hand to the curve of her waist, a jolt of electricity rushes through me.
We move together as if we’ve danced a thousand times before, our bodies attuned to the faintest shifts in rhythm, in step, in breath.
The music wraps around us, a melody that knows exactly what we need.
I take the lead, careful and steady, making sure she knows she can trust me.
It’s more than just dancing. It’s as if I’m trying to prove that I won’t let her fall, won’t let her down again.
Karina follows, an effortless grace in her every movement.
She’s like water flowing over rocks, smooth and naturally elegant, a force of nature.
“So, Captain, tell me something. Why is a man like you still single?”
“The short answer?” I begin. “The job takes over. You blink and suddenly it’s been nearly a decade since your last real date. And now it feels like my bedroom’s been collecting more dust than my firetrucks.”
“Hmm, I see.” Karina’s lips curve into a playful smile. “Or maybe you’re just afraid of commitment.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Afraid? No, I wouldn’t say that. Cautious, perhaps. When you’ve seen the things I have, you learn not to take anything for granted. Also, my understaffed station makes me more committed to my job than I think a potential partner would like.”
“Understaffed seems to be the word of the century. I totally get it.” She tilts her head, her eyes searching mine. “And what about now?” she asks. “Are you still being cautious? Or…”
“With you,” I say, feeling something shift as I pull her closer, “I’m officially off the clock.”
“You’re a smooth talker, Vulcan. One more burning question, though. Does my age bother you?” There’s something vulnerable in her voice, even as she laughs to cover it up.
“Age is just the world’s most annoying number.” I pause. “The connection between us? That’s what I care about. And I haven’t felt this in a long time.”
Karina’s eyes widen slightly, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks. She leans closer, her voice dropping. “Is that Captain Montgomery’s roundabout way of saying he likes me?”
“I thought asking for your number made that pretty clear.” I let my hand slide lower on her back, fingers grazing the exposed skin where her dress dips. “But if you need it spelled out, I’ve got all night.”
She shivers under my touch, her breath catching. “A number you ghosted faster than a horror movie victim, but who’s keeping track?”
I wince, then lean in, letting my mouth hover close enough to her ear that I can feel the heat radiating off her. She smells like fresh linen and vanilla, and for a second, I’m tempted to just press my lips to her neck and see what she tastes like. Instead, I whisper, “I deserved that.”
Her lips twitch, as if she’s fighting a smile. “You definitely did.”
“So, what exactly are you proposing now?”
“How about you tell me what you want, Vulcan?”
And there it is—the opening. I don’t hesitate. “How about we start with a kiss and see where the night takes us? Hopefully, back to my penthouse for a nightcap.”
“You’re nothing if not honest.” She laughs, a breathy exhale that stirs the hair at my temple.
“You wouldn’t want me any other way.” I dip my head, my lips grazing the shell of her ear—just enough contact to make her breath stutter out again. “So what do you say?”
Karina pulls back slightly, her eyes searching mine. There’s a pause, a moment of uncertainty, and I wonder if I’ve pushed too far, too fast. I’m not used to feeling this wound up about someone, but damn, there is no denying how much I want her.
“I think we should take it slow,” she says after a moment. “I’m not looking for just a nightcap.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Slow is good. Slow is… fine.” It’s not what I want—I want to take her hand and lead her out of here right now—but I’ll go at whatever pace she sets.