Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Saxon
Iknow she’s coming before I see her.
The guys have been buzzing about it all morning—like a pack of bored wolves who just scented something fun. I’ve ignored them, buried myself in reports, pretended I’m unaffected.
I’m not.
I hear the bell on the bay door, and every head snaps toward the entrance.
Then she steps in.
Briar Tate.
Sunshine in a dress.
Soft curls, soft mouth, wide curious eyes taking in every inch of the station like it’s an amusement park.
A kid that looks just like her skips beside her, pigtails bouncing.
Every man in the room straightens.
I grit my teeth.
Of course my crew moves first, descending on her like vultures who forgot their manners.
“Miss Tate!” Rowan calls out, propping himself against the engine, showing off a stupid grin. “Welcome to Devil’s Peak Fire and Rescue. Otherwise known as firehouse 19.”
Briar laughs. Light. Musical. It hits somewhere deep.
I stay where I am, arms crossed, leaning against the wall like I’m immune.
I’m not.
She spots me.
And her whole body reacts—stiffens, lights up, does this subtle startled thing like she remembers being pressed into that closet with my mouth inches from her throat.
Good.
She should remember.
“Captain Cole,” she says, too bright, too polite, like she’s trying to pretend I didn’t have her trembling just two days ago. “We’re here for the field trip.”
Ash snorts. “Field trip? Pretty sure the captain forgot to put that on the schedule.”
“Pretty sure the captain forgot how to smile too,” Axel adds.
Laughter erupts.
I glare at all of them. “We run a station here, not a comedy club.”
“Lighten up, Cap,” Ash says under his breath. “Your girl’s here. Look alive.”
Not my girl.
Not anything.
But the word still hits.
I push off the wall, moving toward her before the crew eats her alive.
“Okay,” I bark, “you know the rules for visitors.”
A little girl in pigtails with a nametag that says Junie beams up at me. “No running! No touching things! No going near the big trucks unless you say it’s okay!”
Her excitement squeezes something in my chest.
Briar touches the little girl’s shoulder gently. “Very good, sweetheart.”
My eyes flick to Briar. Is she a mom? Is Junie her daughter?
The little girl nods, eyes cast down. “Yes, mommy.”
Briar catches me watching then, going still as soon as I look at her.
Like she feels it too.
She says, “Thank you for letting us visit.”
“Didn’t exactly volunteer,” I mutter.
“But you didn’t cancel,” she fires back.
There it is—her spark.
I step closer. “Didn’t know I had permission to cancel.”
Her breath hitches. “You always have permission.”
“Funny,” I say low, leaning in, noticing for the first time that this woman isn’t wearing a wedding ring, “doesn’t feel like I do.”
The tips of her ears flush.
Worth it.
Behind me, someone whistles. The rest snicker.
“Captain’s got himself a sunshine crush,” Axel calls out.
I whip around. “Axel, I swear to—”
“Oh come on,” Ash interrupts, “we all saw the way you hustled her into the closet at school. Thought you were gonna throw her over your shoulder and carry her off next.”
Briar’s jaw drops.
I face her again. “Don’t listen to them.”
Junie tugs my pant leg. “Do you want to carry her on your shoulder because she’s pretty?”
Rowan practically chokes. “Kid’s got him clocked.”
My crew is dead.
Briar tries not to laugh. “Junie, honey, don’t—”
“She is pretty,” Rowan stage-whispers.
“Axel, write that on the board,” Boone adds. “Captain Cole is speechless. Historic day.”
I’m two seconds from sending them all on hose-testing duty for the rest of the week.
“Enough,” I bark. “All of you.”
They scatter, still grinning.
Briar covers her mouth to hide her smile. Fails miserably.
I narrow my eyes. “You enjoying this?”
“Very much,” she says sweetly.
“You shouldn’t.”
“Why? Because you’re terrifying?” she teases.
I step closer, forcing her backward until her spine meets the side of the engine.
Her breath stumbles.
Mine almost does.
I drop my voice. “You said terrifying. You sure that’s the word you want?”
Her lips part. “Maybe.”
She’s trying to look unaffected.
She’s failing.
I let my gaze trail over her—slow, deliberate. “You bring your class here to learn about fire safety, or to test mine?”
Her cheeks burn. “I didn’t—I’m not testing anything.”
“Funny,” I murmur, “you say that every time.”
Her breath shakes.
I hear Rowan across the room whisper, “Holy shit, the captain’s flirting.”
I don’t even look. “Boone, Axel, Ash, Rowan—engine check. Now.”
Four men scramble away like startled raccoons.
Briar laughs softly. “You really terrify them?”
“Only when they deserve it.”
“What did they do?”
I take a slow step closer.
“They distracted me.”
Her throat bobs. “From what?”
“You.”
Her hands grip the strap of her bag like she needs something to hold onto.
“Saxon—”
“I told you Monday,” I say quietly, “you talk too much when you’re nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
“Sure you are.”
“I’m not.”
I lean one hand on the truck behind her, effectively caging her in. “Then why are you breathing like that?”
Her eyes flare.
Her chest rises too fast.
She’s warm, flushed, caught between wanting to push me away and wanting to pull me closer.
She swallows. “This is very inappropriate for a field trip.”
“I haven’t touched you.” Yet.
“You don’t have to,” she whispers.
My jaw flexes. “That a complaint?”
“No.”
Her honesty slams into me. For a moment neither of us moves, air stretched tight between us. Junie breaks the spell.
“Mommy! I mean, Miss Briar!” she calls from across the bay. “Can I climb in the truck?”
Briar startles, breath rushing out. “No—yes—no—wait—Captain Cole?”
I force myself to step back.
Focus, Cole.
Do your damn job.
I nod at Junie. “Yeah, kid. I’ll show you.”
Her face lights up. Then she grabs Briar’s hand and drags her along.
As they move, Briar glances over her shoulder at me.
It’s small. Barely there. But it hits like a match striking.
She wants this. Wants the tension. Wants the way I close in on her like she’s the only thing in the room worth looking at.
I follow them to the cab.
Junie climbs up with my help and immediately makes siren noises.
Briar hovers behind her, laughing under her breath.
“You good?” I ask Briar, low enough the kid can’t hear.
She nods. “Of course.”
“Because you look…” I drag my gaze down her again, “…flustered.”
“I am not flustered.”
“You were pinned between me and that engine two minutes ago.”
“You were the one doing the pinning.”
“Did you want me to stop?”
Her lips part—silence stretches—and for one fragile second, she almost tells the truth.
Then she clears her throat. “This is a professional environment.”
I smirk. “Funny. Didn’t feel very professional.”
Her eyes snap up. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re bad at lying.”
She huffs. “You’re—”
“Captain!” Rowan shouts from across the bay. “You wanna give the tour? Or should we?”
I glare at him. “I’m giving the tour.”
Rowan smirks at Briar. “Careful, Miss Tate. The captain only volunteers like that when he’s trying to impress a woman.”
Briar sputters. Junie giggles.
I step toward Rowan. “Hose testing. Until your hands blister.”
He salutes mockingly and jogs off.
Briar shakes her head. “Do you threaten them all day?”
“Only when they earn it.”
“And me?”
I face her fully.
“You’re the one starting trouble, sweetheart.”
Her pulse quickens. “I’m not doing anything.”
“You walked in here.”
I let my voice drop to a dangerous rumble. “That was enough.”
Her breath catches.
Junie shouts from the truck, “Captain Cole! What’s this button?”
I drag my gaze away from Briar with effort.
“This,” I mutter, “is going to be a long damn day.”
Briar laughs faintly. “For you or me?”
“For both of us.”
Her smile falters as our eyes meet again—loaded, heavy, unspoken.
I step back, but only enough to move toward the kid. The distance doesn’t help. Not even a little. The universe keeps throwing her at me. And I’m starting to think it’s not by accident.