Chapter 6
Finn
I ’m speechless when Kenzie leaves my office, and even for about an hour afterward. I wish there was a simple answer to this, but it really seems like one of us has to compromise in this situation.
Either I hire her with some doubt as to whether or not she can do the job, and my competence in this new role is questioned, or she lets go of the position she wants.
This sucks. I’m now wallowing.
Cutting into my wallowment, the fire alarm goes off. There’s no more time to dig for an answer. Instincts take over and I’m hopping into my gear and onto the truck.
We’re racing off to take care of a call, and my head is fully in the game. When we get to the site, I realize it’s Poppy’s house. Poppy is Nolan’s younger sister, it’s a good thing he’s not on shift today. For so many reasons.
At first we walk in thinking it’s a normal fire in the kitchen.
It takes a little while, but we get the fire under control. The cupboards are scorched. The stove and some of the other appliances are toast. The floors are also charred. But Poppy is lucky. It doesn't look like anything else caught fire. And, though it’s hard to tell, it doesn’t appear as though anything of unique sentimental value burned either. In this space, what wasn’t burned most certainly has water damage now, so this will be a full kitchen renovation.
Only after we see Ryder hovering in the background (in his boxers) do we realize what’s going on. None of us mentions it in front of Poppy, since she already looks a bit shaken up. Ryder’s shifting his weight from foot to foot and is looking a little pale as well. But really, who decides to bang halfway through cooking a meal? I mean, I’m not a saint, but I’d like to think I’d remember to turn the heating element off. Of course, the fire could have a different origin since I’m not a fire inspector, but it’s definitely just looking like negligence considering the black pot on the stove.
Anway, she’s lucky the fire didn’t go further than the one room. As it is, she’ll have enough on her plate to go through insurance and get everything redone.
“You’re not going to mention any of this,” she gestures widely, but we all know she’s referring to Ryder, “to Nolan, are you?”
Eli and I are in the kitchen with her when she makes this request. “We can’t make any promises that it won’t get back to him, Poppy.”
“Sometimes I hate living in a small town,” she says, jutting out her lip.
“It’s okay, angel.” Ryder embraces her from behind and places a kiss on her temple. It’s an altogether too familiar move for this to be their first time together. But I’m not going there. Ryder is a notorious player, and I don’t just mean professionally with the Calgary Courage.
I have no clue how Nolan will react to this news. Because make no mistake, in a town this small, it’ll get back to him somehow. And he will react. I’m thinking explosively.
“Maybe we can buy you a little time, Poppy,” Eli reassures her. “But you might want to tell him first. It might reduce the shock.”
“You think he’ll be okay with this?”
“Uh…” Ya, no. He will definitely not be okay with this. But Poppy is a grown ass woman. She can make her own decisions. Even if they’re terrible ones.
Nolan and Ryder do not get along, despite their similar playboy ways.
“That’s what I thought.” Poppy growls. Softly. But still, she absolutely growled.
“You probably can’t stay here now.”
“You can stay with me, Poppy.”
“Really?” She turns around and wraps her arms around his neck. When I see she’s rising up on her tiptoes, I take that as our cue to leave.
“Let’s go, Eli.”
With the sound of lips smacking, we turn to leave the house. Only, the sounds of kissing are distracting me. I recall the kissing (and more) with Kenzie and—damn it, I’m tripping down the front steps.
Eli’s there to brace my shoulder so I don’t tumble all the way down, but I tweaked my ankle for sure. Fuck.
“You okay? Too much smoke?” he asks with real concern.
“Nope. Just thinking about a smokeshow.” I heave out a sigh. “Son of a monkey. I can’t believe I just did that. I think I twisted my ankle.”
“It’s all good. We’ll take you back to the firehall and call the doc so he can come see you.”
“Thanks,” I grumble as I hobble toward the truck. This is not what I need right now. I need to see Kenzie. I need to talk to her so we can figure out what we’re going to do. I’m not gonna lie. I was a little jealous of how natural it was between Ryder and Poppy, and I just want to kiss my girl now.