Jack’s head hurt like hell, and he did have a mild concussion. So the FD doctor insisted he not spend the night alone…
“I have someone coming over,” Jack told the man. Zach and Casey had been with him.
“Who? ‘Cause one of us can stay with you.” This from Zach.
“Thanks, but I have it covered.”
Zach snorted. “You got a squeeze we don’t know about, Doc?”
“None of your business. Just take me to my house. I’ll make arrangements to get my car from the camp tomorrow.”
“Maybe your girlfriend can drive you…”
Now, at home, he waited for Tess to arrive. He’d texted her from the hospital and she’d said she’d be over as soon as she could.
Lying on the couch, he closed his eyes and thought of her. The ice pack on his head was cold and he ached all over, but his heart stirred at the thought that she’d acquiesced. To coming over, at least. But he’d seen something in her eyes tonight that made him think he could convince her to pursue a relationship with him and conflict of interest be damned.
The doorbell rang.
He righted himself and stood. Uh-oh. Dizziness swamped him. Grabbing on to the back of the sofa, he waited for his brain to adjust, then limped to the door.
And there she was, outside on the front porch. The rain had come again, and her hair and shoulders were damp. Her eyes were still filled with concern. “You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s a mild concussion. But my head hurts like hell. So does the rest of me. Come in and nurse me?”
A half smile formed on her face. “You’re something else. But yes, I’ll nurse you. I owe you this.”
She stepped inside his house and circled to face him. He noticed she’d changed into plain blue pants and a red T-shirt, over which she’d thrown a cotton hoodie. “You’re a mess,” she told him.
“I know. I’m dirty from the rain and mud and my hair’s grimy.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t tell me. You need help bathing.”
“Fair’s fair, darlin’.”
“Zach could have come home with you and helped you.”
“I didn’t want Zach. I want you, Teresa.”
Her eyes widened. She was remembering what happened after her shower all those months ago. Good. His words had an intentional double meaning.
“Don’t get ideas. No funny stuff with a concussion and a wound that required stitches.”
A sudden bout of fatigue came over him. He steadied himself with a nearby chair. “Truthfully, honey, right now, I just want to feel clean and get some rest.”
“Of course, Jack. I didn’t mean to tease.”
She glanced around from the foyer. He tried to see the house through her eyes. The one level structure sported cedar siding. The inside matched the rustic exterior with wood everywhere, high ceilings and windows. “This is beautiful.”
“Yeah, I like it. The kids didn’t want to move out of the house where they grew up, but when they left for college, I put our old place up for sale.”
“Where’s the bathroom?”
“There’s three. Mine’s off the master bedroom.”
“Do you need help getting there?”
“Yeah. Wrap your arm around my waist.”
Because he was leaning heavily on her, she’d know he wasn’t in as good shape as he pretended to be. But he couldn’t help it. He was weak. They did a slow walk down the long corridor to his wing, which contained his den and the master suite. The kids’ rooms were on the other side of the large kitchen and spacious family area. They needed privacy, and so did he.
“Wow, Jack, this is lovely.” High wooden ceiling, skylights, lots of windows and a lake of a bed. “Thanks.” He nodded to the bathroom. “In there.”
They entered another large space. “Double wow.” This, too, had a high ceiling, a wall of windows, under which sat a Jacuzzi. There was a separate shower. “I did some of the work myself.” He sat down on the john. “How shall we tackle this?”
“A bath with the jets will do wonders for you. Can you get up the two steps?”
“Yeah, but you might have to support me. I think maybe you’ll have to get in with me. It seats two.”
Tess bit back a smile. “Let’s get you out of those clothes.”
“I hope this isn’t uncomfortable for you.”
“I’ve seen it all before. But if I have to get into the tub, I’m keeping my undies on—again.” Her reference to her modesty when she was hurt made him chuckle.
After turning on the tub facet, she drew his muddy T-shirt over his head. He lifted up and she slid down his dirt-caked jeans, his dark blue jockey shorts. He watched her for her reaction to his nakedness, but her face remained impassive.
“I think we better wash off the dirt in the shower, otherwise you’re going to have a mud bath.”
She ran that, too, and he leaned against the wall under the hot spray and let the dirt sluice off him. She waited nearby, with the door open. When he was clean enough and the tub filled, the jets on, she led him over to it.
Quickly, she shucked off her outer clothing, giving him a view of a pink sports bra and panties. Once she was in the tub, she grabbed his hands. He climbed the first step and moaned. “Arrgh.”
“When was the last time you had pain meds?”
“At the hospital. I think it’s time for more. Just ibuprofen. They’re right there on the sink.”
“I’ll get some as soon as you’re seated.”
With great care, they managed to lower him down, but the process was accompanied by more, louder groans. The water came up to his chest and the jets pulsed at his feet and the sides of his neck. “Oh dear Lord in heaven, that feels so good.”
Stepping out of the tub, Tess retrieved the medicine and ran a glass of water. After he swallowed them, she climbed back in. “Don’t fall asleep. I’ll never get you out of here.”
“I won’t. There’s a washcloth and soap right there.”
“You could probably manage yourself.”
He sighed. “Okay.” He sat up and moaned again.
“Never mind. I’ll do it.”
She knelt between his legs. Ran the soap over his chest and rinsed it with the cloth. She did the same for his arms, neck and face. “That feels as good as the water.” He reached out and brushed his hand down her cheek. “I’ve missed you, Teresa. A lot.”
“We don’t need to talk about that while you’re hurting.”
He lay back and closed his eyes. Sitting on her haunches, she soaped his legs and feet. Then she approached his groin.
She ran the wash cloth and over him. His erection sprang to attention.
“You can’t be all that sick,” she said with a laugh.
o0o
All right, so it had been fun to give him a bath. And she was relieved to see him well enough to joke and flirt after the fall he took. She’d been unable to stop the memories of Joey and those had made her weak, vulnerable to him. But she didn’t examine her other motives for being here. She would, but now, she was glad to be the one to take care of him.
When the water started to cool, she climbed over the edge of the tub and wrapped herself in a towel. But she didn’t get dressed right away. She knelt beside on the top step, covered Jack’s wound with a cloth and managed to massage some shampoo and water into his thick hair. With a cup, she rinsed his head, careful to avoid the stitches. “It’s not perfect, but it’ll do.”
“It was terrific.” He grabbed her hand again and kissed it. “Thanks.”
As she helped him out of the tub, he swayed. “Dizzy?”
“A bit. But the pain’s diminished. All over.”
“I could tell.” She nodded to the toilet. “Sit.”
Unable to stop herself, she took her time drying him off, because she enjoyed the feel of his body beneath her hands, then she helped him dress in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. Out in the bedroom, she insisted he get in bed.
“Stay with me, Teresa.”
“Let me change first.”
She made quick work of putting on her top and slacks, sans underwear because they were wet. Going commando was sexy. Too sexy, probably.
From his bedside, she asked, “Have you eaten anything?”
“No. I wouldn’t mind some chicken soup. There’s cans in the cupboard.”
In a few minutes, she brought him soup on a tray. “I’m not feeding you.”
“Sit with me.”
She started to get a chair.
“No. On the bed.”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“I am. And we do have to talk.”
“Eat first.”
He downed the soup, crackers and a glass of milk without help, which indicated he felt better. Afterward, she took a place on the bed, facing him cross-legged.
“I had a date with Larissa James last night.”
“I know.” She cleared her throat. “How was it?”
“Pleasant. Nice.” His gaze narrowed on her. “I thought of you.”
Swallowing hard at his last remark, Tess stared at him, knowing what she said right now would be crucial. She wanted to be practical, to tell him they’d fight, ask again about professionalism and the RC class, but all she could think of was how he’d gotten hurt, like Joey had. And she’d lost Joey. “I—I thought of you when I went to Cory Cameron’s last night.”
“Fuck!” His hands fisted and he raised his eyes to the ceiling. “Did you sleep with him?”
“No! He was a perfect gentleman. He said I wasn’t giving out vibes that I was interested.”
“You weren’t?”
“Of course not. I’ve tried to put you out of my mind, tried to hang on to my anger about you leaving me high and dry, choosing Mitch over me, and our contention over the recruits. But last night, I couldn’t do anything with him. Then, when you got hurt…” Now she looked up, as if the answers were in the wood. “What are we going to do, Jack?”
“I know what I want.”
Staring directly at him, she arched her brows.
“I want to spend time with you. To make love to you like we did before. Let’s see where this goes, Teresa. I’m tired of wanting you and not having you.”
“What about the recruits?”
“We’ll disagree. We can handle it. But I do think it’s probably not a good idea to flaunt what’s between us until after the fourteen weeks are up.”
“Is there a no-fraternizing policy in the department?”
“Hell no.” He held up a hand and counted off on his fingers. “A lot of HCFD couples got together: Grady and Jenn, Zach and Casey, Riley and Jane Phillips, and even Noah. He fell in love with the woman from the Fire Prevention and Control unit who came up to investigate him and eventually married her. No one would care about us.”
“I’m tired of fighting how I feel, too. I want to try, Jack.”
“Good. So do I.” Despite the gravity of their discussion, he joked, “But not tonight. Despite earlier evidence, I’m exhausted and woozy again.”
“Scoot down and lie back on the pillows.”
“Stay, though.”
She hesitated.
“I’ve got a concussion.”
“Waking someone up every hour is old thinking, Doc. You know it.”
“Just stay.”
“I could.” She wanted to. “I picked up my laundry this afternoon so I have a uniform in my car.”
“Then, it’s settled.”
“I have to call the Malvasos. They’ll worry.”
“More like Mitch will come looking for you.”
“That, too.”
She thought for a minute. “Maybe I’ll text him.” She got her phone, sat back on the bed and started to type. “I won’t be home tonight Mitch,” she said, pretending to type those words. “I’m spending the night in Jack Harrison’s bed. See you tomorrow.”
“You didn’t?” he said, only half joking.
“You’ll never know.”
He yawned again. “Come here, woman.” He pulled back the covers. “I want to hold you all night.”
“I want that, too.”
After a while, the rise and fall of his chest, the steady rhythm of his heart lulled Tess, and she drifted off into sleep. She knew there would be no nightmares tonight.
o0o
Jack awakened at five. The room was dark and a bit chilly from the open windows. Tess snuggled into the crook of his arm, fast asleep. Easing away from her, he slid out of bed and didn’t get dizzy when he stood. His head still hurt, so he went to the bathroom, took some ibuprofen and brushed his teeth. Hmm. It was hours before she needed to go to the Academy. From a drawer, he pulled out condoms.
In the kitchen, he made coffee to bring to her. She awoke when he came back to the room. “Um, hi.” Her hair was askew and her eyes sleepy. “What time is it?”
“Five. We fell asleep early.”
She eyed the coffee. “Thank God.” Sitting up she took it and sipped. “Hmm.”
He got hard at that little noise.
“How do you feel?”
“Good enough.” Amusement filtered into his tone.
She studied him. “Presumptuous, aren’t you?”
“Am I?”
“No.” She took a gulp, got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. When she returned, she finished the coffee, then dove onto the mattress. “Make love to me, John.”
“All right, Teresa.”
It was like before, but it wasn’t. This time, Jack was emotionally attached, and every touch was more meaningful. Just the soft feel of her skin as he eased off her shirt aroused him. He’d already undressed and when he lay beside her, he aligned each of his limbs with hers. Their faces so close, their noses touching, he sighed gratefully. “I’ve wanted this a long time sweetheart.”
“Me, too. Take it easy, though. Your body had a shock yesterday.”
“I will, but my body has risen to the occasion, so to speak.”
She arched her hips. “I can feel that.”
Intertwining their fingers, he took her mouth. The kiss was tender and sweet, as he savored the taste of her. He nuzzled her neck, where he indulged in a tiny love bite. His hands traveled down her body to her breasts.
She sighed.
But Tess wanted her turn. She ran her hands over his chest. “I love how taut you are. How your muscles feel.” Her knuckles brushed his abs. “Here, too.”
Bypassing his groin, she slid her hands to his butt, kneaded him there. “God, Teresa.”
She took her time getting to the part of him that was about to explode. After she took him between her hands, she massaged him.
“Don’t. I’ll come.”
“I don’t care.”
“I do. Please.”
Up on her knees, Tess took the protection he’d put on the night table and sheathed him. Then she lay back down; he scissored their legs and entered her. He was so hard, it startled her. But the fullness was wonderful and she was wet and needy. He thrust gently. Again. And again. Spasms started deep within her, making her move faster, faster…until finally everything erupted inside her—and him—and she lost the capacity to think.
They cuddled close on one pillow. He was breathing as hard as she. Chilled, she pulled up the covers and nestled into his side. But reality came, an emotional slap in the face. Tess started to think again about the gravity of what they were facing. She was scared—and not necessarily because of the recruit class. In the early hours of the morning, she admitted she didn’t want any more loss, and if she let herself love this man, there was risk involved.
“Don’t do that,” he said commandingly.
“Do what?”
“Let the doubts in. Later, maybe, we can talk about it, but not now.”
“You’re right.” Her eyes closed. “I’ll just think about how sexy you are and that, for now, you’re all mine.”
“Sounds good to me,” he said, kissing her hair.
o0o
Tess swerved her car into a parking space at the Academy, jumped out and raced to the door. Because she was late, she’d already missed roll call but was hoping to arrive in time to help introduce the Hurst tools to the recruits. This was a big lesson, as safety with the giant spreaders, scissors and rams was paramount. When she reached the classroom, she breathed a sigh of relief that they hadn’t yet begun the instruction. The recruits were only now settling into chairs, and Olive and Quinn stood up front.
She covered the aisle with long strides. “I’m so sorry, Olive. I overslept.” It was a lie, but she wouldn’t think about what she’d been doing this morning. She’d vowed to keep Jack out of her mind today, even though now, they were happy thoughts.
The BC gave her a genuine smile. “No worries, Tess. It happens to all of us.”
Lucky you, she thought.
Quinn Frazier squeezed her shoulder. “We haven’t even started the formal intro, anyway.”
Olive called for the attention of the group and was the first to talk to them. “Today, we’re reviewing what you studied for homework over the weekend—the Hurst tools used for extricating victims from cars and other tight places, as well as popping doors in houses. We’ll spend about thirty minutes in the classroom discussing the way the tools work—which again you’ve already studied—then we’ll go out to a bay and get the equipment donated to us by a Hurst company. Later, during the second half of the class, you’ll be able to use them in simulated extrication emergencies.”
A soft murmur rippled through the group. Recruits always wanted to get their hands on things before they were ready.
Up front on the screen, Olive showed a picture of the equipment. “First, there are tools powered by hydraulics, then there are newer battery-operated ones called eDraulic. The HCFD has both, but found the latter ones are the easiest to use, as you might guess. We’re starting with those. The drawback to this type is they have a shorter use rate because they run out of juice.”
Another slide. “These are spreaders, for either pushing or pulling a substance apart. They have a thirty-two-inch reach.
“Next the shears, capable of cutting almost any object that can be fit between their blades. Smaller departments often use the combination spreader/shears but the HCFD has separate ones. And yes, this is what is called the Jaws of Life.”
After showing a variety of the equipment, she put up a slide of extension rams. “These come in different sizes and are used to gain forcible entry into buildings or cars. Of note, the FDNY used this tool to open 109 doors in their rescue efforts in the World Trade Center.
“We’ll save the jacks and air bags and cribbing for another lesson.”
The recruits were sitting at attention, their eyes focused and…interested. Olive had given them a lot of information, but it was fascinating stuff to anyone involved with firefighting. “One last thing. The noise, from the shears especially, is teeth grating, so don’t let it spook you. Meet us in the first bay after a ten-minute bathroom break or whatever you need.”
To make up for her lateness, Tess headed to the garage, intending to get out the tools. But she’d missed this, too, as she found them already displayed on the concrete surface. The door was up, and rain slanted down but wasn’t coming inside yet. Walking the floor, she fingered the Jaws of Life and picked up a ram to test its weight. A lump formed in her throat. She hadn’t used these tools in over a year, but she remembered vividly the first time she ripped open the hood of a vehicle. Her muscles had hurt with the force of the steel on the car and the power of the tool. She’d steadied her stance, though, and did the cutting. Several men had been looking on to see if she could handle the grueling task and she remembered thinking that she’d show them women were capable.
Lost in memory, she startled at the earsplitting buzz of the cutters. Whirling around, she saw Recruit Mauro had come to the bay, too, turned on the tool and was spreading it.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
He looked up. “Just trying it on for size, ma’am,” he said easily.
Without goggles or any hand protection!
And just like that, Tess morphed from the woman who had been well loved only hours ago into a teacher who needed to discipline a recruit. “Turn that thing off right now, Recruit Mauro. You won’t be using any of these this morning.”
o0o
He’d done it now, Danny thought, as he sat alone on a bench in the gloomy classroom and watched the rain pelt against the windows. He’d been making mistakes, and this was a doozy.
It wasn’t a mistake, his conscience told him. You knew what you were doing. You know what you’ve been doing for two weeks.
They’d all been pissed…
Captain Hennessey had flipped. “What were you thinking, Recruit Mauro?” Usually calm and reasonable, the woman’s voice rose and her face reddened. Righetti had gotten the woman all stirred up.
He’d been belligerent. “I wasn’t doing anything wrong.”
“If you think that, you need to go sit in the classroom until you do know what a grave mistake you made. Read the section in chapter five on tool usage safety and summarize it for me in your own words, in writing. Pay particular attention to protective gear that you’re required to wear before you even touch the equipment…”
So here he was, being punished like a school-kid for his rashness in starting a tool. Damn, this was so not him. He leafed through the book on his desk until he came to the safety section. He’d just finished the written summary when someone came into the room.
“Hello, Dan.” Harrison, the staff psychologist. The guy was okay, but Danny didn’t like the class he ran. Too much introspection.
Danny stood. “Sir.”
“Sit back down.” Harrison dragged a bench across from him and settled on it slowly, as if he was in pain. “I understand you got into some trouble this morning.”
He shrugged.
The doc pierced him with a hard gaze. “Do you know what you did wrong?”
“I guess I shouldn’t have turned on the Hurst tool.”
“Why did you?”
“I don’t know,” he lied. Down deep, he knew why he was taking all these chances.
“Did you realize your actions were dangerous?”
“No. I’ve been around fire stations all my life. I’ve held the Jaws of Life before.”
“You’re from a family of firefighters?”
“Three—my dad and two brothers.”
“Do you think they’d see your behavior as acceptable?”
Of course not. They’d kick his ass. Danny didn’t answer.
Leaning back, Harrison stretched out his legs. The overhead light showed lines around the man’s eyes and mouth. “Dan, do you want to be at the Academy? In this class?”
“Yeah, of course. I’m going to be a firefighter.”
“I read your file. Since you got here two weeks ago, you’ve said and done things that indicate that maybe your intentions might be the opposite.”
“I do, I swear.” He heard the panic in his voice. “I’ve done well in all my tests and physical training.”
“I know. Congratulations.”
Again, he stared silently at the psychologist.
“So, what should we do now?”
“It’s up to you all, I guess.”
“Is there anything you want to talk about? What you confide in me will be confidential, I promise.”
“Look, I’m sorry for what I did. I’ll apologize to the teachers in front of the class. I was stupid. Nothing else is going on.”
“Okay. Chief Hennessey said you can go back to the class after lunch. You’re supposed to stay here and ponder your sins.”
“That’s all?”
“Yeah, for now. But if you ever want to talk, I’m available.”
Danny stood when the captain did, watched him leave—limping a little this time. He sat down and stared out at the rain.
Why the hell couldn’t he be honest with the shrink?
o0o
Tess swept into his office at lunchtime—her face flaming. Jack’s response to her presence was visceral. She, however, was mad. “What the hell are you doing here?”
Before he could answer, Olive came storming through the door. “Somebody just told me you got hurt at Hale’s Haven yesterday. You should be home in bed.”
Hmm. He’d been there just hours ago, with the angry Captain Righetti. “Hello to you, too, ladies.”
They frowned.
“Jack?” This from Olive.
“I’m fine. I slept until ten and have been back an hour. I feel great.”
The battalion chief studied him. “When I left the message on your phone about talking to Mauro, I didn’t know you’d been hurt.”
“As I said, I’m doing better now.”
Tess folded her arms across her chest and glowered at him but didn’t speak.
“Go home early, then,” Olive continued.
“I will. I promise. So about Mauro. I did talk to him.”
“He told us when he came back and apologized. What did he say to you?”
“That he didn’t know why he turned on the tool. In the end, he admitted he shouldn’t have and said he’d apologize.”
“What else did you talk about?” Tess asked, her eyes narrowed. It was as if she could read his mind.
“Pretty much what he told you. I couldn’t get a bead on the kid, though.”
“Something’s going on with him. I feel it in my gut. He suited up in turnout gear without the proper instruction. It’s my opinion that he insulted Ian Woodward. And now this.”
“I saw the pattern, too, in his file. But he’s an eighteen-year-old kid. Being from a firefighter family makes him cocky. Maybe that’s all it is.”
“Could be.” Olive was still frowning. “Except for his attitude, he’s one of the best recruits I’ve ever taught.”
“I’ll concede to that.” Tess sounded reasonable. “But I’m afraid he’ll have a negative effect on the others.”
Jack dug his hands into his pockets, a nervous gesture, he knew. “It’s too soon to cut him loose.”
“I didn’t say we should. We have to watch him vigilantly.”
“Great, then we agree?”
Both women nodded.
“I’ve got to get back,” Olive told them. “I have a meeting.”
Jack asked, “Tess, can you stay a minute?”
“I can.” He couldn’t read her expression.
Scanning her from head to toe after Olive left, Jack gave Tess a sexy smile. “All alone again.”
She bit her lip but the grin won out. “Yep.” Then her eyes turned dark. “Seriously, should you be back at work so soon?”
“I had a great morning.”
“Hmm, me, too. Except for this thing with Mauro.”
“Tess, something occurred to me while I was talking to him. Does he remind you of Joey? He’s got those strong Italian features.”
“I wouldn’t say he looked like Joey.”
“How about his attitude? You told me your brother was cocky, entitled. Could that be prejudicing you against Mauro?”
Her eyebrows skyrocketed. “Jack, I haven’t made up what he’s done.”
“I know. I’m concerned about you in this, too. Not just the boy.”
She pushed away from the wall. “I don’t want to talk about Joey.”
“Have you ever, to anyone?”
“Mitch and the family.”
“No, I mean professionally.”
Her whole body stiffened. “Look, how’d we get on this?”
Experience told him it was time to stop. “Tell you what. Let me buy you lunch. There’s a great hamburger joint just down the road.”
“I’m not sure we should do that.”
“Why? It’s convenient. Olive knows we’re together. We said we wouldn’t tell anybody about us, but lunch would be okay, honey.”
“Don’t call me that at the Academy.”
“You didn’t mind this morning, Teresa,” he said sexily, again.
“Will you stop?”
“Only if you have lunch with me.”
They both smiled all the way out to his car.
o0o
Tess conceded to driving in Jack’s SUV with him. They should have taken two vehicles, but she succumbed to his request because she was still buzzed from this morning. The tenderness, the closeness had almost eclipsed the mind-numbing pleasure he’d given her. And vice versa, she thought, smiling.
“What’s that for?”
“Nothing.”
“Come on, baby. You’re thinking about me, right? About this morning, because I have to tell you I can still…feel you.”
A good description. “It was different from in Rockland, though that was great.”
“Different for me, too. I might lose my psychologist card for this, but let’s not analyze it to death.”
“I agree. Just tell me honestly if you’re well enough to be back to work.”
“For a while. I’m planning to go home early. Rest. Wait for you to come back and take care of me.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
The diner was large, sporting a black-and-white vinyl floor, booths with paper placemats and plastic forks, and a counter where long-time patrons sat. Jack led Tess to a table, they ordered drinks, then scanned the menu. “I’ll have their meat eater’s special.”
“Seriously, you can eat two hamburgers with everything on them?”
“Hmm. I burned a lot of calories already today.”
“French fries?”
“Of course.”
When the food was delivered, Tess ate the juicy burgers dripping with hot sauce and relish. Jack had plain beef with cheese but ate heartily. They exchanged small talk only, and the meal was easy and fun…until Tess looked up and saw Mitch walk into the diner. Shit. She knew she’d have to deal with him eventually, but she was hoping for a full day’s reprieve.
He spotted her and strode over in that gait he’d used the night he’d come after her when, at seventeen, she went to a bar with an older boy. Mitch had dragged her out and forbidden her to see the guy. Damn, he wouldn’t try that with Jack, would he? Mitch was a cream puff until he got riled.
His gaze zeroed in on her. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“Hi, Mitch.”
“Jack.” Mitch said the greeting without taking his eyes off Tess.
The urge to squirm was strong, but she was in her thirties now, not a teen. She bit her lip, too, so she wouldn’t laugh. The situation was ludicrous.
Nodding to her meal, Mitch asked, “You done?”
“Just finished.” This from Jack.
He faced his friend. And scowled. “What are you doing out and about? You were hurt yesterday.”
“I’m recovered enough to work a few hours.”
Mitch grunted. “Would you give me some time alone with my cousin? I can take her back to the Academy. And you go home.”
A long pause. Then Jack said, “I don’t think so, Mitch.”
Mitch’s brows rose. “Why?”
“Because what you want to talk to Tess about concerns me, too.”
It took him a minute. Then his eyes narrowed. “You gotta be kidding me.”
“Sit down, Mitch.” Jack’s voice was full of authority that even a battalion chief recognized.
When Mitch sat, and neither Jack nor Tess offered anything, Mitch finally said, “Tell me what’s going on.”
Leaning over, Tess took Mitch’s hand. “I was with Jack last night. I was the one he called to take care of him.”
Again a dark look. “Why would he call you? You don’t even like each other.”
“Outside of professional differences, we do like each other.” This from Jack.
“I don’t get it. How do you even know that? She’s only been here a few weeks.”
Where to go from here? Tess decided on the truth. “You don’t know the whole story. We got together in Rockland.”
“Define got together.”
Exasperated, Tess said, “We slept together.”
His eyes were saucers. “Seriously.” Then, “How many times?”
“That’s none of your business.”
Jack leaned over and braced his arms on the table. “No, Tess, no more secrets.” He locked his gaze with Mitch’s. She liked seeing him in this role. “Once.”
“You had a one-night stand with my cousin?” Now Mitch’s face reddened, and a muscle in his jaw bulged.
“Because of unforeseen reasons. I had to come home for Sara.”
In careful, modulated tones, Jack explained what had occurred between him and Tess.
To Tess’s surprise, the explanation seemed to make Mitch madder. His mouth formed a grim line. But he looked away. Took a few breaths. “I’m gonna leave. I don’t want to say anything I might regret. But know I’m not happy about this.”
Tess quipped, “Yes, Dad.”
The chair scraped back, Mitch stood, glared at them, and walked out.
“You shouldn’t have teased him.” Jack was smiling, though.
“I couldn’t help it. He’s acting just like he did when I was a kid.” She giggled.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“I’m sorry, I am. It feels good having him look after me again.”
“Easy for you to say. I’m the one that’s going to pay for this.”
She grinned. “I know.”
o0o
The night was warm, and Jack looked around the fire ground. It was good to be here again, which was why he’d tagged along with the crew from Engine 4. His record was still intact for no runs during a meal he cooked. The call had come after they finished a dinner of lasagna and meat sauce. Tess was busy tonight, so Jack accompanied the guys to the fire.
The rig had screeched to a halt, and Jack remembered the sensations of going to fight a fire: the extreme burst of adrenaline he’d always felt before entering the building; the loud noise of the trucks, still running; the scent of gasoline, strong and acrid.
Engine 4 firefighters clambered off the truck, grabbed tools and waited on high alert for their captain to get his orders. Among them was Tom Senate, the man who’d quit the Academy because of Jack’s Recruit Concerns class. He’d been pleasant to Jack at dinner, but there had been an air of remoteness about him.
Jack watched the captain trek over the pavement of the parking lot to Incident Command. Thankfully, the convenience store was a single building and not in a strip mall. Then he caught sight of the battalion chief on duty…Mitch Malvaso. Shit. Jack thought briefly of absconding back to his car and hightailing it out of there.
But he thought of Tess’s words. I like seeing you like this. Commanding. In control. So he couldn’t very well let her down on his new image. In truth, he didn’t want Mitch to be mad him.
So he strode over to the official vehicle. “Hey, Chief.”
Mitch spared him a glacial glance. “Doc.” Then, “I thought you were going home early.”
“I did, right after lunch. I slept this afternoon then cooked some dinner for Engine 4.” Jack nodded to the building, sniffing at the scent of smoke. “Big deal or not?”
“No. Small fire in the back kitchen. The cap could have handled it, but I came because I was…stirred up.”
Jack watched the firefighters go inside with hose. Smoke rose, but it was light colored. “About today.”
Mitch stared ahead.
“I know my history with Tess must be a surprise.”
“You lied to me.”
“A lie of omission. I apologize. But I had no idea Tess was your cousin when we…you know…got together.” Hell, he stuttered like a teenage talking to his girlfriend’s dad.
Another grunt and still Mitch kept his gaze on the fire.
“It wouldn’t have mattered. We, um, the attraction was just there.”
Finally, Mitch pivoted. “I got no qualms about that. But I been thinking about this. Tess must have been upset when you disappeared from her life afterward. When you never went back to Rockland.”
“She was. So was I, Mitch.”
Dark brows furrowed. He could see them because Mitch wore his uniform and no turnout gear. “Seriously?”
“Honest to God.”
“Well, then.”
He dug his hands into his pockets. “Mitch, we’d like your blessing, your family’s blessing, but in any case, I’m going to keep seeing her this time.”
Now Mitch pierced him with a heavy gaze. “Not without preliminaries.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re to come to our house Sunday. For a family dinner.”
“Your family already knows me.”
“Not as a suitor.”
“Hell.”
“All of us will be there, so come prepared.”
“To find out what my intentions are?”
“Maybe. Be there at three.”
Jack shook his head. “All right, I’ll come, but Tess isn’t going to like this.”
“Tough shit.”
Jack walked away bemused. He didn’t really think the Malvasos would…do anything to him. Yet they were a protective bunch. Hmm. Maybe he better check with Tess.