Jack stood at the helm of the boat he’d rented at the Hidden Cove Marina and steered the four of them out to shore. The kids loved boating on the lake, so he had this rig for several days.
And today seemed like a good time to have a meet-up with Tess. Participating in an activity together would help break the proverbial ice. The introductions over breakfast had gone well. Tess was friendly, inquisitive and not a bit nervous. Jack was. He’d never had the twins meet a woman before.
As they bounced on the water and the wind blew in his face, Jack pondered that fact. He was serious about her. He wanted to be with her, and these two weeks were going to be hard because he wouldn’t get to see her as much as before. Of his own doing, there would be no opportunity for intimacy. The conversation had been awkward…
Tess, you can’t stay overnight at my house while the kids are here.
Her eyes had narrowed, but there was a glimmer in them. Why, Dr. Harrison, I didn’t know you were such a prude.
Not a prude. I wouldn’t be comfortable having sex with them down the hall.
In the other wing of the house.
I guess I am old-fashioned and it’s stupid, because both kids have had sex and talked to me about it. I don’t know why I’m this way.
She’d given him a big smile. You know what, Doc. Old-fashioned works for you.
He’d crossed to her and encompassed her in a big hug. Except in bed. I’m not old-fashioned there.
Unfortunately, we won’t be in bed for two weeks.
Aw, shit…
Jack steered them to a little inlet in the cove that he liked. He slowed down, stopped and glanced behind him. At the back of the boat, Tess and Sara were stretched out in the sun on two benches, wearing only their bathing suits. Seth, who wasn’t crazy about the sun, lazed under a canopy in the shade, watching the water.
He called out, “Seth, want to drop the anchor?”
“Yeah. The bathing beauties certainly won’t help.”
After the anchor was in place, he and Jack dropped onto the seats up front. Jack smiled at the child who was so easy to be with. “Want something?”
“I can get it.” He reached into the cooler and came up with a bottle of water. “There’s beer here, Dad.”
“I’ll have one of those.”
The two of them sat in silence, listening to the water lap, the occasional Jet Ski rider come by and the hum of its motor. The way the sunlight bounced on the surface of the lake was magical.
Leaning back in the cushions, Seth gave him a little-boy smile. “It’s great out here.”
“We can come as often as you like. I’ve got the boat for the days you’re home.”
“I want to spend time with you, Dad.”
“Is something wrong, son?”
Seth shrugged. “In some ways, I wish we’d come home for the summer.”
Jack had so many memories of summer: swimming in Hidden Lake at his friends’ houses, watching the kids climb the jungle gym, building sandcastles.
“Yeah, me, too.” He waited. Since he was the dad, he added, “But you’ll be glad you’re taking calculus now when you have all higher-level classes in the fall.” Seth had pretty much settled on being a math teacher.
His son smiled, reminding him of Elizabeth’s smile. Today, it didn’t hurt as much as usual. He thought again about how much Tess had come to mean to him.
Seth angled his head to the back of the boat. “She’s great, Dad.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“I’ll bet she doesn’t take any crap from any of the recruits at the Academy.”
His heart tightened in his chest. “Why would you say that?”
“I can just tell. She’s not intimidated at all by us.”
“That a good thing?”
“Really good.”
He glanced to the back of the boat and saw the girls sit up and swing their legs to the floor. They stood and made their way to the front. Jack watched them. Tess’s face was red, and he could see a little outline of sunburn on her chest. Sara had some marks, too.
“Didn’t you two put on sunscreen?” he asked sternly.
“Yes, Dad. Tess insisted. I didn’t have a choice.” Her tone was teasing.
“You must’ve missed some spots. I’ve got aloe in our stuff.”
“Later.” Tess angled her head at Sara. “I challenged your daughter to a swim. I said I could beat her to that outcropping of rocks over there and back.”
Jack winked at Sara. “She, um, was on the swim team.”
“Oh yeah?” Tess arched a brow. “Me, too.”
“I’ll watch so nobody cheats.”
“Watch, hell.” Seth stood. “If they can do it, so can we. But let’s make this a boys-against-girls thing.”
Suddenly, Sara eyes turned bleak. Sometimes, her mood could change on a dime.
“Honey, you okay?”
She cleared her throat. “Yeah, it’s nice to be able to, you know, have another girl around. We never even knew Mom, let alone do things with her.”
Because he’d experienced it, Jack knew how this kind of sadness could ambush you. He hugged her close and kissed her hair. “Aw, baby.”
Reaching out, Tess squeezed her hand. “I’m glad you like having me here, Sara.”
After the moment passed, Jack whipped his shirt off and faced his son. “Ready, kid?”
Seth clasped his shoulder. “Ready, Dad. For a lot of things.”
o0o
Tess gripped the railings and hefted herself up the ladder. She was third in line. Jack had won the race. Sara came in second, and she and Seth took up the rear. When she swung her legs over the top, Jack threw her a towel. “I beat you, Righetti.”
“And we tied,” she said sassily. “Boys against girls.”
“No thanks to me.”
When Jack’s gaze went to his son, Tess caught her breath. He looked at his kids as if they’d hung the moon or discovered the cure for cancer. It made Tess wonder what she’d missed by not having children. After Joey, she’d never wanted any.
Jack and the twins donned shirts. “Seth isn’t into swimming, but he’s an excellent baseball player.” He threw Tess a big T-shirt which said Columbia University on it.
Poking her head and arms into it, she gave Seth a smile. “Do you play in college?”
“I did my first year. But it took up tons of my time.”
“He’s got a double major in math and computers, as well as the education courses.”
Tess liked the boy. He was so even-keeled. He didn’t care that Sara beat him in swimming and seemed comfortable with his own successes. She realized then he was a lot like Jack.
“So, who’s hungry?” Sara asked.
Everyone was.
They unpacked the cooler, and Tess was surprised to find fried chicken, potato salad, a green salad and crusty bread. “Did you cook?”
“Daddy did. He got up at dawn to fix this for me and Seth.” She gave Jack an impulsive hug. “We could have ordered this out, Dad.”
“Nah. You’re not home that much.”
The chicken was tender and perfectly spiced, the potato salad creamy and the lettuce’s dressing tart. She liked the food Jack had made. Her heart skipped a beat at another thought. This kind of family stuff was different from how she felt with the Malvasos. She liked that, too.
“Do you have any kids, Tess?” Sara asked. The girl was so intuitive, she could practically read minds.
“No. I’ve never been married.”
“Any brothers and sisters?”
For a minute, Tess froze. Then she cleared her throat. “A brother. But he died when he was twenty-four.”
“Oh, God.” Sara’s eyes filled with sorrow.
Seth gasped.
Seated next to each other, the twins moved closer so they were touching shoulders and hips. “I don’t know what I’d do…” Sara didn’t finish the thought.
“Me, either.” Seth’s voice was raw.
“It was a long time ago.” The comment was weak, but she didn’t know what else to say.
“Does it still hurt?” Sara asked after a moment.
“Yes. Sometimes it’s bittersweet, like now.” She gestured to encompass the boat. “I was thinking earlier how much I’m enjoying you two. In some ways, it’s how I felt being with Joey.”
Sara’s whole face brightened. “That’s cool.”
Tess cleared her throat. “It is.”
“But I still think you should stay overnight with Dad.”
“Sara!” Jack seemed so shocked it brought a chuckle from Tess.
“What?” Sara lifted her chin at her Dad. “Tess and me already talked about it when we were in the sun. She says she respects your wishes and so should we.”
“Well, you should listen to her.”
“Maybe I will,” Sara said, throwing Tess a conspiratorial grin.
o0o
Two nights later, the four of them went to see a movie. Well, two movies. Jack and Seth wanted to see a romantic comedy, and Tess and Sara chose a bestselling thriller that was recently made into a film. No stereotypes in this family, Jack thought again. And Tess fit right in.
On Wednesday morning, the kids met Tess and Jack for lunch at the Fire Academy. Tess was pleased to see how many people loved Jack’s children: her cousins, the Ramirez family, even Chief Callahan.
And on Sunday, Seth asked to go to their old church and invited Tess to come along. At first Tess had hesitated. She hadn’t been inside of a church since Joey’s funeral. Two firefighters had died in her department in Rockland, she’d told Jack, and she attended calling hours and went to the cemetery afterward. But not church. He didn’t pressure her, but he was thrilled when she showed up to go with them after all.
In between, Tess insisted Jack spend some time alone with them. By the end of their first week, he was worn out. Flopping down on his couch after their dinner of hamburgers and mac and cheese, he threw up his hands “You guys have to do something on your own tonight.”
“Yeah, tryin’ to get rid of us?” Sara asked.
“No, I need rest.”
“Tess coming over?” Seth asked. He was getting as nosy as his sister. It had become a game with them over the past several days to tease him about her.
“I didn’t invite her. Now go see your friends.”
“Well, there is a party tonight at the lake.”
His fatherly instincts went on alert. “Who’s giving it?”
“Just some kids.” Sara’s evasiveness always worried him.
“Not good enough, honey.”
“Dad, we’re twenty.” Now she whined. “And we go out all the time at school without you to check up on us.”
“Humor me. I want an address, at least.”
Seth said, “That’s not too much to ask.”
They left with kisses and hugs, and as soon as they closed the door, Jack called Tess. When she answered, he didn’t even identify himself. “Tell me you’re free tonight.”
“Yeah, my boyfriend won’t sleep with me for ten days.”
“He’s an idiot. Why don’t get on over to his house.”
A very sexy chuckle. “Kids out?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’ll be right there.”
“Tess?”
“Yeah?”
“I like being called your boyfriend.”
o0o
Nervous because she’d never done anything like this, Tess stood on Jack’s front porch and hesitated. She was worried that she was being stupid. And then she got mad at herself for going out of her comfort zone. Damn it. She rang his bell with a pounded fist.
In seconds, he yanked open the door. And gave her a quizzical look. “You had time to do all that with your hair?” He peered at her closer. “And makeup. Holy cow!”
“Nah. We just finished doing each other’s hair and putting on war paint.”
“Who’s we?”
“Megan, Jenn, Connie and me. We were all home together.”
“Thank them for me.”
“Oh, just wait,” she mumbled under her breath and stepped inside. Some soft, sexy saxophone played in the background, and candles had been set out over the table surfaces. She cocked her head. “Hmm. You missed me, huh?”
Instead of answering her, he grabbed her hand and put it to his groin. “A lot. And this is from simply seeing you.”
He was hard and heavy in her hand. “We’re on the same page, Doc.” She stepped back and unzipped the sweatshirt she wore. Some lacy thing, white and delicate, greeted him. He swallowed hard. Then she sidled down the pants.
“Christ Almighty, Tess. Where the hell did you get that?”
She snapped the clasp of the garter belt attached to white stockings. “This little thing? The girls took me shopping earlier to buy something to wear with you the next time we were together.”
He went to reach for her then stopped. “You didn’t tell them that I wouldn’t…because the kids were here…”
“What do you think? It was just us girls.”
Startling her with his quickness, he pulled her to him. “Tease.” He took her mouth in a savage kiss. She bit his lip. He grabbed her ass. She hiked up and wrapped her legs around him. Blindly he backed her into a wall, and pressed her against it. “Don’t wait,” she whispered harshly. “I’m ready.”
Freeing himself from his clothes, he plunged into her. That was the last thing he remembered.
o0o
An hour later they were in bed and making love again. His caresses were tender and slow. His kisses whisper soft everywhere on her body: the inside of her knee, her waist, the little mole she had under her jaw. Lost in a wash of sensation, she drifted along, enjoying each precious brush of his hands and lips. He entered her with the same gentleness, slipping inside, moving slowly until she crested and fell off the edge of the waterfall of pleasure.
They cuddled afterward. She relished in the feel of his hard muscles and the male scent of his skin after sex. Neither spoke. For minutes. Then Tess asked, “How could making love be so different each time?”
He kissed her hair. “The first was passion.”
Easing herself up, she braced her arms on his chest. “Don’t say what the second was.”
“Why?”
“Saying it aloud will give it more power. It’s too soon.” Panic started to rise from her stomach to her heart, then worked its way into her voice. “I’ve only been in town six weeks.”
“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been here.” His tone never changed. It was sure and certain. “How long we’ve been together. Something clicked between us in Rockland and never went away. What’s between us has only intensified since you came to town.”
“It’s too soon,” she repeated. “Don’t say anything more.”
“Just this.” He eased her onto her back, then angled himself over her, watching her intently. “The intimacy of what happened here in bed, and out there in the living room, is real, Tess. We’ve crossed a line. You’ll have to face that.”
“I know. I just think we should take it slower. I’m scared.”
His frown was deep. “Okay, I’ll agree to take it slow. Nothing’s going to change, though.”
She laid her head on his chest. “I hope not.”
o0o
“We’ll be at the smokehouse this morning,” Captain Hennessey told the recruits on the Monday of the fourth week. After all the book learning and more to go before the practical maneuvers, they needed some hands-on things to do. Danny was bored to death.
“You’ll dress in your gear here at the Academy, and we’ll hike to the smokehouse out back. Once there, you’ll be sent inside alone. The building will be filled with mist, simulating smoke, so you won’t be able to see anything.”
“You said firefighters never worked alone.” This from one female recruit who’d just begun to speak up.
“We don’t. Ever. But you might get separated, or your partner may get hurt. We want to test your ingenuity if you have to act solo.”
“If it’s dark in there, how will we get out?” Johnson asked. Like Hanley, he’d had trouble with the maze.
“You memorize what you did on the way in, then reverse it. And when there’s something blocking your exit like what could be a fallen beam, there are ways out. Just don’t panic.”
Righetti, in the back, added, “There are Mayday alarms on your coats if you need them. We’ll set them for seven minutes. If they go off, you come out regardless of whether or not you finished your task.”
Danny mumbled under his breath, “As if.”
“What was that, Recruit Mauro?” Righetti again. Damn her, she must be watching him like a hawk.
“Nothing, ma’am.” She was going to get on him again today; he just knew it. Well, he’d show her. His dad had brought him to the smokehouse on weekends when there was no training and let him go inside—more than once. He remembered the layout.
Following his fellow recruits to the locker room, Danny pulled out his gear and suited up faster than anyone else. While they were still wrestling with their air packs, he exited the Academy and walked at a clip over to the training area by himself. It was stinking hot in all this clothing; even at a slow pace, he was sweating beneath it. After a few minutes, somebody caught up to him.
“In a hurry, Mauro?”
Shit. “The chief told us to head on over.”
“Yeah, she did.”
They walked side-by-side. Her long strides kept up easily with his. “I suppose you’ve been in a smokehouse, too.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Well, stay on your toes, recruit. There might be some surprises.”
He stopped and she went ahead of him. “Captain?”
She turned.
“Why are you always riding my ass?”
“Why are you always being such a know-it-all?”
Because I don’t want to be here, Danny thought. But no, he chided himself. She was the problem.
“None of the other instructors have issues with me.”
“Don’t bet on it.”
She jogged the rest of the way, leaving him open mouthed. Nobody liked him here?
His conscience came front and center. Why would they? You haven’t been yourself, once.
“Shut up,” he said aloud and kept walking.
The gray, concrete building in the far back of the Academy complex rose up three stories high, with several openings for windows and a set of metal fire escapes on the southern corner. Mist resembling white smoke billowed out of them.
Danny arrived first, but gave Righetti the Bitch wide berth. The rest of the recruits and teachers came along shortly. Chief Hennessey looked from him to Righetti, who said, “Mauro was in a hurry. I kept him company.”
Hennessey frowned but didn’t speak to him. Instead, she focused on another recruit.
“Murphy, since you always raise your hand when I ask for a volunteer, we’ll spare you the effort. You go in first.” She held up a card. “Your task is on the third floor. In one of the bedrooms is a box of books. Bring it back down. And keep us apprised of your progress through the radio. Everybody is wearing a mic so we’ll all learn about recovery calls from each other’s experience.”
“Right on it, Chief.” The guy was always so excited about everything they did. He had a friendly grin and easy way. And he really wanted to be a firefighter. Danny envied him.
Murphy hustled inside. “I’m going up the steps… Ouch, I hit something so there’s an impediment on the second landing. On the third floor now…found the box. Hell, it’s heavy.”
“So are bodies, Murphy.” Hennessey’s tone was dry.
“Yeah.” Silence. “I’m retracing my steps…am at the staircase…going down. Holy shit…” Static and noise over his radio mic.
Silence. For too long. Righetti and Hennessey bolted inside. Even Danny was concerned. Then, finally, from the mic, “He’s right here… You okay, Liam?” Hennessey asked.
“I fell flat on my ass and slid down on it the rest of the way.”
Both women laughed. “Are you hurt?” This time it was Righetti.
“Only my pride. The books spilled all over, though.”
“That’s okay. Get on out of here.”
The three of them exited. When they reached the group, Hennessey put a hand on Murphy’s shoulder. Obviously, they liked him. “He’s all right. Make sure you give him some grief for embarrassing himself.”
Good-naturedly, Murphy laughed.
Cruz went in next. Same drill, but she had to retrieve a suitcase on the roof. They could hear her breathing heavily as she climbed the last flight of stairs. Something inside of Danny shifted. He hoped she didn’t wash out. She was trying hard.
“I’m on the roof… Got the suitcase. It’s heavy but I can manage it. Oh, no, I’m back at the door I came in, but it won’t open.”
Danny realized there must be another teacher inside to set up the roadblocks.
“What are you going to do?” Hennessey asked calmly.
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t panic, Anita.” Even Righetti used a first name. “Think hard what the building looked like from the outside.”
“The fire escape!” Silence. “I’m there. It’s open. I’m coming down.”
“Right choice, Cruz,” Hennessey said with a big grin on her face. “We can see you. Good job.”
Cruz came out, lugging the suitcase, looking as if she’d won a war. Her smile was huge and made him like her.
Four more recruits took their turns inside, had some troubles but got out fine with their booty.
Righetti turned to him. “I hope seven’s your lucky number, Mauro. You’re next. In a corner of the third floor is a body in the closet. Bring her back.”
Hmm, that sounded exciting at least. He put on his face mask and went inside. It was hotter in here. He hurried up the three flights of steps easily because he kept in good shape. Feeling his way down the hall was a snap, but the inability to see anything spooked him. His heart raced.
“You there, Mauro? You’re supposed to be narrating your progress.” Hennessey sounded ticked off.
“Yeah…almost there. I’m at the room… Here’s the closet… The door won’t open.”
No response.
“I don’t have a ram to spring it. Can somebody bring one in?”
“Nope.” Righetti’s voice. “You’re on your own.”
“Seriously?”
“Think on your feet, recruit.”
What to do? Taking off his glove, he fished in his pocket for the screwdriver he’d carried inside. Felt for the hinges on the door. Jimmied the sharp edge under the top one, but it slipped, gouging his unprotected hand. Wetness covered his palm. “Fuck.”
“What was that Mauro?” The bitch again.
Determined to show her he could do this, he wedged the tip in the hinge again, and the metal fastener snapped off. The bottom one did the same. The door fell inward but he managed to move it out.
“Okay, I’m inside.”
“Good job, Mauro.” A compliment from Righetti?
Squatting, he felt for the body. Hardness. Stuffing. Here it was. He yanked on it. Damn, somebody’d tied it down. “Dummy’s rigged. But I got my wire cutters.” He’d snipped a couple of ties around her chest when an ear-shattering noise reverberated in the building, almost making him fall back. It took him a minute to realize the sound was his Mayday alarm.
Hennessey said, “Come out, Mauro.”
“In a few minutes.”
“Now!” Hennessey gave him a direct order. He knew insubordination on the fire ground was not tolerated. “If this was a real fire, the alarm would mean you’re out of air.”
“I’m not.”
“Get out, Mauro.” Righetti sounded mad.
“I’m coming… Just one more. There I got it.”
Silence from the other end. Fuck them, he needed more time and he took it. They should be happy he showed initiative. He exited the stairwell on the first floor carrying the dummy.
Outside, Chief Hennessey greeted him, hands on hips, a deep scowl on her face. “You disobeyed orders.”
“I saved the dummy.”
“You were told to come out. You’ll get a zero for your performance this week on RTE. You know the rule. If you get less than fifty on your total score, you won’t graduate and become a firefighter.”
Anger rose inside him, fast and fiery. She had to be kidding. He’d done his job. He started to speak, but Hennessey moved in close. “You’re already in trouble, Danny. Don’t say anything else.”
He held her gaze, bit the inside of his jaw, then circled around her and strode away. Heading toward the Academy, he felt the weight of the accusing stares from the other recruits. Who gave a shit?
Captain Righetti grabbed his arm as he passed her. “I tried to warn you, Mauro.”
She’d probably set him up.
He flung off the captain.
“What the hell?” She stumbled backward, but he kept going, not waiting to see if she was okay. He had to get out of here.
His mic still connected, he heard the other recruits shouting. “She’s down… Hell, what just happened…? Oh my God…”
Then Captain Hennessey. “Somebody go get Ms. James in the EMS office. Tess, you okay?”
Silence.
Then, “Yeah, I wrenched my shoulder. And got some scratches is all.”
Whipping off his mic, Danny threw it to the ground and kept walking. He reached his car, yanked off his helmet, tank and turnout coat, flung them to the pavement. He got inside with his boots, bunker pants and suspenders still on. The engine roared to life as if it was angry, too, and he tore out of the parking lot, but he got only about forty yards down the road before he had to turn into a gas station. Off to the side of the parking lot, he put his head on the steering wheel.
o0o
Jack flew into the EMS office, located at one end of the gym. An assistant in the outer area raised her brows. “Jack? What’s wrong?”
“Where’s Tess Righetti?”
“Inside with Larissa.”
His heart beating fast, Jack rushed to the main office door, yanked it open.
Larissa was listening to Tess’s heartbeat but stopped and looked up. “Jack? What’s going on?”
His gaze focused on Tess, he asked, “You okay?” His voice was hoarse, with traces of panic.
“I’m shaken and sore,” Tess answered. “But basically okay.” Her pale face with some scratches on it belied her words. Still, she didn’t seem seriously hurt. He’d only heard from his secretary that she was in EMS, and he’d gone to find her. Letting out a deep breath, he turned to Larissa for confirmation.
Her gaze was knowing, as if she sensed what was happening. He was beyond caring what the scenario with him and Tess looked like. “Like she said, she’s sore and scratched up some, but she’ll be fine. Jack, this isn’t—”
“Larissa, I need to see Tess alone.”
Eyebrows raised, she looked to Tess. “Captain Righetti?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. Thanks for the help.”
“Take those pain pills I gave you.” She squeezed Jack’s shoulder. “Calm down, cowboy. Tess is better off than you are.”
After Larissa left, Jack crossed to the small examining table. The blinds were slanted and a few rays of sun peeked through, accenting her lack of color. Without saying anything, he pulled her gently into his arms. Still seated, she clung to him.
“Are you really not hurt?” His hand cradled her head.
“I’m not.” Her voice was too soft. “I’m shaken over what happened, though.”
When he pulled back, he kept hold of her hands. “Tell me. I don’t know the details.”
“We were doing some basics in the smokehouse. One at a time, to see how the recruits would react independently.” She explained the exercise. “When Mauro’s turn came up, he drew the unlucky straw.”
“This is about Mauro?”
“Yeah. He disobeyed orders when his Mayday alarm went off. He wouldn’t exit the building until he got the dummy freed. Olive got on him.”
“And you?”
“Well, I wasn’t nice to him, Jack. He’d blown it this time. I stopped him as he was leaving and he pushed me away. That’s when I fell.”
“Shit.”
“I’m fine, Jack, but he’s out of control.”
His mind whirred. Tess, Danny, Tess, Danny. He tried to sound calm when he asked, “What did you say to him? Did you taunt him?”
Frowning, Tess straightened and slid back some on the table. “I’m not sure I like where this conversation is going. I didn’t do anything wrong. And I don’t have to defend myself to you.”
“I’m worried about Danny’s state of mind.”
The recruit is arrogant, Dr. Harrison. He thinks he knows everything.”
“There’s more to him. Something worrisome is going on inside him.” He held her gaze. “I should have foreseen this was coming.”
“This, involving me?”
“Yeah. The recruits…Mauro…they…” He stopped, unsure of how to proceed.
Her gaze narrowed, then she cocked her head. The angle showed some black-and-blue marks on her jaw “Spit it out, Jack.”
Oh, hell. “They complain about you, Tess.”
A long pause. She stared at him. “They? Not just Mauro?”
“Yeah. Three or four more. They say you’re too hard on them. You are, sweetheart. I told you that before.”
She watched him. Her eyes were clear and something else…accusing. “What do you say, Jack, when the recruits complain about an officer?”
“I tell them there are different methods of teaching. Some tough, some laid back. What you and I discussed before.”
“What else did you talk about? Ways to get around me? Did you tell them to report this to the brass?”
“Of course not.” He ran a hand through his hair. “You’re overreacting.”
“Am I?”
“I’m telling you the truth to help you.”
“If complaints about me were so pervasive among the recruits, which I still doubt, and if there was some serious concerns about Mauro’s attitude, you should have informed me.”
“I said the class was confidential.”
“Yeah, well, you said a lot of things.”
“What does that mean?”
Temper lit her face. “Would you move back?”
When he did, she slipped off the table and wrapped her arms around her waist. The self-protective gesture cut him to the quick. “You’ve allowed the recruits to complain about me, because maybe you wanted to be proven right. All the while, you were telling me how much you cared about me. Can’t you see the problem with that?”
She’d manipulated what he’d told her. “First off, I had to let them say what they thought. I have a responsibility to deal with issues they have.”
“Yeah, that savior complex sure comes out with them.”
“What?”
“You think you have to save everybody, even me. You don’t.”
Was that true about him?
“Look, come over tonight after I cook at House 7. We’ll go step-by-step through how these complaints unfolded in class. You’ve skewed the entire thing.” When she hesitated, he begged. “Tess, please.”
“I will, depending on how you answer this. Recruits ask my opinion on things all the time. Did they ask for yours, on me being too tough?”
He felt as if he’d gotten socked in the gut. “Tess, I—”
“They did, didn’t they? And you agreed with them.”
“It wasn’t that simple.”
“It is to me. Answer the question.”
Fuck it, he was upset too, about the things she’d said to him. And now she backed him into a corner. So he lifted his chin and spoke in anger. “They did ask me. I did agree. But you’re making my behavior in class out to be something sinister, and I resent that.”
She shook her head. “What a fool I was to get close to you. To trust you again.”
That made him madder. Especially because he sensed there was more to her getting angry like this. “You’re throwing roadblocks into our relationship. You never let anybody get too close to you. It’s because of Joey and your loss. As a matter of fact, this whole thing about being tough is about Joey. If someone had been tougher with him, you think he might have been okay.”
Her face reddened and her lips thinned. “Yeah, Doc, well, look in the mirror. You do with the recruits what you do with Sara.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You coddle Sara. Maybe you should analyze yourself before you start judging others. I’ll bet there’s a boatload of psychological things that go into letting Sara get away with anything she wants to do.”
“Sara’s fine.”
“For the time being.” With that, she circled around him and started for the door.
“Are you coming over tonight?”
She whirled on him. “No. Never again.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Yes, I do. We’re done, Doc.”
For a minute her face got so sad, he was taken aback by it. “I never should have let this happen.”
“Tess…”
But she opened the door and strode out. Jack let her go. Hell, he thought, nursing his anger. She’d misinterpreted what he’d done. Shit! He kicked the wastebasket in the EMS office across the room and kept swearing.
o0o
Shaky, sad and still pissed as hell, Tess pulled into the Malvasos’ driveway and turned off the engine. Thankfully, the house was dark. She tried to recall what the family’s plans were tonight. Mitch was working, and Sabina was out with Will Rossettie. Sabby and Megan had something to do together for Girl Scouts. At least Tess wouldn’t have to face anybody. Dazed by the ugly fight with Jack, she wanted to get inside, crawl under the covers and pull them over her head. On the drive home, she admitted to herself that she acted badly and had made decisions in the heat of anger. What she’d said made her cringe. She hadn’t meant to say she wouldn’t see him again. Didn’t mean it now. Her anger got the best of her. Damn it to hell. Exiting the car, she headed to the front door.
Two feet away from the porch, she stopped in her tracks. On the steps sat Danny Mauro. Still dressed in his blue uniform, which accented wide shoulders, he looked big and strong. Very big. Very strong.
Her mind raced. At six o’clock, it was still daylight. He probably wouldn’t try to hurt her out in the open, with neighboring houses not far away. But she’d been shocked when he pushed her earlier, and he couldn’t be doing well, so her pulse began to race. She darted a glance behind her. Could she get to her car without him stopping her?
“Please, don’t leave. I won’t hurt you. I didn’t mean to today.” He sounded desperate. And desperate people did things.
What to do? She didn’t feel safe. But when she got a good look at his face, she saw the kind of sadness that was familiar. Now she realized she’d seen the same expression in Joey’s face, too, whenever he’d screwed up. But she never recognized it for what it was, either time.
“All right, I won’t leave. But I’m taking my phone from my pocket”—she slipped it out—“and pressing 9-1. If you get out of line, I’ll hit the last button, and the police will come.”
“I won’t get out of line. I promise.” He sounded like a little boy. “I’m sick of getting out of line.” He scooted over on the steps. “Wanna sit?” Again, the hoarseness, the gravity of his tone.
But she had to beware. “I’ll stand, for now anyway.”
He glanced to the side. The evening sun hit his face and she realized his cheek was wet. The kid had been crying. Again, Tess was thrown back into time, when Joey had been arrested for reckless driving. At the jail, he’d sobbed.
So she tried to soften her tone. “What’s going on, Danny?”
“You never called me that before.”
“I haven’t?”
He shook his head. Took a deep breath. “First off, I’m sorry I pushed you today. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was ready to explode and had to get out of there.”
“I can accept that. But what about the rest of the time? You’ve been surly and rude this whole four weeks.”
A half smile. “I could say the same about you.”
The comment made her stop. She knew she’d been tough, but had she been…mean to him?
“I probably shouldn’t have said that. You’re the instructor. You have to be hard on us.”
“If you know that, how can you explain your behavior?”
His whole face tensed as if he was trying to get something out but couldn’t. Finally, he said in such a low voice she had to struggle to hear, “Because I don’t want to be at the Academy.” His voice even lower. “I don’t want to be a firefighter.”
She never expected that. “Then, why are you in the program? You’re smart. You could do anything with your life.”
His body folded over itself, and he slid his arms around his legs. He looked ready to break. “I know. I, um, got into Notre Dame the week I was accepted in the fire department.”
“That’s great.”
“I didn’t tell my parents.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s expected that I’ll be a firefighter. I didn’t want to let anybody down, but now, getting kicked out of the Academy is going to be worse than if I never went. My dad’s retired, but my brothers still work in Camden Cove.”
Jack’s accusations, no matter how mad she’d gotten over them, made her think hard about what she would do in the next few minutes. What if this was Joey? What would she want an adult to do here? Tess felt the importance of this moment. What she did, what she chose to do, was going to be crucial to this boy’s life. “Danny, the jury’s still out on what will happen to you because of today. You haven’t been asked to leave.”
“I will be.”
“Not necessarily.” She nodded to the step. “Move over now. We’ll sit and talk about this.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah.” Her smile was genuine as she dropped down on the hard cement. “Seriously.”