“I didn’t think you wanted me to explain what was going on.” Noah wasn’t prepared for prickly Erin.
“As long as her curvy little blonde self stayed away from your own self, it’s fine.”
“Cupcake, the only thing we talked about was you. Didn’t you say she had a guy?”
“Hickey guy? I’ve never seen him in person. I think he sneaks out the back. You get the front door.”
“Erin, it’s still only you.” He placed a hand under her chin and gave her what he intended to be a soft kiss. She had other ideas. She plastered herself to him, shoving him against the wall, kissing him till he’d forgotten his name.
“Don’t forget it.” She released him with a smirk and piled the groceries on her small table. “You would not believe how much Thanksgiving stuff was half-off. I guess it’s a good thing that Thanksgiving for us got delayed by a day.”
“That’s a whole turkey. You’re making Thanksgiving?”
“Yep, we’re having Not-Thanksgiving Dinner at the Knight-Rodriguez place. They told us significant others were invited, but you—”
“It would be weird unless you invited Cordova.” Noah appreciated he rated as a ‘significant other.’
“Hell, no. Especially right now since he’s an office slug.” Erin tried to backtrack, “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay. Everyone knows he’s there temporarily, and he has a lot of other duties.” He ran his fingers over a lock of hair that was escaping her thick head scarf. Noah started searching for a way to tactfully describe the difference. “Did you do something with your hair? It’s different.”
“It’s horribly dry. I had to decon shower four times.” She drew away and began to unwrap the turkey.
“Decon shower?” This was news to Noah. Then again, the protocol would have been to inform their captain, who would have told the Chief if he thought it was necessary.
“Gasoline exposure. A teammate fell into an open gasoline tanker without air trying to save some kids.”
“Who broke protocol like that?” Noah was shocked. Hydrocarbon exposures should have been the purview of Haz-Mat, not an understrength Firehouse 15 shift.
She snapped her head back. “Carver. He’s in the ICU. Cordova didn’t seem broken up about it.”
Apparently, Carver misinterpreted what ‘proving’ himself in the department meant. Noah pushed down his frustration. He needed Carver to finish his probie year, no matter what, and Cordova knew it. The unfortunate trade-off was Carver, in his inexperience, had placed himself and Erin in serious danger. “Are you okay? “
She waved him off. “I’m fine. I’ve had closer calls, and I am not letting this ruin ‘us’ time.”
“’Us-time’? I like that,” Noah said.
“’Us’ needs to make a turkey. We should start it and shower away the gasoline again.” Erin started checking her cupboards.
“When’s the last time you made a turkey?” Noah noticed she took out a 9x13 pan which wouldn’t fit a full turkey.
“Never. Is it different than baking a chicken?”
“Do you have a crock pot or a roasting pan?” Erin shook her head, and Noah grabbed his jacket.
“Where are you going?”
“Your neighbor’s. She might have a second pan or crockpot. We cut the turkey in half, and it will cook faster. Can you cut up celery?”
“For what?”
“For stuffing.”
He went over and knocked on Angela’s door. She opened it a few inches, saying, “Michael? I thought if you stopped by, you’d pick the back… oh, it’s you.”
“This may seem like a weird request, but do you have a crockpot or roasting pan?”
“Why? Do I look like I cook?” she said sharply. He guessed her frustration wasn’t about him.
