“I haven’t been fair to you. And maybe not to them either.” Williams jerked his head toward his departed team.
Noah crossed his arms over his chest. Despite the uplifting words of the team, they’d already crashed and burned throughout the year. “You going to change my mind by making me feel guilty?”
“I will never be happy about what happened, but if I don’t accept it, I’ll never find any peace.” Williams raised his hand in a ‘pausing’ motion. “You don’t owe me peace. You don’t owe me anything. I’m only asking for a second chance for them. They deserve better than me, and if you need me to transfer or retire to keep them open… then so be it.”
“I would never base a decision like this on my opinion of one person.”
“Then reopen 15. Your program worked. You kept your promises, Noah.”
Noting the use of his first name, Noah counted to ten before answering. “I’ll consider it. Your team taking you to the Ball?”
“They told me it was a team outing and, as part of the team, I needed to attend a team function and eat in public,” Williams said with his usual dark humor.
“Make sure they don’t put salt in your coffee like I did.” Noah tried to keep his voice casual. “Nice to see everyone from 15 together.”
Williams shrugged and rolled away. “They aren’t mine yet, and they aren’t all here. Hudgens is working, so Jefferson spoke for her.”
“Maybe they’ll be yours in a few months, Wills.”
“Maybe. See you tonight.”
Noah waited for him to leave and sat down heavily, head in his hands. Their team united, and Erin smartly voted with her feet by not attending. Where she was involved, he lost perspective, and she needed to put herself first.
It would be okay. He could reopen 15, and she would be fine. She was young, beautiful, resilient. She would get over this.
She would get over him.
There was one more surprise waiting for him when he stopped in his office after his shower. Sitting on top of some unread arson reports was a single piece of yellow legal paper.
He smiled ruefully at how sneakily McClunis had shored up his position and undermined Cordova.
Fire Chief Baker,
I am on semi-injured reserve so you can’t fire me.
All transfer orders and requests are canceled for Firehouse 15. I will keep the three lieutenants on as Williams and Clarke recover.
Effective immediately, Alan Hastings appointed me Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Henceforth, I’ll oversee Battalion 2 and 10 as they have the highest concentration of women, and I have a vested interest in seeing them succeed, unlike certain assistant chiefs. Please sign the attached form.
Do so immediately, or I’ll lock you in your office.
Hugs, kisses, and fluffy kittens,
Leslie Hampton McClunis
Chapter 45
Knocking on her door woke her up. Erin checked the clock. It was 10:30. She’d finished her twelfth twelve-hour shift in a row and collapsed at home.
Theo had begged her to join the team at the Firefighter Ball, but the idea made her skin crawl. What would she do when she saw Noah… no… Chief Baker making his speech? How many times could she get hurt by him?
At this hour, the party would be in full swing. Doors opened at 9:00 for hors d’oeuvres, 9:30 speech by Chief Baker, 9:45 dinner and open bar with dancing.
This was the exact type of event past Erin would have loved. She’d have danced and flirted with every cute firefighter she found. A few vodka shots in, she might have taken Casey Jensen home again.
That joy was taken from her. Instead, she longed for the emotionally unavailable, heart-stomping fire chief.
The knocking continued. She hadn’t ordered pizza, and a quick check at her phone showed only smiling photos of her team at the Ball.
