“We’re having some firefighters in this week to talk to the kids about fire safety.”
He winks. “I’ll see what I can do. Someone needs to keep their eye on you. You’re a walking disaster.” He turns to kiss his daughter’s forehead. “Have a great day, bug. I’ll pick you up at home time.”
He winks at me as he leaves. “Stay off those roofs, yeah?”
I swear he’s enjoying this.
“Thanks for the save, hero,” I murmur, forcing myself to break eye contact.
“Anytime.”
He looks back at me, and for a moment it’s just the two of us, the noise of the corridor fading into the background. His smile is… dangerous. The kind that could make a woman believe in second chances.
I can’t help but match his smile. He’s dreamy in the best way, but I remind myself, I’m probably too old for him, not to mention that he’s probably married. There’s no wedding ring, but I know firemen don’t wear rings when on the job. I make a mental note to reread Sienna’s file at break, but married or not, there’s no harm in admiring the man before me. It’s not like he’d be interested in me anyway.
Chapter Four
DRAKE
“You didn’t tell me the woman from the cat rescue a few weeks ago is a schoolteacher,” I say as I push through the double doors into the fire department’s dayroom.
The guys are sitting around, killing time between calls. The smell of burnt coffee and last night’s pizza lingers in the air. A game of cards is abandoned on the scarred wooden table, and ESPN plays on the TV mounted in the corner. It’s not glamorous, but it’s starting to feel like home since I moved here a few weeks ago.
Bear runs a thumb under his suspenders. “Ember’s your daughter’s teacher?”
“Yeah.” I can’t stop the grin tugging at my mouth. “She had another tumble. I think I make her flustered.” Memories of her red cheeks matching her hair stir something low in my belly that I haven’t felt in a long time. Maybe this move really was the right call—for both me and Sienna.
Phoenix, my oldest pal, pats me on the back with his tattooed hand. “You should get back in the dating game, Draco.”
I nod, thinking about Ember Sparks. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but she’s sparked something in me, that’s for sure. “Maybe I will.”
“Funny,” Hollywood says, smirking with his sparkling white teeth. “I tried hooking you up with that hot chick last weekend at the bar, but you weren’t interested.”
“She was hot, yeah. But so are a hundred other women in this town.” I shake my head, chuckling to myself. “Ember’s more of a hot mess.” She’s chaos and fire wrapped up in curves and cat fur. My wife always said I had a hero complex, and I’m thinking she was right.
Bear whistles low. “Sounds like someone’s already smitten.”
I clear my throat, trying to play it cool. “So… who usually does the fire safety talks at the elementary? Might be good PR if I take the next one.”
Hollywood barks a laugh. “PR my ass. You just want an excuse to hang around the classroom and wave your hose at Miss Sparks.”
Bear rumbles, “Next he’ll be testing out her smoke alarm… in the bedroom.”
The lads snicker, and I roll my eyes, but my cheeks heat anyway. They’re not wrong. “Do you know her?” What I really want to ask is whether she’s married.
Phoenix rubs the bristles on his jaw. “I don’t, but Chief does—she’s his sister.”
My heart slams into my stomach, acid climbing my throat just as the chief pushes into the room.
Conversations die. Chairs scrape. Chief Sparks commands attention without saying a word. Broad shoulders fill the doorway, blocking out the morning sun.He scratches his short salt-and-pepper beard, eyes dark as soot scanning the room. “What about my sister?” His voice is low and even, but it makes the hair on my neck prickle.
“Draco here thinks she’s hot,” Hollywood pipes up, the traitor grinning as if pouring gas on the fire.
“I… er… I don’t think she’s hot. Definitely not hot.” Heat rises in my chest. Now I’m the one flustered as Chief Sparks stares me down. I should have known she was related with the same bloody last name. I just never put the two together.
Chief’s eyes narrow, pinning me like I’m a rookie caught out of line. “You saying my sister’s ugly?”
“Fuck, no.” The words tumble out before I can stop them. “She’s gorgeous.”
