He arched an eyebrow. “A fire?”
I nodded.
“You don’t look like you’re on duty.”
“This is a big one. They might need me.”
“But if you were out of the area—”
“Well, I’m not. Bye.” I strode toward the exit and was out of the hospital in a flash. I hotfooted it to my truck and was out of the parking lot in a flash. Of course I didn’t have lights and sirens—much as I wish I did. As I headed north toward Mission City, I said the prayer I always did—that no one got hurt.
That no one got killed.
Once I was past all the stoplights and on the highway, I increased my speed. The gray day was getting darker.Might we get rain? Rain would be good.Well, crappy to run a fire in, but good for life in general. We needed rain.
As I crested the bridge and got my first good look of Mission City, I spotted the plume of thick, dark smoke.
Shit.
I exited the bridge and followed the road to the industrial part of town. A tire warehouse was on fire—which carried all kinds of horrible environmental issues along with just the putrid smell of burning rubber.
Unsurprisingly, I came across a roadblock. Car were being turned around by Seth Jacobs—an RCMP officer.
Optimistically, I waved.
He frowned. Then gestured for me to turn back.
I held up my hands in question.
He shook his head and pointed behind me.
So I turned my truck around and parked on the side of the road. I got out, locked the truck, and headed back toward Seth.
“No way, Finn. Unless you’re here on duty—”
“Jacobs, what the fuck? You know I might be able to help.”
“I don’t see turnout gear. I don’t see a mask.”
I pursed my lips.
He waved another car to turn around. “You’d think people would see the smoke and realize we’re not letting anyone through. What the hell?”
I turned in time to see a nice silver SUV parking behind my pickup. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find Ulysses MacDonald getting out—but I was. He must’ve been hard on my heels to have made it so quickly.We’re both lucky we didn’t get speeding tickets.The man headed my way with a look of determination—and a furrow in his brow.
Don’t think that’s super sexy. Don’t fall for his concerned act again. Don’t—
Yep, too late. All I could think about was how great of a lay he’d been all those months ago and how I liked the look of concern on his face.
Seth held up his hands. “No off-duty firefighters. No reporters. No questions. Just…move along.”
I cocked my head. This wasn’t like Seth. He was the easiest-going of all the Royal Canadian Mounted Police constables in town.
“Look.” I had to try.
Seth shook his head. “Not this time, Finn.”
“Okay.” I ran through this in my mind.
