The Fire Inside Read Online Free Page B

well.” He studied her. “Now that you’re updated,
you should try to rest.”
    “You can go home.”
    “I might as well stay. You’ll be getting out
in a few hours and I can take you to your place.”
    “You’ll be late to class today.”
    “Yeah, I will.”
    “Why are you being so nice to me?” Now that
her head was clearer, she tried to conjure her annoyance at
him.
    “There’s a question for another time.”
    She watched him.
    “Lay back and shut your eyes. You might be
able to catch a few more z’s.”
    “Okay.” Her lids closed. For some reason, she
felt more optimistic. She drifted off.

Chapter 3
     
    Two days later, as he pulled into Tess’s
driveway, Jack shook his head, chiding himself. He didn’t know why
the hell he was doing this. He’d talked to Tess earlier in the day
and she was fine—except Fire Chief Lincoln had told her she
couldn’t come back to the Academy until next week. Her tone had
been so depressed, Jack felt sorry for her. So he’d grabbed a
bottle of his favorite merlot on the way to his hotel, and once
there, he showered, shaved, put on jeans, a zip-up sweater, a
quilted vest and headed out.
    He sat in his vehicle, staring at the house.
Once again, a feeling of connection, of perhaps speculation that
something was happening—or might happen—infused him.
    Finally, he exited the car. The brutal
February wind hit him in the face as he made his way over the
sidewalk, which was slick from the snow that had started to fall
again. Once on the stoop, he rang the bell. She’d said she was
getting around, so she could make it to the door. Then it opened
and she stood before him, dressed in a pink sweat suit, her hair
sticking up every which way and a scowl on her face. “Jack? What
are you doing here?”
    He held up the bottle. “I brought wine. You
can have some because you’re off the strong pain meds. I thought we
might order dinner.” He peeked inside. “Unless you have
company?”
    “Look at me,” she said, her tone cross. “Do I look like I have company?”
    He bit back a grin. “You’re not at your
best.”
    “Don’t laugh at me. I haven’t had a shower in
two days. My hair’s stringy and I probably smell. You don’t want to
come in here.”
    “I do.”
    She leaned on the edge of the door. “It’s
unethical to be fraternizing with a recruit.”
    “Let me in and I’ll tell you why that’s not a
problem.”
    Her eyes narrowed, she moved back. “That’s
intriguing.”
    Once inside, he asked if they could sit. When
they were on the couch, he faced her directly. “Tess, I’m not a
recruit.”
    Those pretty brown eyes widened. Tonight,
they were liquid looking in the lamplight. “I don’t
understand.”
    “I’m already a firefighter and a
psychologist. I’m here to go through the recruit class’s practical
end so I can get a better idea of what my guys and gals go through
on a call.” He sighed. “I didn’t take the first half of the course
elsewhere. I wanted to be part of just the practical
activities.”
    Now she stiffened. “What? Why wasn’t I told
this?”
    “I asked it to be kept quiet so I could
experience the reality of how the recruits feel about officers,
what fears they have. I also was worried if I disclosed my
identity, I’d be treated differently.”
    Her face flushed, and he could tell she was
calming herself.
    “I’m sorry if that upsets you.”
    “In some ways, it does.” She leaned back into
the pillows, seeming thoughtful. “But I understand your thinking.
How long are you staying in Rockland?”
    “I can only take two weeks from my position.
Then I go home.”
    Her brown gaze narrowed on him. “I knew
something was up with you.” She glanced to the ceiling. “At least
I’m not fraternizing with a recruit.”
    Leaning over, he tipped up her chin; she
didn’t seem to mind that he touched her. “What do you need tonight,
Tess?”
    Her eyes closed briefly and she sighed. “Damn
it, I’m afraid to shower alone.