I dont bite.
Shame. Passing her, he headed back to his rig to help Aidan put away the ladder. But she wasnt done with him yet, and followed.
I nearly climbed that tree, Zach. Without the benefit of the ladder, I might add.
Aidan shot Zach a look that said Good Luck, Buddy and moved out of their way. Zach turned to face a fuming Brooke. No one was going to let you climb that tree.
Really? Because I think that the crew thinks I was sent here to amuse them.
You have to understand, youre the seventh EMT-
To walk out, yeah yeah, got it. But Im not going to walk out. Im not.
I believe you.
You do?
He smiled at her surprise. I do. And I was never going to let you climb that tree, Brooke. Never.
She stared at him for a long, silent beat. Is your word supposed to mean something?
He was a lot of things, but a liar was not one of them. Not that she could possibly know that about him yet. Hopefully it will come to mean something.
She continued to look at him for another long moment, then turned and walked away with a quiet sense of dignity that made him feel like an ass even though, technically, hed done nothing wrong.
Over the next few days the calls came nonstop, accompanying a heat wave that had everyone at the firehouse on edge, Zach included. If theyd had the staff that they used to, things would have been okay, but they didnt. So they ran their asses off in oppressive temperatures with no downtime, while the higher-ups got to sit in air-conditioned offices.
By the end of the week, they were all exhausted.
Crazy, Cristina muttered on the third straight day of record-high temperatures and calls. Its like with the heat wave came a stupid wave.
They were all in the kitchen, gulping down icy drinks and standing in front of the opened freezer, vying for space and ice cubes. Cristina rubbed an ice cube across her chest, then gave poor Dustin the evil eye for staring at her damp breasts.
Zach didnt blame Dustin for looking; the view was mighty nice. He did worry about the dreamy look in the EMTs eyes. Dustin tended to put his heart on the line for every single woman he met, which left him open to plenty of heartbreak. If Cristina caught that puppy-dog look, shed chew him up and spit him out. Instead, she elbowed everyone back and took the front-and-center spot for herself.
Zach didnt blame Dustin for looking; the view was mighty nice. He did worry about the dreamy look in the EMTs eyes. Dustin tended to put his heart on the line for every single woman he met, which left him open to plenty of heartbreak. If Cristina caught that puppy-dog look, shed chew him up and spit him out. Instead, she elbowed everyone back and took the front-and-center spot for herself.
You forgot to take your pill this morning, Blake told her, not looking at her chest like everyone else but nudging her out of the way so he could get in closer.
Im not on the pill, Cristina said.
Not that pill. Your nice pill.
Dustin snorted and Cristina glared at him, zapping the smile off his face.
Zach cleared some space for Brooke to get in closer, and she sent him a smile that zapped him as sure as Cristina had zapped Dustin, but in another area entirely.
He wished she was rubbing an ice cube on her chest. He maneuvered himself right next to her. Their arms bumped, their legs brushed and every nerve ending went on high alert.
The bell rang, and with a collective groan, they all scattered. It was exhausting, and he was seasoned, as was the crew. He could only imagine how Brooke felt. If hed had time to breathe, hed have asked her.
As it was, they couldnt do much more than glance at each other, because between the multitude of calls, they still had the maintaining and keeping up of the station and vehicles, not to mention their required physical training.
But he did glance at her.
Plenty.
And she glanced back. She appeared to hold up under pressure extremely well; even when everyone else looked hot, sweaty and irritated, she never did. Look sweaty and irritated, that is.
Hot? That she most definitely looked.
Itd been a long time since hed flirted so slowly with a woman like this, over days, mostly without words. A very long time, and hed forgotten how arousing it could be. He figured if they had to pass each other one more time without taking it to the next step-and he had plenty of ideas on what that next step should be, all involving touching and stripping and nakedness, lots of nakedness-theyd both go up in flames.
One late afternoon a week and a half into Brookes employment, he headed toward her to see about that whole thing, but of course, the bell rang.
It was a kitchen fire, with a man down. Zach and Aidan were first on scene, with Dustin and Brooke pulling in right behind them in front of a small house that sat on a high bluff overlooking the ocean. By the time they got inside, the fire had been extinguished by the supposedly downed man himself, who was breathing like a lunatic and looked to be in the throes of a panic attack. Zach and Aidan checked to make sure the doused fire couldnt flare up and then began mop-up while Dustin tried to get the guy to sit, but he wasnt having it.
No. Chest heaving, covered in soot, he pointed at Brooke. I want her. The chick paramedic.
Everyone looked at Brooke. For some reason, she looked at Zach. He wanted to think it was because theyd been looking at each other silently for days, building an odd sense of anticipation forsomething, but probably it was simply that hed been the first person shed met here.
Im an EMT, she told the victim. Not a paramedic.
I dont care. The guy was gasping for air, clutching at his chest. Its you or nothing.
Her or nothing. Brooke could honestly say that shed never heard that sentence before, at least directed at her. She looked at the crew around her, all of whom were looking at her, perfectly willing and accepting of her taking over.
And in that moment, she knew. They might tease her and call her New Hire, but the truth was, they treated her as a part of their team, a capable, smart part of their team, and she appreciated that. Whats your name?
Carl.
Okay, Carl. Lets sit.
Im better standing. Listen, I was just cooking eggs, but then the pan caught fire.
Its okay, Brooke assured him. The fires out now. Lets worry about you.
I have a problem.
Yes, he did. He was pale, clammy and sweating profusely. Lets work on that problem.
Its, uh, a big one. It wont go away. Still breathing heavy, the guy looked down at his fly. If you know what I mean.
Everyone stopped working on the kitchen mop-up and looked at the guys zipper, and Brooke did the same.
He was erect.
She glanced at the guys. Dustin pushed up his glasses. Aidan busied himself with the cleanup. Zach rubbed his jaw and met Brookes gaze, his own saying that hed seen it all, but not this.
Carl shoved his fingers through his hair, still trying to catch his breath. See, I was supposed to have this hot date last night, but Mr. Winky wasnt working. So I took a vitamin V.
Vitamin V? Brooke pulled out a chair and firmly but gently pressed him into it. Whats vitamin V?
Viagra.
Brooke processed that information while Carl stared down at his lap with a mixture of pride and bafflement. It worked, too. A little too well.
Okay. Brooke opened her bag and began to check his vitals, carefully not looking at the guys zipper again.
Socan you fix this? Ive never had a twelve-hour case of blue balls before. Could itkill me?
No ones dying today. Behind her, Dustin was checking in with the hospital, as was protocol. From the victim she took the basics: name, age, weight, etc. Dustin set down his radio and turned to her. We have a few questions.
Not you, Carl said, shaking his head. Her.
Right. Dustin wrote something down and pushed the piece of paper toward Brooke. It was the questions the E.R. doctor wanted answered. She paused, tucking a nonexistent stray piece of hair behind her ear while she tried to figure out how to do this and keep Carls dignity, not to mention her own. Carl? How many Viagras did you take?
Oh. Um. He looked away, catching Aidans and Zachs eye. Just the one.
Brooke gave him a long look. She was not a pushover, not even close. One?
Okay, two.
Are you sure?
Mr. Vitamin V caved. Four. Okay? I took four. I really wanted to do this. Still breathing unsteadily, he put his hand on his heart. Am I going to have a heart attack? Because I feel like Im having a heart attack.
Brooke was waiting on Dustin, who was talking to the E.R. about the four pills. Just hang tight for a second.
Hanging tight. Or at least my boys are. He smiled feebly at his joke. Do I have to go to the hospital?
Finding that out now. She did her best not to squirm, extremely aware of all the eyes on her, especially Zachs, as Dustin gave her another piece of paper, which she read. Oh, boy. Carl, when did you last have sex?
Carl blinked. When did I last have sex? Are you kidding me? Thats why I took the pills in the first place!
Again Brooke accidentally met Zachs gaze. He was cool, calm, and not showing a thing, but she felt her own face heat. If she had to answer this question, shed have to admit that she couldnt even remember. We need to know when you last ejaculated.
Oh. Carl let out a long breath. Jesus. Yesterday. In the shower.
Nodding, she made the note.
Twice.
Brooke dropped her pen.
Thats normal, right? He looked at Aidan, Dustin and then Zach for affirmation. Back me up here, guys. Its just what we do, right?
Thats normal, right? He looked at Aidan, Dustin and then Zach for affirmation. Back me up here, guys. Its just what we do, right?
Aidan got really busy, fast.
Dustin scribbled on his notepad.
Zach just raised a brow.
Damn it! Carl slapped his hands on the table. Dont you guys leave me out here hanging alone! Tell her.
Dustin sighed, then after a hesitation, nodded.
Aidan, too.
Brooke looked at Zach, who met her gaze evenly, not looking away, neither embarrassed nor self-conscious as he nodded, as well.
Carl was waiting for her next question, but she couldnt stop staring at Zach, couldnt stop picturing him-
Oh, perfect. And here came the blush.
Dustin nudged her and she jumped, jerking her gaze off Zach.
Really, its what guys do, Carl was still saying.