Shane pulled into the firehouse and watched as Charlie practically bolted from her seat the minute he turned off the engine. Guess he’d be cleaning and restocking the rig himself this time. He frowned, climbing out of his seat. He didn’t mind, but he didn’t like the idea that once again, he’d upset her. Charlie was a friend—a good friend—but every time he’d brought up the idea that there could be more between them, she’d shut down and run. That night at the bar, he thought that maybe they’d finally broken through whatever inhibitions had been between them, but now in the harsh light of day, everything was back to normal. He gripped the ambulance’s doors, throwing them open more roughly than usual, wincing when one clanged loudly as it bounced off the edge of the rig. Normal sucked ass.

He’d been attracted to Charlie for years, had noticed how cute she was even on their first shift together. Then, as he’d watched her work and learned what an amazing person she was, too, he was smitten. Fallen. Completely gone. But then she didn’t return any of his early flirtations and so he’d had to let it go—until that one glorious night when she’d been lying underneath him. He’d made her come first, seeking out her pleasure eagerly before finally sinking inside of her. She’d been hot and wet, and fit him like a glove, gripping all around his dick and nearly making him see stars as he’d slid inside her. How was he supposed to experience such perfection and then just walk away?

Because it’s Charlie.

The answer was obvious. As much as he was attracted to her, he loved her too—as a friend, coworker, and more, all bundled up. She considered herself a little outside of their group, he knew, “just” a floater. But Shane knew that every one of the guys considered her one of their own. They’d also punch him right in the face if they thought he’d ever hurt her, no matter who he was. Whether she knew it or not, Charlie had a whole squad of big brothers defending her honor.

Fuck. He didn’t want to let any chance he had with her just slip through his fingers, but she’d made herself pretty damn clear at the burger joint. Not that he necessarily agreed. He couldn’t predict the future, but Shane was pretty damn sure Charlie was what he wanted. Now and for a long time to come. If there was any heat that came back on them for it from the brass, then he’d take the fall. That wasn’t even a question. As much as he loved 81, he’d even transfer to another house if a question ever came up. As the paramedic, he was technically in the senior position when they worked together, but given Charlie worked at several different houses, the dynamic was different. If Chief Stone put in a word for them with HQ . . . No.

Shane stopped the train of thought before he could get any further along. There wasn’t going to be a fairytale romance. Charlie had said no and she’d meant it. He wasn’t going to creep her out by bringing it up again. He’d honor it. That didn’t mean he wasn’t going to keep an eye on her—in a totally not-stalker kind of way. He was still a little worried about her emotional state after the call with Severs. It was why he’d suggested they drop around the next time they were nearby. If she could see him back on an even keel, then maybe she’d relax a little. Maybe next time things were quiet, he’d talk to Mason about taking a short trip.

Dispatch came blaring over the radio, followed by Matt’s voice, ringing out from upstairs and amazingly, it was almost as loud. “Who said the fucking Q word?”

Despite his thoughts, Shane chuckled. At least he’d been down in the engine bay by himself. No one could blame him for this one. He hurriedly packed the rig back up and hopped back behind the wheel, waiting for Charlie to emerge. She appeared a few seconds later, hidden at first in the middle of a throng of firefighters heading to Engine 81. She climbed in on her side and smiled at him, handing him a coffee cup with a lid, and a brownie. “Sloane stopped by and brought goodies while we were out on the last call. Figured I’d bring you some as you didn’t make it inside.” Her voice was calm, normal, but Shane could read between the lines. He always could with her. Sorry for bolting on you. Hope things aren’t weird. Have some chocolate.

He grinned, stowing the cup and pulling out behind the engine. Chocolate was a serious currency for Charlie. If she was willingly giving him some, then they were okay. “You always know just what I need.”

Charlie slapped him lightly on the shoulder and smiled back. He was forgiven.

* * *

They pulled into the call-out’s location directly behind Engine 81. Mason gestured at him to stick by Charlie’s side and Shane nodded his thanks. If Charlie had been half as upset when she’d barreled into the main area of the firehouse as when she’d flung herself out of the rig, then Mason definitely would have noticed. He was a good captain who kept a close eye on his people and knew when they needed something, even if they didn’t themselves. Mason’s gaze shifted back to Charlie briefly, and Shane could see the concern reflected in his eyes, but Mason didn’t have to worry. Shane was keeping a very close eye on Charlie himself, at least until the whole Severs thing blew over.

He and Charlie prepped the supplies for any casualties, but this time the warehouse was empty. As the team emerged, he looked over to Charlie with a grin. She didn’t smile back, her face paling as she looked over his shoulder at something. Shane spun around. Matt was walking from the building, a grim look on his face. In his hand was a piece of thin wire, coiled around in a vague circle shape. He held it up, gripped between a pair of pliers. “Found several of these inside, Chief, and the place smells like it’s coated in gasoline. This was not an accident.”

“Nor is he being subtle about it,” Mason muttered.

A rock settled in Shane’s stomach. One warehouse fire in a single shift was normal, even perhaps routine. But two? Monroe simply wasn’t that big. Add in that the one that morning had felt hinky and then that this one had incendiary devices, and the burger in Shane’s stomach lurched. The entire station had been involved with a recent brush with arson when Seth’s girl, Maya, had first arrived in town. Her brother Jesse, an FBI agent, had died in a fire of his own making—or so that’s what the FBI was telling everyone, anyway. The full story ended up being just about the craziest thing Shane had ever heard, and that was saying something given some of the calls he’d been on. That fire had happened months before Maya had even been in Monroe, and had been just the one. An active serial arsonist was an entirely different matter.

Shane prayed he was wrong, but his gut rarely was, and it was screaming at him. His decision to keep a closer watch on Charlie for a while cemented in his mind. He might man the rig most shifts, but he was a trained firefighter, just like the rest of the squad. If Charlie got stuck somewhere on her own with a fire-setting madman? Shane shivered. He’d just have to make sure that never happened.

The drive back to the house was subdued after Matt’s discovery. Shane tried to keep chatting, exchanging digs with Charlie the way they always did, but he could tell her heart wasn’t in it. She smiled, though, and talked back, and so things were all good between them again, at least. He’d almost managed to get a real smile back on his face when they pulled into the engine bay and he saw the chief, standing at the base of the stairs, his expression grim. Did he already have more news about Matt’s discovery? The chief smiled and greeted everyone as they passed by, but his gaze kept shooting back to Shane. What the hell was going on? Whatever it was, he needed to know. Now.

“Charlie, I didn’t quite get finished on the log books before the last call-out. How about I finish up here and you go make sure Matt doesn’t start lunch?” He shot her a grin.

“So I don’t have to do the paperwork and I get to avoid Matt’s cooking? You don’t have to tell me twice.” She climbed out of her seat and made her way up to the break room, nodding at the chief as she passed. He gave her the same greeting as the rest of the squad but stayed put at his place at the base of the stairs. That confirmed it. The chief needed to see him, and whatever it was for, it had to be done in private and without anyone else knowing. That could not be good.

Shane opened the back doors of the rig and climbed in, picking up his clipboard and grabbing the drug box. If anyone did show up, at least he’d look like he was working.

“So, how you been, Shane?” Chief Stone asked.

He looked over at Alex, frowning. “Fine.”

“Things between you and Charlie, they all good?”

Had someone actually figured it out and tattled to the chief? Shane forced himself to hold the man’s gaze. After all, it wasn’t a lie, not since their conversation a few hours back, thank God. “Everything’s fine. She’s a great partner.”

The chief rocked back on his heels, his hands in his pockets, but his act of nonchalance wasn’t fooling Shane for a second. “Chief. What’s going on?”

Hands came out of pockets. Arms crossed over chest. Alex drew in a deep breath. “I got a call from the hospital. There’s drugs missing from the restock cabinet.”

Shane’s eyebrows rose. “And?”

“And so I checked our squad’s supply log, as per their request, and it’s off. Shane, there’s at least four vials of morphine missing. Possibly some fentanyl, too.”

Shane jerked back, the rock in his stomach from the arson turning into a boulder. “And what? They think one of us took them?”

Alex’s gaze turned fierce. “I told them there’s absolutely no way any of my crew was involved. They ‘took my opinion under advisement,’ but Shane, the drugs are missing. That much is certain.”

He shook his head, returning the chief’s glare. It wasn’t really him Shane was mad at, but just how much shit were they going to be expected to take?

“So Charlie’s doing okay?” the chief asked.

Okay, now he was mad at him. “She’s exactly the same way she always is; dependable, a brilliant EMT, and honest.” His voice deepened at the last word, his eyes burning. “Charlie blushes when you tease her about wearing her fluffy slippers in the break room, for God’s sake. She’s not stealing schedule-two drugs!”

“Never thought she was,” Alex said. He turned, hands in pockets again, and headed for the stairs. He turned back to Shane. “You two be careful out there, you hear me?”

Shane nodded. “Loud and clear.”

He wasn’t letting Charlie out of his fucking sight.