~ Chapter Two ~
Carter
“That was some save today.” Eric, also referred to as Harvard, walked up to me, clapping me on the back as I sat on my cot, staring out into space.
I didn’t need to ask what save he was referring to, although we’d gone on at least five runs since Michelle. Michelle. The woman I’d been thinking about all fucking day. The woman I couldn’t keep my mind off of even as we were called to another car accident, a house fire, and a warehouse fire. Every time I closed my eyes for a little rest, in between calls, those honey eyes stared back at me. Not sleeping wasn’t unusual for me, but never had a woman been the cause of my sleepless nights. Not in this way, at least.
“Yeah, hell of a job from everyone,” I retorted, smiling at Eric. I stood up, stretching my arms overhead, still feeling his silent look on me. Harvard wasn’t much for words, but I could tell he was always thinking, analyzing, and assessing. It’s what made him so good as a lieutenant.
“Everyone did their part. But you were in there. Even against Cap’s orders,” he noted, bringing a cup of coffee to his lips, staring at me over the brim as he sipped.
I shrugged. “She needed someone with her.”
“And that someone had to be you?”
“Who else was it gonna be?” I rolled my shoulders onto my back, willing myself to calm down. We got antsy with one another often, but it felt like he was getting too close to something big.
His lips turned downward, contemplatively. “No one else, I guess.” His eyes narrowed, looking for a response to his comment. He wasn’t getting one.
“We’re off in five minutes. The hell are you drinking coffee for?” I teased, changing the direction of the conversation.
He grinned. “Heading to Charlie’s after work and staying with Angel until she closes.” Angela, or Angel as he called her, was Eric’s wife, and she owned a bar named Charlie’s that all the guys frequented. “You coming?”
I shook my head. “Not tonight. I gotta take care of something.”
“Everything alright?”
I didn’t know whether to be pissed off or grateful for the concern I heard in his question.
“Everything’s fine. Just something I gotta do.”
“Okay.” He didn’t question it further and I was glad about it.
Five minutes later, I was putting on my leather jacket, and heading out the door, after saying my good-byes and signing out for the night. I walked to the parking lot that was in front of the station house, and grinned when I made eye contact with my beauty. She sat on two wheels and was only one of a few hundred of these in the world. My Ducati Diavel Diesel was my pride and joy. I removed my helmet from the back rest, placed it over my head, and threw my leg over the seat to straddle the bike. Placing the key in, I revved up the engine, but before pulling out, I turned my head up to stare at the marquee that read “Rescue Four” in gold at the top of the brick fire station. This was my home. I gave the building a two finger salute and pulled out of the parking lot, turning right, the opposite direction of where I lived.
I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was that I couldn’t get the image of Michelle’s face out of my mind. So, I drove in the only direction I thought to find the real thing, instead of the memory in my head. Ten minutes later, I was pulling up into the parking lot of Memorial Hospital. Parking my bike and tearing off my helmet, I headed toward the double doors of the emergency room. I glanced around the waiting room, seeing people in various states of sickness waiting to be seen. Nurses, doctors, medics, and other medical personnel moved about. I finally caught sight of a nurse I knew. Tucking my helmet under my arm and sauntering over to her, I grabbed her attention.
“Hey, Cyn, were you in earlier today?” I questioned.
“Carter.” She smiled. “I’ve been in since noon. Why? What’s up?” she asked, tucking a lock of brunette hair behind her ear.
“There was a call I wanted to check up on. We pulled her out of her car. She was in an accident down on Grant. Car flipped. She had a gash over her right eye. First name Michelle. Last name Clarke.”
Cyn’s face scrunched up as she tried to place the woman. “Oh!” She snapped her fingers. “Yeah, I remember. She was a little banged up.”
“What room is she in?” I questioned, glancing around as if she’d materialize just out of my desire to see her again.
Cyn shook her head. “No room. Signed herself out, AMA. Doc wanted to keep her overnight for observation due to the gash on her forehead and the knot that started to form, but she insisted on leaving. Nothing we could do.” She shrugged. “Listen, Carter, I gotta go.”
“Thanks, Cyn.” I barely noticed when she left, instead my mind working overtime to figure out why it concerned me so much that Michelle had signed herself out. What the hell was I even doing there? Sure, we checked up on people we pulled out often, but a simple phone call could’ve done.
“Fuck it,” I stated. I reasoned that Michelle probably signed herself out to get back to her family. She did have a son after all. And chances were if she had a son, she had a husband to go along with him. Or at the very least, a father for her child.
I slowly turned back to the doors I’d entered, pulling my helmet back over my head. I got on my Ducati, started it up, and backed out of my parking space, waiting until I’d exited the hospital’s parking lot to rev up the engine and peel out onto the street, doing my best to get lost in the adrenaline rush that came from moving this fast on the road.
****
Michelle
Days like this, I wish I had a man in my life who’d do this type of thing for me. As I stared at the salesman in the passenger seat, ramble on about the upgrades of the two thousand eighteen version of the vehicle, I just let him talk. It was either that, or tell him again―for the third time―that I had no interest in buying a brand new car.
I’d finally gotten the insurance payout for my totaled car and all I wanted was a three or four year old car that ran great and got me where I needed to go. Apparently, I hadn’t made that clear enough to the salesman, who was still talking about the two thousand eighteen features.
“No, no, that’s great. Maybe I’ll look into that in the future,” I spoke up. “But for now, I’d just like the 2014 model.” I rubbed my hands up and down the steering wheel. We’d just done a test drive of the 2014, and I was set on it. This was pretty much the exact same car I’d had and I hadn’t had any problems with it until the accident.
“Are you sure? We have some–”
“I’m sure. And I’ll be writing a check, so no need to go through all the financing paperwork. If we could get this done as soon as possible. I have to pick up my son from the sitter.” That was a total lie, but thankfully, one that Steve bought.
“Oh, a mother, huh? I get it. My wife’s always rushing around taking the kids from one place to another. How many kids do you have?”
“Just one.” I smiled, tightly.
“Well, if you’re thinking of having more in the near future, we’ve got some SUVs and minivans that are perfect for driving the family around.”
“I’m not. Thank you.” I got out of the car, shutting the door, making it clear to Steve that I was ready to head out. Thankfully, he got the message and followed suit. He held the door open for me to enter the dealership. Forty minutes later―after writing a check out for the total amount of the vehicle―I had my new keys in hand and was on my way out. It was just after two o’clock and I had plenty of free time. I’d left Diego with my mother for the day, and they were planning on going to see a children’s play. Those two were like peas in a pod, couldn’t get enough of hanging with one another. That’d brought a smile to my lips. My mother and I hadn’t had a great relationship growing up, but she was great with Diego.
On a whim, I got the idea to head over to the Rescue Four firehouse. It was something I’d contemplated over the last three weeks, since my accident. All during my week and a half recuperating process from work, and even since I’d been back, I couldn’t get my mind off the sexiest and most haunting pair of blue eyes I’d ever seen. Carter. That was his name, at least I thought it was. That was the name I remembered calling out, as I was being pulled from my car. The tight hold around my hand that was almost strangling my circulation but felt good just the same. And it may have been my imagination, but I thought I remembered that just before I was loaded into the ambulance, he’d lifted my hand and brought it to his soft lips. I still remember the tiny tingles that shot through my adrenaline flooded body. I was pretty sure that the adrenaline was the reason I was still so caught up on thoughts of him. It had to be the adrenaline and high emotion of it all. I told myself it was nothing more than the energy of the situation, even as I bought two dozen donuts from my favorite shop and pointed my new car in the direction of the firehouse.
Fifteen minutes later, I parked across the street of the Rescue Four fire station and got out of my car. Pulling out the two boxes of donuts from the passenger side, I checked the street before crossing. A nervousness settled over me the closer I got, but I was already there. No turning back now. I entered through the opened garage where a fire struck sat, equipment out behind it.
“Hello?” I called.
A dark head popped out from behind the fire truck. The man, dressed in dark blue slacks and T-shirt of the fire department, greeted me with a smile.
“Hi. My name is Michelle. Michelle Clarke. I was in an accident three weeks ago and your squad pulled me out of my car. I just …” I paused as three more men emerged. “I brought something to say thank you,” I continued, holding up the boxes for all the men to see.
All four men now broke out into smiles. Whoa! All of these men were gorgeous. The first one I’d met introduced himself as Don. He had dark hair and was about six foot, medium build. The next one was introduced as Eric. He was tall, too―with dark, silky hair and a creamy coloring to his skin thanks to his Asian heritage. Next came Sean, who was a few shades darker than me and slightly taller than Don. Finally, I shook hands with Corey, who was somewhere between my caramel coloring and Sean’s complexion, and just as handsome as the other three men.
“Thank you for these,” Don stated, holding up the boxes of donuts he’d relieved me of. “We always love food as a token of your appreciation.” He laughed, and the rest did as well.
Despite how great all these men were, disappointment settled in my belly at not seeing the one face I’d hoped beyond hope to see.
“Come in, doll,” Don ushered.
“Oh, that’s okay. I didn’t want to disturb your day.”
“Nonsense, come on. It’s rare we get a face as beautiful as yours around here,” Sean added.
I smiled, and followed the men inside. We entered from the garage side door into a huge kitchen. I glanced around and saw a few other firefighters milling about.
“Here’s everyone’s favorite room in the entire firehouse,” Eric informed.
Don placed the donuts on the table and suddenly I felt guilty.
“Hey, I know there’s a cliché about cops and donuts, but these are from my favorite shop, so I hope no one’s offended,” I laughed.
“Offended? We’d be more upset if you didn’t bring food,” Sean exclaimed.
“Hey, what’s so–”
Everything in me stilled. His voice alone, I’d memorized it. Those cerulean eyes met mine and a slow smile broke out onto his face.
“Michelle.”
My hand lunged out to hold onto the counter. Just the sound of my name falling from his lips, and the way he stared at me, watching me, moving closer. He came to stand in front of me. He was tall. Taller than the four other men in the room. A dirty blond lock fell over his forehead, and I wanted so badly to push it out of his face but I held back. I stared at him the same way he was looking down at me. We were memorizing each other. I drank in his chiseled jawline with the short hairs of a cropped beard, the light freckles that lined his upper cheeks and bridge of his nose, and again, those eyes.
“Carter.” I cleared my throat, attempting to rid it of the tremble I was sure everyone in earshot heard. “I wanted to come by and thank you for saving me. All of you,” I added, breaking free of the grip his gaze had on me and looking back to the other men in the room, who’d gone eerily quiet. I would’ve guessed they’d all scattered as silent as they’d gotten. This group didn’t strike me as the quiet bunch. But when I peeled my eyes from Carter’s, I definitely saw that we weren’t alone.
“Michelle brought donuts,” Corey yelled out.
“I hope you all enjoy them,” I stated, unable to turn back to Carter. I still felt his eyes on me. “I didn’t know what else to bring to say thanks.”
“You’ve done enough,” his deep voice sounded.
“Food is always welcome around here.”
“The way these clowns eat, we’re not turning anything down!” Sean called out.
I finally turned back to Carter, who sure enough, continued to stare at me.
“What’re you doing now?” he questioned.
I blinked, contemplating his question. “Uh, nothing. My mother has Diego for the afternoon.”
“Care to take a short break with me?”
I raised my eyebrows, but he was already taking my hand in his. The same warm feeling I remembered from the day of the accident, appeared at the same spot he touched.
“You hungry?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Come with me.” He pulled me by the arm and we began exiting the kitchen, through a swinging door.
“Thanks, Michelle.”
“Leaving so soon?” Don called out in a teasing manner.
Carter shot him a look, but didn’t say anything. He just held the door open for me, and moved behind me, wrapping his arm around my lower back, possessively. He didn’t even bother introducing me to any of the other firefighters as we moved past the main area of the station, passed the television and out the front door.
“It was a little stuffy in there,” he said in my ear, once we were outside. “Take a trip with me.”
“What?” I blurted out, turning to him.
A funny grin spread across his face. “To the park. You said you were hungry.” His head gestured and I turned, seeing the entrance to the biggest open air park in Williamsport.
“Oh, yeah. Sure,” I fumbled, feeling foolish. Of course he wasn’t asking me to go on an actual trip with him.
“How’ve you been since the accident? Any injuries?” he questioned, as we made our way over the cobblestones of the park’s entrance.
I shook my head. “Other than some stitches and a mild concussion I was alright.”
We stopped walking and Carter turned to me. His free hand raising to my forehead, he ran his thumb along the cut that had been on the mend. I leaned into his touch, gathering his strength, and tried to store it for an occasion when I would need it.
“Is that why you signed yourself out of the hospital?”
My eyes sprang open. I hadn’t even been aware that I’d closed them. “How’d you know I signed myself out?”
“I went to the hospital to check on you.” He looked me straight in the eye.
I paused, both shocked and a little taken aback by his stare. He seemed to always be staring at me so attentively. “Do you always do that?”
“Do what?” A blond eyebrow spiked upwards.
“Look people straight in the eye when talking to them.” It was unnerving and fulfilling all at the same time. As if every last word I spoke held his completely enraptured attention. I’d felt it when I was trapped inside my car as well.
“Does it make you uncomfortable?” He inched closer, gaze intent on me.
“Would you stop doing it if it did?”
“Probably not.”
I tilted my head to the side. “Why not?”
“Because I can’t help it around you … nor do I even want to try to.” His free hand―because he still held my left hand in his right―went up to my shoulder, and began stroking the loose end piece of the braid I wore.
“Soft,” he murmured, as if committing my hair’s feel to memory.
Something inside of me shook. Like my body was shaking off the feeling of being in darkness for a long time. I got that wonderful feeling you get when you first stretch after a good night’s rest, but I hadn’t moved. I’d merely been held captive by Carter’s watchful eyes.
“What do you like on your hotdogs?”
I blinked. “Huh?”
He tilted his head behind me and I turned to glance over my shoulders. We were at a hotdog stand.
“Unless you’d prefer a restaurant experience.”
“What? No, this is fine. I bet you’re pretty busy at the station and don’t have time for a sit down restaurant,” I rushed out.
I turned back to see sparkling eyes trained on me. “My shift ended twenty minutes ago.”
“Oh, well, a hot dog’s fine for now. I’ll take a raincheck on the restaurant,” I lied, knowing I could never agree to going on an actual date with this man. “I’ll take just ketchup and mustard on mine.”
“Ketchup and mustard it is.” He stepped forward, and ordered our food along with two cans of cola from the vendor.
“I haven’t had a hotdog from a vendor in ages,” I said, grinning just before taking my first bite. Thankfully, it was one of those warmer spring days and we were able to locate a bench not too far off, to sit down.
“Why’s that?”
I watched as Carter took a huge bite of his hotdog. His jaw bulged and shifted as he ate, and Lord help me, I found the movement of his mouth erotic. The trimmed hairs of his beard reflected the sunlight. I noticed, not for the first time, the splattering of freckles across the bridge of his nose and tops of his cheeks. The urge to kiss every single one as I counted them arose, and instead of leaning in to do just that, I took a bite of my own hotdog.
“Um …” I hesitated to swallow before answering his question. “I try to cook well-balanced meals for my son. I rarely allow him to eat street food.”
“So you’re a health nut?” he asked, grinning, and balling up the paper that held his hot dog. How the hell had he finished already?
“Pssh, yeah right.” I held out my arms, as if to say look at me. “I hardly look like a health nut.”
His eyes narrowed, all humor leaving his face. His gaze sharpened on me, pinning me before moving over my face, neck, breasts, thighs, and legs. I tried to swallow but all the saliva in my mouth had dried up. He was taking his entire fill of me, drinking me up with just his eyes, and despite the cream jeans and sleeveless blouse I wore, I felt completely raw and exposed under his scrutiny.
“You’re perfect.” His voice was low but laced with a steely firmness that pulled at a need deep within me that I’d done my best to suppress.
I wasn’t about to let myself get sucked under by his magnetic pull. I’d made that mistake once in my life and was still suffering the consequences of my actions. Instead, I made light of the situation.
Smiling, I said, “You’re a firefighter. Everyone knows what notorious flirts you all are.” I tried to laugh it off, and stood, taking the last sip of my can of soda.
Carter stood as well, his stern eyes barreling down on me. “I don’t.”
I swallowed my last sip on a gulp. “Don’t what.”
“Say shit I don’t mean. Use bullshit flattery to get in a woman’s pants. Don’t have to. Never have. Never will.”
And I believed him. Believed every word he’d just said. Of course he didn’t have to use flattery or trickery. Just look at him. Not only was he drop dead gorgeous but he carried himself like he was born and bred to take on the world.
“I … should go.” It was past the time for me to high-tail it out of there. I needed to get from underneath his penetrating gaze, lest I’d be willing to share all my secrets with this man.
Somehow, he was less than an inch from me. I don’t know if he’d moved closer or I had, but the next thing I knew, I saw his lips barreling toward mine. I should’ve taken a step back, told myself to take a step back, but common sense was beat out by a burning need and I waited for a kiss that never came.
Instead, he lowered his forehead to mine, wrapping a firm arm around my waist. “You should …” he uttered just above a whisper. I nodded, thinking he was affirming what I’d just said―that I should go―but then he finished his statement, “… give me your number.”
I began shaking my head, avoiding his eyes. “I can’t.” I cleared my throat and stepped back to break out of the physical and mental hold he had on me. “I just wanted to thank you for all that you did for me that day. I truly appreciate it,” I quickly stated, backing up. “I hope you and your squad enjoy the donuts. Bye.” I didn’t bother stopping to look at him for his reaction. I turned and moved as swiftly as my two legs would carry me back to the safety of my car. All the while, I felt Carter’s eyes on me, just as firmly as I’d felt his grip when he held my hand.