Page 3 of Firefighter Midlife Wolf

“Jessica Anderson.” As she took his big, rough hand, Jessica realized she didn’t know this man at all. But her wolf certainly did.

2

Hayden climbed back up into the passenger side of the fire engine. Nothing was left for them to do at Verna’s, although there was usually never much to do in the first place. It was the easiest call they could ever get, a non-emergency with no injuries. He should be glad. But his wolf was throwing a fit.

He glanced to the right as Pierce called in the details to the firehouse. Jessica was standing next to her vehicle in the parking lot, loading her nursing bag into the passenger seat. She didn’t have to bend over very far for her scrubs to show off the enticing curves of her backside. Hell, a burlap sack wouldn’t hide that luscious figure. Even distressed and embarrassed, she was beautiful. She had a wide and expressive mouth, with lips that sent a bolt of energy through his tongue and down his spine. Those dark gray eyes were remarkable, so different from anything he’d seen.

“You good to go?” Pierce asked as he started the engine.

“Hm? Yeah.” Hayden had seen his share of attractive women. He hadn’t joined the fire department to get female attention, but it did happen. More than once, they’d shown up to a scene to find some damsel in distress who got one look at a uniformed firefighter and swooned. Jessica wasn’t like that, but something had definitely clicked between them.

Pierce checked his mirrors and sent the fire engine gliding down the side street. Instead of trying to turn around, they’d drive around the senior living complex to return to the station. “Let’s hope Verna’s smoke session is the hardest thing we have today.”

They were out of sight of Verna’s apartment and the parking lot near it, but Hayden could still see Jessica in his mind. The dark strands of her hair had been captured in a braid, but he got the idea it was probably a bit wavy. It lightened in the sunshine when she’d stepped outside, illuminating in shades of gold and red, like a fire blossoming into life.

“Hayden?”

“Hm?”

Pierce pulled to a stop at the intersection. His brows drew together as he glanced at his brother before checking traffic. “I just asked if you wanted to go to Stella’s Slice for lunch today. It’s been a while since we’ve had pizza, and it’s Tuesday, so they have Sicilian on special.”

“Um, sure.” Hayden didn’t care much about food right now. He was hungry, but only for something he couldn’t get at a pizza joint. His wolf craved that woman back there in a way he couldn’t remember experiencing. The beast inside him itched and fidgeted the further they drove away from her.

“What’s up with you?” his brother asked impatiently. “And don’t tell me nothing. Something’s obviously distracting you. Did something happen back at Verna’s?”

“Well…” Hayden hesitated. He had a very good idea of what was happening inside him, but it seemed crazy for it to be so sudden. Could he really have met his mate at a fire call? His wolf had no doubts. If he were honest with himself, his human was pretty sure, too. “There was that nurse. Jessica.”

“Yeah, I hadn’t seen her there before. Someone at the visiting nurse agency needs to start taking notes and warning any new employees about Verna. Of course, then we’d miss out on all those entertaining calls. Hang on.” Pierce grinned as he steered around the next corner. “What about that nurse?”

“She’s attractive,” Hayden began. No, it was much more than that. This wasn’t just a pretty face or an ass he’d love to run his hands over, though she had both. It went much deeper. How could he explain? It was a topic every shifter had discussed, but it was different when he was actually experiencing it.

The radio crackled. “Fifty-two, we’ve got a ten-fifty on Lorane and Crest requesting assistance.”

Pierce, who wasn’t in the fog of finding the other half of his soul, quickly snatched the receiver. “Ten-four, we’re on our way. Any details?”

There was a pause before the dispatcher replied. “Teen driver, and the police said it was bad. They’re going to need help with extraction.”

All the excitement Hayden had been feeling was instantly replaced by dread. He reached out to flick on the lights and sirens. “Let’s go.”

Hanging the receiver back in its slot, Pierce floored it. The huge engine could only go so fast, though, and it wasn’t as nimble on city streets as smaller vehicles. “I’m on it.”

Panic rose inside Hayden. He’d thought all the anxiety that came with emergency situations had been trained out of him a long time ago. He’d seen burning buildings and horrific car accidents. None of it phased him anymore.

Until he had children. More specifically, he had a young son with a driver’s license.

“Damn it.” Pierce hit the brakes as a blue minivan trundled along the street, paying zero attention. It finally pulled over to let them through. “It amazes me how many people are completely oblivious to us despite the flashing lights and the loud sirens.”

Anger boiled inside Hayden’s wolf at the idea that they would get to the scene even a few seconds later than they might’ve otherwise. “Just hit that gas pedal.”

Pierce slalomed through the side streets, expertly avoiding parked cars and keeping a watchful eye for any other oblivious minivans. “You know, it’s not necessarily him, Hayden.”

“I know.” Hayden barely got the words out between clamped jaws. He’d imagined he would look forward to teaching his son to drive and seeing the fun and freedom Jack could have once he didn’t have to rely on his parents to get around. He hadn’t anticipated what a nervous wreck it would make him every time Jack walked out the door.

“He’s a good driver,” Pierce added. “I got to spend a couple of driving sessions with him, and you did a good job. He’s a responsible kid.”

“All of that’s true, Pierce,” Hayden replied, “but it doesn’t exactly make me feel better. There are thousands of teen drivers in Eugene, but facts and statistics don’t eliminate the possibility. Selene help me, I’ll have to go through it again in a few years with Ellie.”

“Here we are.” Spotting the wreckage up ahead, Pierce slowed down. He pulled in behind a squad car that had just arrived, and they spotted their packmate, Officer Kane Glenwood, standing next to it.

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