Page 97 of Captivating Anika

Chief holds up his half-empty beer. “I’ll have another.”

“Do you have coffee? Wouldn’t mind a cup.”

“Yeah, just made a fresh pot. Anything to eat?”

“Wanna share an order of wings?”

We had dinner not that long ago, but I guess I can always put away a couple of wings.

“Sure.”

As soon as the server moves away, I get down to business.

“I’m interested, I’m pretty sure I have all required certifications up-to-date.”

“You do, I checked,” he confirms. “There’s a written test you’re required to take, but you’ve got a couple of months to bone up for that. It shouldn’t be a problem for ya.”

“Will there be a general posting for the position?”

Usually, when a position in the department opens up, they’ll at least put an internal post up, but for some positions they’ll go outside the Durango Fire Department as well.

The thing is, I want the job but I’m not sure I’d measure up against some of the younger whippersnappers who are eager to climb the ranks.

“No, there won’t. Cap and I agree that your unit would be best served bringing new blood in from the bottom instead of the top. We also agree you’re best suited to take over. No one on the crew is going to question your leadership.”

I’d be lying if I said that doesn’t make me feel good.

The server comes back with the chief’s beer and my coffee, alerting us the wings will be out soon. While we wait, the conversation drifts from work into personal life.

Mine, in particular.

“Is Roadkill over the fact you’re seeing his sister?”

“He’s getting used to it,” I inform him.

We’ll see how long that lasts when he finds out I basically invited myself to move in with her. He may have some ideas around that, but he’ll have to get used to that too.

“And she’s okay? I mean, after the deaths and the troubles at her business. I hear they caught all the bad guys.”

There aren’t many secrets in Durango. At least not for long.

“She’s handling it. She’s organizing and financing a funeral for the employee who was killed. The only next of kin was the woman’s mother who is in a nursing home. Anika’s taken on a lot, but that’s the way she rolls.”

“I could send the helmet around the firehouse to help offset some of the cost,” he offers.

“That’d be appreciated.”

Firefighters—we’re a brotherhood too.

“Consider it done,” the chief confirms, as his eyes turn to the entrance.

I glance over my shoulder to see Bill Evans walking in. His eyes seem to lock right in on me, as he strides over. A feeling of unease tickles down my spine.

“Chief Aimes, sorry to interrupt,” he starts. Then he turns to me. “Anika with you?”

Forget unease, every fucking nerve in my body jumps alive at his question.

“No. She’s out for drinks with her friends. Why?”

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