Page 56 of Single Mom's Firemen

I sigh. “Until then, I’ll apologize now for being on edge and cranky,” I reply with a tense shrug.

Eric leans in, getting close enough to beckon my full attention. “Halle, I’ll take you being on edge and cranky. I’ll have you every possible way,” he says, keeping his voice down so the other firefighters can’t hear. “I’ll have you in the morning, at noon, at night. In a good mood. In a bad mood. I’ll have you over and over, without exception, until our time runs out.”

“Is this your way of telling me you fancy me?” I quip, half-smiling.

“It’s my way of telling you that I can’t get enough of you,” he says, his gaze softening slightly. There’s an underlying emotion there, something that sparkles in the blue pools of his eyes. It’s making my heart flutter and my stomach tighten. “And that no matter what comes next, I’ve got you. And so do Chase and Wyatt.”

“I couldn’t be more grateful,” I exhale sharply. “I’m just not sure what chance I stand against Harriet in court.”

“It won’t get to that.”

“You sound pretty certain.”

“Her son, the father of your children, has a BOLO out in his name. The mere suspicion that he tried to burn the diner with his whole family in it will be enough to cast serious doubt on Harriet’s case. Add to that her reputation, the countless open investigations into the Nash family, the fact that you had to run away and hide and file for a restraining order before you could even file for divorce… Halle, she doesn’t stand a chance.”

I want to believe him. I really do. But I’ve also seen how far her money and influence can take her. “Harriet Nash has won a lot more with less,” I say. “I’m not gonna hold my breath here, but I will do everything in my power to make sure that she and Colby never see Luna and Sammy ever again. That I’m sure of.”

“Don’t even think about running away again,” Eric warns, inching even closer. “I’m not letting you skip town. And rest assured that Chase will find you. That man is the perfect hunter. I kid you not.”

“Eric, I—”

We’re interrupted by a dispatch alarm. The lights flash red as the siren wails all over the fire station. Eric groans with frustration, then plants a kiss on my forehead and gets back down the pole. “We’ll finish this when I get back,” he says. “I’m not done with you yet!”

“Be careful out there!” I shout back.

My heart’s the size of a flea as I rise from my seat to catch a glimpse of my men going to work again. Chase and Wyatt are already done gearing up when Eric catches up to them. The others load the equipment onto the rigs while the chief comes out of his office, ready to join them.

“You too, Chief?” I ask, my blood running cold.

It must be a bad one if Holt is tagging along. He gives me a stern nod, his brows furrowed. “It’s a five-alarm fire at a warehouse. Dangerously close to a residential area. Dispatch says there’s a risk of it spreading quickly, possibly exploding. Flammables are everywhere in that building.”

“Oh my God.”

“You’re manning the ship while I’m gone, Halle. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Yes, sir,” I reply as I watch him and the whole crew go.

Once they’re gone, an eerie and uncomfortable silence takes over the firehouse. I’m not completely alone here. We do have a few station personnel and security staff on-site, but up here, I’m on my own, with no choice but to keep working and figure out a way to focus on something other than whatever devastating blaze my men are about to walk into.

And then it hits me.

I’m scared more for their safety whenever they go out on a call than I am for myself. I have fallen so deeply in love with Eric, with Chase, with Wyatt, it’s a bond that links my soul to theirs, and the idea that I might someday lose one, or all of them, to the flames or some other field incident fills me with dread. I have a hard time imagining a future without them in it, without their arms wrapped around me. Their strength fuels me. It keeps me upright. Sammy and Luna adore them.

Losing the Danson brothers would shatter me.

And what about this innocent baby growing in my belly? Oh, God, what have I gotten myself into? Perhaps I should regret this, but I don’t. I can’t look back and say that I shouldn’t have done any of it because I don’t regret a single thing. I am better because of them. Better with them. But the ghosts of my past have such a tight grip on my present, their poison is threatening to destroy my future.

21

Eric

We’re briefed on the way over through constant updates from dispatch. The radios are blowing up with new information as the fire keeps spreading and working its way through the massive warehouse structure. My brothers and I prepare for the worst as the truck darts through the hot city streets.

“The fact that we’re not the first on the scene makes me uneasy,” Chase says.

“It’s not even our quadrant. We’re two quadrants over,” Wyatt adds to his concern. “I’m starting to think it’s bigger than a five-alarm. How many units are already there?”

“Three,” I say. “We’re the fourth to join the party.”

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