Page 23 of The Firefighter's Fate

“No,” I reply. “I think I’ll let him have one last night of peace before I come in swinging with my million questions.”

“I wish I could see your first interaction,” Spencer replies. “He is the grumpiest man I know, and you seem like a ray of sunshine. I have a feeling you two will mix like oil and water. It would be one hell of a show to watch.”

10

EMBER

I find myself walking into Crystal River’s fire station holding my breath so hard it feels like my lungs are about to burst. I’m not normally nervous, but I certainly am now. It seems like so much has been said about and anticipated of Connor Penmayne over the last few days that now, with the very high chance of finally meeting the man, I kinda feel petrified.

Get your shit together, Ember. You’re a professional, so act like it.

Okay, so there’s no Connor Penmayne in the front reception area, but there is another firefighter. He wears the blue uniform, with the Crystal River Fire Department logo plastered over the front and back of it, marking him pretty obviously as one of Connor’s colleagues. He looks up at me from behind the sole desk with friendly eyes.

“Hey,” he says. “What can I do for you today?”

“Hello, I’m Ember.”

“I’m Eric. Nice to meet you. How can I help?”

“I think you can help me, Eric. I’m looking for someone.”

“Someone missing in the community?” the firefighter asks.

“I’m looking for Connor Penmayne.”

The man raises his eyebrows.

“You’re looking for Connor?” he asks.

“Yep.”

His gaze takes me in. Up and down. Up and down.

“You?”

“Yep.”

“What about?” he questions in slight disbelief.

I smile.

“Personal reasons. Is he around? Can I see him?”

“Not many people come snooping around here looking for Connor,” Eric remarks slowly. He’s handsome, in a clean kind of way. Crewcut brown hair. Late twenties. I spot a wedding ring on his finger. “People tend to try to keep away from him.”

“I guess that makes me special, then,” I reply cheekily.

Another firefighter walks in from the main entrance behind me. I stop to turn and look.

This guy is tall. Very tall. Broad-shouldered. He’s got hazel eyes and a rough short beard. He’s wearing the firefighter uniform with deliciously rolled-up sleeves revealing whole forearms inked with tattoos.

Even with the facial hair and the different colored eyes, he looks like Spencer Penmayne.

He looks like Waylen Penmayne.

It’s Connor. I guarantee it.

And... he’s kinda... incredibly good-looking.

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