Page 46 of The Firefighter's Fate

“Connor?”

He stops too, mere yards in front of me. He’s so impossibly tall.

“I’m ready to talk to you,” he says with that guttural baritone.

“Yeah? You are?”

“I am. I’m ready to talk now.”

“Oh. Okay. Cool.”

Really? I can’t believe my luck...

“Only if you have an almond croissant for me,” the firefighter says. “You did promise me that.”

And then I really smile.

Got him.

23

CONNOR

“Come with me,” I command the journalist. She’s still smiling up at me. I can see the cogs ticking in her gorgeous head... she thinks she’s won this little game between us.

But she hasn’t yet.

I’m in control here.

I’m going to be smart about this. Sure, I’m going to talk to the viper, but I’m going to be careful with what I say. I’m going to dictate my narrative, not some hot-shot journalist from the city. I’ll give her the words I want to give her.

She thinks she’s won, but I’m going to use her.

That talk with Spencer made me reconsider everything.

With the sudden change in the air and the tension between us, I beckon Ember into a side office of the fire station. This concealed space is meant for me and my admin duties, but I rarely use it. I don’t want to. I like being among my men instead of being locked away doing paperwork. I didn’t sign up to be a firefighter merely to sit behind a desk.

“Sit,” I instruct the journalist.

Ember sits.

She pulls out an almond croissant from a paper bag and hands it over like it is payment.

“You came prepared today?” I ask her, nodding at the pastry.

Ember continues to smile that pretty smile at me.

“Yep. I knew I’d only get you to talk if I had one at hand. I was prepared.”

“Good. I’ll have it, then.”

I take the croissant and take a violent bite out of it. I want to assert my dominance. I want her to know I’m still in control but...

Damn, that’s tasty.

Very fucking tasty.

No wonder my crew fell for her charms when she brought them these kinds of treats.

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