Page 7 of Passions Ignite

“I’ll meet up with you guys soon,” Zoey said.

Leilani left, closing the door softly behind her.

Zoey exhaled and looked around the room again.

She turned back to the folder, this time focusing on the reports, determined to make this place home—or at least safe. At the moment, it felt way too dull inside.

Needing fresh scenery, she headed outside into the hallway, her boots echoing on the concrete floor. The walls were lined with framed photographs of past crews, smiling faces, and scenes of controlled chaos.

A few people walked past her, everyone seeming to be in a hurry. They were trained to be this way. To be ready for any and every eventuality. She wondered how they dealt with it when something came along that they weren’t prepared for.

Zoey spotted Chief Thompson a few steps ahead, deep in conversation with someone dressed in a pilot’s uniform with short, messy hair. Becky Thompson’s own strawberry-blonde hair was neatly cut in a bob and her uniform was immaculate. Thompson turned just in time for her eyes to meet Zoey’s.

“Lieutenant Knight,” she called to her. “Join us.”

Zoey walked over to meet them.

The pilot with messy hair nodded toward her as she approached. “Welcome, Lieutenant.”

Zoey matched her smile. Something about her looked familiar.

“Thanks, and you are?”

“Jay Summers,” she said as they shook hands.

“Pilot?” Zoey asked, glancing at her hair.

Jay seemed to catch her eye. She patted her hair as she replied, “Yeah.”

“Lux Valentine keeps these pilots in line.” Chief Thompson chuckled.

“Lux Valentine?” Zoey asked.

“She’s the chief pilot around here,” Jay said. “We both saw you step off your truck this morning.”

The memory raced through Zoey’s mind. She recalled those blue eyes that held hers, the curl of her lips that moved slightly as they held her gaze, and the beauty—and defiance—that lurked behind it.

Zoey frowned. She hated the thoughts that swarmed her head. She hated the fact that she wasn’t even settled in and some very attractive woman who looked like trouble—the chief pilot, to make it worse—was filling her head with thoughts of passion. Passion, Zoey certainly wasn’t sure she desired.

“I don’t think we’ve been introduced,” Zoey said.

“It won’t be long now. Which reminds me, I should go meet her in simulations.” She nodded toward Chief Thompson. “Chief?”

“Alright, Jay.”

Jay walked off, and Chief Thompson turned to Zoey. “Come, it’s about time you meet your team.”

Inside, firefighters milled about, some checking equipment, others conversing.

“Lieutenant Zoey Knight, I want you to meet some of the team,” Chief Thompson said, waving her toward the open room.

A tall woman with a no-nonsense expression was the first to approach. Her uniform was crisp, and her hair was pulled back into a tight bun. “This is Captain Ramirez,” the chief said. “She handles most of the ground operations. She’ll work with you.”

“Nice to meet you,” Zoey said, extending her hand.

Ramirez shook it firmly, her gaze sharp as she looked Zoey over. “Welcome to Phoenix Ridge.”

Zoey nodded, not quite meeting her eyes. The room felt too warm, the air heavy. She forced a smile, her mind drifting back to Forest Vale, to the faces of her old team, the way they had looked at her after the fire where they had lost the girl. She swallowed hard, pushing the memory down.

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