Page 56 of Combust
The PASS was a Personal Alert Safety System used by firefighters whenever they entered a hazardous environment, like a burning building. It emitted an extremely loud, shrill distress signal if a firefighter got in trouble and triggered it, or if they didn’t move for thirty seconds.
It had been years since anyone in the BPRFD had needed to use theirs, and Maggie hoped that it wouldn’t be necessary anytime soon.
Cade inspected each piece of gear closely, paid attention to her explanation of how to correctly wear it, and asked good questions.
When she was done, he peeled out of the ill-fitting turnouts he’d worn during the demonstration, and pulled off the tight Nomex hood.
Clad only in his t-shirt and briefs, he grinned down at her. “Should I even bother getting dressed again?”
“What do you mean?” Maggie asked him, startled.
“Well,” he drawled, his smile widening. “I’m mighty glad that it’s just us here tonight. Though bunkbeds ain’t the most comfortable situation for two people, especially if they’re movin’ around.” His smile turned into a cheerful leer. “But I’m sure we’ll find a way to manage with a bit o’ ingenuity.”
Maggie gaped at him in horror. “You’re actually proposing that we have sexhere?While I’m onduty?”
“Yup.” Apparently oblivious to her reaction, Cade closed in for a kiss.
She shoved him away, harder than she intended. “Are youkiddingme?”
Shock clouded his features as he stumbled back, followed by a quick flash of hurt. “Why’d you go and do that? I thought you and me were a couple now, Maggie!”
He took her by the shoulders. She flinched involuntarily, recalling how easily Andrew had overpowered her.
The memory turned her annoyance to anger.
“Let go of me!” she snarled, preparing to fight him off with everything she had.
* * *
“What the hell?” Shocked at the unexpected rebuff—and the fear suddenly flooding Maggie’s scent—Cade released her and hastily stepped back.
Why is she suddenly acting as cuddly as a hornet?He was genuinely bewildered.
Out loud, he asked, “What did I do?”
She crossed her arms and glowered at him. At that moment, she looked every inch Dane Swanson’s daughter. “Fooling around in the firehouse is seriously one of the most unprofessional things a firefighter can do,” she bit out. “It—itdishonorsthe job.”
“Oh.” He blinked at this.
She added. “And if anyone finds out, we’ll both be in big trouble. They’ll kick us out of the fire department, and I don’t think anyone in this town will ever want to talk to us again.” She made a chopping motion with her hand. “We’ll be completely shunned. Now please get dressed before someone drops by and sees you like that.”
Her tone stung Cade’s temper. The last week had sweetened him up considerably, but his anger still lay close to the surface.
“How on earth was I supposed to know any of that?” he retorted. “I ain’t started my training yet.”
Maggie was having none of it. Her frown became downright thunderous.
Worse, what he saw in her eyes chilled him to the core. It was contempt. The same expression he was used to seeing from shifters.
He just hadn’t expected to see it fromher.
“Because someone who’s a functioning adult would at least guess that part?” she snapped sarcastically. “I swear to God, Cade. Were you raised in a barn or something?”
Her words were a gut-punch reminder of his hardscrabble youth. “I wish I’d been that lucky,” he replied bitterly. “At least I would’ve had a roof over my head.”
He didn’t know what his expression revealed, but her eyes widened in distress. “Oh, no! I didn’t mean—“
“Yeah, you did,” he pointed out bitterly. “You wanted to punch below the belt. Congratulations on your fairy-tale childhood, Miz Swanson.” He snatched his clothing off the floor, and pulled it on with all of his shifter speed while continuing to speak. “Must’ve been real nice to have grown-ups around who could teach you stuff. I had to figure everything out on my own.” He shrugged into his jacket, and shook his head. “You know, when I came here, I thought this place and your family were too good to be true. I should’ve known to trust my gut.”
