Page 69 of Five Alarm Love
“Huh.”
“Huhis right, when you consider how rich this will make me.”
“Thought you wanted to be a firefighter, not a miner.Besides, this discussion is unprofessional.”
Hunter ignored the first question.“Like flirting with an EMT while they were on a trauma run wasn’t unprofessional.I should write you up and tell my manager.Yet another reason you’re unfit for duty.”He rubbed his chin.“Only, my supervisoristhe chief.So, who should I tell?The mayor, probably.She’s the only one who can fire you, right?”
“First of all, I wasn’t flirting while working.That was a brief pleasantry exchanged between friends.”If he had a few more minutes and the patient wasn’t unstable, it might have been flirting.Details.
“So, you’re not dating?”
Tuli spun toward him once more.“This is insubordination.”
“This is human interest.Besides, I’m family.What’s wrong with her?I ought to know.We’re family.She has a condition?Is she sick?Caught the cooties from you?”
He nearly bent the thick metal intake valve that he gripped.
Hunter said, “Never mind.You just blew your future with Louise and blew your job.With you out of the way and me taking lead on the mine and soon the fire chief job, the door’s open for some Yukon Valley fun.”He waggled his eyebrows.“I’m about to be the successful son the Wrights never had.And Uncle Steve wants me to set Louise up with one of my equally successful friends.Looks like the influencer can’t shoot this video.Because he’s out of the picture!”
Thathar-harlaugh was all it took.
The movement of Tuli’s hand, arm, and shoulder didn’t register until his fist was an inch beyond Hunter’s square jaw.The guy’s head snapped back with anoof.
Would you look at that?All those upper body workouts had paid off.
After the three seconds of shock wore off, his knuckles stared to throb.Tuli looked up.Uh-oh.
Hunter had been working out as well.
“Nowthisis insubordination.”The spark of light and flash of pain from Hunter’s stone fist crunching Tuli’s cheekbone left him seeing chirping chickadees.
Tuli staggered back, but his bad leg gave out on him, and he sprawled on his ass on the asphalt.When he tried to stand, the damned leg didn’t cooperate.Sensation was all weird, like pain and numbness at the same time.
Tuli struggled to his feet, ignoring Hunter’s outstretched hand.
“A little fisticuffs between friends.Firefighting hijinks.No hard feelings, right?”Hunter said as onlookers gasped.
A few held up their cell phones.Damn it.Hunter grabbed Tuli’s aching hand and then smacked him on the upper arm, too hard to be a friendly strike, but not hard enough for others to tell the difference.
Tuli fantasized about using the fire hose to strangle the guy.Nothing drastic, just enough to shut him up.“Whatever.”
Hunter pulled him in close and muttered, “By the time I’m done here, all you’ll have remaining is a decent right hook and nothing else.No leadership job, no respect of the people in town.”He paused and lowered his voice further.“No sweet Louise.And obviously, no leg to stand on.”
Tuli rolled his fist, ready to take another swing, but the gape-mouthed spectators made him pause.“Damn you,” he said through a smile with gritted teeth.
“I’m not the damned one, buddy.You brought this all on yourself.Lying about your injury so you could keep your job.Opening your stupid mouth one too many times.Don’t get mad at me.All I did was shine a light on the cockroach in the corner.”
“Get.Out.Of.My.Face.”
“Gladly.However, we have to ride back to the station together.Want me to drive?”
Tuli opened his mouth to protest, but then he shifted his weight on that insensate right leg.Damn that guy.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Two days later,on Wednesday, Lou and Maverick were at Three Bears, holding their steaming coffee mugs.The morning was cool, with overcast conditions and drizzle.Coffee was a requirement.
They strolled toward the back of the store.
