Page 91 of Burning Love
“Did you get the application I emailed you?” Chief Rogers asked Jace two days later.
“I haven’t had a chance to check yet. What are you doing here?”
The chief didn’t always come in on the weekends. One perk of that position was they worked Monday through Friday. Another was no longer fighting fires. They’d be on scene calling shots or talking to other emergency personnel, but never running into the throes of danger.
Once he was promoted to Assistant Chief, he’d stop fighting fires too, but would still work weekends, holidays and nights.
“I wanted to finish the application and get it sent to the Carlisle Foundation. They’ve got deep pockets and there is no reason we can’t tap into it for the station. Got to keep his mother’s house safe.”
Chief Rogers was smirking.
“We’ll do that to anyone’s house in this district.”
“You know what I mean. Look it over and change anything you think it needs, then send it to the daughter.”
“Talia,” he said.
It’s like they were objects and not people.
“Talia. Nice girl. Pretty on the eyes. Maybe sweet-talk her some while you’re at it. Seems you did something right to get the last donation.”
“I’ll get to it soon,” he said and went back to look at the log from the past day of what needed to be done in the firehouse.
The last thing he needed was anyone knowing he was dating Talia. At least until this donation application was taken care of.
“You’re in a mood today,” Chief said. “Out late last night with someone?”
“No. Just have a lot on my mind.”
Like what the fuck went wrong with Talia two days ago and that he hadn’t heard from her since.
She hadn’t reached out and neither had he.
He didn’t know if he was supposed to or not.
She walked out on him and he still wasn’t sure why she got so pissed off over him speaking the truth.
He didn’t think he self-sabotaged himself.
“I’ll let you get to work then. Let me know any updates you get on the application and if you don’t hear anything in a few weeks, follow up.”
“I’ll mark my calendar.”
Which sucked he’d have to still have communication with her not knowing what was going on or if things ended.
How many women had he walked away from in his life before and had no problem talking to them if he ran into them again?
Too many for him to count.
Which only validated what her brothers thought of him.
See. The truth.
She was too good for him and he should have realized that all along.
Before he started to feel more for her.
She’d told him she’d let him know if her feelings changed and he could make a decision.
