Free Burning for the Fireman by J L Taft Page A

had a full forty-eight hours before I had to report
back to the station and it was the weekend, to boot. Taking off my hat and
heavy coat, I sat on the back bumper of the truck with Travis, taking the
offered bottle of water from him.
    We watched as the other guys neatly finished rolling up the
hoses. For some reason, I couldn’t get the little red head out of my mind. I
knew I had seen her before somewhere.
    The last ambulance pulled away, revealing a small form
huddled in a blanket, sitting on the curb. Her flame-colored hair was a dead
giveaway and I was headed toward her before I could think twice about it.
    Crouching in front of her, I laid a hand on her shoulder.
“Hey, are you all right?”
    She lifted her head and stared intently at me before answering.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just been a long night.”
    “That it has,” I told her.
    She had a smudge of soot across her cheekbone, the black
making the skin underneath look incredibly pale. She seemed so lost I had to
wonder. I had seen firsthand how devastating losing all your possessions in a
house fire could be.
    “Do you live here?” I asked gently, gesturing to the
uninhabitable building behind me.
    “No, I live in the building next to it. They evacuated in
case the fire spread.”
    That was something, at least; she wasn’t homeless. But I was
curious as to why she had dashed into a burning building.
    “That was a crazy thing you did,” I said.
    She just shrugged as if it was no big deal.
    “Ryker! Come on, man. We’re done here,” Travis yelled.
    “Hey, I’ve gotta go.” I stood and turned but I couldn’t
leave it like that. “Do you think I could take you to dinner tonight?” I asked
before I had fully processed the thought.
    She sighed and looked away but I saw the disappointment on
her face as I crouched in front of her again.
    “Look, whatever-your-name-is, I don’t really like sex so if
that’s what you’re after, just go away. I’m tired.”
    I was a little taken aback by her words. This woman cut
right to the chase. I liked that.
    “I just want a little conversation and a dinner companion.
Maybe you could explain what possessed you to dash off into a burning
building?” I cajoled, giving her a grin that usually had the ladies agreeing to
whatever I wanted.
    But it didn’t affect her that way. Her eyes narrowed and her
gaze gave nothing away. I realized she saw through me and my practiced smiles.
    “I’ll probably regret this but all right. You can pick me up
here at seven,” she said, pointing to the stairs that led to her building.
    “Great, I’m Ryker, by the way.”
    “Allie,” she replied and held out her hand for me to shake
it.
    Her delicately arched eyebrows lifted in surprise as I
raised her hand to my lips and kissed the back. Giving her a full-wattage
smile. I released her and strode to the truck.
    After jumping in and closing the door, I watched her until
she was out of view. What kind of woman didn’t like sex? And was completely
okay with telling a stranger that she didn’t?
    Obviously, something had happened to make her that way and I
wanted to know what. While I found her tight little body hot as hell, I wasn’t
sure I wanted to get involved and wondered what I had been thinking asking her
out in the first place. It wasn’t my usual style but lately I had been
discontent, wondering what was missing.
    Travis cut across my thoughts. “Only Ryker can get a date
while putting out a fire,” he said with a chuckle.
    “Fuck off, Travis,” I told him good-naturedly. Leaning back
against the seat, I closed my eyes, anxious to get home and shower off the
smell of smoke.
    The guys constantly ribbed me about my female friends and I
had learned not to let it get to me. It would be way worse if they knew the
truth.
    The chief was waiting for us when we got back to the
station.
    “Good job, guys. First round’s on me tonight,” he said as he
shook hands and slapped backs.
    “Thanks, Chief, but I have plans