Page 19 of Heart of a Hero

She looked confused at my line reference and I realized I needed to clarify a bit more.

“You ever heard the phrase walking the thin blue line?” She shook her head. “It’s in reference to police. Red is for fire, white is for EMS like paramedics, and gold is for dispatch.”

Nora nodded, encouraging me to continue.

“Our club only accepts people who are first responders. Which means we all follow the law, unlike those one percent clubs on the TV shows. About the only thing we have in common is that we have each other’s backs, no matter what. They’re the family I’ve chosen.”

A wistful smile played on Nora’s lips. “I envy that. I wish I had people like that in my life.”

“You do, Nora. You have the Swift Angels. Every last one of them will look out for you and Taylor. Even if I’m not around, someone will be there to protect you.”

“You said it isn’t like the TV shows, but I noticed some of the men were wearing those… what do you call them?” She patted her shoulder and I knew what she meant.

“Cuts? Yeah, I have one too. I only wear it when I’m on my bike. Well, typically I’d wear it to the clubhouse too, but not always. My dad is part of a different club, and he pretty much lives in his cut. Even at home, he’d wear it all the damn time.”

I’d been lucky no one had seen me riding around in my cut, or with my club brothers. The few who had were the ones who already knew. The Dixie Reapers officers had done some digging into my club when it first started, and Savior had approached me. Thankfully, they’d agreed to let me tell my dad when I was ready. Except, I never seemed to be ready.

“What about the different titles?” she asked.

“We have those too. In fact, I helped found the club, along with Justin and Jordan. Once we had the idea for it, we pulled in other men we worked with or had known for a while. There are only eight of us right now, but that could change in the future.”

“So does that mean you have a title, or whatever you call it?” she asked.

“I’m the Vice President.” The irony wasn’t lost on me. My dad had also been the VP of his club once upon a time. “Justin is our club President, Jordan is our Sergeant-at-Arms, Evan is the Treasurer, and Ben is our Secretary.”

“Wow. That sounds like you have a lot of responsibility. Are we taking you away from all that? I know you went to the clubhouse earlier, but… you haven’t spent much time with them since you brought us to your home.”

I shook my head. “Since we all have jobs with various schedules, it’s not like we meet all the time. We hang out at the clubhouse when we can. If there’s something important to discuss, as many of us as are available will show up, then we fill everyone else in later. If it’s something that requires majority vote, we work around it as best we can.”

I wasn’t really sure how to explain it to someone who had never lived the life. Although, my experience growing up was vastly different from the reality of the Swift Angels. We didn’t all live in the same compound, didn’t rely on runs or club jobs to provide for us, and we didn’t break the fucking law. Well, maybe the speed limit, but who didn’t do that? I didn’t know if I was describing things in a way where she’d actually understand anything, or if she was just humoring me.

She leaned her head against my shoulder. “All of this is so new to me. I’ve never been around men like you before, Dawson. Until now, I’ve only attracted assholes. But you’re good and kind. I’m almost afraid all of this is just a dream.”

I reached for the remote, turning my attention back to the TV. “How about we pick a movie to watch?”

Nora agreed, and we scrolled through the options, finally settling on a classic romantic comedy. As the opening credits rolled, I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side.

She melted into my embrace, her head resting on my chest. The scent of her shampoo, a delicate blend of lavender and vanilla, filled my senses, and I closed my eyes, savoring the moment.

As we cuddled on the couch, the movie playing in the background, I couldn’t help but hope someday Nora would decide to be mine. I wanted a lifetime of nights like this, holding her close, sharing laughter and tears, and building a future together.

But for now, I would take things slow, show her she could trust me, and be the rock she needed in the stormy sea of her life.

Chapter Six

Dawson

I led Nora and Taylor into the engine bay, the massive space echoing with our footsteps. The shiny red fire truck gleamed under the fluorescent lights, the chrome accents winking. Taylor’s eyes went wide as she craned her neck to take it all in.

“Wow, the truck is HUGE!” she exclaimed, her voice bouncing off the high ceilings.

I chuckled. “It sure is, kiddo. Come on, I’ll show you the inside.”

“Taylor, you saw it in action,” Nora said, then paled. I gave her a wink, hoping to ease her tension. I didn’t think Taylor even picked up on what she’d said.

We climbed up into the cab of the engine. Nora ran her fingers along the switches and dials, a look of fascination on her face. I couldn’t help but admire the way her dark hair fell across her cheek.

As Taylor pretended to drive, making siren noises, I leaned closer to Nora. “You know, being a firefighter is like being part of a big family. We look out for each other, have each other’s backs no matter what.”

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