Page 2 of Avery's Hero

“Well, I feel scary right now.” The cords in my neck are tense. My chest is tight as fuck. “He said that the chief wants?—”

My words die like the plug has been pulled on my cord.

I feel like I’ve been hit by a downed electric wire. They might be dragging my ass into that Emergency Department for a tranquilizer. I can’t believe who just walked in front of us.

This is just too fucking much for one night. Hell, for one lifetime.

His eyes follow mine as I track the petite brunette that’s hurrying through the glass sliding doors into the hospital lobby. “You know her?”

To keep my jaws from fusing together, I force my mouth open. I can barely speak, I’m scowling so hard. “Met her once.”

A year ago. Right before she bowed out in the middle of a blind date.

He glances back and forth between the place where she disappeared into the lobby, and my face. “Damn. I’d ask for the story, but I think you might rather knock my head off.”

“Smart man.”

Clearing his throat, he changes the subject, “So, about the mayor…”

“Excuse me for a minute.” I brush past him toward the door. Avery Ellis isn’t getting away from me this time.

Only, my night gets a whole lot fucking worse. A high-pitched woman’s voice shouts, “Captain Mitchell!”

I can’t suppress my cringe. This isnothappening.

The woman yells my name again.Mother of headaches!

There’s no escaping the news camera that’s pointed right at me. An over-caffeinated reporter shoves a mic in my face. “The mayor’s assistant just told us you’re the new acting Chief of Lynn’s Cove Fire Department. How do you feel about that news?”

Like I’ve taken an express elevator to hell.

By the time I finish the agonizing interview and do my damndest to bore the woman with my one-word answers, I’m as twitchy as a beetle on a hot skillet. When I storm inside, everyone’s gone.

Everyone.

CHAPTER ONE

I’m still winded when I shove open the door to my office. The air is stifling. I should have cranked the AC before I went for my run. “Next time,” I grumble. My head was somewhere else. I snag a bottle from the dorm fridge next to my desk, then crank the AC unit that’s wedged into one of the windows that overlooks the staff parking lot.

The air-conditioner is ancient. Another thing on the long list of items that need updating at the firehouse. If only we had the budget.

The sad central air system barely wheezes out a breath in this part of the building, so I guess I should just be thankful I even have a window unit.

After a rattle and violent shake, the decrepit thing slowly belches out cool air. By the time it makes any real difference in the temperature, I’ve already downed the water and am thinking about grabbing a second.

Sighing, I rub my tight neck. I feel a little more human after pounding the pavement for an hour. But it’s not going to last. In less than half an hour Avery Ellis is going to be sitting in my office.

My mood goes from foul to terrible when my cell phone rings. The high school’s number flashes on the screen.Damn.

That shower is going to have to wait.

Using my damp fire department T-shirt, I rub the sweat out of my eyes. As I answer, my gut is full of equal parts worry and cold water. “Brock Mitchell here.”

“Chief Mitchell, this is Penny Wolf, the counselor at Ocean County High School.”

“Yes, Penny, is everything okay with Lincoln?”

“Actually, he’s going to be suspended…”

---