Page 4 of Avery's Hero

I motion to the seat in front of my desk as everything inside of me tightens. “Yeah, well, only if we let it be.”

Question is, can I keep my word?

She’s vibrating with tension. Right down to her voice. “Honestly, I can’t believe how this situation turned out.”

Neither can I. What are the odds that my disaster date would end up working for me?

Stiffly, I reply, “I know, helluva twist.”

When I move back toward my seat, her eyes dart to my glistening chest, then down to her hands again. Color instantly tints her cheeks.

“Just finished a run, I planned to grab a shower, but I had to take a call.”

As much as I like the blush on her delicate cheekbones, I save her by flinging open the bottom desk drawer and grabbing a fresh T-shirt.

“So…” I run out of gas. I even rehearsed the things I’d say to her. Cocky. Witty. Rude. Questioning things. But instead of doing any of that, I just look at her. At the fucking perfect curve of her lips.

After a scorching thousand degree silence, she shifts in her seat. “So, here I am. Day one. On your payroll.”

Forcing my tongue to work, I manage to talk. “ChiefPendergrass sent this note.” I push the folded hospital note paper across the desk to her.

I know what the note says, not because I looked, but because I actually wrote it for him. The chief’s writing hand was useless when I saw him at the hospital.

Avery,

Sorry I'm not there to see you get started. You made my year by taking the job. Brock will watch out for you. The team has your back. Welcome to the LCFD. Now go catch us an arsonist. I’ll be getting updates from my boys.

Respectfully, Retired Chief Pendergrass

As I wrote that note, I imagined penning it with my own words instead.

Avery,

What the fuck happened that night? What did I do wrong that made you take off with barely a word?

I thought maybe you’d circle back. But no. It was radio silence.

Until almost a year later. Until you turn up in a file on my desk labeled ‘newhire.’

But I didn’t write all the things I thought about writing. I took down his dictated message, word for word, folded the paper, dropped it in my pocket. Then sat it on the corner of my desk as I counted down the days until she started work.

As her eyes scan over the note a second time, and I can’t stop from looking at all the perfect details of her face. “Pendergrass was happy. As you can see.”

Finally, her gaze shifts to mine. I get a kick right to my lower gut when she says, “He was happy, but you’re not.”

Gritting my teeth, I study her. “I didn’t say that.”

One side of her mouth pinches as she looks at me. “Your face did.”

I flatten my expression. I don’t want her privy to the emotions she stirs up.

She gets props for being so direct. I like that about her. Avery doesn’t like to mince words. A skill she likely acquired working around a bunch of male firefighters.

“That’s not my intention.” Sounding gruff, I say, “Anyway, Pendergrass recruited you for a reason. You’ve got a keen eye for stopping arsonists. Our department needs your help.”

“I’ve gotten two lucky breaks. I made sure your former boss knew that’s how I felt about it. I don’t have any special skills.”

“I’ve seen the Mensa membership in your file. I don’t think it’s a mistake that you’ve solved those cases.”

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