Page 91 of Horn in My Side
She glanced at Jim.“Mr.Halloway?Would that be possible?”
“Of course.And, please, call me Jim.”
“That was lovely,” Jasmine said as the chief led the family away.“Are you okay, Mal?”
“Yeah, I ...”Mal’s eyes followed Lisa and her girls as Jim led them toward the fire truck.When he had gone into the building to save them, he hadn’t had time to think, only to act.And with everything going on in the last two weeks, he hadn’t given them another thought.They were safe—that was all that mattered to him—and he didn’t think he would see them again.
Jasmine’s hand squeezed his once more.“You did a good thing, Mal.”
“Because of you, they’re alive,” Nick added.“See?Aren’t you glad you joined us?”
Ian snorted.“He didn’t have much of a choice, did he?I mean, you basically volun-told half of us to come here.”
His squad mates broke out in laughter.Mal sent Ian a grateful nod, glad that the attention was off him.
“Say, Jim sure is getting cozy with that hot mama,” Ven observed.
Jim pointed to something high up on the truck, leaning in close to Lisa.
“Definitely cozy,” Sterling said.“Why, I think he’s practically preening.Look at him, puffing his chest out.”
The fire chief opened the door to the truck, and the girls scrambled in, then he held his hand out for Lisa to help her in.Jim’s smile spread a mile wide as Lisa took his hand and thanked him.
Nick whistled.“Wow, I never thought I’d see the day.”
“He’s been a widower for over ten years,” Sterling said.“It’s about time.He deserves to be happy.”
“Again, all thanks to you, Mal.”Nick elbowed him.“He should make you best man at the wedding.”
“So, are we going to the Salty Dog or what?”Ven asked.
“Once Jim’s done canoodling with Lisa,” Nick joked.
“Actually, I’d like a tour too,” Jasmine said.“Would you mind, Mal?”
“Not at all.”
Tugging Jasmine away from the others, he led her to the back of the fire house.“Did you really want a tour?”
“Yes.But I could sense you getting uncomfortable with the situation,” she confessed.“I meant what I said.You did a good thing.I was so mad and worried that day, but if you hadn’t been there, they would have ...”She swallowed hard.“You don’t have to be self-conscious about the attention, Mal.”
“I didn’t do it for attention.”
“I know.”Brown doe eyes lit up at him.“You did it because it was the right thing to do.”Her arms came up around him.“I’m glad you did.”
And he was too.“C’mon, I’ll give you a quick tour, and then I’m guessing the guys will want to go out for drinks.You don’t mind coming along, do you?”
“No, not at all.I really do want to get to know your friends.”
Friends?
Mal turned his head back toward the rest of the guys.They were obviously gossiping about Jim and Lisa, who were now deep in conversation, their heads bent close together.
He shook his head.“They’re worse than a bunch of grannies at a sewing circle.”Still, he rather liked all of them.“So,” he said, turning to Jasmine, “let’s start with the gear room ...”
Chapter Eighteen
JASMINE
