Page 20 of Rescued Dreams
She might miss coffee, but she didn’t trust it. Not ever. She wasn’t going to touch another drop again the rest of her life after what her ex had done.
Ridge frowned, that strong jaw and those concerned eyes nearly making her want to stay. But she wasn’t going to spend the shift in this closet. “What happened to you? I know it’s something.”
She flinched. “It’s none of your business or anyone else’s. Don’t ask me again.”
Amelia ducked around him and hurried out of the coat room to the girls’ bunk. She closed the door behind her and heard the slight sound of crying. Someone sniffed. Amelia moved farther into the room and saw Della sitting on her bed.
“Oh, hey.” Amelia had no idea what to do. She was used to her office and having her own space. This was going to be a nightmare. “Is everything okay?”
She might not want to talk about her business to anyone, but she figured she could listen pretty well. It just meant keeping your mouth shut, right?
Della swiped at her cheeks and shoved a folded paper under the edge of her blanket. “Hey, Amelia.”
“Did you get bad news or something?” The other woman seemed almost scared.
Della had a mixed heritage and lived with her grandmother, who was from India. Her dark hair was curly, but she kept it pulled back the way they all had to while they worked. She usually wore a little makeup but not much. She bit her full bottom lip. “It’s fine.”
Now Amelia knew how Ridge felt. “If you want to talk…I can listen.”
“Thanks.” Della stood, and Amelia spotted a fake lily in a slim vase beside the bed. “I’m going to see how dinner is coming along.”
Amelia nodded, staring at the lily and wondering what had made Della choose that flower. Lilies had been Amelia’s favorite flower. But her ex had used any kind of romantic gesture as a way to curry favor. To get her to do things she never would have done otherwise, until she realized she’d humiliated herself and wanted out of the relationship. But it was too late because the damage to her reputation had already been done.
When she went to her superiors in the Benson Fire Department, she was told not to spread rumors about an officer with good standing. Then her behavior had become erratic, thanks to whatever substance he’d laced her coffee with. From there, things had descended into a situation where she’d had to cut ties and run in the middle of the night.
If she’d stayed, Amelia wasn’t sure she would have survived.
She was barely surviving now, but at least she got to do the job she loved. She’d gone years without anyone questioning her sanity. Blissful years of working and resting and then coming back for another shift. Saving lives. Protecting the town the way firefighters were supposed to. Not the way her father had, using it as a cover for his sick crimes. The old man had kept the town in a stranglehold.
Amelia slumped on her cot and pulled the blanket over her head, too tired to eat. She slept a few hours, awakened by a call for rescue squad. They took the incidents involving trapped people or equipment failure in warehouses and factories. Other industrial accidents. Elevator failures. Truck didn’t get another fire call until the morning, and that was thanks to a cigarette tossed into a dumpster.
Back in time for breakfast, Amelia headed right to the kitchen. The smell of coffee drew her. But she’d made a promise to herself that she’d never be vulnerable again, so she hit the button on the kettle to make tea. Strong black tea with milk, robust enough to wake an elephant.
The other firefighters moved around her, getting breakfast set up. She had to clean the women’s bathroom later, before the shift ended at dinner time, and she wasn’t on cooking duty until next shift. Trace sat at the table, reading a worn paperback novel.
Amelia had just sat down when a guy stepped into the doorway. She said, “Can we help you?”
He had a broody face, dark-blond hair, and the build of someone who did the kind of work they did. Strong and capable. “I found him.” The man’s face split into a smile.
“Kane!” Ridge jogged over from the fridge and practically jumped at the guy. The two of them hugged. The others came over, and Ridge stood with Kane beside him, his hand on the guy’s shoulder. “Everyone, this is my cousin. Kane Foster.”
Amelia sipped her tea while the others shook Kane’s hand. A couple of the guys had obviously met him, given the way they greeted him. He was so excited to introduce them all to his cousin that she couldn’t help watching the look on his face the whole time, seeing his affection and the pride he had.
She had cousins. She hadn’t spoken to them in years and didn’t care enough to text. If they showed up, she definitely wouldn’t act like he was.
“And this is Zoe. Her husband is Army—he’s deployed.” Ridge said to Zoe, “Kane was Delta Force.”
“Wow.” Zoe shook his hand and said something that made Kane laugh.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Amelia nearly rolled her eyes. He was one ofthoseguys. The kind who said “ma’am” like it was normal. Who held doors open for others and gave an older person their seat on the bus. Given how Ridge acted, she wasn’t entirely surprised. But Ridge had never mentioned his cousin before. He barely spoke about his sisters.
She was better off thinking about hooded men running from fires, the fact she’d been shoved the other day, and her childhood home burning down yesterday.
“This is Kianna.”
Kane shook another hand.
