Page 4 of Rescued Dreams
Amelia watched the EMT assess Della like it was just another day on the job. But when someone could die at any minute, when a routine callout could go wrong in a thousand different ways and an innocent could get a call that their world would never be the same…
Amelia couldn’t let go of her focus for even one second.
She’d been right to tell Ridge that she couldn’t get into a relationship. Not when being a lieutenant meant everything to her and, with one tiny flick of the hand from Whoever was in control up there…
She could lose it all.
No, it just wasn’t worth the risk. Not when any day now, her carefully constructed life would come crashing down.
She didn’t have the strength to rebuild it all again.
TWO
Ridge dug his axe into the drywall and tore out a piece, confirming the fire wasn’t in the walls. The fact that the axe had embedded a little harder than it should have was…unsurprising. She’d dumped him, and there was nothing he could do about it. What was the point in going around and around and never making progress? Spinning his wheels because she wasn’t about to change her mind.
He keyed his radio. “I think we’re clear. The fire is out in the living room.”
“Copy that,” Bryce responded. “Same here. Let’s clear out and work on cleanup.”
“Meet me by the gas valve outside,” Eddie said over the radio. “Got something to show you,Lieutenants.”
Ridge grinned, but on the open comms channel, he’d have to hope Amelia hadn’t heard that, or maybe she’d figure Eddie had misspoken. Ridge had passed the test a couple of weeks ago and gained the rank of lieutenant. But considering there were currently no open lieutenant spots with Last Chance Fire Department, it was almost a moot point. He hadn’t even told the other firefighters outside rescue squad.
He and Amelia were technically the same rank now. They no longer worked on the same engine, and he was no longer her subordinate.
Another situation that had a resolution, at least partially. He could’ve used it a year ago, when she’d been open to a relationship—for a hot second—until she’d realized he wanted her to let him into her life. Then she’d shut it down, and he was out in the cold. Figuratively.
“You coming?” Bryce shoved his shoulder.
“Yeah, yeah,Lieutenant.”
Bryce grinned. Ridge followed him out, peeling off the helmet and face mask as they went.
Life had always frustrated him. He’d never gotten what he wanted. After this series of disappointments, he’d thought finally dating Amelia would help him amass some hope in his heart so he could start to believe things might be different. It had been a year since that failed attempt at dating. He just hoped going for a lieutenant spot wasn’t going to end the same way.
After years of being officially “dead,” living under the radar, his cousin Kane had been able to resurface. Not that they’d never communicated. Kane had figured out how to stay in touch the whole time.
Kane, his girlfriend Maria, and his Delta Force buddies had been wildland firefighters for two summers, but now the Trouble Boys had resolved the reason their Delta Force team had been forced to go underground. Kane and Maria were headed here so they could all spend some time together. In fact, Ridge was expecting them later today.
So what he’d figured he would gain from a relationship with Amelia had, in fact, come from Kane showing back up in the land of the living.
Hope, but still it was wrapped in disappointment.
Probably written all over his face.
“Seriously, bro.” Eddie shot him a look, his dark eyes flashing.
Ridge and Bryce were supposed to have met him by the shutoff valve, but Eddie had met them just outside the front door instead.
In time to catch the look on Ridge’s face that Bryce had missed. “I suppose I have every reason to be thankful. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is shining. No one was seriously hurt.” Ridge shot Eddie a look, then pointed at him. “You’re dating a movie star. Bryce is engaged. Zack and Naya got married, and now they’re having a baby in a few months.”
“And Ridge is still single.” Bryce clapped Eddie on the back of the head. “Have a little compassion, bro. He’s the last domino to fall.”
Eddie shrugged. “Okay, but he’s so sad. He’s bringin’ down the mood.”
Ridge walked away, not toward the other firefighters on the grass. He carried his SCBA face mask under his arm and set his helmet back on his head. His hair probably stuck out everywhere, but he didn’t care enough to fix it. He went to the valve, and the others gathered around.
Eddie said, “The gas was on when I got to it.”
