Page 28 of Backdraft
My leg was a little sore as I followed the lieutenant out, and he was on his radio explaining the situation. Once up the stairs and outside, we'd be hosed off.
When we emerged into the daylight, I could see I was covered in dust. So was the firefighter behind me.
"Drea, you have to get hosed off. We want you to stand over here by your truck."
I stumbled off the porch. The heat, sweat, and concern for the asbestos almost had me in a panic.
"Hose me off!" I shouted at them.
"Yes, we will. Hazmat is on its way to decontaminate you. But we’ll hose you down. Stand here and brace yourself. Arms up, eyes and mouth closed even with your mask on."
Nancy was giving me instructions, but I had to get out of the suit now, otherwise I’d be a goner. My vision was darkening around the edges, and I was about to pass out.
I ripped at the tape, frantically pulling at it. They shouted at me to stop, but I was frenzied to get out of the gear.
I freed my arms and pushed the suit down my body, flung off my mask and helmet when I felt the first blast of water.
It threw me back against a tree by the truck, and I held on to the tree with my eyes and mouth closed.
The force of the water was like a million needles on my skin. It was cold but felt wonderful. I was tempted to open my mouth a bit so I could drink some water, but I didn't.
The water pressure lessened, and I was being turned, my arms held out, and I let whoever it was lead me.
The water stopped, and I wiped my eyes so I could open them and see.
Blinking, I was surprised to see a ring of fire fighters shielding me from prying eyes. Their backs to me facing and outward. I shook my head and water came off me like a dog shaking after a swim. I reached up and squeezed out my hair.
Only then did I realize I was standing on the sidewalk, next to a tree dripping wet and wearing nothing but my hot-pink lacy bra and panty set.
I gasped and took the blanket Nancy held out for me. I pulled it around my shoulders, now completely overwhelmed how the day was ending.
"It's not every day we have to hose someone down wearing sexy lingerie. I like your style," she said with a grin.
Chapter Eight
Are you as good as you think you are?
Chapter Nine
Taylor held his phone in his palm and looked at Drea's number on the screen. It was time they talked. They’d be working together on cases, and he didn't want any awkwardness between them. He'd sensed her hesitancy, and there was really no need for it.
They were both professionals and would behave as such, but they did need to have a conversation.
He still had a hard time believing she was here. Not in a million years did he ever think they’d see each other again.
After their weekend together, where it was agreed, what happens in Denver stays in Denver.
But he couldn't get her out of his head. About six months after the conference, unable to resist it any longer, he’d tried to find her. He didn’t know her last name, nor she his, which definitely didn’t help. Disappointed at his lack of success, Taylor kept his eyes open and hoped that one day they would stumble across each other again. And they had.
He'd been floored that day at the fatal fire when she’d turned around. As if punched in the gut, he’d done his best not to look like a stunned idiot. It was the absolute last thing Taylor had expected, and she'd appeared just as startled. He’d followed her lead by pretending not to know each other.
Now, more than a few weeks later, she'd been on his mind constantly and he still couldn't shake the fact she had moved to Oak Creek. Bringing their long-ago weekend together blasting back into reality. Had fate decided to step in and give them another chance?
It wasn't only their sexual chemistry that was over the top. It was the other facets of their weekend. The peace, comfort, conversations, and quiet moments saying absolutely nothing.
They hadn't touched on anything to suggest long term, but he'd felt something shift inside him. And he was pretty sure she’d felt it too. They'd said their goodbyes and gone off in opposite directions.
Years had gone by, and Taylor had never forgotten her. He’d often wondered what if? What if they'd stayed in contact? What if they hadn't said what happens in Denver stays in Denver.
