All Fired Up Read Online Free Page A

phone on the bedside table. She picked it up, not recognizing the number.
    “This is Cindy.”
    “Hi. Just checking you got home OK.”
    Her heartbeat quickened when she heard Dave’s voice. “Sure. Of course.”
    Silence from the phone. Pausing slightly to take a deep breath, she continued. “Look Dave. I think we both did something that was…unprofessional…and I want you to know that I’m sorry if it’s put you in a compromising position. It won’t happen again.” She bit her lip. There, she said it.
    “Fine.” His voice sounded strained. “Good night.” The line went dead.
    She looked at the phone for a second or two, then placed it back on the table. Already she regretted saying it, but it was best for both of them. Hell, she knew better than most the trouble it could cause.
    She stared at the phone again, half-hoping he’d call back. Just the sound of his voice turned her on. If he was in this room, she thought, I’d…
     
    * * *
     
     
    The traffic was heavier than usual as she drove to the fire station. Or maybe it was just because she was running late. Sleep had taken a long while coming last night, and when her alarm rang, she felt fuzzy-headed and tired. As she pulled into the parking lot at the rear of the fire station, all the spaces were taken.
    “Great. Just what I need.”
    She turned the car and drove back out onto the street, eventually finding a spot a good fifteen-minute walk from work.
    When she entered the day room to put her lunch in the refrigerator, the place was deserted. She looked at her watch.
    “Oh shit!” She was late for the weekly parade. Her first weekly parade. She burst through the door with a rush, then froze. All the men were lined up, facing her, standing stiffly as the flag was hoisted and the national anthem played. Knowing she’d been caught out, she quickly placed her hand on her chest as the last strains of the Star Spangled Banner played through the loudspeaker system. Across from her, Dave glowered at her, his cold green eyes glaring from a face like granite. Heat crept up her neck and infused her face. She blinked, unable to hold his gaze.
    The music stopped and the men stood at ease.
    “Reece, fall in.” Dave’s curt, clipped tone stung. She felt the gazes of a dozen firefighters on her. To her left, Warner let out a couple of noisy breaths and a soft, mocking laugh. She glanced at him, unsurprised to see a suggestive smirk on his mouth.
    Dave continued addressing the team. “And as I said earlier—before Reece arrived—this morning we formally welcome our new graduate, Officer Cindy Reece.” The group applauded. “I’m sure you’ll all…”
    A deafening siren sounded shrilly through the loud speakers, followed by an announcement: “ Code one, code one ”. The men scrambled, taking to their positions with the ease of well-practiced professionals. In under a minute, two units sped out of the fire station with sirens wailing and lights flashing, those on board still buckling on their helmets as they set off to the emergency.
    She followed the remaining crew back inside the station, adhering to the procedures during an emergency. Like the others, she would ensure she maintained the communications should the team require backup. Entering the locker room, she went to get her helmet and protective gear from her locker should she be required to go to the emergency on another unit. To her surprise, she found her locker door open an inch. She frowned, wondering if the lock was faulty. She was positive she’d locked it last time she used it. A vision of Warner, crass and disgusting, flashed across her mind. She’d deal with his insulting innuendo after the emergency. She put her hand on the locker door and pulled it open, holding her hand to her mouth as she stared at the color photo crudely taped to the inside.
    A hard, cold mass formed in her chest as she stared at the picture of her with Pete. Disgust caused her to feel sick. Naively she’d thought