ππ₯πππ‘πππ¬ πππ₯π (ππΏπΌππ΅π²πΏπ πΌπ³ ππΆπΏπ²) Firefighter Romance by Kathryn Shay β± New Book Release
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βHow are you, doing?β Noah Keaton asked.
βHow the fuck do you think Iβm doing?β
All four of the Brothers of Fire, seated around Tim Danielsβ hospital bed went silent. Tim let out a heavy breath and shook his head. βSorry to be such a grump. Iβm so damned frustrated. And my shoulder hurts like hell.β He touched the sling on his left arm that was supported by pillows. βThis thing is a pain in ass. It pulls on my neck.β The last part sounded so plaintive that he didnβt recognize how own tone.
Jarek got up and crossed to the chair right next to the bed. He put his hand on Timβs right arm. βIβd be the same way, buddy. You can let it out with us.β
βYeah, but not at you.β
βPoint taken.β
βAre you having nightmares?β Jarek asked.
βYeah. Theyβre Scary.β
The guys expressed their sympathy. Traumatic events caused some PTSD in the department.
βHas Ava been here?β Adam asked. He sat with his ankles crossed his hands on this belly.
βOh, yeah, she comes. She either sits there like a bump on a log or flits through a magazine. We only talk if we fight.β
βWhy does she come, then?β Noah asked.
βWifely duty. How would it look if a firefighterβs wife ignored her husband when he was the in the hospital?β
Noah shook his head. βMust be hell.β
βIβm thinking of telling her not to visit.β Tim struggled to find better news. βThe girl are great when theyβre here. They read to me, play games with me, fawn over me.β
βThey love their daddy.β Noah of course would say that. Both of Timβs girls were babysitting for him now.
βSpeaking of Daddyβ¦β Tommy put in. βWe need an update from you, Noah. Howβs it going with the boys and Chloe?β
He grinned. βChloeβs pregnant.β
Four jaws gaped open. βSeriously?β
βHell.β
βGeez.β
βIs that why she came back to you?β Jarek asked.
Noah snorted. βNo. Weβre in love. She canβt fake that.β
βHow you gonna do all this?β Tommy wanted to know.
βWe have no idea. Weβre figuring it out now. I only found out two days ago.β He nodded. βThe night you were shot, Tim.β
βSome good news then, I guess.β
βYeah. Five kids.β Tommy smiled. βI hope I have at least one.β
βWhat about Chloeβs acting career?β Adam asked.
βI think sheβs going to take time off after this movie wraps up on Harris Hill.β
βSo sheβll still audition for roles?β Jarek this time.
βActually, sheβs booked for some already. But she takes a few months respite between films. This time itβs four, which will take us to seven months. Sheβs working with her agent to either get her out of the next film deal or postpone the filming until sheβs recovered from birth.β
βIt sounds like a crazy life, buddy.β Adam liked things more structured than what Timβs life would be.
βYeah, Adam. It is. But the choice is between that craziness or not being together. That makes it more palatable.β
βKnock, knock.β
All the guys looked over to the door. There stood a gorgeous brunette with lush hair and hazel cat eyes. Her body, in the slim pink dress, showed all her curves.
Tim said, βCourtney, what are you doing here?β
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βI didnβt want to interrupt. Iβm sorry your friends thought they had to leave.β Courtney Harper was the wife of Timβs best friend. Heβd died fighting a fire.
βDonβt worry, the guys had been here a while. I havenβt heard from you in so long.β
βMay I sit?β
βOf course.β
She crossed to the chair and settled into it gracefully. Then she took his hand. βI saw the news of Crystal City Online. They released the names of the firefighters who were hurt.β
βIβm glad you came.β He squeezed her fingers and watched her face. And remembered holding that face in his hands. Their last words to each other were, We canβt.
She nodded to his shoulder. βHow are you feeling?β
βBetter every day. But it still hurts.β
βIβm so sorry.β She bit her lip. βYou could have been killed.β
βDonβt think about that. What have you been doing?β
She let go of his hand and leaned back, crossed those sexy legs. βI got a job at an art gallery. Itβs okay pay and with Hankβs pension and the kids Social Security, we have plenty of money.β
βAre you still living up on Lakeview Road?β
βYes. I have family money too, if you remember, that paid for it.β
βI do.β Hank had been embarrassed by this show of wealth. βYou have a lovely home.β
She sighed. βListen to us. Weβre talking like strangers.β
βIn a way we are. All that was years ago.β
βIt seems like yesterday.β
She looked out the window and bit her bottom lip. He remembered that affect. When they were together as families, it meant she was thinking about that past.
βI see Jayden and Linc, you know.β
βYeah, theyβre still good friends with Kathleen and Brie. Is it hard for you to see them?β
βNot so much anymore. At first it was.β
βThey ask why we never see your family anymore.β
βI compartmentalize, Court. You know that.β
Her face paled. βSo Iβm just in another one of your boxes?β
βWe agreed on that.β
βThen I probably shouldnβt have come.β
βNo, no, thatβs not what I mean. Iβve wanted to see you again.β He shrugged his good shoulder. βYou apparently climb out of the box periodically.β
She laughed again. That sultry laugh he remembered so vividly. βWhat an image.β
βI have other memories. I try to squelch them, but they come when Iβm down.β
βAh. She glanced at his injury. βHow did this happen?β
βSomeone with a grudge against the department probably. He laid in wait.β
βFor you?β
βCouldnβt be for me. I was taking someoneβs place.β
She shook her head. βWhat an awful thing.β
βTheyβre investigating it now.β
βDo you need anything?β
βNo, no. I have what I need.β
βDo you, Tim?β
βDonβt go there, Courtney. Iβm still married.β
βAre you happy?β
He stared at her. βWhy? You want to start things up again?β
βIs that an offer?β
βNo.β God, this was hard enough the first time. He never expected to go through it again.
She stood. βWell then, I guess I should leave.β She got to the door then turned back. βItβs too bad, Tim. We could have been happy.β
He didnβt know what to say so he just watched her walk out that door.
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