His hand was on Addison’s back, and he was staring at James.

  “Well, that’s good for you.”

  Addison gave a terse remark, the only one she could think of, before slipping out of his grasp. “If you’ll excuse me, I have actual work to do.”

  She moved away and went to the other side of the truck.

  James followed, and everyone was there within minutes.

  Addison asked, “We have everything?”

  “Yeah.” Horace said.

  “Okay, pack it in, let’s head home.”

  Addison fiddled with her clipboard which was the same as James’ only with different paperwork. She moved to her own vehicle, the Chief’s truck that only she drove.

  James went back to the front of her engine. Her crew of two and one trainee, Horace, followed diligently behind. Jumping in, she strained her neck to watch the newest interaction between Deputy Taylor and her secret significant other.

  “You’ll hurt your neck if you keep doing that.”

  Max was grinning at her, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief as he started the engine and began to drive away. Addison was making angry movements with her arms and hands, cutting off the deputy when he tried to speak. That was until she was suddenly speechless in response to something he had said.

  James wished she could have heard the words. All she could feel from Addison was utter terror, a deep seeded fear, and a sense of resignation that frightened James.

  “Seriously James, stop it.”

  Max’s large hand gripped her cheek and moved her head to face the windshield so she could no longer see the two people behind her. She pouted when she felt the connection drop between her and Addison.

  “You got a crush on the dude or what?” Max knew the question was pointless. He knew James wasn’t attracted to men, so the fact he asked meant others had noticed her stare or that they would notice.

  “Hardly.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned back into the seat and waited to be taken to her second home, which was actually closer to her first.

  “James has a crush.”

  She was so glad she knew how to ignore him. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes to enjoy the ride. She loved the man to death, but sometimes he needed to keep out of her business.

  After arriving back at Station Seven, James helped clean the vehicles and then went to take care of herself. Her head was pounding, and her body was aching. She took a shower, washing all the dirt and grime from her body and hoped that the night would go by quickly with no more calls. It was their last night on duty, and at half past six in the morning they would be changing shifts. She would be off for a glorious two days. Two days that James would spend scrubbing down her apartment and cleaning everything in sight. Stepping out of the hot water and changing into a clean uniform, she tied her hair behind her neck, pleating it like she always did. She moved into the living area where the boys were being lazy; plopping down next to Horace and Max, James rested her head on Max’s broad shoulder.

  “Where’s the Chief?”

  “Not back yet.”

  “What do you mean she’s not back yet?”

  “She called and said she got stuck dealing with some of the deputies. Said she’d be in later.”

  He shrugged and then realized that the water from her hair was soaking into his navy blue polo. “Hey!” He pushed her head up with one finger and made a disgusted face at her. “Not cool, J, not cool.”

  “Well, you didn’t come wake me up.”

  She planted her head back down and made sure the wettest part of her pleated braid smeared into his shoulder and that the water dripped down his arm.

  Max grumbled. “That’s disgusting.”

  Shrugging, James remained still, knowing that Max wasn’t going to make her move. “Take me out tomorrow night.”

  “Aren’t you going on a date with whoever your latest conquest is?”

  He said it as quietly as possible, but James was sure Horace, who was sitting close on her right, heard. She punched her best friend in the side and he grunted.

  “Sorry.”

  “No, I don’t have a date. I don’t want a date. I want to get drunk, piss-ass drunk. Take me out?”

  “Now how can a man resist a request like that? Do I get a lay in the hay, too?”

  He rolled his eyes and pulled the comic book he was reading closer to his face, ignoring her.

  Brushing her face into his shirt, she scooted up around him and planted half her body on his lap, her leg wrapping over his thighs. Walking her fingers up his chest, she waited as he looked down.

  “Maxwell, I would love to go to the bar with you.”

  She batted her eyelashes.

  “I would love to get all drunk and flirtatious with you.”

  Her fingers made their way to his lips where she brushed her thumb over his lower one.

  “Take me out?”

  The big burly man reading the comic book was utterly speechless and complete goo. He kept staring into her yellow eyes as they wavered back and forth at him, and he couldn’t think of anything coherent.

  “Maxwell?” She crooned seductively, letting her voice wash over him.

  “Yeah, sure.” He swallowed hard and turned back to his comic not looking at the grin of satisfaction on her face.

  “Now, when is the Chief coming back?”

  “No idea. What’s it matter anyway?” He seemed to be back in shape after her little flirtatious streak; she felt him rebounding to their normal banter.

  “No reason.”

  James turned her back to Max and curled her feet under her body. They would probably be heading to the gym soon to get a good workout in before trying to sleep off the rest of the adrenaline from the car crash.

  #

  Addison drove to the gas station to fill her truck. Stepping out, she swiped the business card and started pumping the life giving force of the vehicle into the tank. She leaned against the metal, lifting her leg to hold her body up, while crossing her arms over her chest. Her pants pulled tight at the knee and her polo hung loose. She was never one for tight clothes. They were far too restricting.

  The bang on the hood of the vehicle startled her. Her arms flung out, and her back lifted off the vehicle as she turned sharply to see what it was.

  “Holy crap, Heath. That was uncalled for.”

  He walked over and pressed up close to her, his body lining up against hers and throwing her off balance until she had to grip onto his shoulders to keep from falling over.

  “I missed you.”

  Lips descended onto Addison’s, his hands slipped down her sides and back up. It took her a moment too long to shy away.

  “I’m sure you did.” Pushing him lightly, she moved to the hose and returned it, collecting the receipt. “What are you doing here, Heath? In all honesty.”

  “You said when you left that I had to make a choice. That I had to choose to let you win some battles, or I had to let you go. I’m here to let you win.”

  “That was a year and a half ago!”

  Huffing, she tried to make her way back to the driver’s door, ignoring the fact that the choice she had given him was not the one he claimed she gave.

  Heath stopped her with a hand to her shoulder and a foot between her legs. Air pulled into his lungs and he let it release.

  “I’m here. The least you can do is talk to me.”

  “You didn’t come here for a chat.”

  Wrenching open the door to the truck, Addison was turned and thrown against the back of the cab.

  “You will listen to me.”

  “Not if you man-handle me.”

  Jerking her arms from his hold, she glared him down, her eyes sliding over his face until he stepped away.

  “That’s better. You really want to talk to me? Then try picking up the phone every once in a while without the expectation of a booty call. There is more to life than sex, Heath; I hope you’ve learned that since the last time we spoke.”

  He was grinning when she finished her rant and pulled her towards him, pecking her lips loudly.

  “God, I missed you Addy.”

  She was smiling when he released her and couldn’t help the slight blush that rose to her cheeks.

  “Let’s get a coffee,” he said.

  “A coffee?”

  “Yeah, show me where the cops go to get a ‘cup o joe’.” He forced a faux Brooklyn accent which made her snort with laughter.

  “You’re an idiot, you know that, right?” She slipped into the front seat of the truck and shook her head. “Following?”

  Heath grinned, patted the door and made for his own vehicle, a standard SUV with all the bells and whistles that were issued to the deputies. How she had missed it following her to the gas station was surprising, but she shook off the thought and started her engine.

  #

  The sun set before she made it back to the station house. Parking her vehicle in the rear lot, Addison grabbed her keys and papers, heading up to her office. It was going to be a late night. Dropping the metal clip board on her desk, she made for the gym where she knew her most stubborn employee would be. Slamming the door open and glancing around until she saw the thin woman in shorts and a tank running on the treadmill, she shouted.

  “Matthews, get your ass in my office pronto.”

  James slowed to a walk for five minutes before grabbing a towel and running it over her face. She knew she was only going to piss the Chief off by her delay, but at that point she could care less. She’d had a harrowing event, she had a massive headache, and all she wanted to do was sleep which was something that wasn’t allowed to happen for at least a few more hours.

  Taking the spray bottle of disinfectant and some paper towels, she cleaned her machine and grasped her water bottle, downing what was left of the contents. Giving Max a sidelong look to show him her disdain, she rolled her eyes and grinned before leaving the room.

  “What’s up, boss?” She wrung the cotton between her fingers.

  “Shut the door.”

  James let out a breath and turned around closing the only exit she had in the room.

  “Why are you working out?”

  “Because you’re always telling us to keep in shape?” Her eyes grew big, and her lips pursed as she tried to knock off the comment with sarcasm.

  “You hit your head on the bunk no more than a few hours ago.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Yeah, I’m sure you are. And when you pass out on the floor, will you be fine then?”

  Addison leaned over her desk, pressing buttons on her computer and not glancing at James. She was good at admonishing her lover without looking at her, a talent she had learned over the past year and a half. It was easier for both of them that way, particularly when they headed home after their shifts.

  “Well, I would hope that someone would pick me up, make sure I didn’t break anything, maybe take me to a doctor. But I don’t know, Addy, would you care enough to do it?”

  The sharp words hit Addison hard, and she glanced up, her eyes skimming over the slick and curvy form.

  “The anger is uncalled for, and this is not the time or the place to discuss this. You know that.”

  “You brought it up.”

  “Actually you did, but again. Not here.”

  Her body swung back to the computer, and she stopped talking.

  “Was that all you wanted?”

  Addison sat straight up and crossed her arms, looking James over again. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure I didn’t bring you in here for anything else.”

  James turned on her heel to stalk out of the room, hoping sincerely to be able to slam the door loudly, but a wave of dizziness caught her in its grasp. She had to take hold of the wooden desk chair to stay upright.

  “James…” The Chief stepped over and gripped shoulders softly, guiding her. “Sit down.”

  James’ butt hit the wood and she rested her head back, her eyes facing the ceiling.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Damn right you are.” The flirtatious comment slipped from Addison’s tongue as she ran hands over James’ head. Color drained from already pale cheeks. “You all right, sweetie?”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  Deep and slow breaths were all that James could manage until her eyesight fully returned from the black splotches that had confiscated it. Addison had her hand on James’ wrist waiting for her heartbeat to slow.

  “I’m good now.”

  “Well, better at least.”

  Again, Addison ran her hands over James’ head and hair, making sure to check the goose egg that was still present at the hairline.

  “I don’t want you doing anything the rest of the night.”

  “Fat ch—”

  “If you don’t…” Addison continued without letting James interrupt her, “I’m going to send you home and you really don’t want me to send you home. Then the Lieutenant Chief and the Fire Chief will find out, and we wouldn’t want that.”

  “Fine.”

  “Good.”

  Addison glanced up at the door, noting no one loitering outside and leaned in to press her lips quickly to James’, lingering longer than she first anticipated.

  “Stop scaring me.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s in my job description to scare you.”

  Shaking her head, Addison sat in her own chair and looked at James’ weary face. “Perhaps it is. Good work today, by the way. Fast thinking.”

  “I can only hope it helps.”

  Addison understood the sentiment. They hadn’t left Ashley in a good condition; she was lucky to have survived the crash. Sometimes, when she was most cynical, Addison wished that they would have died and been spared the suffering. James stayed in the chair as Addison started her paperwork until her head started to jerk up after her body lulled her into sleep one too many times.

  She was flashing between fire, heat, panic and the cool, comfortable atmosphere of her boss’ office. The dreams weren’t enough to drag her into full slumber and the nightmarish quality of her sleep kept waking her before she wanted.

  She felt a gentle finger on her chin and cheek before lips descended onto her own. James gripped the back of Addison’s neck and held on as their mouths pressed against each other. The embrace slowed, and Addison eased away gently.

  “Go to sleep, and use that for a dream rather than a nightmare.”

  Addison smirked and pressed a hand to James’ thigh, sending her on her way before emailing a report to the Fire Chief.

  Chapter Three

  James collapsed onto her bed and stared at the ceiling. It was ten to seven in the morning and even though she slept the majority of the night with little interruption, she was still craving the sweet sensation of unknowing only a deep slumber could create. To be cocooned in her own dreams and bed was something she always cherished as soon as her body pressed into any mattress.

  “Just a quick nap,” she said to an empty room.

  She wasn’t completely alone if she considered the three fish living in the tank in the living room, but there was a wall between her and them.

  “No one will be the wiser.”

  Stripping down to nothing other than panties and a tight fitting tank, James curled into dirty covers that hadn’t been washed in weeks and set her head on the pillow, beckoning sleep. Her cell phone sounded next to her on the nightstand. Narrowing her eyes at the light, she debated whether or not to look.

  Wearily reaching out, she grasped the mobile device and flipped the screen lock, staring at Addison’s name. The text was short, ‘Dinner tonight? Working today.’ Technically, she could eat dinner with the woman and then go out with Max later for the alcohol she was craving, but she didn’t feel like eating dinner.

  Something was off with Addison. Her entire mood had been different since they had the run-in with Mr. Smell’s a Lot. Addison had been closed off and tight lipped; every little noise or outburst had set her off. James hadn’t been able to feel any of her emotions for hours, and she had been left in the dark. Sighing, James did not want to deal with whatever it was. Ignoring the text, she set the phone back and closed her eyes. She laid there trying desperately to seduce the one called slumber. No more than twenty minutes passed when her phone went off again.

  Grinding her teeth, she flipped it on and glared, hoping it was Addison with another text so she could send a nasty one back. Instead it was Max telling her he miraculously found a date that night and he was sorry to bail, but since he rarely got the opportunity James would have to live with it. Sighing, she plopped the phone back down after sending a curt reply and closed her eyes once more.

  The silence didn’t last as long as she wanted. Her eyes flicked up at the ceiling when the kids across the street were let out for recess at the daycare. She could hear the care provider yelling at them. Groaning inwardly, she clenched her eyes and turned onto her side, pressing her face into the pillow.

  She officially gave up on any semblance of sleep when the phone started the low rumblings of the Klingon war song. James pulled in a deep breath of air and let it out with a short huff before turning over and sitting up. Ripping the phone off the charger just as the ringtone switched to the Klingon drinking song, she pressed ‘accept call’ and shoved it to her ear.

  “Hey, Mama.”

  “Hey there, potatobug. How was work?”

  Her tones were sweet, and James couldn’t find any fault in her. James let out a sigh and reined in her anger at not being able to catch a nap.

  “It was fine. Few calls, nothing big.”

  “I drove by the accident yesterday… saw you out there.”

  “Yeah?”

  James left her room and started on the dishes piled in the sink and left for three days straight. She certainly wouldn’t have won any housekeeping awards, and her mother tended to point it out. Just as she opened the dishwasher, her mother started to talk about the accident.

  “It looked bad. Did anyone die?”

  James let out a sigh: every time her mother asked these questions the result was always devastation, but James supposed it was better than finding out via the news broadcast. The news way of Cameron finding out only resulted in James’ mother worrying more and sending an abundance of text messages. She really didn’t want to answer, but there wasn’t much choice in the matter.