Second Chance With The Chief (Alpha Colorado Firefighters Book 2) Read online

  Second Chance with the Chief

  Alpha Colorado Firefighters Book 2

  Anna Heskin

  Copyright © 2019 by Anna Heskin

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, dead or alive, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Epilogue

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  1

  Ali

  After the second box of tissues disappeared, the end credits brought tender mercy. Paralyzed by emotion, I stared at the television long after the final name scrolled off the screen.

  “Sis? Earth to sis.” My younger sister, Rachel, waved her hand in front of my face.

  “What?” I sniffed.

  “What’s gotten into you?”

  “That hit me in the feels,” I said.

  “I’ve never seen you so torn up from a movie.” Rachel sat on the couch next to me, patting my knee.

  “It was so sad.”

  “Was it the little boy coming home from school to find out he’d never see his firefighter dad again?” Rachel grabbed the untouched popcorn bowl from my lap.

  “Yes, poor kid.”

  “Firefighters are warriors. Sometimes they don’t make it,” Rachel said, stuffing her face. Her ability to keep her emotions in check contrasted with my teary display.

  “I know it’s only a movie, but it made me think about the guys and girls out there risking their lives every day,” I said as my hand covered my heart.

  “Yep, true heroes,” Rachel said, cracking open a can of Breckenridge ale. “So, what are we watching next?”

  I jumped off the couch. “I can’t take another one right now.”

  “What else is there to do on a Monday night?” Rachel moved in with me the previous fall when she landed a teaching job in the Denver County school district. She rarely wanted to sit at home and watch television. Her typical idea of a good time involved strenuous outdoor activities and hanging out near bears.

  “I can’t stop thinking of the firefighters,” I said from the kitchen.

  Rachel followed me out of the living room. “Are you busting into the cupcakes? I’ll take one.” As the owner of a bakery, I sometimes brought home leftovers. It did nothing for my waistline, but I’d rather go through life a bit fluffy and happy than deprive myself.

  “No, I’m straightening up the box, making sure everything looks pretty.” With the swift swipe of a knife, I straightened the icing on the edges of the treats.

  “Who are they for?” Rachel asked.

  “Firefighters.”

  “Huh?”

  “I’m taking them to the nearest firehouse,” I said.

  “Why?”

  “To show my appreciation for the work they do.”

  “You know who takes baked goods to the fire station, right?” Rachel said with a smirk.

  “Good-doers?”

  “Single women looking to land a hunk. And you, my sexy older sister, fit the bill.”

  I sighed. “I don’t have any ulterior motives.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Rachel said with a grin. “They’ll think you’re offering more than your cupcakes.” She placed her hands under her breasts, making them bounce up and down.

  “Oh, stop. They’ll appreciate the gesture.”

  “If you pick one up, bring a buddy home for me too,” Rachel said. “Firefighters are so damn hot. It’s like they bring the heat from the workplace into the bedroom.” Both of us had been single for a while, but my dry spell far exceeded hers.

  Is she right? Do other women do this to hit on the firefighters?

  Regardless of motive, I needed to make myself presentable. The reflection of Rachel’s smiling face behind me graced the mirror as I fixed my mascara and brushed my curly auburn hair. I swapped my sweats for a red sun dress and white classic sneakers. After a quick spritz of body spray, I wrapped an extra ribbon around the box and tied a giant bow.

  “Wow, between you and the cupcakes, they’re getting the total package,” Rachel said as I grabbed my car keys.

  “Thanks, sis.”

  “I won’t wait up for you.”

  “Haha. I’ll be right back.”

  As I pulled my car onto our street, I realized I didn’t know the location of the nearest fire station. After a few voice commands to my phone, it directed me to a corner ten minutes from home.

  Several firefighters were playing basketball outside the station as I parked on the other side of the lot. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths before stepping out of the car. They paused their game and watched as I walked toward the front entrance.

  “Hello, ma’am,” one of the young men said as a couple others approached.

  “Good evening,” I said. My mouth turned dry as the handsome firefighters gathered around me.

  “Is that for us?” A rather tall hunk pointed at the decorated box in my hands.

  “Yes, I wanted to show my appreciation for the job you do. I own a cupcake shop and brought some extras I had.”

  “That’s nice of you,” the tall one said.

  A firefighter with a sweet mustache stepped forward. “I’ll never get tired of people dropping off treats for us.”

  The tall guy elbowed mustache man in the shoulder and flashed a big grin. “Especially when they’re brought by attractive women, am I right?”

  “Okay, guys, dessert after we finish the game,” the lone female of the group said. The men nodded and their faces adopted a more serious look.

  “I’m Lieutenant Benjamin,” the fit, tan woman said, offering a handshake.

  “I’m Ali,” I said, my grip failing to match her strength.

  “Thanks for stopping by, Ali. We appreciate the public’s support.”

  “You seem busy out here. What should I do with these cupcakes?”

  “Could you be a doll and take them inside?”

  “Sure,” I said.

  “Go through the front door and follow the hall to the end. That’s our kitchen. If you could set them in there, that would be awesome.”

  “Will do.” A part of me felt giddy seeing the inside of a fire station for the first time. If I were more athletic, I might ask to slide down the pole.

  On the way to the kitchen, I sensed movement in an office out of the corner of my eye. The nameplate next to the door said “Chief Holloway”. The chief shuffled papers with his back turned to me.

  Do I interrupt the chief’s work and say hello? Or would that be a bother? I should just take these to the kitchen like the lieutenant asked.

  Before I walked away from the plate window, the chief spotted me in the hallway. “Hello there,” he called out.

  The sudden greeting alone would’ve stopped me in my tracks. But his voice seemed familiar, like someone I met in a previous life. I turned around to greet the chief. My mouth fell open, and the box tumbled out of my frozen hands, causing the cupcakes to spill onto the floor.

  “Oops, here, let me help,” the chief said, stooping to t
he ground before he got a good look at me.

  I was 99 percent sure I had already met the man. He looked like the boy I knew at eighteen, except he had packed on a crap-ton of muscle. His height, deep brown eyes, and chiseled face gave him away. Even his dark brown hair was cut the same as fifteen years ago.

  “Derek?” I squeaked out of my dry mouth.

  The chief let go of a cupcake during mid-pull, the icing still holding it to the rubber tile. He turned his head, his eyes studying me for a moment before they grew large. “Alison?” he asked as he stood, brushing crumbs onto his uniform pants.

  “Yes, it’s me, Ali.”

  “What are you doing here?” he asked with his head cocked to the side and voice quieter than it needed to be.

  “Dropping off cupcakes. Sorry I literally dropped—” my words got cut short when Derek embraced me in his giant arms. As the initial shock wore off, my body relaxed and enjoyed the warmth of his firm hug.

  Derek let out a chuckle as he released me. “So you didn’t find me to say I have a teenager out in your car?”

  My cheeks flushed pink. “Nope.”

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” Derek said. “Are you living in Denver?”

  “Yes. My entire adult life.”

  “And we never ran into each other. Ali, I’ll never forget that week together at church camp.” Derek stood close to me, both his hands on my shoulders.

  Memories flooded back, threatening to make my chest explode. My heart beat stammered, matching my words. “I felt terrible about the way I left.”

  “What happened? I woke up the final morning and you were gone. Nobody else from your group was there. I couldn’t find anyone who knew you or your last name.”

  I looked to the side and let out a nervous laugh. “How silly was it of us to not get each other’s last name at any point that week?”

  “Seriously, what happened?” Derek’s eyes pierced into mine. I could feel the man’s power deep inside.

  “My father caught wind that his precious little daughter might be having 'inappropriate’ relations with a boy. He drove out to the camp that night, threw my things into the van, and hauled me off.”

  “What an asshole,” Derek muttered.

  “He hovered during the entire escape. I couldn’t write a note or get a message out. All the girls from my group had to go home with us.”

  “I think about you all the time, wondering where you are,” Derek said.

  I closed my eyes to suppress a tear. “Same.”

  Derek held my hands. I caught him taking a peek at my ring finger. “So, are you married now? Family?”

  “No, I’m single. Been a while since my last relationship.” The touch of his calloused hand threatened to make me faint.

  “I got divorced last year,” Derek said. “No children.”

  “Sorry to hear that,” I said.

  Derek pulled me in for another hug. “It’s for the best. God, I missed you.”

  Something poked me from his pants that wasn’t there during the first hug. The same moment I realized what had awakened down below, a loud alarm went off in the fire station. Did his hard cock set off the bell?

  “Shit,” Derek grumbled and let go of me. “I have to go.”

  Chaos ensued around me as the firefighters ran down the hallway and prepared to leave. Someone running past clipped a cupcake with their foot and it stuck to the far wall.

  “Can I see you again?” I shouted over the alarm.

  “Yes. Come back tomorrow,” Derek said before running off to join his crew.

  The sudden separation didn’t carry the same sting it did fifteen years earlier. This time, I knew where he worked and had a choice whether to return.

  2

  Derek

  The action taking place around me seemed to occur on a movie screen, as if I observed from outside my body. The sudden appearance of Ali into my life threw my mind into a tailspin.

  “Lieutenant, ride with me,” I said to Lieutenant Benjamin as the others suited up. The firefighters in my battalion are like family to me. They respect the hell out of me, and I offer them the same.

  “Sure thing, boss.” We headed out to my truck. I caught a glimpse of Ali’s car as it left our block.

  I couldn’t get over how gorgeous Ali looked. Fifteen years later, and she still had the beauty of a goddess. Her tits and ass had filled out, giving her delicious curves. My hard-on lingered when I climbed into my truck. I hoped Lieutenant Benjamin didn’t notice.

  “What’s this call again?” I asked as we followed engine #2. Ali distracted me to the point I couldn’t recall where we headed.

  “Someone called emergency dispatch from outside a Chinese restaurant, saying there was a personal injury. We’re being pulled in because it involved fireworks.”

  “Thanks, Lieutenant.” My thoughts drifted away from work, taking me back to the beginning of my final church camp, fifteen years prior:

  The couple hundred youth sat in the meeting hall for the ice breaker. After counting off, fate paired me with a shy, gorgeous Alison. The sunlight glistening in her hair and the way her skin glowed made her appear to be an angel. A ten-minute conversation left me smitten. I wanted her to be a part of my life.

  Despite keeping an eye out for her, I didn’t see Ali for a couple more days. A giant game of tag broke out in the commons area. When the opportunity to tag Ali presented itself, I didn’t merely give her a light slap. My arm wrapped around her waist and I pulled her close. Unable to catch my breath, we stared into each other’s eyes for what seemed like an eternity.

  The squawk of the communications radio interrupted my thoughts. “Chief Holloway, dispatch advises they do not need the fire services on scene at this point.”

  “Roger that,” I said. “No threat from the fireworks?”

  “No, sir. It’s under control.”

  “We’re almost to the location. I’ll have my crew show up anyhow. We have a couple new guys and completing the run will be valuable practice,” I said.

  As we approached the Chinese restaurant, my mind drifted back to the week I met Ali:

  After the game of tag, we sneaked off into the woods. Things started off innocent enough. Our fingers brushed against each other, sending shivers up my spine. A rush of adrenaline surged as our hands interlocked.

  It was already Wednesday night, and camp would end on Saturday. We both had good buddies who covered for us. The light of the full moon allowed us to find a place in the rocks to hold each other, staring at the sky and talking about our dreams. We made out for the first time that night. I wanted the moments to last forever.

  As Lieutenant Benjamin and I got out of my truck, I noticed the rest of the firefighters laughing and whispering in a tight circle. One of them held up their mobile device while the others listened.

  My crew straightened up when they saw me. “Everything’s under control,” I said.

  “Sure is, Chief.” An ambulance drove off with a patient. I didn’t see any sign of smoke or danger anywhere.

  “What happened here? And what’s so funny?” I asked.

  Lieutenant Benjamin set down her radio and walked over from the truck with a smile on her face. “I think I know why they’re laughing, sir.”

  “Chief, you have to hear the 911 call,” my newest recruit said, handing me the recording from the app on his phone.

  I held it up to my ear as the rest of my crew edged closer:

  Dispatcher: 911-what is your emergency?

  Caller: [thick accent] Send help. Bits of penis everywhere!

  Dispatcher: [she sounds taken back] Excuse me?

  Caller: Penis explode. Fireworks.

  Dispatcher: Where is your location?

  Caller: Great China Wok Dragon Fire restaurant. Larimer Street.

  I turned off the recording. We all had a grin on our face despite the grim reality a man had his genitals injured. “Would someone mind filling in the details?”

  My newest recruit stepped up. �
�Chief, witnesses reported a wager between two drunk men. One of them stuck a thin firecracker in his urethral meatus and lit it.”

  “You mean his peehole?” I asked.

  “Yes. The paramedics said there’s nothing left of it. I’d advise against going over there, they’re still finding bits in the parking lot.”

  “That won’t be good for their buffet business,” I said. “We’re not needed. Let’s roll out.”

  As Lieutenant Benjamin and settled into the truck, a sudden fit of laughter overcame her. “What would possess someone to stick a firecracker in their dick?”

  A part of me found the incident hilarious and ridiculous. Another part of my conscious felt sorry for the man. But above all else, I fumed with anger. “Why the bloody fuck were our resources wasted on this call?”

  “Sir,” Lieutenant said. “Dispatch couldn’t understand the caller. There could’ve been a fire hazard involved.”

  “Total waste of our time.” I glanced in the mirror and saw my face had turned a deep red and the big vein on my forehead made a rare appearance.

  “I’ve never seen you so pissed about a call before. Does this have anything to do with the visitor we had when the alarm sounded?”

  I shook my head and let out a sigh. “You know me well, Lieutenant.” She and I had worked together several years, giving us many hours to learn what made each other tick.

  “I saw the way you two looked at each other. Did you already know her?”

  “Yes. We hit it off at church camp. We were both 18, the summer after high school.” Visions in my mind alternated between the young Ali and the one who surprised me moments earlier.

  Lieutenant Benjamin has a tough exterior, but she enjoys a good love story. “What do you mean by 'hit it off’?”

  “I mean everything. She was my first, and I was hers.”

  She nudged me with her elbow. “Chief, wow. How did it end?”

  The angry tone returned to my voice. “Her asshole father stole her away during the last night.”

  “Is today the first you’ve seen of her since then?”

  “Yes. I’d planned on exchanging information with her on the last day of camp but she wasn’t there.” My hand banged the steering wheel.