Page 5 of Birchwood Burn (Black Timber Peak Hotshots #2)

FIVE

JACE

The last twenty-four hours have been intense. The fire is much more manageable, so my squad is on a break to shower and sleep while other squads and departments keep working on lessening the blaze.

The smart thing would be to go home or at least the fire station, take a hot shower, eat a hearty meal, and crash, but it won’t happen.

Larissa has been on my mind on repeat, and I can’t get her out of there.

Even while fighting the fire and working my body to the bone, my worry for her is at the forefront of my mind.

This obsession and instant connection to her have me reeling.

I don’t understand any of it, but for the first time in my life, I’m not inclined to push it away.

But first things first. I need to check on her and make sure she’s okay.

When I spoke to the EMT, he was adamant she’d be admitted for smoke inhalation.

Her lungs were in bad shape, and they’re bound to do a bunch of tests on her.

So here I am, walking through the doors of the big hospital next to Black Timber Peak.

The main hospital is within a hundred and fifty-mile radius.

I use a rag I grabbed out of my truck to wipe my face and head toward the nurses’ station.

If I can see my Trouble again, then maybe I’ll be able to relax enough to get some sleep.

I stop at the counter and mentally shake some sense into my head. When did I start thinking of her as mine?

The idea of it is tempting, but I need to let it go. She’s not from around here, and her friends said she was going through a bad time. I need to keep my distance from her, but I’ll feel better knowing she’s being taken care of.

Rhonda, Coop’s wife, is the head nurse working. I’m relieved and lucky. She’ll help me out and give me updates on her condition.

“Jace. Hey, what are you doing here? You okay?” She looks me over, and I cringe. I should’ve taken that shower.

“Yeah. I’m just checking in on a patient, admitted earlier, Larissa Green.”

Rhonda studies me, and a smirk plays on her face as she crosses her arms and enjoys watching me squirm.

“The woman you almost died saving?”

“We didn’t almost die. Your husband is the hero.”

“Not the way I’m hearing it.”

I sigh. Maybe it would be better if another nurse who doesn’t know me as well as Rhonda helps me. They at least wouldn’t give me as much shit.

“Holy snickerdoodle. You like her.” Rhonda gives a little jump, where her feet never leave the floor.

“What are you talking about?”

“Jace, I’ve known you my whole life, and never once have you come here looking for somebody you helped. Other firefighters, definitely. Other first responders, sure. But never once has it been somebody you saved. She’s got you hooked, huh?”

I don’t want to get into any of this, especially when a couple of other nurses working on charts in the corner are listening and not writing a damn word.

“Is she doing okay or not?” I grind out with my clenched jaw. Trying hard not to be a complete asshole, but I don’t need any third degrees right now. I’m tired, I’m hungry, and I need a fucking shower. But most importantly, I need to check on Trouble and make sure she’s okay.

Rhonda laughs and waves her hand. “Okay, okay. Fine. But be aware, until you talk, I’m going to keep nagging.”

I roll my eyes. Of course, she’s going to.

Rhonda wasn’t kidding when she said we knew each other our whole lives.

She’s close friends with my sister, Gina, and even though my sister spends half her time here in Black Timber Peak and the other half with her stunt driver husband in Hollywood.

Rhonda and Gina are still close and talk frequently.

I’m dreading the call I’ll get from Gina and our mom soon.

Small towns and all that. Plus, Rhonda doesn’t keep juicy secrets. Even though there isn’t anything to tell. I’m only here to check on the girl who has my heart on a string and make sure she isn’t traumatized.

“Ms. Green has some serious lung damage from all the smoke. She’s on oxygen and will need to do a lot of lung rejuvenation and strengthening exercises to heal them.

Her feet are blistered, but staying off them and taking care of them will heal them up quickly.

Dehydration is being treated, and the saline drip is doing wonders.

She’s exhausted and will be our guest for a few more days.

The doctor wants to get her coughing under control before he lets her go. ”

The lungs are the worst of it all, which is what I was stressed about, and I don’t enjoy hearing it’s as serious as they’re saying. But I’m relieved they’re keeping her here for a few days.

“Now, I’m only telling you this as one professional to another. Plus, she’s going to want to see you. She’s in room 206. It’s down the hall on the left.”

Leaning over the counter, I kiss her cheek and thank her before walking toward Larissa’s room.

I run my hand through my hair, and when I notice the back of my hands, I groan at how dirty they are.

The shower would’ve been smart. Fuck, should I have gotten her flowers too? Or a ‘get better soon’ bear?

Shit, I’m not good with these things.

Snap out of it. There’s nothing here. You’re going to step in, say a quick hello to make sure she’s okay. Appease your own mind and get the hell out of there.

With a soft tap on the door, I open it and freeze as her three friends are camped out in chairs around her hospital bed. Larissa lies peacefully, sound asleep. She looks so different, not as pale or worried, and there’s some color to her cheeks. Beautiful is what she is.

Not wanting to wake her or disturb them, I move to close the door when her friend with the injured foot says, “It’s you. Oh, yay. Thank you so much. We were hoping we would get to run into you again. Please come in.”

She’s loud and I worry about her waking Larissa up, but it’s too late since Larissa’s eyes open and she hurriedly raises the bed so she can sit up.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. And I didn’t mean to wake you. You need your rest.”

“No, please come in,” Larissa says.

I step into the room and nod at the three friends who have funny smiles on their faces and stare at me.

Nervous energy has me rubbing my hand behind my neck. “I spoke with your nurse, and it sounds like they have you well taken care of here. Just follow their instructions. Don’t want to be dealing with lung issues for the rest of your life if you can help it.”

Damn. Since when did I sound so rough? Have I always come off this way?

The friends staring isn’t helping. And Larissa must notice because she asks her friends. “Hey guys, can you get me something to eat? I’m hungry.”

The brunette says, “But you just ate.”

The blonde friend elbows her. “Yes, of course. What would you like?”

“Oh, I don’t care. Whatever you think I’ll like.”

“Yup, no problem.” The three move to leave, the one with the hurt foot tries to get her crutches under her arms and work her way out of the room.

“I didn’t mean to kick your friends out of here.”

Larissa waves it off. “No, it’s fine. In fact, I should thank you. They’ve been extra guilt ridden this whole time, so they have been a little annoying.”

As they very well should be. Their stupidity almost got their friend killed. You killed. For whatever reason, I have the wisdom to keep my mouth shut. Which isn’t like me. But I always tell the guys, ‘Don’t say stupid shit, women don’t like it.’ So for once, I’m taking my own advice.

“I finally got a break. The fire is sixty percent contained. Our squad got a twelve-hour window for a break, and I’m on my way home.” Which I’m not. The hospital is on the opposite side of where I live on the mountain. “Thought I’d check in and see if you’re doing okay.”

“Thank you so much for stopping by. I wondered if I’d get to see you again. Thank you so much for everything you did. I won’t ever be able to repay you.”

I cut her off there. I don’t do this for any payment. In fact, this time around, it’s been my privilege. Just being able to know this woman exists in this world is enough for me. This world feels far better for it.

“I’m relieved I could get to you in time. Just promise me no more hiking trips when a wildfire warning is in place.”

She laughs and raises her hand in the air. “I promise, no more hiking.”

I smirk. “Now, that’s a damn shame. You shouldn’t give up on hiking. There are some beautiful sights in this world, and to put in a little work in order to experience them is worth it.” I shrug and wonder if I’m speaking about myself and this lady.

Larissa leans her head back on the bed, as she has an oxygen cord in her nose, and she eyes me with intensity. “You’re right. A little work is worth something beautiful in the end.”

We both grow silent, watching each other, and I’ve never been a man who needed to talk much, but the silence with Larissa is comfortable, and I don’t need to fill the air with small talk.

She’s so easy-going, and being around her brings me peace.

Something I haven’t realized I’ve been lacking in so long.

This peace… her… isn’t something I want to lose.

I should man up and ask her out, but her doctor comes walking in and the moment is gone.

I shake the doctor’s hand as we catch up about the fire and the latest status.

In this small community mountain town, everybody knows everybody to a point.

But first responders and all the doctors and nurses know each other relatively well.

At least enough to have a conversation when we run into each other.

“Well, I'd better get going. I just wanted to check on the patient.” I turn to Larissa. “You take care of yourself, okay?”

“You too. Get some sleep. You need it.”

I smile and wave as I leave the room. I don’t even make it to the elevator before my phone rings, and I roll my eyes.

It’s my sister, Gina. And if I don’t answer, she’s going to stress out until I do.

I’m sure she knows all about the fire on this mountain, but more importantly, Rhonda already texted her something, and now she wants the details.

“Yes, I’m okay. No, I haven’t slept or showered or eaten yet.

Yes, I’m on my way home. No, I’m not done.

I have to be back at fighting the fire and being a bad ass in about ten hours.

” This isn’t the first time I’ve had to work through a million questions of hers and our parents’, so I have answers readily available.

Our brother Davis is quiet, a loner, so he never hounds me like the rest of the family does.

I’m just grateful his house is on the opposite side of the mountain, because it would be like pulling teeth to get him to evacuate.

“Thank you, I appreciate that. I wish I could help to have everything ready for you. I’m sure Mom already has a casserole at your house, though.

” My family is amazing. They take care of everything when I’m in the wildfire season, but often, I don’t get to come back home.

We’re in the mountains for weeks at a time. So I’m grateful either way.

“That’s good because I’m starving.”

“So, who’s this woman you saved and had to go check on as soon as your shift was over?”

I groan and walk off the elevator, spotting Larissa’s friends hanging out in the lounge area.

I wave at them when they spot me. But I don’t stop to talk, because I don’t want to, and I’m on the phone with Gina.

And my sister is my most favorite person, so she always wins out.

Or at least she used to. I think there’s a new favorite in my world now.

“It’s nothing. I went looking for this woman. She needed my help, and I brought her back safely. Or at least as safely as I could.”

“Is she okay? Rhonda wouldn’t tell me anything other than that you have the hots for a woman you saved. Which is so unlike you, by the way.”

I chuff and put my phone on speaker as I get in my truck and head home because I need a shower, food, and sleep, and I don’t even know what order it should be in at this point.

“She had me worried, so I wanted to check in. She was alone with a wildfire chasing her in the mountains and is bound to be dealing with some trauma from all that.”

“Are you going to see her again?”

“She doesn’t live here. She’s a tourist.”

“Hmmm.”

“What do you mean by hmmm?”

“Just that you didn’t answer my question, and you bring up instantly that she’s a tourist. I find it to be telling, that’s all.”

“Don’t start.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t start fictionalizing all this and turning it into one of your romance novels. This is real life. I’m a firefighter. The woman needed help. I helped her. End of story.”

Gina giggles, and I roll my eyes. “What now?”

“The hero doth protest too much.”

“Oh, shut it. I’m hanging up now. Love you.”

“Hey.”

“What?”

Gina gets serious. “I love you too, big bro. Promise me you’ll be careful. I keep watching the news, and the fire is intense.”

This is one thing I hate about the job. How much worry it causes the people I care about? “Promise. I’m always as careful as I can be.”

We say our goodbyes and hang up. As I drive the rest of the way home in silence, I think about Larissa and how I’m kicking myself for not getting her number or asking if I could see her again. But then I remember she doesn’t live here. It’s best to separate now before it becomes impossible.

In a few days, she shouldn’t be overtaking my thoughts like she is now. It’ll fade.