Page 6 of Rescued Dreams

“He asked me to provide a reference on a prospective applicant.” She kept her expression blank, making her face unreadable. “You made lieutenant?”

“A couple of weeks ago.”

Hurt flashed in her eyes, but it disappeared quickly. “And you applied to BFD?”

“There are no open lieutenant spots in Last Chance County.” He shrugged. And they’d broken up—so what reason did he have to stay? Even his sisters were on board with the idea. Tentatively. “And they have a few positions. I’m still deciding.”

“Julio was nice about it, but he told me you should put someone else’s name on your application.” She winced. “I didn’t leave Benson under the best circumstances. To be honest, I have zero credibility there.”

“They asked who my former superior officers were. That’s all.” Nothing personal—just the way she liked it. Ridge was trying not to get cynical, but it was hard. “Sorry you got dragged into it.”

“I just wanted you to know why my opinion won’t help you in Benson. But I’m sure Crawford gave you a glowing reference.”

Ridge took a couple of steps toward her. “What happened to you there? Why’d you leave Benson?”

She shrugged, but the weight on her shoulders didn’t move. “I needed a fresh start. Fire is fire. Doesn’t matter where you fight it.”

“You’ve said that to me before.” Now it seemed a little too rehearsed. “But I’ve lived in Last Chance my whole life. Maybe it would be a good change to go live somewhere else. The Benson FD seemed like some really solid people. It could be good.” He stopped before he repeated himself again.

She said, “They’re solid now.”

“Now that you’re gone?”

She flinched. “I wasn’t the toxic one.”

He took another step toward her. “What happened?”

“I left. That’s what happened.”

“Why?”

“I wanted achange.Why are you interrogating me?”

“Because if I keep doing it, eventually you’ll tell me the truth.”

Her eyes flared. “What does it matter?”

She already knew the answer to that, so Ridge just stared at her. Wordlessly willing her to figure it out on her own.

“Whatever. Leave.” She shrugged. “See if I care.”

“Is there a reason I shouldn’t go to Benson?”

“Not anymore.”

Ridge dipped his head and tried to catch her gaze. “If you don’t want me to go, then ask me to stay.”

She twisted to face him. “Do whatever you want.”

Then she whirled around and walked out.

Ridge watched her go, trying to figure out why it amused him to rile her up. Probably he just enjoyed torturing himself with what he couldn’t have.

Bryce appeared in the doorway. “That went well.”

“Swing and a miss.” Ridge mimicked holding a baseball bat.

Bryce chuckled. “Pressing her buttons isn’t exactly the tactic I’d have gone with.”