High Heat (Hotshots) Read online

  “Bandage needed? I’ve got a first aid kit. God, I’m sorry. I distracted you.”

  “No bandage or apology needed.” Rain brought both plates to the nearby table, which already had one chair pushed to the back wall to make space for Garrick. “I like the distraction. A lot.”

  He took the chair on the end, closer to Garrick, rather than across the table, Garrick still sputtering on about being sorry.

  “Seriously, dude. Quit apologizing. I think we both could use more...diversions. In fact, I propose we start after breakfast.” He gave Garrick what he hoped was a seductive and not maniacal smile. He didn’t have a ton of practice with seduction, but no time like the present to start.

  “Rain...” Garrick trailed off and cut his pancakes into rough hunks before spearing one particularly hard.

  “Yes?” Rain prompted because he wasn’t a mind reader. He was well aware that he could be somewhat...much for certain people, but Garrick’s tone wasn’t that kind of fed up.

  “You don’t need to show me anything. Or flirt. You know that, right? I’ll help train you and keep the dog regardless of how...friendly you are.”

  Rain had to blink at this turn of reasoning. “You’re worried you’re taking advantage of me? Not the other way around?”

  “I am the older one.” Garrick nodded sharply. “I don’t...ah...want you feeling obligated.”

  More than a little amused, Rain shook his head. “And if I don’t? If I simply enjoy flirting and love being a distraction? Can I keep doing me or you need me to tone it down?” Rain didn’t particularly want to dial down the flirting, but Garrick being uncomfortable was no good either.

  “You do you. Whatever makes you happiest. I mean that.”

  That was probably as close to a green light as he was going to get, and Rain had to resist the urge to wriggle in his chair. He liked that Garrick both seemed to get him and wanted to indulge him.

  “And if showing you my unmentionables would make me happy?” he pushed. Only a little. Because Garrick said he could.

  “Rain...”

  “That’s not a no.” He still made no move to stand and drop his shorts, because it wasn’t a yes either, and being the diversion Garrick needed would be much more fun with him enthusiastically on board.

  “It’s a bad idea. Even if... Heck. I’m not sure I can—”

  The doorbell cut Garrick off before he could explain further, leaving Rain to try to fill in the gaps. Bad idea because Garrick knew it was likely a temporary thing? Or because he was concerned about some stupid age gap? Or because he couldn’t physically go there? Rain hadn’t considered that last possibility, and if that was the case, he’d like to know more, see if there was a way for Garrick to feel good that accommodated his injuries. But he didn’t get his chance to ask as Garrick quickly rolled to the door and let in an older, more barrel-chested clone of himself—dark blond hair shot through with gray, tall, big build, and Garrick’s same sharp blue eyes and angular, chiseled features.

  “Did I mess up the day for PT?” Frowning, the man, who had to be Garrick’s dad, asked as his gaze swept over the room, taking in Rain and the breakfast table.

  “It’s Tuesday this week. Crap. I forgot to send you a reminder text last night. It’s been crazy with all the stuff with the dog.”

  “Dog?” Garrick’s dad shifted his attention from Rain and the dining nook to Cookie, who was attempting to hide her bulky body behind Garrick’s chair, not coming out to say hello. “Ah. I see now. Shy sweetheart. It’s not a visitor?”

  For a suffocating moment, Rain wasn’t entirely sure that he meant the dog.

  “Long story,” Garrick said with a groan. “She’s temporarily my dog. And this is Rain, my neighbor who is helping me out with her. Rain, this is my dad, Kenny.”

  “Hi.” Rain gave a wave, which Kenny returned with a nod.

  “I see.”

  “I’ve got the coffee on. You want to help yourself to a cup? I’ve still got some of that creamer you liked.”

  “Sure.” Kenny’s mouth moved like he still wasn’t sure what to make of Cookie, Rain, or their breakfast. “You cooked?”

  “Well, Rain helped a lot. But, yeah. There are more pancakes by the stove. And no bacon, so your doctor will thank me even if you won’t.”

  “You with your health kicks. But guess I could eat.” Not seeming too put out at the change in plans, Kenny grabbed a cup of coffee and a plate with two pancakes. He brought them to the seat opposite Rain but kept talking to Garrick. “So, if tomorrow’s PT, why do you look ready for a workout?”

  “I did exercise a little.” Garrick was pretty close to adorable when he preened, and Rain resolved to drag him on every outing from here on out. “I’m helping Rain train for a shot on one of the wildfire crews. Maybe an engine since he’s a total newb.”

  “Garrick.” Kenny used the same long-suffering tone Garrick had when he was exasperated.

  “What?” Garrick’s expression was carefully innocent.

  “You’re still all-in on going back, aren’t you? Can’t leave it well enough in the past, maybe get a new—”

  “Hobby. I know. And training Rain is my new hobby. A fun one.” Garrick’s grin made Rain’s stomach flip even as he hated watching the conflict between father and son. “And as for going back, I told you. That’s my goal. I know you hate the risks, but it’s a part of me. You should understand. I bet you’d have stayed on a hotshot crew if Mom hadn’t made you quit. Some things get in your blood.”

  “Maybe so, but that doesn’t mean it’s a risk worth taking. And your mother didn’t make me quit. You’ll see if you ever settle down. It’s different with kids in the picture.” The father-son bickering, while not loud, was enough to have Rain eying the front door and debating whether Cookie needed a second walk.

  “Hey. I am settled. Job I love. House I own. Almost got the pet thing handled too. Rain, tell him that I’m plenty domesticated already.”

  “Hell no. I’m not getting in the middle of this.” Having a healthy sense of self-preservation, Rain quickly cleared his and Garrick’s plates, making sure his shorts stayed up this time. He wondered if Garrick was out as pan to his dad. Kenny’s multiple quizzical looks for Rain might suggest so, but whether he approved was anyone’s guess.

  “Smart.” Kenny winked in Rain’s direction. “You both know I’m right. It’s not worth the risks of going back, even if it ends up being possible.”

  Not worth the risks. The same could be said of pursuing a flirtation with Garrick, but that wasn’t about to stop Rain. And he doubted that Garrick was going to be swayed by that logic either.

  “We’re going to have to agree to disagree. Finish your pancakes.” Garrick had the tone of someone who’d had this argument a time or ten and who loved his dad, but not this topic.

  And maybe Rain didn’t like the risks to Garrick’s life that smoke jumping presented either, but he knew the truth of what Garrick said. Firefighting was a part of that man’s soul. So for his sake Rain hoped a comeback was possible. And to that end, if Rain could be a pleasant distraction on the road to recovery, so much the better. If Garrick was going to be Rain’s cheering squad, the least he could do was return the favor.

  Chapter Five

  Garrick liked Rain. He liked his devious smile, liked his confidence, liked his readiness to help, and really liked his humor. What he didn’t like, however, was the way Rain was under his skin, running through his dreams, worming his way into his idle thoughts, making Garrick count down the hours until he saw him again. Like right then, he was supposed to be at PT, and his body was hanging out on the parallel bars, but his mind was back on Rain, thinking about how fun the morning exercise had been, Rain managing an extra pull-up and gamely trying the extra exercises Garrick had devised for him. Rain had picked up vegan protein powder, so they’d made recovery smoothies and enjoyed them on the pat
io until Garrick’s dad had arrived to take him to physical therapy.

  His dad was using the time Garrick was at PT to do a shopping run at the big warehouse store. Garrick had ordered up extra frozen fruit and nuts.

  “You feeding the neighbor now too?” His dad had looked up from the list he was jotting down to study him.

  “Yup.” Garrick was years beyond apologizing for who he had as a friend, and even if there was the whole age difference thing and the whole shouldn’t-let-Rain-flirt thing, they were making a friendship. His dad could deal. And he knew his dad, knew he didn’t object to Rain as much as the idea of Garrick setting his sights on getting back on the smoke jumping crew.

  “Hope you know what you’re doing.” Shaking his head, his dad had headed for the store, leaving Garrick hoping the same.

  And now, here he was, one foot in front of the other, still thinking about Rain. Hell, he was almost glad for the distraction, taking his mind off how this wasn’t getting any easier. His balance without the crutches was still unpredictable, going from sort of okay to weaving like he was three sheets to the wind to his ass on the floor, none of those outcomes optimal.

  “When do I get new braces?” he asked his physical therapist, Stephanie, an enthusiastic woman around his age with boundless energy who was currently cheering him on, hovering close by. He was ready to try anything that got him moving with a more natural gait and balance.

  Glancing away, Stephanie gave a rare frown. “I thought you’d heard. Your insurance denied trying the braces with built-in functional electrical nerve stimulators. The problem is that you’re already ambulatory without the assistance of a neuroprosthesis. Your insurance is balking at covering something new for you at this time.”

  “And paying out of pocket is gonna be a no-go?” He’d already paid from his own funds for his bed and other expenditures the insurance didn’t cover, which kept cutting into his reserves.

  Confirming his fears, Stephanie quoted an eye-popping sum that didn’t include all the required extra PT for the system to work properly. “Also, your doctors and medical team seem inclined to agree with the insurance that the location of your injury makes any FES system less likely to show significant improvements. Right now, your best bet is to continue this course of therapy. I know you’re frustrated, but the improvements are there. I see a lot more hip and ankle strength from you lately.”

  Garrick released a frustrated noise, which made Stephanie frown further. “Sorry. I’m just anxious to get back out there. Doctors all talk about how the spinal cord injury was incomplete, not as serious. I figured getting strength back from the broken bones would be the more important thing. And now I am stronger, but the body’s still not cooperating.”

  “I feel you. And all spinal injuries are serious, if you ask me. Also, every person is different in how they respond. It’s all very unpredictable.”

  He knew all about unpredictable—two nights ago he’d had vivid erotic dreams about Rain, waking up feeling energized about his chances of getting a sex life back without needing to bring the issue up with his doctor. But then last night, he’d tried indulging in a little self-loving only to get more mixed results. Was there a way to bring up that kind of variability with Stephanie? She was married with three kids and usually unflappable, but before he could wrap his mind around the question, she turned away, pointing at one of the low tables used for various exercises and therapies.

  “Now, let’s get you over to the table for some more stretching work.” Handing him his crutches, she led the way, movements easy and efficient but not inviting more discussion either. As he was following her across the wide, open space, he heard his name called.

  “Garrick Nelson! Just the man I wanted to run into today.” Fred Adams was a friend of Garrick’s father, had served on a hotshot crew with him back in the day, and now had worked his way up to a high level in the local forest service office. He’d been rehabbing from rotator cuff shoulder surgery, and they’d seen each other a few times at PT now. With a light jacket on and a magazine under his arm, he looked to be finishing up his session.

  “Oh?” He got settled on the table, leaving Fred to pull up a nearby chair.

  “You go ahead and talk to Mr. Cranky while I get him stretched out,” Stephanie said to Fred. “The distraction will be good for him.”

  “Hey, I’m not cranky,” Garrick protested.

  “You’re frustrated. And I get it. Now let’s work on those hip flexors.” She started the routine of helping him achieve deep stretches while he tried to give at least some of his attention to Fred.

  “You were looking for me?”

  “Yes. Look, I know you’re bummed about not jumping this fire season, but I’ve got a proposition for you I think you’ll like.”

  “I’m listening.” Bummed was a major understatement, but he wasn’t going to unpack all his feelings with Fred.

  “So, I could use another dispatcher. It’s part-time seasonal, so you should be able to work your medical appointments around it.”

  “To be honest, I’ve never seen myself doing a desk job.” He tried to avoid a grimace that was as much from a particularly deep stretch as from the prospect of office work.

  “I know—none of us old frontline guys like paper pushing. And I’m not saying it’s the most exciting, but you know fire logistics better than almost anyone I know. You did your time on engine and hotshot crews. You’ll get who you’re sending out and why on a deeper level than most. You’ve got fast reflexes and you know how to keep a level head.”

  “Damn. You keep talking me up, and you’re gonna write the application for me. But thanks. Your opinion, that matters to me.” His chest went warm at all the compliments. Fred was right, too. Garrick was damn good at his job, which was why he needed back out there. And he had a point that it wasn’t exactly like Garrick had other plans for his summer. And money would be good, especially with the insurance company balking at paying for stuff. But still he hesitated.

  “We’ve got a good team going at headquarters. And it’s not an entry-level position at all. Not much busy work. You’d have a fair bit of responsibility and autonomy. That’s why I thought of you. I need someone I can trust in the role.”

  “I respect that. Thanks.”

  “You should take it,” Stephanie added to the conversation, looking up from manipulating Garrick. “Your PT isn’t filling all your time, and you keep complaining about being bored. And you never know, this could be the start of something great for you.”

  And that right there was why Garrick was reluctant. He didn’t need a new career path, didn’t want to take his eyes off the prize of returning to smoke jumping, didn’t want a job better suited to persons more ready for a desk job. Not him. Being at a desk, on a radio while others handled the action? Torture.

  “Can I think about it?” he hedged. He didn’t want to turn Fred down outright, but he also legit did need time to reflect.

  “Of course. But don’t keep me waiting too long. I need to get my personnel set before the season gets truly underway.”

  “Understood. I’ll let you know soon.”

  He kept his promise too, continuing to think even once Fred left, after trying to sell him more on the logistics, mentioning flexible hours again and the possibility of getting rides with others in the office. God, how Garrick missed driving. And his ankle strength was better all the time, but he still wasn’t sure when the go-ahead to try driving would come. Damn slow recovery. Maybe the job would be the distraction he needed. Might be smarter to use that rather than overly relying on Rain’s flirtations.

  However, he kept his mouth shut about the job on his way home. He already knew his dad would be all in favor of him taking the job, but he wouldn’t see it as temporary, a way station on his way to the job he already had and loved. His dad would be too enthusiastic, and maybe that was part of what was holding Garrick back. Regardless, i
t wasn’t his dad he was eager to talk to about the opportunity. Surprising even himself, he was already anticipating Rain’s next visit, wanting to hear his thoughts. Cookie got a fast walk from Garrick’s dad, but she, too, was dancing as Rain appeared after dinner.

  “You’re coming? Figured you’d be too tired after physical therapy.” Rain gestured at how Garrick was already in his chair, gloves on.

  “Too keyed up to rest. And I need your opinion on something.”

  “Me?” Rain’s pleased smile had Garrick skin’s tingling, almost like they’d touched. Making Rain happy was an unexpected side benefit. And even if he was already leaning towards accepting Fred’s offer, he took his time laying out the prospect as they made their way around the neighborhood, a healing Cookie able to handle a faster pace now.

  “So I’d still be able to keep training you. And keep up with my PT. I’m not entirely sure why I’m so reluctant.”

  “Because it’s not what you really want.” Rain offered him a sympathetic smile as he stopped for Cookie to sniff some grass. “You’re afraid it will make you miss being out there even more, hearing the operations, that sort of thing. And you’re not a paperwork guy.”

  “Exactly.” That was it. Garrick’s back tightened at the thought of not being in the thick of the action. That was going to be hard.

  “It’s okay to miss it. To get angry or grieve even—”

  “I’m not angry.” Garrick cut off that line of reasoning. “These things happen. Injuries are part of the job. Sure, I’m bummed about missing the season. And if I take the job, at least I’ll still be helping. Being useful is good.”

  “Yeah, it is. But you’re still allowed to have feelings.”

  “I know.” Garrick rolled ahead a little way before sighing and slowing back down. “Sorry. I’m being ridiculous. It’s a good job with pay I need, and I’ve pretty much known all afternoon what I’d choose. I just wanted... Hell, I’m not even sure.”

  “To be validated. You wanted some validation. And that’s normal, and I’m totally happy to be that friend for you.” Rain gave him another of those tentative smiles that went right to Garrick’s gut, as surely as his sexier, more confident grins did too.