Kale (The Fire Inside #1) Read online

  ‘Fuckin’ shit,’ I think to myself as I reach out with some napkins to dab the coffee from his chest. He pushes my hands away, huffing at me.

  “I’ll be sending you my dry cleaning bill, Lockley.” The sarcasm is oozing off his tongue, his face full of controlled fury and his annoyance with me.

  “I’m so sorry Mr. Noland.” I whisper. Shit.

  “Get to work. I need the reduction report for the new waste management contractor on my desk by noon. You’ve had two extensions. If the new company isn’t able to reduce the waste flows and find a way to control their emissions than we will renegotiate our previous contract and void theirs. They were given this probationary period based solely on the research you provided on their abilities and services. Now back it up with the results to our community. Today!” He barks out at me, startling me further.

  Luckily, he says nothing further and leaves before giving me a chance to stutter out a response. Quickly adding creamer to my coffee, I make my way to my office. Removing the now coffee stained scarf, I pull out my Tide to Go Pen and try to help my shirt with no success. Taking a deep breath, I silently pray this is the worst that my day has to offer.

  Facing the reports and figures in front of me, I begin to finalize the results of the six month reduction implementation plan. As the hours pass by, I make my way through the excel spreadsheet showing the dollar figures saving our community as well as the long term savings in reusing materials over scrapping them.

  One of the newest developments was a water filtration system expansion that is giving more access points to the local fire department. Yes, the upfront costs would be high, but the savings when the system is used and able to stop a fire before it spreads, or before they have to call in the planes and jumpers, would more than pay for the systems design, development, use, and maintenance costs. In the grand scheme of things it would not only save the community money, but possibly save homes, businesses, and lives.

  This system could save Kale from having to jump so many times. He will always be a fire fighter, that’s his job. As a smoke jumper, he is still a paid fire fighter year round. He is in a specialty job category by having his jump master certification. Kale also has his EMT certification along with his fire management degree. His dreams from childhood have all come true. This is all he has ever wanted, to be the everyday All American Hero. He has always said no thanks necessary, it is an honor to wear that fire suit and battle the blaze to save one or many.

  As my mind drifts further into the world of Kale and how hard he has worked to make everything he has ever wanted happen, I miss a keystroke and before I know it my entire computer is a blue screen. Gone. Months of research and work...Gone. Recovery failed. Rebooting does nothing. Picking up the phone on my desk, I reach out to our IT department, hoping for saving grace. I am quickly informed that all is lost. As I hang up the phone I throw a mini fit, pounding my feet on the floor and slapping the arms of my swivel chair. I know my face is red by the time I calm down, straightening my shirt and taking more than a handful of deep breaths.

  Sending an email to my boss, I take full responsibility for the loss of the report. Giving the best run down of statistics I have in my head, I do what I hope is enough to salvage the project at least till I have the time to rewrite the report. Looking at the clock, the day has passed before I even realize how many hours I have lost consumed in the numbers and effects.

  My phone pings, telling me that Piper wants to have dinner together in her text message. More than that, she wants to cook for me. Her newest hobby is to develop culinary skills, oh yay me…maybe…maybe not. Piper likes to experiment and try her hand at new hobbies constantly, flitting from thing to thing without the bat of one of her long eyelashes.

  Sometimes she is met with great successes, like photography has now become a lucrative side business for her, but other times it’s an epic failure; like when she wanted to become a masseuse. Yes, she had me take massage therapy classes with her where we had to give free, yes free, massages to dirty old men. The fat, hairy ones that don’t talk to your eyes, they only talk to your boobs and get a little grabby. Add to that the fact that Piper has the attention span of a two year old; she would stop the massage in five minutes and walk off. In college she failed anatomy so she never figured out the pressure points accurately either. Let’s just say my best friend gave up that hobby quicker than most she has tried.

  Looks like I’m meeting her at the grocery store to shop for tonight’s meal items. Trying to see if I have another shirt stored in my office somewhere, I knock over my little side table, spilling my cactus plant and its dirt all over my floor. I just stand there for a moment, with my hand plastered to my forehead, trying to not let the tears of frustration out as they threaten to fall. I will not let this small shit join with my fucked up night with Kale, so I pick up the cactus and put it back in the pot, along with most of the dirt and leave a note apologizing to the cleaning lady.

  Pulling up to the grocery store, I park beside Piper’s obnoxious car. The bright yellow paint job makes it easy to find anywhere we go. The car is perfect for Piper; it is full of life and ready for adventure, much like its driver. Quickly, I put my scarf back on, trying to hide the coffee stain on my shirt, the scarf, and more importantly the hickey left on my neck by her brother. Tension coils up in my belly as I get out of my car and hug my best friend in greeting.

  “How was your day, sweets?” She asks, smiling at me.

  “Oh, I’ve had better.” I reply as we grab a cart and make our way in. Not to mention I slept with your brother and he told me I was a mistake, I think with a sharp laugh to myself.

  “Looks like your boobs wanted coffee today too.” She says, laughing at me when she notices my shirt.

  “Got jokes, do ya?” I say making sure the sarcasm is evident.

  “Oh touchy, touchy. You need a bottle of wine to relax tonight. Yes, a whole bottle just for you, sweets! Maybe, we should get one of those box of wines.”

  Before I can respond, we hear the rowdy sounds of a group of guys in the next aisle over. Turning the corner, there are all the boys of Jumper Team Tango. Go flipping figure, off to the side with Mason is none other than Kale Matthew Benson. Fuck My Life; this is the never ending nightmare of a day. My head immediately starts throbbing as my anxiety and agitation grows. I throw my head back and curse at the ceiling before following Piper as she makes her way over to them.

  Mason looks up first and smiles at Piper as he gives me a half wave. My eyes lock with Kale. His expression is unreadable as he just watches me, making me feel like I am on fire and I hate it. Piper steps over to them as I stand back, as far away from him as I can be. She quickly hugs her brother causing him to finally break eye contact with me. Zeke, Finn, and Devin have all said hello and gone back to their ramblings as Rolando comes over and hugs me.

  “You look beautiful as always Paige. How was your day?” His compliment is genuine and his question laced with real concern.

  He is a handsome man; dark features, dark hair, tan skin and brown eyes that remind me of chocolate. He is fit, of course, and as his arm slides down my back as he breaks from his hug I can feel the muscles bunching.

  “Oh Lando, I’ve had better days, but it will be okay.” I try for nonchalance, motioning to my shirt and giving him a genuine smile when I meet his eyes.

  “Let me take you out this Friday night and make your week end on a good note.”

  Thinking on it for only a minute, catching Kale’s stare on us from the corner of my eye, I throw caution to the wind and nod my head in agreement. Why the hell not? Maybe I can be the mistake for each member of Team Tango. One at a time, let them see…I’m not beautiful, I’m a lost damn cause.

  “Really?” He questions again. His eyebrow raises and I feel his hand flex into the small of my back. A flash of the way Kale’s hands roamed over my skin last night flies through my mind and I have to close my eyes to keep it at bay.

  “Yes, really, Lando. It’ll be fun. I
could use a night out. You have my number, call me with the details.” Smiling at him in what I hope to be a flirtatious manner, I touch his arm as he nods at me. He whips out his phone and I see him scrolling, selecting then texting before my phone buzzes.

  “Now you’ve got my number,” he smiles and winks at me. If my heart wasn’t shattered I bet I would melt. “I’ll talk to ya soon?” He says again in a questioning tone and his uncertainty makes me laugh for real this time. I nod at him as he walks away.

  Kale’s voice breaks everything up. “Let’s go guys. We have to get to the fire house.” His face is void of all emotion and all he does is nod to me before he turns around with the group and leaves.

  Obviously, my going out with Rolando doesn’t bother him. Then again, I was a mistake, so why would it upset him? He’s probably relieved. I can be someone else’s mistake and problem.

  Piper and I finish shopping as my emotions scatter all over the place. My heart is racing so fast at some moments that I think I might pass out. We are back at my apartment, her attempt at shrimp stir fry quickly turns to ordering pizza. Another hobby bites the dust. My annoyance is at its boiling point while I clean up my kitchen, and I snap.

  “Damn it, Piper! I’m never gonna get rid of this smell. Really, you need to find yourself. And you can do it with someone else as your damn guinea pig.”

  “What the fuck, Paige?”

  “You heard me. Get real Piper. You have it made so you do these stupid hobbies trying to find something that really isn’t missing. You have it all and don’t even realize it.” The snarkiness in my tone is dripping off each word. I’m scrubbing the same spot on the stove, trying to scrub the image of Kale out of my mind I guess, and it’s shaking the appliance.

  “Excuse me. What the hell is wrong with you? This is not like you at all.”

  Unable to hold back any longer, the tears escape and fall down my face. I lean my forehead over onto the cool metal and sob, loudly, not caring what I sound or look like. She’s my best friend; she has seen me at my worst more than once.

  “Talk to me, Paige. I know you had a bad day, but this…this is more than spilled coffee. And you were fine at the grocery store. You even scored a date with Lando. What is wrong?” She stands from the counter stool, making her way to my side and placing her hands on my shoulders.

  For a moment, I contemplate lying. The thing is Paige will know if I lie to her. She has been my rock my whole life. I know I said we wouldn’t tell anyone, especially not his sister, but she is bound to figure it out. She knows me too well. Before I lose the courage, I stand straight and meet her gaze. I take a deep breath, wiping my hand over my tear streaked face.

  “I slept with Kale last night.”

  “My brother Kale? You slept with him or had sex with him?” Her face is full of shock at first, her eyes searching mine.

  I give her the rundown of the evening, hickey and all with tears streaming down my cheeks, unable to control my emotions. She hugs me until I can stop the sobs and pull myself together. I didn’t intend to share with her, but she’s my very best friend there was no way to keep her from seeing through me. I told Kale we wouldn’t tell her, but oh well, add it to the list of mistakes.

  “It’s not you. Kale has commitment issues, Paige. Listen to me, please. You are not a mistake. My brother is a dumbass and said the wrong thing that’s all. Things aren’t what they seem with him, okay.”

  “Piper, it’s fine. I feel better just being able to talk about it.” And I do feel better having let it all out. Hugging her again, I give her a quick kiss on the cheek and steer her towards the door. “Look, I have a long day at work and then the clinic tomorrow night, can we let this go for now? I’m tired. I promise I’m gonna be fine.” I say wiping my face with my hands to get rid of the last few tears. Walking over to my door, she follows and quickly catches my hint.

  “Are you kicking me out?” She asks in usual Piper fashion. She pouts a little, but I really just need some alone time. Alone time with just me, a box of chocolates and a bottle of red wine.

  “Yes, I am.” I give her my best half -hearted smile so she knows it’s really okay to leave.

  The never ending day, I can’t escape her. My workout with Mason, every pull of every muscle was a reminder of the workout I got with her in my arms. Half way in to our weight training, I had to leave. Glancing over at the tread climbers, a girl had on a Spiderman t-shirt. Yes, I was definitely done at that point.

  Having sex with Paige was a mistake. I know I didn’t handle it well, but what else could I do? She’s my sister’s best friend. How will things be between us now?

  After a protein shake, a shower, and a very restless nap, I met the guys at the grocery store for our stock up trip. Tomorrow we are on fire house rotation. We will spend twenty four hours at the station. Feeding a team of eight isn’t easy, especially for snacks. Spending so much time together, yes, we could buy each other’s snacks, but don’t trust it. They love to play jokes and food is not off limits.

  The last place I expected to see her, with it being only hours since I was balls deep in her, was the grocery store with my sister. Piper was going on about her newest ambition, but I couldn’t say what she’s up to. Hell, I couldn’t even tell you what anyone else was wearing because my eyes were on her. I was lost in the depths of the sea of green in her eyes. Remembering how they go off like fireworks when she came apart under me pulled me further into a tailspin that is all Paige Lockley.

  Hearing her agree to go out with Rolando, I thought, was bad enough, until I had to listen to him go on and on about how beautiful Paige is. Every word he said was true about how amazing she is, but every single word made my chest get tighter. ‘Fuck man, she’s so hot. I can’t wait to make the moves on that little thing.’ Slowly, I am suffocating in all things Paige.

  Getting home, I grab the bottle of Jack Daniels off the top of my refrigerator. The golden liquid burns like fire down my throat as I plop down onto my couch. Each drink numbs my world but does nothing for the ache in my chest. Whiskey as a cure to shake off a woman and a bad day isn’t working where it usually does. Bringing the bottle up to my lips again, it feels as if her soft luscious ones are meeting them and not the cool glass of the bottle. A few swigs from the bottle later, my thoughts drift back to the way she melts for me, the way she easily submitted under me. The same musings that kept me from my peaceful slumber last night are now running a marathon in my alcohol inebriated mind. We could be so good together.

  I am brought out of my fantasies by a knock at my door. Only a second later it comes again, harder and louder this time and I yell out, “Okay, okay! I’m comin’.”

  Staggering over, I open it to find Piper standing there. Her spitfire stance and face screams she is mad as hell. Shit, she knows. I step back, holding my hands up in defeat, the bottle still in my left hand so I take another drink before I deal with my sister.

  “Come in, Sissy.” I invite, hoping the childhood nickname will get me out of the hot water I seem to have found myself in.

  “Don’t you Sissy me, mister!” She says, walking past me and grabbing the bottle as she goes by. Closing my door, I follow her like an obedient puppy to my kitchen.

  Turning sharply she swings around facing me. He finger pokes me in the chest. “Sober up, jackass. We need to talk and get a few things clear.”

  “She told you?”

  “Judging by your state, you’re as messed up as she is. Told me wouldn’t be the way I would describe it. More like fell apart on me, crumbled, crushed, and disintegrated. Do you want me to continue? She hasn’t been this bad in a long damn time.”

  “It was a mistake. It never should’ve happened.” I try to defend myself, sitting at the island and trying to grab the bottle from her, but she pulls it away giving me an evil look.

  “Stop it, right now. That word…mistake…take it out of your vocabulary where Paige is concerned. She’s not a mistake.” Tears well up in my sister’s eyes, leaving me at a loss for
what to do or say next. Something much bigger is going on, something that has to do with this tight feeling in my chest and I need to know what it is.

  “Talk to me Piper, tell me. She’s twenty seven years old. She’s had to have had a one night stand before. We hooked up, but I never should’ve let it get that far with her because she’s your friend.”

  “You’re such a fucking man. No asshole, believe it or not, Paige has not had a one night stand before. Hell, before last night she never really had real sex.”

  Her words stab me. “Wait! Are you saying she was a virgin? Fuck!” I run my hand through my hair. She has sobered me up real quick now.

  “Sit down and I’ll explain.” She waves toward the living room but I don’t move. She needs to tell me more. “No, Paige was not a virgin, but her sexual experience is… limited and…well, not good.” The last couple of words come out with a pain filled sigh, and I see the hurt for her friend pass through my sister’s expressions. Her eyes fill up with tears once more and I stand, letting her lead me into my living room.

  Piper says it wasn’t a good experience, but who hurt Paige? Anger builds inside of me at the thought of someone forcing themselves on her. Why didn’t I hear about this earlier? I would’ve ripped the guys’ throat out.

  Piper sighs heavily as she sinks down onto my couch, turning towards me and tucking her feet up beneath her. By the look in her eyes I know she is contemplating where to start and the pressure in my chest builds, knowing I won’t like anything she is about to tell me about Paige’s past experiences. She reaches for the tissue box on the coffee table and dabs at her eyes and I don’t want my sister to be upset anymore, so I pat her on the knee and turn to face her.