Читать книгу The Firefighter's Cinderella - Dominique Burton, Dominique Burton - Страница 9

On the way out to the car—she was still in C.J.’s arms—Tasha reached into her clutch for her cell phone and called Terrance. Once she’d told him what had happened, she gave him instructions on what to do for the rest of the evening.

“Aren’t you going to call your parents?” C.J. asked after she clicked off.

“No.”

He pulled her closer. “You’re going to need family to deal with this type of upheaval in your life.”

She shook her head. “All they’ve ever done is make matters worse. Didn’t you ever listen when Tim and I used to talk about our parents?”

He put her down, then gave the parking stub to the nearest valet. “I listened all right. I just have a hard time believing parents can be that bad.”

He opened the passenger door for her, then walked around to the driver’s seat. She was happy to let him drive. She pulled out a couple of bills and shoved the money into the valet’s hand, then turned to C.J. “Hurry!” she cried.

They took off as fast as traffic would allow.

THEY COULD SEE SMOKE billowing from the building when they were a block away. “I was hoping the fire would be more contained,” C.J. muttered as he slowed to hunt for a parking spot.

Tasha shot him a confused look. “Why are there firefighters on top of the roof with picks and axes?”

His features hardened. “They’re letting heat out in an attempt to create a safer environment to get inside to check for civilians and animals.”

“Oh! Do you think they’ve found Stormy?” Her voice shook and a tear slipped from her eye.

“Let’s go and find out.” C.J. maneuvered the sports car into a tiny parking spot on San Francisco’s famed Lombard Street, just a half block from the fire. “If they haven’t found your cat, I’ll go in and find him for you.”

“No!”

“Why not?” He looked at her as if she were crazy as he unbuckled both their seat belts.

“I’m not letting you risk your life for me and my cat!”

He took her face in his hands. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. I give you my word.”

“I’m terrified.” Her eyes were glossy with tears.

“I know and I’m going to bring you past the perimeter, to see if we can find Stormy. But we’ve got to hurry, okay?” His eyes searched hers, imparting a sense of assurance. No wonder he was a captain.

Tasha nodded. But there was no way she was going to let him go in. She had to talk him out of it once they were at the fire. She knew she wasn’t thinking clearly. But after that kiss she couldn’t fathom losing C.J. right after finding him again.

Before they even had a chance to get out of the car, a firefighter came running. “Sorry, folks, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave the area immediately.”

C.J. nodded and began reaching for his wallet. “Officer, I’m Captain C. J. Powell. Mac Jefferson, the geographic chief, just called me and asked me to come down.” He showed him his badge.

“I can let you through, sir, but not your girlfriend.” He was emphatic about it.

Frustrated, C.J. got out of the car so he could stare down at this rookie. “This is Natasha Bennington. It’s her condo that’s burning. Mac called us here to see what was going on.” C.J. folded his arms. “You phone him. Go ahead. See what he tells you.”

The officer had the grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry, sir,” he mumbled.

C.J. was done with talking, and turned to comfort Tasha. To his horror, the woman who’d set his heart on fire tonight was gone! He threw his jacket in the car and sprinted down the street to find her.

The scene at a fire was something he was used to, but he was viewing it for the first time through a civilian’s eyes. It looked like a war zone, with engines lining the winding narrow road as far as the eye could see. He could only imagine what Tasha would think, seeing ladders hoisted against the Spanish-style condo, pairs of men rushing into her building with hoses that would run at full pressure once inside. Black smoke billowing out meant the condo was cooling down, but she couldn’t know that.

He thought about all the terrible things that could happen to a civilian at a catastrophe like this, and knew paralyzing fear for the first time ever. His fingers furrowed through his hair as the acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils. Closer to the building, the air became dark with soot. What if she was struck by a hose? Worse, what if she tried to go into her condo?

He ran to the front of the condo, where he finally spotted Tasha. She was standing beside Mac, arguing with him.

She was all right.

C.J. hurried over just as Tasha was saying, “But you don’t understand, Chief. My cat, Stormy, could be in the condo. I always leave his little kitty window open for him, but what if he’s up there and scared? I have to get him!”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you go in. I’ll have to arrest you if you continue to interfere in this operation.”

C.J. knew that Mac hated being harsh with civilians, but he couldn’t let her risk her life for a cat.

“Mac?”

“Powell! Glad you could make it.”

“I need to go in.”

“C.J., no!” Tasha cried.

He grabbed her hand. “I’m going to get Stormy. I’m a firefighter. I know what to do.”

“But—”

“Tasha. It’s going to be fine.” C.J. turned to Mac. “Can you find me a partner while I suit up to find her cat?”

The chief nodded and started talking on the radio, then barked, “Get going, Captain.”

Tasha followed C.J. to a nearby firetruck, where he got into gear. She was mesmerized as the handsome man in a tux who’d taken her to the ball changed into a fireman. He then led her back to where Mac was standing.

“Who’s investigating the scene?” C.J. asked the chief.

“Gonzalez.”

“Can you have him talk to Miss Bennington while I’m inside?”

“Any more orders, Powell?” Mac lifted an eyebrow.

“No, sir.” C.J. lowered his face shield.

Mac took Tasha by the arm and moved back, well away from the fire, just as smoke came out of the entryway of the building in a whoosh. It caused her to cough and her eyes to tear. She watched as C.J. climbed a truck ladder with another man. She’d never felt so afraid.

Excruciating long minutes passed, and C.J. was no longer in sight. She turned to Mac. “Where did he go? Is he okay?”

The chief answered calmly. “Of course. I just heard from him on the radio. He’s inside. Miss Bennington, have some faith in Captain Powell. He’s one of the best firemen I’ve ever known.” Mac have her a small smile. “Ah—here comes Gonzalez. He’ll have some questions for you.”

She could see a man walking toward her. Dressed in a formal uniform that looked out of place at a fire scene, he appeared to be in his mid-forties.

“Miss Bennington,” he said with he reached her. “I’m Detective Gonzalez.” He held out his hand. “I’m a fire investigator with the San Francisco Fire Department. I’d like to ask you some questions.”

Tasha pulled her hand out of the cocoon she’d created by wrapping her arms around herself, and met his firm grip. The last thing she wanted to deal with was law enforcement. Her home was burning, and C.J. and Stormy might not make it out alive.