when we met. f/fire.

“911. What’s your emergency?”

“There’s a fire. In my kitchen. It’s not a big fire, but there’s a fire. I tried to put it out, but I couldn’t.” I was talking too fast. But I suppose 911 operators were used to that. Panicked callers. Like me.

“I’m sending help now. Are you inside the house?” she asked.

“Yes. But it’s okay. I’m not near the fire.”

“You need to go outside.”

“I can’t! I can’t find my cat! I can’t leave him!”

“Miss, the fire department will be there in just a minute. Please go outside.”

I was in tears, Spike, I hope you’re okay. As I stepped out onto the porch, I heard sirens. I sat on the bottom step and watched as the flashing lights came closer. When the truck stopped in front of my house, I stood. Two firemen rushed toward me. With their helmets and face shields and me trying to see through my watering eyes, I could barely make out their faces. One of them went inside. The other rested his hands on my shoulders.

“I need you to move away from the house.”

He sounded so calm. I did not. “My cat is inside. I couldn’t find him.” I wiped a tear that had fallen onto my cheek.

“I will find him. Don’t worry.” He disappeared into my home. How were his words so comforting? His deep, smooth voice helped me stop panicking. It actually distracted me for a moment, leaving me wondering who that fireman was under his helmet and jacket.

Moments later, the other fireman emerged. “Fire’s out. It was confined to one side of the kitchen. You’ll need some work in there, but the house is safe.”

“Thank you.” I was still frazzled when he walked away.

Spike. I stepped up to the porch, but before I reached the door, my calm, comforting fireman appeared, holding Spike in his arms. I rushed over and took Spike from him.

“He’s fine,” he said.

I took my eyes off my cat and looked up at his rescuer. “Thank you,” I grabbed him in a half-hug while I held Spike in my other arm. He wrapped an arm around me, half-hugging me back.

When we separated, he pulled off his helmet and ran a hand through his hair. And I got my first real look at him. My breath caught. Not only because of how incredibly sexy he was, but because of the way he was looking at me. I melted a little. And I couldn’t take my eyes off his. I was finally about to speak when one of the other guys yelled from the truck.

“You coming, Beckett?”

He turned to the truck. “Yeah…” But he didn’t leave. Once his eyes were back on mine, he smiled and rested a hand on my shoulder. “Are you gonna be okay?”

I nodded.

He started to go, but after a few steps, he turned back to me. “Would it be okay for me to come by and check on you?”

I smiled and nodded again. “Yeah. That would be nice.”

—♥—

p.s. — Yeah, I totally stole that firefighter from Chicago Fire. When I searched for “sexy firefighter” you cannot imagine the images that came up. Or maybe you can. *None* of them were wearing shirts, and while that was pleasant and all (for me), it didn’t work for the story. I even found a shirtless firefighter holding a cat! But still… not quite right.

Hot guy: actor Taylor Kinney

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