Leaving Normal, Stef Holm [ebook reader screen .TXT] 📗

I won't be able to carry him out of the building."

She stared thoughtfully, considering something about him. He must be at the gym a lot, lifting weights and developing muscle strength. "Is that why you're so big? I don't mean tall-big, but big like muscular-big?"

He nodded. "I've been in buildings on fire, pitch-black, with smoke and it feels like you're the only person on the planet. Only six guys have died in the hundred years the department has been around. I feel better knowing the Brothers will give me a really good funeral. So, no, I don't think about dying because I know it would be okay."

"It wouldn't be okay," she said quietly. "People would miss you."

I would miss you terribly.

Where that thought came from, she didn't question. It had to be the miserable way she was feeling—somewhat vulnerable and drifting in and out of a half-conscious state.

"Why do you do it?" She let out her breath in a slow release from her lungs, then waited. "Why are you a firefighter?"

His eyes were an intense shade of brown, his mouth full and curved very slightly at the corners. She could smell him on his clothes, that distinct masculine scent. "Because it's who I am."

Reluctantly, she fought against reaching out and touching his cheek with her palm. She felt things for him she had no business feeling.

She had to get him out of her head.

"How's your lady friend? The woman in red from the Valentine's auction—Sophia." She hoped he'd say he was in lust with her or something, that he was seeing her on a regular basis, taking him out of circulation. Off-limits.

Creases of humor formed at the corners of his eyes. "I wouldn't know. I haven't stayed in touch with her."

"Why not? She was stunning."

"She's also not what I'm looking for."

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him just what he was looking for, but she refrained. She didn't want to know—well, yes, she did. But she didn't want to hear the answer.

"Hmm." Her response was more of a hum than anything else.

Tony's laughter penetrated the room. "You think too much."

Marginally affronted, she remarked, "Think about what?"

"About everything." His large hand rested on her thigh, its weight measured even through the thickness of her blankets. He gave her a pat, more of a pal-type pat than anything else, and dammit if she was disappointed it wasn't more of a caress. "Just relax. Take a nap."

"Hmm," she uttered once more.

"Make your mind go blank."

"It's never blank. Too much to think about. My store, my daughter, my family…my house and my—"

"Close your eyes, Natalie. Stop thinking."

She did as he suggested, but it seemed like a long while before she allowed herself the liberty of relaxing, of drifting off to a semi-conscious sleep.

The last thing she recalled was the woodsy smell of him taking over her senses, the feel of his hand on her leg and the sound of his breathing as he sat in her bedroom.

Later, when the phone rang and it was Sarah.saying she was on her way over after closing the store, the bedroom was dark and the chair was empty.

Tony had gone.

Chapter Twelve

Check under the Hood

Tony couldn't take Parker out to lunch on Sunday because he was on shift, so he made arrangements to take her on Saturday. Kim dropped her off at his house just before noon. Brian drove them, parking his pickup at the curb while Kim led Parker to the front door.

From the doorway Tony glanced in Brian's direction, no longer gripped by the intense anger he'd once felt. There was still animosity, a deep resentment and dislike, but at least Tony kept that tamped down most of the time. It only resurfaced when he had to deal with Kim, which had been less and less frequent as Parker adjusted to her new living arrangements.

"Toe-Knee," Parker said, hugging him.

"Hey, Parker." He laid a hand on her head and gazed at Kim. "I'll have her back at four."

"Where are you going?"

Before Tony could answer, Parker spoke up. "Can we go to Chuck E. Cheese's?"

Tony thought it over a second, shrugged. "Sure. Sounds good."

Kim left and Tony went inside to grab his coat. Parker ran into the garage to climb into the truck and was waiting for him when he punched the door opener.

Stepping toward the truck, he paused, thought for a second, then opened the Ram's door. "Parker, would you mind if I asked a friend to come with us today?"

"Who?"

"A lady."

She scrunched her small face, hair sticking out from beneath a knit cap. "Your girlfriend?"

"No. Just a friend who lives across the street."

"The snow lady?"

Tony smiled. "That's the one. I helped her shovel snow once."

"Okay, Tony. She can come. Does she like pizza?"

"Who doesn't?" He turned the radio on and presented Parker with a stack of CDs. "Pick which one you want to listen to and I'll be right back."

Tony walked across the street, wondering if Natalie would be home. It had been three days since he'd sat with her until she'd fallen asleep. He had seen her once since, walking out to the mailbox in the late afternoon. She had her slippers on, but she was dressed in jeans and a sweater. She had to be feeling better, must be going a little nuts in the house, so he was going to take her out of it.

He rang the bell and the door was answered a few seconds later.

"Hey," he said, smiling as she smoothed her bangs off her forehead.

She wore a pair of navy-colored sweats that fit nicely against her hips and thighs and a plain white T-shirt. The knits flattered her figure, hugging her body, curving and accenting in all the right places. Her hair was down, its blond color looking golden and warm. She'd put on some makeup, not much. Mascara, maybe some blush. No lipstick.

"Tony, hi."

"How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks." She stood there, almost a little at a loss; he could tell by her body