Burned (3 page)

Lincoln shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know if she is or not. I’m…”

Hollister stopped by the table interrupting her. “Well, I see your date finally showed,” he said handing the folder with the check inside to Nick. He winked at Nick and said, “I’m glad you didn’t stand this lovely lady up. I was going to make a second move if she was still here alone after my break.”

Dang it!
She turned her head to see a sudden flash of confusion float across Nick’s face. He played it off without alerting Hollister to his deception.

“Good thing you thought twice about doing that, buddy. It’s been a while since I put these fists to use.”

Hollister´s mouth had dropped open before he snapped it shut. “Yeah, whatever, dude.”

Lincoln gathered that Hollister didn’t enjoy Nick’s humor as he glared at him with narrow eyes. Lincoln lowered Nick’s hands. “Don’t pay him any attention. He’s a firefighter, not a hoodlum.”

“I’m also a lover,” Nick said as he nuzzled her shoulder with his nose.

Hollister’s brows slanted as he looked at them and said, “I’ll be back to get the check.”

Keeping up the façade, Lincoln feigned excitement as Nick’s warm breath caressed her bare shoulder. “Okay, he’s gone; we can stop pretending.”

Nick lifted his head off her shoulder smiling. “Good thing I think fast, huh?”

“You are fast on your toes. I guess I should get going; I have errands to run.” She attempted to take the check from him to see how much she owed for lunch.

“I’ll take care of your check. Ant would never forgive me if he knew I didn’t pay for your lunch.” Removing money from his wallet, he slipped cash inside the leather folder and put it on the table.

“That’s a joke. He didn’t bother to be here to pay for my meal after inviting me to lunch.”

“Um, well, I don’t know about that…”

“I’m sorry, Nick; once again I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

She took his hand in hers. “Thank you for buying my lunch and hanging out with me for a bit. I’m sure you had other plans for your day off.”

He rolled his eyes upward. “I wish I was off tonight. I go in later.”

Her hands trembled as she let go of his. Anthony was up to something, and it was time she finally found out what he was doing.

“I’ll walk with you to your car,” Nick offered.

“I don’t want to make you late for work.”

He licked his lips alluringly. “I have time.”

Is Nick flirting with me?
The palms of her hands moistened. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

“I’m positive.”

His hand barely touched the small of her back as they walked to the door, but she felt the heat of it through her cotton blouse. Lincoln thought of Nick as a flirt and a ladies’ man. He was never with the same woman twice. And she made it a point never to call the woman he was with by name until he introduced her. He dated so many women it was impossible to keep track of them.

Outside, the sunshine had faded away to dark cloud cover. It was threatening to rain and, from the looks of the clouds, severely. “My car is right there,” she said, pointing to a dark blue Honda Civic. She didn’t drive a fancy car or live in a fancy apartment. Her job as an IRS agent paid the bills, and she lived within her means. The luxury she indulged in was the monthly spa day she did with Regan.

“You lucked up and got a spot at the door,” Nick said as he led her to the driver’s side of the car.

Lincoln put the key in the lock and opened the door. “Lucky me.”

Nick placed his hand on the edge of the open door to look down at her. “Are you okay?”

Lincoln nodded not looking at him. “I’m fine, Nick. Thanks again for everything.”

“My pleasure, but I know you aren’t okay. You’re upset about Anthony. What has he done to upset you?”

She put the key in the ignition and turned on the car. “I don’t want to get you involved. I have to figure this out for myself.”

“It’s too late; I’m already involved. What can I do to help?”

She looked up at him and into sincere eyes. Lately, when she looked Anthony in the eye, all she saw was deception.

*****

Nick waited for her answer. He knew a spouse or girlfriend of a firefighter had it hard. The hours they kept weren’t regular 9- to -5, but usually, 24-hour shifts that, could go past that depending on the type of disaster they were dealing with. His first marriage failed because of his job and his lack of dedication to his family. After his accident, he promised he’d get his life together and learn to be a better man.

The doctors were surprised at the rate Nick regained full use of his legs after suffering a spinal injury while battling a fire at a steel mill years ago. He was determined to walk without the use of a cane and resume his career as a firefighter. It took years to get it done and with the help of friends, he was able to do it. Anthony was a part of his recovery.

His recovery also aided in them overcoming their issues with one another. Nick and Anthony’s friendship became stable. Anthony had risked his life to save him in the fire and Nick felt he owed Anthony a debt of gratitude. What Lincoln was asking felt like betrayal on his part if he were to answer her questions.

But he saw the sadness on her in her eyes. It wasn’t easy for him to stand there and pretend he had no idea what was going on with Anthony. He knew Melanie was back in town. She had come to the firehouse looking for Anthony on several occasions.

Lincoln may be young; however, she was not naïve. If she sensed Anthony was fooling around with Melanie, her intuition was most likely correct.

Lincoln skipped over his question. “I should get going before the rain falls. I hate running in and out of stores in the rain.”

He backed off realizing she wasn’t going to talk after what he’d said. “Okay. Drive safe.”

“I will.”

He stepped on the curb next to the shrubbery giving her room to back from the parking space. As she drove off, he walked to his truck that was parked on the other side of the restaurant. He hit the button to unlock the fire engine red, Dodge Ram pickup truck that mirrored his immense personality. It was big with an extended cab, loud from the dual exhaust system that he supped up, and sported bumper stickers that boasted his status as a brave firefighter.

The rain started to fall in big drops as he picked up the pace. He got inside the truck wondering what mess Anthony had gotten himself into with Lincoln. He checked his mirror and saw Lincoln’s Honda Civic stopped at a traffic light. He envied Anthony for having a woman like her.

On occasions that called for the whole crew to be together, he’d catch himself watching Lincoln. He admired the way she doted on Anthony. She truly cared about him and supported him however she could. He inhaled and the scent of her perfume lingered in his nose.

He smirked as he recalled a dream he had about her doting on him but in another manner. The dream was so intense that it jolted him from his sleep with his heart racing and his body drenched in sweat. That dream was one he remembered vividly and fondly.

Nick started the truck and backed out the space thinking that fantasizing about her was okay. He could do that and not worry about breaking any idiotic code.

Chapter Three

Later that day, Nick arrived at work. The firehouse was experiencing a slow day. Station 30 was an active house with the alarm going off every hour it seemed. They barely had time to return from one emergency before responding to another.

“Hey, what’s up,” he said sitting at the kitchen table with Jon, who was texting on his phone.

“Let me finish this text to Amira. She and Gabby are having a disagreement about a dress.”

Nick chuckled. “Damn, is this what having a family is like?  You get to make the final decision about a dress?”

Jon put down the phone. “I try to keep the peace. Amira is growing up and Gabby is having a hard time accepting that. When she came to live with us, she was this sweet little ten year-old. Now she is twelve with an opinion on what she wants and doesn’t want.”

Nick shrugged. “That’s gotta be rough on Gabby with a toddler and a pre-teen underfoot. Has she started to drink heavily yet?”

Jon took a bite of the sandwich in front of him. “Gabby is an excellent mother. She manages to hold down a career, run the house, and keep track of the kids while I’m away. I’m lucky to have her.”

“What about the spice?  Is the spice still there between you two?”

Jon raised an eyebrow. “What’s with the questions, Nick?  Are you planning on settling down?”

“Not a chance. One failed marriage was enough for me,” Nick said leaning back in the chair. “I’m just wondering with all she has to do when you’re here, is there still any, ya know—any heat left in the marriage.”

“We have plenty of heat in our marriage. Even with the kids underfoot, we make time for us. Anyhow, this issue with Amira will blow over. Gabby has to realize Amira isn’t a little kid anymore and give her some space. But, it does bother me sometimes that I’m not home to help out more.”

Nick proudly replied, “Knock on wood I’ll never have to disappoint another woman with the promise of marriage. I’ll date the right woman forever, but marriage is not for me.”

Jon rolled his eyes slightly. “Whatever, Nick. After your accident, you dated that nurse for a year before you broke it off. You were crazy about her.”

“She was sweating me. She kept hinting at marriage, and that was enough to run me off. Speaking of which, what’s going on with Ant?  I saw Lincoln today, and she was asking me questions about him.”

“What kind of questions?”

Nick checked for anyone standing around before he spoke. “She was asking me about Melanie. Jon, is Ant screwing around with her again?  She has been here a couple of times, so something is going on with them.”

Jon groaned and twisted his lips into a snarl. “Damn it, I knew this would happen. What did you say to Lincoln?”

“I didn’t say anything. But you ain’t answering my question either. What Ant does is his business, but seeing Lincoln look the way she did today, I couldn’t help, but feel sorry for her.”

Jon rubbed a hand down his face. “Unless he is lying to me, he swears he isn’t doing anything with Melanie. He claims they are nothing but friends. I told Anthony to be honest with Lincoln if he was having those feelings for Melanie again. Sheez, he is going to screw around and lose her for sure.”

Nick got up from the table and went to the fridge. He opened a can of Pepsi and took a long swig. “She is too young for him. Hell, I wouldn’t date a woman his age.”

“That’s because you’re young and shallow. Lincoln is young but smart; she’ll handle Anthony one way, or another.”

“Don’t forget she’s a beautiful woman. He better watch out before another man walks away with her.”

Jon frowned. “Nick…”

“I’m not talking about me. A waiter at Red Lobster was hitting on her hard. I saw her when she came in, and I saw them talking, but I didn’t approach her until I was leaving.  If I had told her about Melanie coming here to see Ant the next guy to hit on her will have her number.”

“She didn’t respond to the man and that’s what matters.”

“I’m gonna be honest, Jon. She didn’t do it because when he tried a second time to hit on her, I was sitting there. I pretended to be her man so he would stop. What’s funny is she didn’t correct the situation or put me in my place.”

“Come on, Nick, that doesn’t mean anything. Sometimes women get tired of being hit on. You saved her the agony of telling that guy to get lost.”

“Okay,” he said crushing the can in his hand before dropping it in the recycle bin. “I’m just dumb Nick and nobody takes me seriously around here. But, I know what I saw today. Lincoln is on to Anthony. And as his friend, you should let him know.”

Jon got up from the table to put his plate in the dishwasher. “Why do I have to tell him?  If you feel so strongly that he should know, you should tell him.”

“I disagree. You all hang out together as couples.  Just watch how Lincoln behaves the next time you all are out together.”

“I really don’t want to get involved, Nick.  Anthony and Melanie are dangerous together. I don’t want to be the one to hurt Lincoln by ratting out Anthony.”

“That’s why this isn’t right, Jon.  We got this dumbass code of honor we swear by. How can we stand by it if it causes another person to get hurt?”

Jon leaned against the sink folding his arms across his chest. “We look out for each other on the job first. It is not our job to meddle in his private life.”

“Right. But how would you feel if I knew Gabby was stepping out on you and didn’t say anything. Would you be mad at me because I didn’t tell you or did tell you?”

Jon lowered his head. “I would be pissed either way.  But I guess I would want to know.”  He drew in a breath. “Alright, I’ll talk to Anthony about Melanie, but I’m not going to say anything about Lincoln asking you questions about him.”

“That’s all I’m asking. Just find out what his intentions are with Melanie.”

“We could be right in the middle of their shit if we pursue this, Nick. Are you prepared for that?”

Nick scratched his head. “Yeah, I am.  That woman was hurting, and I knew why and couldn’t say anything. Jon, if you think about it, Ant is the reason women think all men are alike.  A woman doesn’t have a problem going to a girlfriend and spilling the beans if she sees a man cheating.  Why are we supporting him knowing what he is doing is wrong?”

Jon shrugged his shoulders. “We don’t know if he is cheating. We’re speculating.”

Nick grumbled. “Please, it’s Melanie and I’d bet my paycheck he’s cheating on Lincoln.” The alarm sounded sending them to the trucks. “We gotta roll.”

*****

Lincoln circled the parking lot of Anthony’s apartment complex once more. The heavy rain made it hard for her to see out the car window. She purposely waited until nightfall to avoid detection by neighbors who knew her. If he were either exiting or entering the apartment, the darkness would allow her car to blend in with the rest of the cars in the lot.

The third time around she gave up and drove out of the complex. His car wasn’t there, and his fifth-floor apartment was dark. Anthony wasn’t home or at the firehouse. She had made a drive by the firehouse first to make sure. The trucks were out on a call, but his car was not in the lot. She recognized the vehicles that belonged to Jon and Nick, but Anthony’s White Denali was not in the lot.