My Wild Irish Dragon (18 page)

When Ryan rose and turned around, Chloe could see they'd had no idea he was here, and “in the flesh” as he'd earlier put it. She grabbed a bath towel off her dresser and tossed it across the bed to her lover.

Their eyes rounded. Gabe whooped and hugged him, briefly. He backed away and let Jayce shake Ryan's hand.

Grinning, he set his hands on his towel-covered hips. “Yup. No dust bunnies under there. You passed inspection, Chloe.”

His brothers burst out laughing.

* * *

Mr. and Mrs. Fierro hurried over the wet sidewalk. Antonio Fierro carried a nondescript paper bag filled with clothes for Ryan.

“I didn't expect him to come back for another week,” Gabriella Fierro said.

“Well, can you blame him? If I knew you were grieving for me, I'd come back as early as possible too. Plus I'd be horny as hell by that time.”

She blushed and bumped into him on purpose. “Still, wouldn't you think he'd shift at home where all his clothes are?”

“You mean, where
we
are. No. I think he'd shift right where he wanted to shift. So, obviously Chloe means a lot to him. We just don't know how much he told her.”

When they reached the Back Bay Fire Station, Mr. Fierro held the door open for his wife and she breezed in. This was his old station house. It looked as if nothing much had changed.

“Well, the fact that she was still conscious and able to call us is a good sign,” Gabriella said. “He must have made up a believable story.”

“Quiet now. Let me sense where the boys are.”

He paused just inside, then smiled. “Top floor. Toward the front on the right.

“I wish I could have done that when the boys were young. It would have saved my lungs when I had to call and call for them to come in.”

He strode to the stairs and took them two at a time. His wife hurried after him, trying to keep up, but it was no use.

Mr. Fierro burst through Chloe's door and dropped the paper bag on her bed. Upon seeing his son, alive and healthy, he sighed with relief. Then he asked him, “How much does she know?”

Ryan smiled at Chloe with pride. “Everything. She knows everything.”

Mr. Fierro whooped. “And she's still standing!” He grabbed Chloe up in his arms and gave her a huge, impulsive hug. He was impressed when she didn't cry out or act like he was squeezing her to death. Instead, she simply gave as good as she got.

When he'd put her down, he strode around the bed to his son and shook his hand.

Mrs. Fierro finally appeared in the doorway, huffing and puffing. “Thanks, Antonio.”

“Sorry, love. I couldn't wait to see our son.”

His wife strode around the bed. “Neither could I. It's just that some of us don't have such long, strong legs.” She winked at Chloe, as if she'd understand. Mr. Fierro had his doubts. Ryan had said more than once how impressed he was with her ability to keep up with any man.

Gabriella hugged Ryan hard, and he returned the hug more gently. As they stood there, his towel fell off. Chloe closed the door while everyone laughed.

“I guess I should get dressed.”

His mother glanced at Chloe, who just smiled and shrugged. Antonio couldn't help but smile.

“I think she's seen it all before,” Gabriella said.

“I guess so.”

Ryan unrolled the paper bag and slipped on his tighty-whities. Then he pulled the fire department T-shirt over his head. Gabriella Fierro had stacked everything in order of dressing, just like firefighters do. Antonio couldn't help but be proud of his wonderful wife. He also couldn't help noticing the loving looks his son was exchanging with Chloe Arish.

They were a match. He'd bet his beak on it.

* * *

The tones rang out.

“Damn,” Mr. Fierro muttered. “Poor timing.”

Chloe couldn't have disagreed more. This was perfect timing. She needed time to forgive the Fierros for letting her cry herself to sleep almost nightly. When it happened at work, she'd had to cover her face with a pillow, so no one could hear her.

Now, she felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as she took off down the hall to the fire pole.

The warm reunion of phoenix and family had left her with an awkward feeling. Like she hadn't just witnessed a miracle. To them, it seemed like Tuesday. Well, all right…more like Christmas when it fell on a Tuesday.

Gabe and Jayce were right behind her and followed her down the pole to the garage. The other firefighters were arriving by the stairs. They'd probably been in the kitchen since it was almost lunch time. They'd be fighting this fire on empty stomachs.

Dispatch was announcing a structure fire and gave the Congress Street address for Harrison Hall.

“Shit,” Lieutenant Streeter mumbled.

“What's the matter?” Chloe asked.

“It's one of the oldest buildings in the country. Historical landmark.” He turned to the two substitute firefighters. “Jayce, you're on Ladder 15. Gabe, you're with us in Engine 33.”

Everyone found their places and the rigs rolled out.

“Is there some kind of special protocol when it comes to historic structures?” Chloe asked the lieutenant.

“Yeah. Put the fire out.”

Gabe laughed. Then he looked at Chloe sympathetically and said, “Sorry.”

“No. It's perfectly okay,” she said. “Ask a silly question, get a shite answer, right?”

Gabe tipped his head.

“Don't worry,” the lieutenant said to Gabe. “You get used to it.”

Her face heated.
Feckers. I must have screwed up another American saying.

Well, it wouldn't matter shortly. She'd show the Fierros just how valuable she was in a fire. She was usually the first one in and frequently the last one out.

But so was Ryan. If he took foolish chances, knowing he could always come back if needed to, he tried not to let anyone see it. She realized that now. Knowing how rarely they held empty casket funerals for firefighters who were reduced to ash, she'd guess the phoenixes were
usually
as careful as any mortal.

But she was special too.

Hmmm… To show off or not to show off?
That was the question.

No question about it. She'd excel and show Ryan's family how well suited she was for the job they all loved—and how well she'd fit in with them at every Sunday dinner.

The smoke was pouring from windows at the back of the building. At first it seemed as if only the second floor was involved, then Chloe saw flames reflected in the window on the third floor as well.

The District 3 chief had beat everyone to the scene and began barking orders as soon as they jumped out of their vehicles. “We expect more firefighters on the scene, but you've gotta get this fire out now. Lieutenant, get your guys on the roof and provide top ventilation to remove toxic gases.”

“Yes, sir.” Lieutenant Streeter pointed to Chloe and Gabe. “You two go to the roof. Be careful. It may be slippery.”

Within minutes, they had two lines working and the aerial hose was laying a master stream on the top floor. Jayce was teamed up with Nagle and another firefighter she didn't know. Their mission was to bring water to the back left corner of the second floor, which they suspected was the seat of the fire.

As the others charged in the back door, Chloe and Gabe climbed the ladder. With sixty pounds of gear and a pickax, a human could only climb so fast. Chloe didn't want to delay, knowing the significance of the building and wondering if tourists were stuck inside.

Plus this was a chance to show a Fierro what she was made of. She scrambled up the ladder faster than a man could…only Gabe was keeping up with her. Hmmm… Now she realized the kind of pressure Ryan had been under to keep up the family's reputation of excellence.

Cops were arriving and keeping people across the street. Farther down they were blocking off traffic altogether. Flames shot out like angry fingertips, attracting a crowd. The roof would be ventilated with a saw, but axes might be needed for shingle removal.

The ladder had been placed with five rungs above the roofline, and tied off to a chimney to keep it in place. Below, someone was laying another ladder off to the right in case the crews needed an alternate escape route. They worked as if they'd been practicing for this for years. Chloe realized they had been. No wonder seasoned firefighters like Haggarty worried about probies making one wrong move and jeopardizing the whole operation.

Two firefighters from District 3 were already on the roof and held the K-12 saw. One had marked the two-foot by four-foot opening. She noticed the other one wore a lieutenant's insignia.

Even though cold surrounded them, the firefighters were sweating. Not watching where she was going, she slipped on the roof that was wet from melting ice and fire hoses. Righting herself before she fell, she tried to be more careful as she made her way to the spot that the firefighters were concentrating on.

The private pulled the cord to start the saw, and slipped. As he regained his footing, Chloe stopped just below him to act as a brace if he needed it. He pulled the cord a second time. When nothing happened, he swore.

“Move over, Chloe,” Gabe said. “Let me catch him if he falls.”

“I can do it,” she insisted.

Gabe nodded, grabbed the ax, and had half the shingles off when, thank God, on the third try, the machine roared to life. She breathed a sigh of relief knowing they might have had to waste precious time opening the roof with their axes alone.

Quickly the firefighter made the cut on the short side away from his body, then moved and cut the longer side. Soon the roof hole was done. As debris fell downward, the firefighters stepped back. Fire often burst from the vent hole as superheated gases received oxygen. From behind, Chloe braced the private just as the furious flames shot through the opening.

Gabe shot her a smile. She was relieved to be making a positive impression. From what Ryan had told her, his brother would probably report her abilities at their Sunday dinner.

“Everybody, listen up,” the District 3 lieutenant said. “The roof is getting spongy. I want everybody off.”

Gabe got to the ladder first and as soon as he had his footing, he took the saw from the other firefighter. The private looked at Chloe as if she should be next, but she just said, “Go!” He nodded and preceded her down the ladder.

The lieutenant got a call on his radio and said, “I'll be right there.” He took the ladder ahead of Chloe and she followed him down. She was just passing a window, which had been blown out by fire, when she heard crying and a woman yelling, “Help.”

“Jaysus. There's somebody still in there!” She peered around the window casing and saw a mother and child huddled against the far wall—trapped on both sides. Through the smoke she could barely see them and knew they might not see her. “Come to the window,” Chloe shouted.

She knocked the jagged glass out of the bottom of the window and they inched their way toward her.

She felt weight on the ladder behind her.

“Why did you stop, Arish?” Gabe had climbed back up.

“Two people inside. They're scared as hell. I'm going in.”

“Go ahead. I'll take them from out here.”

He was treating her as an equal. She had wanted to earn Ryan's family's trust and approval so much, and it looked like that was happening.

Gingerly, Chloe braced her boot on the windowsill. She managed to slide it inside, but her other foot slipped on the rung of the ladder. Gabe grabbed her and pushed her the rest of the way in.

Righting herself, she reached out and grabbed the little girl's hand. She couldn't have been more than four or five years old. The mother gratefully pushed her forward, saying, “Go with the brave firefighter, honey.”

Chloe picked her up and said to the girl, “Your mommy is next.”

She placed the young one in Gabe's arms and he carried her down. She stopped the mother from climbing out after her with a hand on her shoulder. “He'll be right back and then it'll be your turn.”

The woman bit her lower lip and wrung her hands while they waited for Gabe to return.

“Are you doing okay?” Chloe asked.

The mom looked like she was gulping back tears and nodded. “I panicked and fell. I hit my head on something on the way down and must have been unconscious for a few minutes. When I think of what could have happened…”

Gabe appeared at the window, and both he and Chloe made sure the woman got onto the ladder and her footing was secure.

Chloe was about to climb out the window when she noticed flames licking around the closed door inside. Before she could get out of the way, the door exploded off its hinges and pitched her forward out the window and too far from the ladder.

She would have hit the pavement if Jayce hadn't been there to catch her.

She groaned. “Thanks.”
Way to show off, Chloe.

* * *

At the next Fierros Sunday dinner Chloe was an invited guest. Before they sat down Ryan had to ask her an important question, so he hung up her coat quickly and tried to bypass the rest of the family. He enfolded her hand in his and led her directly to the basement stairs.

They had just reached the bottom of the steps when Mrs. Fierro came looking for him. “Ryan!”

Before she saw Chloe, he whispered, “Meet me in the bedroom,” and then gave his lover a pat on the ass.

She jumped slightly but turned enough so he could see her grin.

“Oh, there you are!” Mrs. Fierro said.

Ryan halted and began to climb the stairs again. If he met her at the top, maybe she wouldn't come down. “Be right there, Ma.”

He needed to talk to Chloe alone and in person. It hadn't been possible for him to go out until everyone had agreed on “the plan” for his reemergence. He wasn't sure she was going to like the decision that had been made on his behalf.

Mrs. Fierro gave him that special smile a mother reserves for a child who has just accomplished something wonderful. “When is your young lady coming?”

“You mean Chloe?”

Mrs. Fierro set a fist on her apron-covered hip. “No, Princess Kate.” She rolled her eyes. “Of course I mean Chloe.”

“She'll be here any time, Ma. I need to speak with her for a few moments first. Alone.”

The understanding smile returned to her face. “I know. This can't be easy for you.”

What neither of the women in his life knew was that Ryan had no intention of following the plan if Chloe couldn't accept it. He'd adjust. He'd find a plan B—or C.

“Yeah. I really need to talk to her first.”

“I just thought I'd grab you before you did, in case you wanted to give her…” Mrs. Fierro twisted the rings on her left hand back and forth.

“What are you doing? No, Ma. That wasn't the plan.”

She gritted her teeth and finally popped off the two rings that had worn grooves in the fourth finger of her left hand. “There.” She separated her diamond ring from the other plain gold band and held it out to him. “Pah. I know the plan, but I never thought it was a very good one. Son, men aren't thinking of romance when they're making decisions for someone else.”

He gazed at his mother with his mouth open. Reaching for the diamond ring, he said, “But this was your great-grandmother's ring. Are you sure?”

She smoothed his hair back. “I am, if you are.”

He nodded, giving her a humble, grateful smile. “I am.”

“Then go ahead. Oh. By the way, I know she's down there. Don't keep her waiting.” Mrs. Fierro winked.

Ryan laughed. Nothing much got past his mom.

He admired the ring on the way to the basement bedroom. It sparkled as if it were new. He didn't think his mother had polished it, but perhaps she had. The woman was a little scary in her ability to predict the future.

When he opened the door, he saw Chloe admiring his childhood trophies. He'd won some for track and field. A few for bowling. Hopefully she wouldn't ask too many questions. He didn't want to get sidetracked.

“So are we finally alone?” she asked.

“For a little bit.” While he strolled over to her, he tucked the ring into his back pocket.

She met him halfway and tipped her face up for a kiss. He enveloped her in his arms and pulled her closer. Taking a moment to gaze at her face, he noted her complete lack of guile. He appreciated the trust they shared, and the nervousness he'd had about their upcoming conversation eased.

His lips descended to hers in what he hoped was a tender kiss. It didn't stay tender very long. She pulled him to her and wound her arms tightly around his neck. He yanked her up against his hard length. Heat built quickly. They were like glowing embers, always a whisper away from bursting into flames.

She opened her mouth and his tongue swept inside. For several moments, they sought and stroked, tasted and breathed each other.

At last, Ryan pulled back just enough to break the kiss, and the two of them panted for breath. Her hooded green eyes opened and gazed up at him.

“I can't believe you're standing here.” She ran her hands over his chest, as if checking to be sure he was solid. “When I thought you were dead, I died too.”

He rested his forehead against hers. “I know.” Before they got too caught up in the demands of their impatient bodies, he pulled away. “Please sit. I have to tell you something.”

She nodded and glanced around the room. Other than his desk chair, the only seat available was on his bed. He sat and patted the spot next to him. “I'll try to behave.”

“I guess we'll have to. I almost forgot we were in your parents' house for a minute there.”

He grinned. “Yeah. I know what you mean.”

She sat down beside him, but left a few gaping inches in between.

He took her hand. “First of all, I love you, Chloe.”

“I love you too.”

“I know. I mean…I'm pretty sure you do. Otherwise I wouldn't even be talking to you about this.”

“About what?”

“The future…and us.”

She remained silent. Her innocent eyes blinked up at him, as if she had no idea where he was going with any of this. Maybe she didn't. This kind of thing didn't happen every day.

“I want to stay with you, Chloe. You and my family and the fire service.”

She nodded.

“But the city thinks I'm dead. Hell, they even had a funeral for me.”

Her expression dimmed. “I guess things are a bit complicated now.”

Ya think?
“Look. My family is important to me, and I know you love yours…and Boston.”

Her eyebrows rose. “So?”

He sighed. “We Fierros protect each other. A family meeting decides what to do in complicated situations. You must have something like that in your family…”

She tipped her head as if thinking. “Not really. We argue. Me brother reminds us he's the boss and then tells us whatever it is he thinks is best for all.”

Ryan nodded. “It's sort of the same thing with us.”

Chloe snorted. “I doubt it.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you're probably willin' to do what you're told.”

“And you're not?”

She grinned, but didn't confirm or deny his suspicion.

“Okay. Well, we may be more alike than you realize. My family gave me two choices. Both of them bad. I can go to Brazil, get plastic surgery, and trade identities with my cousin, who wants to quit the fire department. That way I can get a job doing what I love right away, at home, and he'll be paid well for his cooperation.”

“Jaysus! That's drastic. What does he think of that?”

“I don't know. I haven't asked him. The only reason they thought of it is that he's not happy in the fire service. Then he can take a new identity and do something else.”

“So, how will he fake all the documentation?”

Ryan shrugged. “The family will think of something.”

“Well, I don't know what he looks like, but I'm partial to your peculiar face—for some damn reason.”

He was insulted until he saw her sly smile. “I meant particular, not peculiar.” Then he laughed and took her hand in his. The warmth was exactly what he needed.

Her brow wrinkled. “You said there was some other choice?”