Sex and the Single Fireman: A Bachelor Firemen Novel (11 page)

As he watched her go, he swore he could see the hot rage rolling off her body in waves.

God, she detested
Chief Roman. He was arrogant, annoying, interfering, unfair, unfeeling  . . .

Okay, it had been nice of him to try to comfort her, not that she needed it. For one brief, glorious moment she’d allowed herself to bask in the warmth that radiated from him, the strength that dwelled in his bones, the steady thump of his heart.

But then he had to turn into an arrogant jerk again and get her all riled up.

Filled with furious energy, she hurried back to the training room to find her mother, who was chatting with some EMTs who had just happened to drop by. Word about the surprise visiting movie star was already spreading. Sabina waved a cup of Roman’s special coffee under Annabelle’s nose and managed to drag her mother off to her room in the female dorm.

“This is where you sleep?” Annabelle gazed around in astonishment. “This is the size of your toy box at our Beverly Hills villa. Remember that place?”

No trips down memory lane. Not now. Sabina struggled for calm, but it was like trying to right a rowboat after a tsunami. “Annabelle, why are you here?”

For as long as Sabina could remember, she’d called her Annabelle, never any version of “mother,” unless they were in character.

Taffy called Peg Mom. It had always felt so unnatural.

“Max said you wanted me to come.”

Sabina stared into her mother’s eyes, the vibrant green of a hummingbird feather—similar to her own, but with the addition of curled eyelashes and a slight uptilt at the corners. Her words to Max came back to her.
If Annabelle wants me that badly, she should stop hiding behind a Hollywood weasel in an overpriced Mercedes.

Oops.

“But . . . why here? I never wanted anyone in San Gabriel to know I used to act.”

“Max didn’t know where else to find you. Your address is unlisted. I don’t know how he found you here in this dinky little place.”

Sabina narrowed her eyes at her mother, who perched on the edge of her bed. Annabelle had photogenic features, a respectable amount of talent, a ton of charisma, and the relentless drive of a spawning salmon. She wouldn’t have come to San Gabriel without a very good reason. “I didn’t know you were looking for me. I only heard through the tabloids that you’d moved to Paris.”

“Yes, well, that’s done now.” Annabelle drummed her fingers on the jade-green fabric covering her knee. Reflected light from her many rings danced around the drab space. “It was time to come home. Or . . . close enough.”

Sabina paced to the far corner of the room, though it took only three steps. Still, that put her three extra steps away from a brawl with her mother. “Why didn’t you call me first? Or anytime in the past thirteen years? Max knows my number.”

“You’re angry?”

“You’ve destroyed my privacy, my anonymity, everything I’ve worked for over the past ten years. You never think about me. You
never
did. It was always what you wanted.”

“Are you starting in on that old tune again? It might make more sense if you weren’t here.” Annabelle cast a revolted look around the tiny room. “You can’t possibly really want
this.
”

“Yes, I can. It’s exactly what I want. I want to work here and fight fires and save lives and make a difference in the world.”

“Entertaining people doesn’t make a difference?”

Sabina felt the tendons at the back of her neck go taut. How did this always happen? It was as if the past ten years had never occurred and she was right back where she’d started, arguing endlessly with her mother. “Of course it does,” she managed through clenched teeth. “But that’s not what I want to do. I want to do this.”

“Who says you have to stop doing this?” Annabelle opened her purse and pulled out a cigarette.

“No smoking. Have you forgotten this is a fire station?”

“I don’t smoke them. I chew on them. Keeps my weight down.” She inserted it between her lips, which she’d painted the color of freshly washed plums. “Did Max tell you how much they’re offering for the reunion show?”

“Yes. They could offer me a billion dollars and I wouldn’t do it.”

“But what about me? Can’t you spare a thought for me?”

“Excuse me?”

“One little show, what harm could it do?”

“One little— After everything I—? Annabelle, you haven’t heard a word I’ve said.
Since I was born
.”

Annabelle waved her unlit cigarette at her. “Look at you, kiddo. My gorgeous daughter. You could be the new It Girl. You could work with the biggest stars in Hollywood. Your pick of roles. The cover of
People
. Cover of everything. Instead you’re hiding out in this odd little town where no one even knows who you are.”

Sabina ground her teeth together. “They know now, thanks to you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“I was being sarcas—”

“Do you know who asked about you over lunch at the Ivy? Greg Harrington.”

Sabina shuddered; after all these years, that name still had the power to unnerve her. “Are you referring to the creep you made me date at the age of sixteen, who broke my heart and nearly raped me?”

“Oh please, don’t exaggerate. He’s a superstar now. I always knew he would be. He still remembers you.”

This couldn’t get worse. It just couldn’t. Mention of Greg Harrington had to be rock bottom. Sabina cast her eyes to the ceiling and prayed for patience. “Think logically here, Annabelle. You don’t need me to get your career going again. Forget the reunion show. Do a movie. Find some really cool director to work with. Quentin Tarantino always liked your work.”

Annabelle tilted her head thoughtfully. “Max said your fear of public exposure was keeping you from committing to the reunion show.”

A horrible thought occurred to Sabina. “Annabelle. Did you show up here
on purpose
to expose me?”

“Of course not! If I wanted to expose you, there are so many simple ways to do it. But they wouldn’t include so many handsome firemen.” She gave a naughty wink. “Did I detect some sparks between you and that big one?”

Just like some horrible lost episode of the
Twilight Zone
, it kept getting worse, and worse  . . .

“But now that the cat’s out of the bag, I don’t think any of your fireman friends would mind if you did one more appearance as Taffy. We can bring a few on as extras. They’re very sexy.”

That did it.

Sabina stalked to her mother’s side and hauled her to her feet. “Go away, Annabelle. I won’t do the show. Ever. Leave me alone and let me do my job in peace.”

Annabelle yanked her arm out of Sabina’s grasp. “You’re being pigheaded. As always.”

“If that’s what you want to call it, fine.”

Annabelle whirled around and headed for the door. Halfway there, she paused. The fiery expression in her tilted emerald eyes would have made grown men quail, but Sabina just folded her arms and gave it right back.

“You can’t hide forever, Sabina. You’re making a mistake.”

“
Fine.
At least it’s my mistake!”

As soon as Annabelle had whisked herself from the room, Sabina sank onto the bed, quivering. She’d seen her mother. Her
mother.
After thirteen years. And nothing had changed.
Nothing.

Annabelle hadn’t even tried to give her a hug or a kiss on the cheek. All they’d talked about was the reunion show. In one hidden part of her heart, Sabina knew that if Annabelle had opened her arms and welcomed Sabina like a daughter, she would have given her mother anything.

Had Annabelle really burned through all the
You and Me
money already? Just how desperate was she?

At that thought, uneasiness snaked through her. Annabelle had always been extraordinarily stubborn and resourceful. And “no” was her least favorite word.

Chapter Thirteen

T
o Luke’s disgust, it had taken an absurd amount of time to get their cable TV service hooked up. Now Roman wished he’d never bothered. He squinted at the TV, wincing, as the Sunny Side of the News displayed a cute graphic over the head of the gorgeous anchorwoman.

“The Bachelorette Fireman of San Gabriel.”

Which didn’t even make sense, but why should that be a surprise?

Ella Joy’s china-blue eyes glittered as she read the story. “Our favorite Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel had a brush with fame yesterday, when none other than actress Annabelle Hatfield visited the firehouse. She caused a sensation, but not for the obvious reasons. Channel Six News has learned exclusively that she was there to visit her daughter, Sabina Jones, who, believe it or not, is a firefighter at Fire Station 1. But you know her better as Taffy McGee in the long-running TV series
You and Me
.”

The visuals switched to a horrifying montage in which shots of Taffy alternated with shots of the adult Sabina. A clip of Taffy skateboarding into a swimming pool was followed by one of Sabina running toward Engine 1 in full turnout gear. Taffy eating a hot fudge sundae with no hands was replaced with Sabina doing drills in her workout clothes. One had to look hard for the resemblance, but when they put up a split-screen shot of two close-ups, the turquoise eyes were a dead giveaway.

“When asked if any of the firefighters knew Ms. Jones’s true identity, the answer came down to this.”

Vader’s bony face filled the screen. “
Bleep
, no.”

That was one bright spot: Sabina and Vader couldn’t be that close if she hadn’t even told him her true identity.

Ella Joy cruised toward the end of her story. “After all the talk about the sexy Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel, it’s nice to see the tables turned. The only question now is, does the curse also apply to the Bachelorette Fireman of San Gabriel? My sources tell me Ms. Jones is still single, so there’s a good chance it does. Which means, gentlemen, that you just might have a chance with her.”

Roman scowled. What a stupid way to end the piece. He clicked the remote. Luke, sprawled in an armchair with his homework, was staring at the TV in fascination. “Taffy’s the one in that show, right? That we watched a million episodes of when we were both home sick?”

“Right.”

A
You and Me
marathon had been playing that week, a few years ago. They’d watched in a Tylenol-hazed stupor until all the plotlines blurred together and they loopily sang the theme song out loud when each new episode began.

“So Taffy is Carly’s Big Sister?”

“Yep. But she’s not Taffy, she’s Sabina. I think.” On the show, the credits had always said, “Annabelle and Sally Hatfield in
You and Me
.” Which was her real name? Who was Sabina, really?

“I wonder if she still gets into trouble all the time,” Luke mused.

“I’d have to say that’s a yes.”

At the very least, she was going to get
him
into trouble. Right on cue, his cell phone rang.

“You’re supposed to keep that damn station off the news.” Chief Renteria sounded every bit as furious as he’d expected.

“This one came out of left field.”

“A child actor one of our firefighters? We’re going to be a freaking joke. Even more than we already are.”

Roman got to his feet and walked the phone into the living room. “Hang on there, Chief. She went through the academy like anyone else. She’s an excellent firefighter. It’s not her fault the media got hold of this. As far as I know she was trying to keep it quiet.”

“See that she does. Or I want her out.”

“That could be tough.” Union issues, bad publicity . . . any number of things protected firefighters from unjust firings.

“Find a way. Or stop this before it gets worse.”

“I’m on it.”

Roman viciously tossed his cell phone into the couch cushions. He didn’t blame Renteria for being pissed. This was exactly the kind of thing he’d hired Roman to stop. Sabina and her mother had created a huge mess that Roman would have to fix.

He stalked into the kitchen. Hamburger night, Luke’s favorite. Too bad all his fancy cooking was wasted on his son. He pulled a package of hamburger meat out of the refrigerator and began making patties.

Damn that Sabina Jones. Having her on the crew was like trying to put out a brushfire that kept flaring up again. If Renteria found a way to get rid of her, Roman’s life would be a hell of a lot easier. But he couldn’t help feeling bad for Sabina. Obviously she’d valued her anonymity, and now it was gone forever. Maybe he should call her and see how she was doing.

No. She wouldn’t want to hear from him. She’d assume he was calling to chew her out. Or worse, offer to help. When he’d tried to comfort her at the station, she’d pulled away in record time. She was so damn independent. Right now she was better off leaning on her friends. Like Vader. At the thought of Sabina curled up on Vader’s couch, pouring out her troubles, a current of irritation made him slap the hamburger meat harder than necessary.

He put oil in a cast-iron pan and waited for it to heat.
Get over it, Roman. You can’t be Chief Roman the hard-ass and a friend.
Not that he wanted to be her friend, precisely. What did he want?

The images that flashed through his mind in answer to that question were hot enough to make the frying pan sizzle.

Ever since Ella
Joy had anointed her the Bachelorette Fireman of San Gabriel, Sabina’s phone hadn’t stop ringing. Most of the calls were from reporters. “This is Jamie Gold from
Us
magazine, we’re doing a full-length feature on you and would like to get a quote” . . . “I’m the assistant to the producer of
The Bachelorette
on ABC and we’d love to invite you on the show” . . . “I’m doing a piece on the tough times faced by former child actors, please call me back at . . .” She didn’t answer a single one of those calls.

Her mother called. She didn’t answer that one either. Now that her name was back on TV and her life lay in Humpty Dumpty pieces around her, she was too angry to speak to Annabelle.

Vader called too. She knew he was wounded by her secrecy. No doubt about it, she owed him an explanation. But if she knew her friend, he’d get over it quickly. He’d never been one to hold a grudge.

She didn’t get a call from Chief Roman, but then why would she? At least he wasn’t yelling at her; then again, maybe he was waiting until next shift.

Determined not to let the media uproar derail her life, she picked up Carly after school and took her to the South Desert Mall for ice cream. Supposedly it was a treat for Carly, but really she was the one who needed the time. Being with Carly put things into perspective. At least she was a grown woman with control of her life—sort of. Carly still had years of putting up with other people’s crap before she could strike out on her own.

As they walked into the mall, Sabina realized her Little Sister seemed down. Her wide brown eyes didn’t shine with their normal brash spark. She walked with shoulders slouched, feet dragging.

“Are you up for this, hon?”

“Sure,” Carly answered listlessly.

“Are you upset because I didn’t tell you?”

Carly frowned. “Tell me what?”

Sabina shook her head, laughing at her own presumption. The world didn’t revolve around a silly TV report about her past. “Nothing. Well, I suppose I should tell you. Before I was a firefighter, I was a child actor in a TV show. The news just found out and they’re all excited about it.”

That snapped Carly out of her funk. “Really, you were an actress? Damn, woman. If I was an actress I’d be telling the whole world.”

“Should you really be saying ‘damn’?”

“Like anyone cares what I say.”

“I care.”

“Whatever.” Carly’s gloom returned. She didn’t say much more as they made their way through the food court to Cold Stone Creamery. She didn’t even get excited about her chocolate-coated waffle boat. Something was definitely up.

They grabbed a pair of orange plastic chairs and settled in to enjoy their ice cream. For the first time in years, Sabina was wearing a baseball cap crammed low on her head—her old disguise when she hadn’t wanted to be noticed. When she’d played Taffy, going out in public had been a trial. Her mother had welcomed the attention, parading like a queen through the crowds, while Sabina had trailed behind, hating the feeling of people staring at her.

Now she realized she’d unconsciously chosen a table in the corner where no one would notice them. She was keeping her head down, her eyes hidden so no one would catch a flash of turquoise. Silently she cursed Ella Joy, her mother, her terrible bad luck.

“Are you okay?”

She looked up to meet Carly’s warm brown eyes. “I’m supposed to be asking you that.”

“I’ll answer if you will.”

“I’m fine.”

“So am I.”

They both laughed and returned to their ice cream. Sabina took a long, soothing dose of rocky road. “Okay, fine, I’ll go first. I didn’t want the whole world to know I used to be Sally Hatfield. I liked being plain old, ordinary Sabina Jones. I didn’t want my past life to get in the way of my firefighting career.”

“Why would it do that?”

“Because when you’re famous, people treat you differently.”

Carly tilted her head and twirled her spoon in her mouth. “Like how?”

“It’s hard to explain. People treat you like you’re in a different world, behind some kind of magical veil. They want to be part of it, but they also hate you for it. When I was young I could never understand it. It was hard to trust anyone.”

Carly was listening with complete attention now. “I know about that part. The not trusting part.”

“I know you do.” Sabina offered a smile that came out crooked. “We have a lot in common, if you think about it. It’s hard for us to trust. We’re always on guard. We’ve had to grow up fast.”

“I still can’t believe my Big Sister is a celebrity.”

Sabina snorted. “
Was
. Definitely past tense. They might take me on
Dancing with the Stars
, but that’s about it.”

“Seriously?
Dancing with the Stars
?” For the first time, Carly actually looked impressed.

“What, running into burning buildings isn’t exciting enough for you?” Sabina teased.

But Carly’s face had suddenly gone tense. Her eyes narrowed to dark slits as she aimed a death stare at someone. Sabina turned to see Roman’s son, Luke, walking through the food court with a few other boys; he towered over the others by at least a head. At the sight of him, a vicarious thrill washed through her, as if Roman might be right behind him. A quick check told her he wasn’t, but it still took a moment for the adrenaline to subside.

Luke glanced over at them, his step hitching as he recognized the two of them. At first all he did was wave. Sabina gave him a friendly salute in return, but Carly didn’t respond.

“What’s wrong with you?” Sabina hissed. “He’s on your team.”

“They all are.”

Luke said something to the others, who shook their heads and kept on walking. Luke shrugged and veered away from the group. He headed toward Sabina and Carly. He wore an old-style, blue Brooklyn Dodgers T-shirt and jeans. His light brown hair stood up in random spikes. He looked clean-cut and well-behaved. Chief Roman wouldn’t tolerate anything less, Sabina imagined.

“Hey,” he mumbled to Carly when he got close to the table.

“Hey,” she muttered into her ice cream.

Sabina looked from one to the other. “Hi, Luke,” she said with a big, bright smile. “What are you up to today?”

His gaze switched to her. “We’re getting pizza.”

“I’m sure it’s nowhere near as good as New York pizza.”

He shrugged, his gaze sliding back to Carly. Sabina had seen enough of Roman’s son to know this wasn’t his normal demeanor. Obviously Carly made him uncomfortable.

“We’re going to go throw the ball around after we eat, if you want to come,” he said to her.

Carly scooped out a spoonful of ice cream. “No, thanks. I’m hanging with Sabina today.”

“Oh, that’s . . .” Sabina trailed off at a sharp look from Carly.

Luke nodded, as if he wasn’t surprised. He turned to go, then swung back around to face them. “That’s a killer curveball you’ve got. Do you hold it across the seams, more like a knuckleball? Or the regular way?”

Carly let out a snort. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Sabina noticed that her face had lit up in the way only talking baseball could accomplish.

“Well, yeah, that’s why I asked.” Luke rolled his eyes sarcastically. Now that was more like the live-wire kid Sabina remembered. She sat back, hoping they’d forget she was there.

“I’ll tell you if you explain how your fastball jumps at the end.”

“I can’t do that.”

Carly went back to death stare mode. From experience, Sabina knew it hid hurt feelings more than anything else.

“I’m serious. I can’t tell you because I don’t know. One of these days it’ll stop jumping and then I’ll be screwed.” Luke shot Sabina a guilty look. “Oops. Don’t tell my father I said that word. He hates it.”

Carly sneered. “Sabina’s cool. She’s not a narc.”

Risking loss of coolness, Sabina clarified. “If you were doing drugs, I most certainly would become a narc.”

Luke stuck to the main point. “I wish I knew why my fastball works. If I ever figure it out I’ll tell you.”

“Cool.”

“See you at the game?”

“Well, duh. I’m starting.” Smugly, Carly slurped up a giant spoonful of ice cream.

“Yeah, well, don’t worry, I’ll be there as backup just in case. So don’t screw up.”

“In your dreams.”

Luke left with a last friendly wave to them both. Sabina stared at Carly, whose face was a dusky pink color she’d never witnessed before. “You like him.”

“No, I don’t.” The girl blinked. “I hate him.”

“Maybe you hated him, past tense, but not anymore. He’s a nice kid. It took guts to come over here when the others wouldn’t.”

That reminder made Carly push aside her ice cream and cross her arms over her chest. “Of course all the guys hang together. It’s so unfair. They practice together and get better and better. None of the other girls wants to practice with me.”