Page 1 of Seductive Heart

CHAPTER ONE

Hollis

“Over here! Come quick!”Ethan yelled, my fellow coworker and fireman, and waved me over.

I dosed the last of the fire and hurried through the smoking brush over to Ethan’s side. He kneeled on the ground, hovering over something furry.

My stomach twisted. I hated seeing animals hurt.

Ethan leaned back and my eyes landed on the skinny dog, the ribs protruding out from the upper body, the fur covered in ash and soot. Yet despite the dire appearance, the dog wagged their tail happily.

“Poor guy,” Ethan remarked. “He’s in rough shape.”

“Good thing you found him. Let me grab a blanket and we can put him in the truck.”

“You got it, boss.”

I ran through the smoking brush, the last of it being put out by the rest of the crew, and towards the truck, sweat mixed with ash dripping down the side of my face beneath my helmet. I swiped at it despite my gloves and gear, hating the feel of anytype of wetness on my skin. Maybe being a firefighter wasn’t the best career choice, but I loved it.

I loved helping others and showing up in a crisis, helping someone during one of their most vulnerable moments. And don’t get me started on animals. Somehow, they seemed to rock my soul. Every damn time.

After grabbing two clean blankets, I hurried back to Ethan and the dog and set to work. I laid out the first blanket carefully on the ground and wrapped the other around the dog, rubbing the material against the wet fur.

I lifted the pup in my arms and placed him in the center of the blanket.

“Ready to lift? On three.” I said to Ethan and we both grabbed a side of the blanket, lifting the furry pup into the air. We walked steadily, the dog between us like a hammock, other guys on crew taking notice as much of the fire was now extinguished.

“What you have there, boss? Another baby deer?” Joanne asked as she walked over, referencing the hurt deer we rescued a couple weeks ago. I couldn’t help it. Animals always warmed my heart.

“No, a dog this time.”

“Oh no!” Joanna replied and followed us the rest of the way to the truck. She opened the front passenger door and Ethan, and I lifted the dog in, placing it down gently on the seat. “He’s so skinny. Is it a he? Or a she?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “Not sure yet.” I closed the door and looked at them both. “Lets the round the crew up and get out of here. But first, make sure all the brush is out.”

They nodded their heads, and we scampered off, finishing up the job. I kept closed to the truck and checked on the dog before climbing behind the wheel and heading back to the station.

Joanne and Ethanhelped me get the furry dog washed up and we discovered it was a girl. She cowered and hunkered down in the tub but eventually warmed up.

“Maybe we can keep her here. As the firehouse dog.” Ethan offered the idea and Joanne nodded with a big smile.

“I’d love that.”

“I don’t think Paul would.” Paul, our town fire chief, wasn’t so keen on my animal rescuing as I was. I doubt he’d let a dog stay.

“I can drop her off at the animal shelter on my way home.” Joanne said and my stomach twisted for the second time in the past couple of hours. Fuck, the older I got, the sappier I became.

“No?” Joanne asked. She must sense the hesitation because she studied me, confusion masking her features.

“I don’t want to part ways with her yet.” I rubbed her down with a towel and we all stepped backwards as the dog began shaking the water from her fur. “I don’t know. There’s just something about her.”

Joanne laughed. “You have the biggest soft spot for animals. It’s adorable.”

Ethan snickered.

“Hey, you two. Shh. Don’t reveal my secrets.” I shot them a stern look before grinning widely. “I’ll keep her for now. Maybe a family member will take her or something. Honestly, I could use the company.” I shrugged. I hated revealing any vulnerable bits about myself, but I’ve worked with these guys long enough. They knew I was in my mid-thirties and single. I liked it that way.

“I hear you. They’re great for that.” Ethan remarked.