“Damn,” she muttered. Suddenly she had an idea. “May I speak to your chief?”
The guy had the audacity to laugh. “Are you sure you want to do that? He’s not in a very receptive mood right now. Maybe you should come back tomorrow.”
“I won’t be around then. I have to go stay with my parents for a while. He’s not the only one who’s miserable.”
Benjamin chuckled. “Okay. I’ll get this to Cameron, but I’d suggest you forget about talking to the chief. There’s nothing he hates more than wives or girlfriends trying to change his mind about something.”
“Does that happen a lot?”
“Not really, but when it does, the guy pays for it.”
“Oh. In that case, forget it. Thanks for getting the card to him.” She strode off before anyone else saw her.
***
Drake Cameron had taken his lumps like a man and had let the chief reprimand him without getting defensive. There would be no commendation this time, just a seven-day suspension.
Having distracted himself with the Internet for as long as he could, he felt the need for solace, so he headed to the bar his buddies frequented. Even when one of them did something stupid, they were supportive after the chief finished with them. The paranormal bar he went to would be supportive too, but sometimes he needed his human brotherhood.
As soon as he strolled in, he spotted Ralph Benjamin and Mike Kelly at the bar. They waved him over.
“I’m glad you came in. You saved me a trip,” Benjamin said.
“A trip where?”
“Your place. That crazy chick who got you suspended came by and dropped something off for you.”
“Yeah?” His heart leaped. Maybe I haven’t lost her after all! He had saved some hot women before, but none of them came to the firehouse bearing gifts. It was usually the blue-haired grannies who brought in homemade cookies or pies.
Ralph reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope.
Oh. Just a friggin’ card. I guess she doesn’t bake. He opened it and focused on the bright design. It was a fire-breathing dragon. Holy shit. Is she psychic or did she really see me through the smoke? Either way, she didn’t seem terrified. Maybe she was worth getting suspended for.
With some trepidation, he opened it. A smile spread across his face as he read: “I know it’s your job and I’m sure you’re not braggin’, but I felt like a knob as you slew my dragon. You saved my ass and I’ll never forget it. I ran into yours and I don’t regret it. I’m sorry I sent you into harm’s way. You’re so my hero and I hope you’re okay.” It was signed, “Sincerely, Bliss.” Beneath that it said, “Please pardon the terrible rhyme. It was the best I could do with limited time.”
He tucked the card and envelope into his shirt pocket.
“She said it was an apology.”
“Yeah, it was.” And maybe a little more. The hope of finding a woman who could handle his dragon identity sprang to life like an ember coaxed back into a burning flame.
“Did she say where she was staying?”
“Said she had to move back in with her parents.”
“Where do they live?”
“Don’t know.”
“Did she mention their names?”
“Nope.”
Damn. “Did she say anything else?”
“She wanted to speak to the chief and take the blame for what you did, but I told her it wouldn’t help. She just rushed off after that.”
“Did you see where she went?”
“Sorry, no.”
***
Finally back to work, Drake had promised the chief that he’d stop taking stupid chances. The one-week suspension had seemed like a month. He grabbed a cup of coffee in the fire station’s kitchen and leaned against the counter.
“That’s been there since this morning,” Mike said.
“That’s one good thing about staying home for a few days. Decent coffee.”
“So how’s the computer dating thing going?” Ralph asked.
Drake was beginning to regret ever telling the guys how he’d spent his time off. “It was a stupid idea. Nothing came of it.”
“Why not? Were you asking for a Victoria’s Secret model who’s a brain surgeon in her spare time?”
Drake chuckled. “No. Nothing like that.” It’d be easier to find a neurosurgeon lingerie model than a female dragon.
He could picture the brunette as a model. She was tall, though not as tall as he was. He hadn’t seen her in heels, only bare feet, but she might be close to his six feet if she wore four-inch stilettos.
He couldn’t believe he’d caught himself thinking about her for the umpteenth time. If only I could find her. But it seemed hopeless.