Alaska Blaze: Enemies to Lovers Workplace Romance (Blazing Hearts Wildfire Series) by LoLo Paige

Author:LoLo Paige [Paige, LoLo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Avoca Press Publishing
Published: 2023-04-29T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 25

As Cohen stepped outside the next morning, a powerful gust of wind whipped his hair and rustled the papers in his hand. Ominous clouds had crept in, sending purple lightning to the ground. He eyed the thick plume of dark smoke in the distance as the storm blew up the fire.

He’d fallen asleep with Raynie after their lovemaking. He hoped he hadn’t messed things up by spending the night with her. She’d been so peaceful lying there, and he didn’t want to sleep in his own bed. It had been a long time since he’d shared a bed with anyone.

He flagged down Dave Doss as he stepped inside the community center.

“She’s blowing up as expected.”

“We’re hitting it with water drops and mud drops,” Doss informed him. “Tremblay, the agencies have assigned a new state overhead team to take over the command center. They’ve released you and Raynie, so you’ll both be returning to work with the Aurora Crew. Alaska’s senators and the governor are planning a site visit to this fire. The state wants their own IC and overhead team in place by the time the muckety-mucks arrive. It’s political. You understand.”

“Sure, I get it.” Cohen wasn’t surprised and knew better than to take it personally. Project fires often switched command teams. In wildland fire, things changed on a dime.

“I’ll brief the incoming command staff. Then Atwood and I will rejoin the Aurora Crew.”

“Maybe Raynie can get help to coordinate the evacuation plan from Talkeetna,” said Doss. “But in the interim, we need both of you on the fireline.”

“Sure thing,” said Cohen. He spent the next hour briefing the new command staff on how many firefighters were on the fire, aviation activity, and other resources. True to the weather forecast, the winds had blasted the flames toward the rest of the mushing community.

Raynie appeared just as he finished briefing the incoming staff. Cohen pulled her aside, offered her a coffee, and explained the new situation.

“Dang it. Wish we could have worked longer in Command,” said Raynie. “I was just making headway.”

He grinned. “Don’t worry, you still get to work with me.”

Raynie shot him a look. “That isn’t what I mean. I wanted to continue with the evacuation plan.” She backpedaled. “Not that I don’t enjoy working with you. It’s just that I want to see this thing through.”

“Doss wants you to keep working on what you started from Talkeetna. You can do it just as well from there.”

“How can I do that and fight fire?”

“Get someone from the mushing community to help,” he suggested. “You must know mushers in the area?”

Raynie thought for a minute. “Trish at Denali Roadhouse. I know she’d help. She and her husband run dogs.”

“Call her,” he urged. “We’ll be returning to Talkeetna after work today, where you can sleep in your own bed.”

“Like you did?” she quipped, the corners of her mouth edging up.

“Good one, Atwood.” Cohen loved what happened last night but didn’t want to presume anything. Exhausted, he’d fallen asleep and awoke that morning, wrapped around her.

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