Kindling Embers by Carrie Daws

Author:Carrie Daws
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998167831
Publisher: Immeasurable Works

Chapter 5

Wednesday, October 28th

* * *

The trunks of the loblolly pine trees along the dirt driveway opposite the house were black. “That’s not a good sign,” Cassandra muttered as she parked her Tahoe behind Chief’s Dodge. Grabbing her hardhat and camera, she stepped out of her truck, leaves crunching under her boots. She paused at the ambulance to check on the firemen.

“Caramel crunch!”

Cassandra looked at Kelan. “What?”

“Don’t like it?”

His smirk was irritating. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She set her helmet down on the back of the ambulance to pull her hair into a low ponytail, turning into the wind to make it easier.

“Eyes,” said one of the firemen from Mill River Fire Department, sitting in recovery drinking water.

“You think?” said another.

Kelan nodded. “Definitely. And caramel’s one of my favorite treats.” He waggled his eyebrows a couple of times, bringing snickers from the other two men.

“You guys picking on my girl?”

An arm went around Cassandra’s shoulders, and she turned her head to see Travis, her least favorite fireman from Beaver Creek standing beside her. It wasn’t that he’d ever done anything to her, but he liked to drink on his downtime, and she’d had enough of alcohol with a close friend in high school.

She threw off his arm and took a step sideways. “I think this fire’s messed with all your brains. I’m no one’s girl.”

“What do you think, Travis?” said Kelan. “What color are the lassie’s eyes?”

Travis didn’t even have to look. “Brown.”

“This is about my eyes?” Cassandra gaped at Kelan before glaring at each of the firefighters.

“Nah,” said Kelan. “Brown’s too boring for a girl like our fire inspector here.”

“Caramel’s a color?” said one of the firemen, crunching his empty water bottle into a ball. “I thought it was just a food.”

“But why crunch?” said the other fireman as he stood, pulling his turnout gear back on.

“Because our girl isn’t just smooth and easy as plain caramel.” Kelan winked at them. “She’s full of something a bit more satisfying.”

“I think brown’s a fine color,” muttered Travis.

Nothing kind came to Cassandra’s mind. She realized she was standing there with her mouth wide open, so she snapped it shut and snatched her hat off the back of the ambulance. Turning on her heel, she mumbled the only non-abusive thing she could think of. “I’ve got work to do.”

Kelan’s chuckle echoed in her ears as she left.

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