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I’ll drive you, cuz.”
    “No.” He climbed out of the truck right
behind Zach. “I’m going back to the fire station with the
group.”
    Thankfully, it had taken the specialty crew a
half hour to break through the last layers of rock and sludge to
open up the basement. Once Gabe and Rachel had realized what was
happening, they’d had time to dress. Now, back in the real world of
their jobs, she couldn’t believe the impulse they’d acted on.
    Tony helped Rachel down from the truck and
she leaned into his hug. Then she saw a black Mercedes pull into
the parking lot.
This
was all she needed. Slamming the
door, her father exited the car, and even though their daughter
could have died a few hours ago, her mother waited for him to open
the passenger side. Both tall and slim, they were dressed in
country club casual. Their strides were purposeful as they
approached her.
    The equipment was loaded onto the rigs, and
other crews were beginning salvage and overhaul to clean up the
building, but Henry Wellington was oblivious to the commotion. “I
cannot
believe
this! Are you satisfied now, Rachel Anne?
You’ve ruined our vacation and almost got yourself killed.”
    Rachel was stupefied by his outburst. The
adrenaline rush of being saved was wearing off, and her knees went
weak. “Please, Father, not now.” And not in front of her squad.
    Catherine moved in close and put her hand on
Rachel’s arm. “Are you really all right, dear? You gave me quite a
fright.”
    “I’m fine, Mother. I’m going back to the
firehouse to get my car and go home.”
    “Nonsense.” Her father again. “We called
Madison. He’s meeting us at our house to check you out.” Madison
King was a doctor friend they socialized with. Her parents knew not
only medical personnel, but lawyers, judges, TV personalities, who
were at their beck and call.
    “No, thanks. I want to go home.”
    “I won’t have this!” her father stated. Some
of the huge lights set up suddenly went out, casting him into
partial darkness.
    Gabe stepped to up her side. “Mr. & Mrs.
Wellington. I’m Captain Malvaso, Rachel’s supervising officer. I
assure you our paramedics have checked us both out, and we’re fine.
All Firefighter Wellington needs is some rest. Now, if you’ll
excuse us, she’s required to come back on the truck to debrief.”
Turning, he took Rachel by the elbow and led her to the rescue rig,
leaving Henry Wellington sputtering behind them.
    Bending his head, he spoke into her ear.
“Don’t look back; they’ll go away.”
    “Th-thanks, Gabe. I don’t stand up to them
well.”
    “So I saw.”
    Before they reached the rig, she stopped and
touched his shoulder. “We have to talk, Gabe.”
    He stepped away immediately, so different
from the man who’d touched her, sank his body into hers and
relished her response to him. His face was set in hard planes and
angles. Gone was the tenderness and care with which he’d made love
to her. “Oh, God, no. Let’s forget what happened.”
    Though his curt comment cut her to the quick,
she’d be damned if she let it show. Firefighters were good at
blocking. They had to be. “I see. Like, what happened in the
basement stays in the basement?”
    “Um, yeah, I guess.”
    Unaware of what she was interrupting, Felicia
approached them and slipped her arm through Rachel’s. “Come on
girlfriend, let’s go home.”
    Brody looped his arm around Gabe’s neck.
“We’re gonna take you out to celebrate.”
    They all piled into the rig and took up their
assigned positions—Gabe in front with Sydney, who was driving,
Rachel in the middle seat between Tony and Brody, Felicia in the
back with Syd. After a minute, Tony put his hand over hers, where
it rested on the seat. Brody did the same on the other side.
    “Jesus, we were afraid…” Brody began.
    “I know, buddy. So were we.”
    Which was why she’d acted so inappropriately,
she thought. Now that she’d calmed down, she realized the last
thing females