Ring of Fire Read Online Free PDF

a guy liked a striking woman rather than a pretty one, which he just happened to. He narrowed his eyes. There was something familiar about those calm, confident eyes....
    It hit him. “Oh, crap. You’re the firefighter.”
    As she nodded, the boy said, “She’s the chief! And you said a bad word.”
    The chief. Pretty impressive. He glanced at the kid. “Sorry about the cussing.” Then he squared his shoulders and faced the woman again. How humiliating. Here she was, a fire chief, and she’d seen him at his weakest: a one-legged soldier who couldn’t save himself from a burning building. Gruffly, he said, “I owe you my life, ma’am.”
    â€œMom? Mom?” the boy demanded.
    She didn’t turn to her son, but instead said to Eric, “It’s my job.” She paused, and then added evenly, “I’d guess that’s something you know a lot about, soldier.” Her eyes were as dark and rich as strong black coffee as they gazed steadily into his own, and maybe beyond. He didn’t read pity. Nor judgment. And he felt something so unfamiliar he had trouble recognizing it. Could it be . . . peace?
    The boy’s voice broke in again. “Mom? You saved his life?”
    She gave the kid a quick smile. “It was no big deal.”
    No big deal, except that Eric might well have died but for her toting him out of the flames. Guessing she didn’t want to emphasize the dangerous nature of her work in front of her son, he said, “Well, I’m very grateful all the same, ma’am. If there’s ever anything I can do for you, let me know.”
    â€œYou could stop calling me ‘ma’am’ for a start. You make me feel older than the hills. My name’s Lark.”
    He had to grin. She was a long way off old. “Sorry. Military habit.”
    â€œYou’re a civilian now.”
    His shoulders tensed. “No, ma’am. I mean Lark.” He refused to accept any identity other than that as a soldier, even if he was currently on Leave Without Pay. During the initial stages of his rehabilitation, he had served at Land Force Central Area in Toronto. He’d been in pain, limping, had needed another surgery, was trying out a prosthetic leg that hadn’t worked well for him. Other soldiers had eyed him with pity or avoided him as if amputation was contagious—or a reminder that something bad could happen to any of them. He’d toughed it out, grown steadily stronger, then gradually come to the realization that the thing holding him back was PTSD.
    The last thing he wanted on his record was a medical assessment saying he wasn’t combat ready. Instead, he’d requested, and been granted, LWOP. The Armed Forces still covered his medical expenses and God knows he’d saved up enough money over the years, even on a soldier’s low rate of pay, to cover his minimal living expenses and devote all his time and energy to rehab. “I’m still a soldier, and I’ll be returning to duty soon.”
    â€œOh.” Her brows rose. “I didn’t realize.”
    â€œI’m Jayden,” the boy announced firmly, obviously fed up with being ignored.
    Eric turned to him. “I’m Eric. Nice to meet you, Jayden.” Not knowing the boy’s capabilities, he didn’t hold out his hand.
    The kid did, though, and Eric shook it carefully. The boy’s grip was weak, but he made up for that with enthusiasm.
    â€œI’ve been riding for two months!” Jayden said. His speech was just slightly slurred, but still easily comprehensible. “I was kind of nervous the first time, but it’s so much fun! Sally’s the best teacher and I canhelpyoutooand—”
    â€œJayden.” Lark’s voice cut in firmly. “Slow down.”
    Eric bit back a smile.
    The kid, who was pretty cute with his little-boy tumble of dark brown hair and his wide, sparkly brown eyes, said,