Spark & Blaze (A Guns & Hoses Novel) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Tampa for three weeks. He knew the area around his house in North Tampa and was thrilled when he stumbled across the bar and grill that also doubled as a pool hall. He loved playing pool almost as much as he loved to dance. Well, okay, no, that was a lie. He loved to dance more.
    He should have just taken his ass down to Ybor and explored the area last night to find a good club to dance. Evan hadn’t been dancing since before Fire College and his body was itching to dance after the last four months.
    Tomorrow night I’m going to scout a club in Ybor and dance , Evan vowed with a sigh as he pulled into the firehouse parking lot. The emerald green Camaro SS with the black racing stripes was already backed into a spot and parked next to a jacked up F150.
    Shit, Malone is already here .
    The only open space in the lot that wasn’t blocked off by an orange cone or marked reserved was right next to the sweet Camaro. Evan carefully backed his Ford Ranger in next to Malone’s Camaro and sighed.
    Work today was not likely to be fun. He knew he needed to change the opinion his co-workers might have about him because of the shit that went down last shift. He also knew that the first step in order to make that happen would involve engaging Malone in conversation.
    Malone was the last person that he wanted to be around. He was still pissed that the older firefighter prevented them from clearing the club Shadows. The news informed him that the patrons of the club had all made it out to safety before the building was totally consumed by the fire. Still, they hadn’t known that no one was still inside when Malone made them pull out. Evan was relieved when Bay News 9 reported that there were no fatalities, but that information hadn’t dampened his anger toward Malone.
    Evan took a deep breath and hit the alarm on his key fob when he lifted his hand over his shoulder while he made his way toward the back door of the station. He stepped into the rec room that resembled a living room.
    Two couches and two chairs were arranged to face a TV. The TV was an old tube type. Probably one of the last high-tech models before flat screens became the norm. There was no wall to separate the rec area from the couches and the kitchen. The only separation between the two spaces was a long wooden table with benches on both sides. There was plenty of room for the seven firefighters and the paramedic EMT combo that responded to the scenes in the ambulance.
    No one paid him any mind when he entered the room. Shift change was always a bit chaotic from what he had experienced so far, so he wasn’t surprised when no one noticed him while he headed for the stairs that led up to the second floor where the bunks and shower room were located.
    Evan was just about to drop his bag on top of an empty, unclaimed, bunk when a quiet noise made him turn. Malone was walking out of the bathroom area. He had a shaving kit bag in his hand and met Evan’s stare. Malone’s gaze was neutral, as if waiting to see what Evan was going to say before deciding on whether to frown or scowl. Evan said nothing while he watched Malone step closer.
    Somehow, Evan had never realized how much larger Malone was than he. Of course, he had noticed that Malone had a few inches on his 6’, but his co-workers chest was almost twice as broad as his own. Malone’s biceps were equally large as were his thighs. The dark blue polyester work pants and the light gray TFR T-shirt did nothing to hide how buff the man was.
    He hadn’t noticed their size difference on the first shift he had worked with the man. They had only barely interacted on medical calls on Evan’s first day and somehow it wasn’t until last shift when he saw Malone in his bunker gear, that he considered the man’s size.
    Bullshit , Evan told himself because he knew seeing Malone in his bunker gear had nothing to do with noticing how much larger the guy was compared to his own substantial height and frame. Malone hadn’t caught