Love is a Fire Read online

  She stepped lightly to his bed and gave her smile that put everyone at ease, even a proby firefighter who almost burnt his arm off. Her hand touched his softly as she spoke, “Hi Patrick. I’m Dr. Malone. Are you feeling any pain?” She asked this, knowing there was no way he could with all the pain meds he was on.

  He shook his head no. The other firefighter stepped up to the bed. She tried to ignore him, his T-shirt and blazing blue eyes were too much of a distraction.

  “You have third degree burns over almost fifty percent of your left arm and torso. We’re going to let your body take some time to heal and in a day or two, we’ll do a skin graft.”

  He nodded as though he understood, but she knew he was so high that he didn’t have any idea where he even was.

  The other firefighter asked, “Are there any risks with the skin graft?”

  His question surprised her. It was his first question and it wasn’t how long he would be out. That was always the first question most macho men asked.

  She answered, “There’s always risk with any procedure. This one includes bleeding, infection, and scarring to name a few. He’ll need to take some precautions, but the recovery is usually about two-three weeks.”

  Patrick, oblivious to what she just said, looked at Katy and grinned. “Look, Garrity, K.O. she really—” He pointed at her lab coat practically feeling her up.

  Garrity grabbed his hand and nodded. “Yeah, Doyle, K.O.” He looked at Katy apologetically and with a smile asked, “What does it stand for?”

  Once again, this virile firefighter took Katy by surprise. She felt her cheeks flush slightly as she answered, “Katherine Olivia.”

  Garrity’s smile changed and got a little bigger. “Katherine Olivia…I like that.”

  Katy felt butterflies in her stomach and her cheeks burned a bright red. She excused herself and stepped outside of the room. She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure what just happened, but it had been a long time since a man made her feel all hot and bothered like this. She took a deep breath to try and slow her pulse. She almost jumped out of her skin when she felt a warm hand on her arm.

  “Sorry! I didn’t mean to startle you,” the sexy firefighter said to her.

  Katy shook her head trying to regain her composure. She could feel the warmth of where Garrity’s hand touched her spread throughout her whole body. She took a step back to put some space between them.

  Garrity cracked a smile. “I was wondering what time you got off. I would love to take you to breakfast to thank you for saving our proby.”

  Her palms were sweating as she shook her head. “No need to do that. I was just doing my job.”

  Garrity stepped closer to her, his hips just inches away from her. Katy glanced down and her mind wandered to places it shouldn’t. He touched her arm again as she bit her lip nervously. “I know it’s your job, but I’d really like to show you my appreciation and get to know you better.”

  His appreciation? Get to know her better? Katy’s mind was racing, it had been so long since she’d been with a man, but no, she couldn’t. Especially not a firefighter. She looked up at his face with his grin, he sensed he was having an effect on her. She knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer. She stepped to the side of him and quickly muttered, “Maybe” and rushed down the hallway.

  ***

  As Katy turned the corner, she saw Tiffany leaving a patient’s room. She grabbed her by the arm and yanked her into the supply closet.

  “Ow, ow, ow, ow!” Tiffany moaned rubbing her forearm as Katy shut the door and released her. Katy mumbled a quick apology and then in a rush of words told Tiffany everything that happened in one breath.

  Tiffany grinned. “So basically, you think he’s hot and want to get some action?”

  “NO!” Katy blurted out a little too fast. “I mean, yes, he’s good looking but, Tiff, you know I can’t take that pain anymore.”

  “First off, not every man in your life is going to die on you. Second, breakfast and maybe some ‘fun’ doesn’t mean you’re in love or having a committed relationship. Besides, what you really need to worry about is Jeremiah finding out. Remember when you had coffee with Dr. Wheeler?”

  How could she forget? She and Dr. Wheeler had just completed a successful fifteen hour surgery. In that amount of time, you really get to know someone. He wanted to discuss her thoughts on the technique he’d used so they decided to grab some coffee. Apparently, Jeremiah had been observing the entire fifteen hours and thought the two of them were flirting. He showed up at the diner where they were celebrating over a cup of joe. He invited himself to join them for the rest of their outing. Katy had never been so mortified in her life and neither she nor Jeremiah had been asked on his service again.

  Katy bit her lip pondering what she should do. Then the door opened and Jeremiah stuck his head in. “What are you two ladies discussing?”

  Tiffany shrugged. “Kit Kat’s debating whether or not to accept an invitation to breakfast.” She walked around Jeremiah and left the room. He stepped in and closed the door behind him, eyebrow raised he inquired, “With whom?”

  Katy’s cheeks felt warm as she shrugged and bit her lip. “Tiff wants to try this new restaurant and I say it’s too far away.” She watched his face to see if he bought it.

  He put his hands on her hips and looked into her eyes. “Knockout, I’m sorry about stealing that case from you earlier. I try to give you a head start, but I can’t make things too obvious.”

  As his hands rested on her hips, she remembered how it felt when Garrity touched her arm. It wasn’t nearly as sensual as the way Jeremiah was touching her now, but her heart raced when she felt Garrity’s hand on her. When Jeremiah spoke, she realized he didn’t have the same effect on her. She leaned up and lightly touched her lips to his which he took as an invitation for more. He pushed his hips against her pinning her to the door and his tongue parted her lips as he gladly kissed her. Nothing. She felt nothing. She would always love him, but she knew it would never be the same between them again.

  She broke the kiss and responded, “I can hold my own.” She opened the door and walked out knowing she had the upper hand as he stood in the closet alone.

  ***

  Katy buttoned her jeans and pulled on a sweater at the end of her shift. As she sat down to put on her boots, Tiffany snuck in and sat beside her. Typically, the nurses stayed in their lounge and the doctors in theirs. The two women had crossed “battle lines” when they secured their friendship years ago.

  As a first year intern, Katy had mixed-up patient charts and Tiffany saved her career. Katy had repaid the favor shortly thereafter when Tiffany overslept after a late night with her boyfriend at the time by checking in on all of her patients plus her own until Tiffany arrived. Everyone was used to the two of them being inseparably especially after the “end of the end” as everyone referred to Jeremiah’s and Katy’s break-up.

  Tiffany nudged her. “So…”

  Katy looked at her blankly. “What?”

  Tiff gave her a “don’t play dumb with me” look and said, “Fine, I can play this game.” She paused and then smiled. “What color is your bra?”

  Katy started to giggle. “I’m going home, not to breakfast, not to the fire station. I will not pass GO!, I will not collect $200.”

  Tiffany reached over and tugged Katy’s sweater off her shoulder. “HA-black! Yeah right, do not pass GO!”

  Katy stood and laughed as she pulled on her coat. She leaned over and kissed Tiffany’s forehead. “It’s what I had packed; today is laundry day. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She walked out the ER doors into much warmer temps than when she arrived yesterday. As she walked towards the parking lot, she thought maybe she’d stop by Central Park for a quick run before heading home.

  She fumbled through her purse searching for her keys, her mind lost in thought trying to decide whether to run five miles or go for seven. She didn’t notice the firefighter wal
king towards her. As she pulled her keys out and looked up, the broad shouldered Garrity stood in front of her smiling. “I know a great diner that serves the best omelets,” he said. She fumbled with her keys, dropping them to the ground.

  She tried to quickly think of a reason why she couldn’t go and then she saw Jeremiah walking toward them. He hadn’t seen them yet. She picked up the keys and tossed them to Garrity as she said, “You drive.”

  3 CHAPTER THREE

  Garrity, Nick Garrity, since he’d finally introduced himself, talked about the omelets the whole way to the diner.

  “You can get anything you want in them: mushrooms, sausage, onions, peppers…”

  Katy nodded as he listed off every possible omelet ingredient she’d ever heard of, relieved he seemed just as nervous as she felt. Luckily, the restaurant was only a few blocks away. He parked her car, got out, and ran to her side to open the door. Katy smiled at his chivalry.

  On the drive over, she decided to stop being so scared of a breakfast and to make the best of it. After all, it had been awhile since she’d had a meal without someone in the medical field. This might actually be enjoyable since the conversation probably wouldn’t involve discussion of internal organs of any kind.

  It was a cute diner, hidden off a side street. It was decorated in a fifties-style decor with a black and white tile floor and a jukebox in the corner. The place probably only sat twenty people max. Katy had been here before with her father. They used to meet each other at this very same place for breakfast when they both finished their shifts. Katy would always order for her father, but the waitress would add extra cheese and a side of bacon to his. Her father showed his gratitude with a good tip. He knew his daughter was trying to keep him healthy, but he never did acquire the taste for health food.

  As the familiar waitress approached their table, Katy hoped that she didn’t recognize her as she really didn’t want to discuss her father in front of Nick. Katy sat facing the door while Nick slid in the booth across from her. Nick paid careful attention as she gave specific instructions. She ordered her coffee black, no cream, no sugar. When Carla came to take their order, Katy requested an egg white only omelet with veggies and a side of fruit. As she finished, she saw Nick grinning.

  “What?” Katy asked confused.

  He shook his head. Then he looked at the waitress and ordered the same thing.

  Nick sipped his own cup of plain coffee. “I’m not used to eating with someone who actually eats healthy. My crew usually drowns all their meals in either cheese, ranch dressing or gravy.”

  Katy raised an eyebrow then said, “And they top it off with a smoke for dessert?”

  Nick laughed. “Exactly! I hate how much the guys smoke, but it keeps most of them out of the weight room at the station so at least I get that to myself.”

  Katy gave a soft smile and said, “I figured you knew better than to smoke.”

  Nick nodded. “Of course, I work hard to keep my body looking this good.” He laughed at his own joke before he asked, “Tell me, what do you do to stay in shape?”

  She savored her coffee before she answered. “I usually run at least five miles a day. I was thinking of stopping by Central Park since the weather warmed up.” As soon as she said it, she realized it sounded like an invitation. She was enjoying Nick’s company, but this was strictly breakfast.

  “Wow, five miles? I think I could hang. I’ll join you if you don’t mind.”

  “Sure, if you can keep up.” She narrowed her eyes as she lifted her eyebrow and took another sip of her coffee. What was she doing? First, she invited him to spend more time with her and now she was flirting? She needed to get her hormones in check and fast.

  ***

  After breakfast, he drove them to his house. He changed in his bedroom while she put on her running clothes in the bathroom. She was shocked by how neat and tidy his house was. The toilet lid was down and the towels were hung up. She pulled on her running tights and hoodie. She stepped out of the bathroom and looked around his house. She peeked into the kitchen. There wasn’t a single dish in the sink. She thought to herself, he must live with his mother.

  She sat down on the couch to put on her running shoes. As she laced them up, she asked, “So who do you live here with?”

  He walked out of his bedroom in black Under Armour running pants and a matching red hoodie. “Just me, myself and I.” The pants stretched over his muscular thighs and Katy wondered what it would feel like to be between them. As she thought this, she felt her cheeks heat up.

  He sat beside her, only a few inches between them. His gaze rested on her red cheeks. He reached over and lightly touched her face. “What’s wrong? Is it too warm in here?”

  She felt the heat from his hand race throughout the rest of her body. She jumped up. “Yeah, just a little warm with all this gear on. Let’s get out there.” She headed to the door and felt his eyes glued on her.

  She glanced over her shoulder and caught him staring at her pants this time. She smiled as he stood up and readjusted himself. He grinned as he said, “Let’s do this.”

  ***

  They had reached the four mile mark and Katy was just getting warmed up. Nick had kept up her with the first two miles, trying to make small talk. Katy didn’t want to tire out by talking so she nodded here and there. By the third mile, Nick commented that he needed to do more cardio and less weights. At mile three and a half, he fell behind. He wished he could say it was because he was checking her out, which he was enjoying the view, but his pulse was already racing because he was running out of steam.

  At mile four, Katy turned around as he lagged fifty feet back. She was going to ask if he wanted to push their run to seven miles, but seeing him huffing and puffing, she figured she already knew the answer. She jogged in place until he caught up. He saw her waiting and slowed to walk. Smirking, she questioned, “Thought you could hang for five miles?”

  In between breaths, he mumbled, “I…didn’t…know we were…going to be…running record pace.”

  Katy laughed. “Come on, macho man, it’s barely a seven minute mile.” She playfully punched his arm giving him a hard time.

  Nick stood up having caught his breath. “Macho man, huh?” He reached out and in one swipe picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

  Katy giggled as he carried her down the path then set her down. It was the second time in the span of a few hours that she’d laughed like a schoolgirl which was two times more than the past two years. As her feet touched the ground, he let his hands linger on her waist. Even though they’d just met, they both the chemistry between them was undeniable.

  Standing almost a foot taller than her, he leaned down to get a better look at her face. Katy’s heart did a somersault as she thought that he was going to kiss her. She jumped back stepping on a patch of ice. She looked like a cartoon character as her feet skidded and she ran in place trying to get her balance. Nick reached out to steady her and as she leaned into him, he caught the ice patch too. They both landed in a puddle of ice cold water.

  Nick landed on his back with Katy on top of him. He had his arms wrapped around her tightly and despite the fact that the water was Arctic temperatures, she felt warm all over as she lay on him. She enjoyed the safety of his arms around her and her hormones were going crazy as she took in his scent. He was definitely wearing Paul Sebastian, it was a scent she had grown accustomed to since it was the cologne Jeremiah wore. As Katy lay on top of him reminiscing, she felt him shake her frantically.

  “Katy, Katy, are you okay? Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry. That was my fault.” Katy snapped back to reality. She realized she had him pinned down in the freezing water, although he was twice her size and could have moved her at any time he wanted.

  She jumped up and offered her hand to him apologizing. He stood up laughing and pulled her into his arms, rubbing his hands up and down her arms trying to warm her up. “Was that your plan? Bring me to the park and take advantage of me?” he teased.
r />   She stood in their embrace thinking she could get used to being in his arms and then pulled back. “I’m sorry, Nick, but I can’t do this.”

  He looked at her confused. “Do what?”

  “This. It’s just that…I don’t date. Especially not firefighters.”

  He nodded. “I see.” She saw him grimace as she said that. He hesitated for a second then said, “Let’s go back to my place so you can change into some dry clothes.”

  Katy started to object but she knew he was right. If they didn’t both change soon, they’d risk hypothermia along with too many other risks that she was too tired to think about. They ran the last mile and rode back to his house in silence.

  ***

  Katy stepped out of the hot shower and picked up a towel. Mmm, it felt like it had just come out of the dryer. She looked on the counter and saw a men’s long-sleeve T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that Nick had laid out for her. She knew she should put on her own clothes and leave, but the clothes looked so warm and she had barely gotten any sleep on her shift the night before.

  She towel dried her hair and walked into Nick’s living room in his oversized T-shirt and sweatpants rolled around her waist ten times. She heard him in the kitchen and leaned against the doorway as she watched him in a pair of athletic pants and no shirt. She stood there for a couple minutes wanting to walk up behind him and slide her arms around his torso. She noticed a tattoo on his left bicep and walked closer to get a better look. She recognized it right away, it was the FDNY crest with the Gaelic phrases “Fir Na Tine” above it and “Braithre thar Gach Ni” below, underneath that was the name “Ryan Garrity.” She thought maybe she should give dating another chance, but when she saw that name, not even knowing who it was, she knew dating a fireman was too risky.

  Nick turned around and saw her enter the room. “Hey you! Warmed up? I stuck your towel in the dryer while you were in the shower.”