Read Online Sweet Montana Christmas by Casey Dawes - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Casey Dawes
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Seattle appear to be escalating an argument that started on the plane.”
Zach pounded up the stairs to the second floor, his equipment jangling from the rush.
At last, something to break the monotony.
“You took the last vegetarian sandwich.” A slender gray-haired woman in a lavender pantsuit pointed an accusing finger at a slightly overweight, florid man. “You know I don’t eat meat, George. How could you do that to me?”
“Marsha, I didn’t do it deliberately. My stomach’s been acting up again.”
How could a grown man sound like a two-year-old? Sue Anne wasn’t the only one with strange ways of thinking.
“Your stomach is giving you trouble because you overeat and drink too much.” The finger jabbed his rotund belly. “You’re going to go and die on me. Then what am I going to do?”
“Spend the life insurance?” he suggested with a wry smile.
Marsha stopped jabbing. The muscles in her face twitched, as if she was holding back a smile. She lost the battle.
“You’re an idiot.” She put her arms around him. “I love you. But I’m worried. You need to take better care of yourself. I don’t want to be spending your life insurance without you.”
“Well, that’s going to be very difficult, isn’t it, dear?” He put his arm around her and led her toward the stairs.
They were totally oblivious to the team of security officers nearby.
Zach grinned at the other two members of his squad.
“That was easy,” Pat said, answering the smile with one of his own. “I wish they all could be like that.”
“Yeah.” For a moment Zach forgot Pat was supposed to be his rival. “Wonder what it would be like to have a relationship like that.”
“Bet it took time. I know you have to stick through the tough times as well as the good ones, but I’m going to get a chance to find out. My girlfriend is selling her business and moving down here to be with me.” Pat smiled.
“Congratulations.” The two men fell in step on their way back to the squad room, something about what Pat had just said nagging at Zach.
“Excuse me.” A young woman in boots and jeans hailed them. “I can’t seem to find my luggage. Where do I report that?”
“Let me show you,” Pat said. After a quick grin at Zach, he led the young woman to the back of the terminal.
Zach shook his head and headed back to the squad room. It was time to go over the fire truck and make sure everything was clean and in order.
As he detailed the inside of the cab, the friendly conversation replayed in his mind. The chief was right—he was being a jerk. Pat was a nice enough guy. Working as a team was important. He’d learned that in Denver but apparently not well enough. As soon as he’d made his mistake, the team had turned on him.
Still, he needed to get past his knee-jerk reaction that the men didn’t respect him because of his failure. No one had treated him badly.
All he had to do was pay attention to his job and avoid overwhelming distractions.
Like pretty women in candy shops.
Not happening, dude.
Great. Now his libido had a voice of its own.
Well, they didn’t have to do anything
serious
, did they?
He Q-tipped the radio, examining his work when he was done. He’d never admit it to anyone, but he had a deep sense of satisfaction when the equipment sparkled and everything was stowed in an orderly fashion. A sense of control when his world seemed out of whack. He’d had enough emergencies to know the critical importance of reaching for something and finding the item in working condition where it was supposed to be.
That’s what he’d liked best about Erin. As a nurse, she’d shared his need for order. But she’d never totally believed he loved her. Reassurances were a regular part of their life. That’s why he’d phoned her the day of the test.
It was his fault he’d missed the call, and he’d blamed her for her neediness, hitting her where it hurt. Their fights had escalated, and he’d finally moved out.
Zach pounded up the stairs to the second floor, his equipment jangling from the rush.
At last, something to break the monotony.
“You took the last vegetarian sandwich.” A slender gray-haired woman in a lavender pantsuit pointed an accusing finger at a slightly overweight, florid man. “You know I don’t eat meat, George. How could you do that to me?”
“Marsha, I didn’t do it deliberately. My stomach’s been acting up again.”
How could a grown man sound like a two-year-old? Sue Anne wasn’t the only one with strange ways of thinking.
“Your stomach is giving you trouble because you overeat and drink too much.” The finger jabbed his rotund belly. “You’re going to go and die on me. Then what am I going to do?”
“Spend the life insurance?” he suggested with a wry smile.
Marsha stopped jabbing. The muscles in her face twitched, as if she was holding back a smile. She lost the battle.
“You’re an idiot.” She put her arms around him. “I love you. But I’m worried. You need to take better care of yourself. I don’t want to be spending your life insurance without you.”
“Well, that’s going to be very difficult, isn’t it, dear?” He put his arm around her and led her toward the stairs.
They were totally oblivious to the team of security officers nearby.
Zach grinned at the other two members of his squad.
“That was easy,” Pat said, answering the smile with one of his own. “I wish they all could be like that.”
“Yeah.” For a moment Zach forgot Pat was supposed to be his rival. “Wonder what it would be like to have a relationship like that.”
“Bet it took time. I know you have to stick through the tough times as well as the good ones, but I’m going to get a chance to find out. My girlfriend is selling her business and moving down here to be with me.” Pat smiled.
“Congratulations.” The two men fell in step on their way back to the squad room, something about what Pat had just said nagging at Zach.
“Excuse me.” A young woman in boots and jeans hailed them. “I can’t seem to find my luggage. Where do I report that?”
“Let me show you,” Pat said. After a quick grin at Zach, he led the young woman to the back of the terminal.
Zach shook his head and headed back to the squad room. It was time to go over the fire truck and make sure everything was clean and in order.
As he detailed the inside of the cab, the friendly conversation replayed in his mind. The chief was right—he was being a jerk. Pat was a nice enough guy. Working as a team was important. He’d learned that in Denver but apparently not well enough. As soon as he’d made his mistake, the team had turned on him.
Still, he needed to get past his knee-jerk reaction that the men didn’t respect him because of his failure. No one had treated him badly.
All he had to do was pay attention to his job and avoid overwhelming distractions.
Like pretty women in candy shops.
Not happening, dude.
Great. Now his libido had a voice of its own.
Well, they didn’t have to do anything
serious
, did they?
He Q-tipped the radio, examining his work when he was done. He’d never admit it to anyone, but he had a deep sense of satisfaction when the equipment sparkled and everything was stowed in an orderly fashion. A sense of control when his world seemed out of whack. He’d had enough emergencies to know the critical importance of reaching for something and finding the item in working condition where it was supposed to be.
That’s what he’d liked best about Erin. As a nurse, she’d shared his need for order. But she’d never totally believed he loved her. Reassurances were a regular part of their life. That’s why he’d phoned her the day of the test.
It was his fault he’d missed the call, and he’d blamed her for her neediness, hitting her where it hurt. Their fights had escalated, and he’d finally moved out.
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