Read Online Too Near the Fire by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online
Authors: Lindsay McKenna
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couldn’t help laughing. “Do you always say the right thing, Gil Gerard, or did you memorize the list before you came to pick me up?”
“Neither. I just happen to believe in honesty and positive reinforcement.”
“I see. Positive strokes instead of negative ones. Well, that’s probably why you’re such a good fire officer. You say the right thing at the right time to get the best performance out of people.”
He shrugged. “Maybe. I wasn’t born with it, you know. I’ve learned a lot about people over the years.”
“So have I.”
“Oh? What did you learn?”
She hesitated and then blurted, “That I’m a misfit, I suppose.”
“Hmm, why do you say it with such distaste? I like the fact that you’re different.”
She laughed, covering her bitterness. “I’m a maverick, in case you haven’t noticed. I don’t belong in a woman’s world and I don’t belong in a man’s.”
Gil shrugged. If he was affected by her sudden seriousness and the pain evident in her voice, he made no sign of it. Instead he smiled. “You’re one of the new breed of women, Leah. And I would think that being a leader in that sense has some pretty heavy emotional responsibilities. And you know something? I think your kind is a pretty interesting and provocative addition. You have brains, aggressiveness, and good looks to boot. Not a bad combination for someone who calls herself a misfit.”
“Then you’re as much a misfit as I am if you’re so gung ho on the new breed of women,” she growled, trying to recover from his point-blank compliment.
“I sort of enjoy being myself,” he said mildly. Then, as if sensing her discomfort, he switched topics. “Any more nosebleeds since last night?”
“No, I’m fine today.”
“Good. You didn’t deserve that punch in the nose after doing such a good job the first time out with us.”
“Do you ever say a nasty thing to anyone?” she asked disbelievingly.
He laughed heartily. “Sure, ask the men down at the station. I’m not all sweetness and light.”
Leah could accept that. She remembered the night of the wreck and the quiet confidence that had emanated from Gil like a beacon of light. Today, however, he was in a teasing mood and would not apologize for it in any way. Maybe she had been under too much pressure for too long. In her effort to make the grade as a fire fighter, she had had no time to enjoy life. It came as a shock that she had forgotten how to laugh, to tease, to joke. She met Gil’s gaze and felt another heavy load slip off her shoulders.
“You must think I’m the most sour woman in the world,” she said softly in apology.
“I think you’ve been under a hell of a strain having to prove yourself down at the academy, go through the nightmare of a court battle to get this job, and now face a third test with the people here at the fire department. It isn’t any wonder you don’t smile very often or laugh. I wouldn’t either under those circumstances.”
“You don’t scare easy, do you, Gil?”
His blue eyes were lively with challenge. “No. Should I be scared of you?”
Leah forced a weak smile. “Listen, with my track record you’re better off keeping your distance.” She didn’t mean to sound hard and brittle.
“Let me be the judge of that,” he returned, catching the anguish in her eyes. “Mind if I pry a little about your past?” he asked softly.
She looked away, unable to stand the compassion in his gaze. Folding her hands tightly in her lap, she muttered, “Am I that transparent?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t give away any of your secrets. They’re safe with me.”
“You’re scaring me, Gil. I’d swear you’re reading my mind.”
“Just your pretty green eyes.”
She moaned, leaning back against the seat and closing her eyes for a moment. “My God, am I that readable? What if the guys down at the station see—”
“Listen to me, Leah. I happen to make a habit of watching eyes, and I can see and read things
“Neither. I just happen to believe in honesty and positive reinforcement.”
“I see. Positive strokes instead of negative ones. Well, that’s probably why you’re such a good fire officer. You say the right thing at the right time to get the best performance out of people.”
He shrugged. “Maybe. I wasn’t born with it, you know. I’ve learned a lot about people over the years.”
“So have I.”
“Oh? What did you learn?”
She hesitated and then blurted, “That I’m a misfit, I suppose.”
“Hmm, why do you say it with such distaste? I like the fact that you’re different.”
She laughed, covering her bitterness. “I’m a maverick, in case you haven’t noticed. I don’t belong in a woman’s world and I don’t belong in a man’s.”
Gil shrugged. If he was affected by her sudden seriousness and the pain evident in her voice, he made no sign of it. Instead he smiled. “You’re one of the new breed of women, Leah. And I would think that being a leader in that sense has some pretty heavy emotional responsibilities. And you know something? I think your kind is a pretty interesting and provocative addition. You have brains, aggressiveness, and good looks to boot. Not a bad combination for someone who calls herself a misfit.”
“Then you’re as much a misfit as I am if you’re so gung ho on the new breed of women,” she growled, trying to recover from his point-blank compliment.
“I sort of enjoy being myself,” he said mildly. Then, as if sensing her discomfort, he switched topics. “Any more nosebleeds since last night?”
“No, I’m fine today.”
“Good. You didn’t deserve that punch in the nose after doing such a good job the first time out with us.”
“Do you ever say a nasty thing to anyone?” she asked disbelievingly.
He laughed heartily. “Sure, ask the men down at the station. I’m not all sweetness and light.”
Leah could accept that. She remembered the night of the wreck and the quiet confidence that had emanated from Gil like a beacon of light. Today, however, he was in a teasing mood and would not apologize for it in any way. Maybe she had been under too much pressure for too long. In her effort to make the grade as a fire fighter, she had had no time to enjoy life. It came as a shock that she had forgotten how to laugh, to tease, to joke. She met Gil’s gaze and felt another heavy load slip off her shoulders.
“You must think I’m the most sour woman in the world,” she said softly in apology.
“I think you’ve been under a hell of a strain having to prove yourself down at the academy, go through the nightmare of a court battle to get this job, and now face a third test with the people here at the fire department. It isn’t any wonder you don’t smile very often or laugh. I wouldn’t either under those circumstances.”
“You don’t scare easy, do you, Gil?”
His blue eyes were lively with challenge. “No. Should I be scared of you?”
Leah forced a weak smile. “Listen, with my track record you’re better off keeping your distance.” She didn’t mean to sound hard and brittle.
“Let me be the judge of that,” he returned, catching the anguish in her eyes. “Mind if I pry a little about your past?” he asked softly.
She looked away, unable to stand the compassion in his gaze. Folding her hands tightly in her lap, she muttered, “Am I that transparent?”
“Don’t worry, I won’t give away any of your secrets. They’re safe with me.”
“You’re scaring me, Gil. I’d swear you’re reading my mind.”
“Just your pretty green eyes.”
She moaned, leaning back against the seat and closing her eyes for a moment. “My God, am I that readable? What if the guys down at the station see—”
“Listen to me, Leah. I happen to make a habit of watching eyes, and I can see and read things
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