Crashed (7 page)

Emily felt warmth settle into her chest as a smile spread across her face. He sounded excited to see her, just as excited as she would be to see him once again.

***

The afternoon had become busy at Station 1. Avery had been running calls all afternoon. Car accidents, a kitchen fire, and of course a strange odor which turned out to be nothing. He was just settling in to order something for dinner when the buzzer for the front entrance alerted the entire station there was someone at the door. He jumped off the couch, hoping no one would notice him scrambling down toward the front of the station.

Tom was right on his heels. “Why are you running for the door? You know who’s there, don’t you?” He continued without batting an eye at Tom.

When Avery got to the door, Captain Sullivan was standing with Emily and another woman he’d never seen before. Their arms overflowed with trays of baked goods, something that must have taken them hours to accomplish. When Emily noticed Avery approaching her, she couldn’t keep her face from lighting up with joy.

“These two young ladies wanted to thank y’all for responding to Miss Taylor’s accident last week,” Captain Sullivan spoke as he winked at Avery. “Firefighter Martin, why don’t you show them to the kitchen and help them? You too, Hampton.”

The two men took the trays of goodies out of the women’s arms and led them to their kitchen. Becca took that opportunity to look at Emily with wide eyes as she mouthed, “HOLY SHIT!”

“Thank you ladies,” Tom said, placing the trays on the counter.

“Oh, it was no problem. I wanted to do something nice for you guys. I mean, you did cut me out of my car last week.” Emily nervously pushed her hair behind her ears while fidgeting with her shirt.

“I’m sorry, but before any of the other guys come in here I have to do this.” Avery wrapped his arms around Emily’s waist, pulled her in to his chest and took a deep breath, soaking in her delicious aroma before leaning in to taste her lips. Their lips crashed together urgently, exploring one another’s mouths. When Avery heard a throat clear behind him, he released Emily only to see Captain Sullivan standing there with a rather amused look on his face.

“Oh. My. God. I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to get him in any kind of trouble!” Emily interjected before the Captain could say anything. “I truly wanted to do something nice for everyone here. I’ll just be on my way.”

Emily grabbed Becca’s arm and turned for the door. Captain Sullivan wasn’t about to let them leave that easily, though. “You girls don’t have to go. Get back here.” They both stopped dead in their tracks, slowly turning around to meet the gaze of the towering man. Emily found him to be eerily familiar; she couldn’t place him, but his kind eyes gave him away when he looked down at her petite frame.

“Come on back in, girls.” He turned back toward the large glass doors, holding them open as the women passed through. Emily looked around, noting several more firemen standing nearby, staring at the two of them. Many more experienced their minor show moments earlier. Looking at Becca, who was soaking in all the testosterone in the air, she started to feel more self-conscious than she had in a long time. Her best friend started to sense the unease in Emily’s stiff body. Before she could do anything to calm her down, Avery was at her side.

“Guys, this is Emily Taylor. Emily, meet the guys, and Kelsey.” A short slender woman with a dark pixie cut peered around all the men, giving them a shy wave. When their eyes met in greeting, Kelsey looked at her quizzically. The woman eyed Emily up and down, making her increasingly uncomfortable. “Do I know you from someplace?” Kelsey finally questioned. The room roared with laughter.

Avery looked at Emily and then back toward Kelsey before he spoke, “Yeah, we transported this fine young lady to the hospital last week. Remember that crushed little VW Beetle?”

Her eyes became soft with sympathy as she eyed Emily, walking toward her. “Oh my gosh! Are you okay? That was a nasty wreck!” Kelsey looked her over with concern. The closer she came, the more Emily noticed about her. A delicate little stud sat in her right nostril, and the bright blue color complimented her toffee toned skin with perfection, right alongside her dark mahogany eyes. She was an extremely pretty woman, the polar opposite of Emily in every way.

“Yeah, I ended up with a nasty bump on my head and a little memory loss. But nothing too big, thankfully. I scored a new car out of the deal, though.” She let out an awkward laugh. Maybe they wouldn’t understand her twisted sense of humor, she thought.

As Becca flirted with handfuls of firemen, Avery stared at Emily every chance he got. They all exchanged pleasantries and she got to know the men he spent his days with.

When they all attacked her baked goods, Avery took the opportunity to pull her away from everyone for a private moment. “Come with me.” His voice dripped with his southern twang as he tenderly took her soft hand in his, leading her out of the grand room and onto the apparatus floor. Fire trucks of all shapes and sizes were lined up behind the closed bay doors. She was as mesmerized as a little girl would be, looking around and taking in all the elements. Before she could take in too much, Avery pulled her through a small door leading into a locker room.

As soon as her body made it through the doorway, still connected by their interlaced fingers, Avery crushed his mouth against hers. The passion flowing between their straining bodies was undeniable. He couldn’t get close enough to her to satisfy his desperate need.

Neither of them wanted to let the other one go, but Avery slowly pulled back, short of breath and dazed by the intensity of their longing. He tangled his hands through her neatly styled hair. Keeping her perfectly coiffed was not his primary objective, but satisfying his craving for her was.  Stepping back, he stared into her eyes, memorizing her beautiful face. He opened his mouth to speak the words he’d been dying to say since she first appeared in his firehouse. “God, I missed you,” he admitted, running his hand along her blushing cheek, stopping to cup her chin while he bent in to taste her well-loved lips once again.

Every part of her welcomed his passion, from her lips to her toes and all parts in between, especially those between her legs. Wrapping her arms around his neck, driving her hands into his tousled hair as his arm slipped around her waist, he nestled her closer to his muscular body. As her hands massaged his head, he let out a deep throaty moan, snapping Emily back to reality. They might be alone at this moment, but they were in public, at his job none the less. She wrestled with her consciousness before pulling away from his lips, showering them with light kisses while parting.

“Wow. You were saying?” she choked out while her hands rose to tuck a strand of messy hair behind her ears.
Did he say he missed me?
Her heart lurched at the thought of their connection. Their relationship had not been long or full of meaning to this point, but there was something about the way she felt about him when they were together that she just couldn’t shake. It was just too perfect to be true, at least for someone with her shitty luck in life.

“I was saying, Emily, that I’ve been missing you. I’m starting to hate my job keeping me away from you for days.” A radiant smile spread across his lips while tugging Emily back into his arms for a simple embrace.

His tall frame dwarfed her petite stature, but she loved how safe she felt in his hug. It was slowly becoming her favorite place in the whole world. Her heart pounded as she could feel her blood rush in her ears.
Could he be the one?

“I missed you too. I missed this.” She motioned between the two of them. “I like this. A lot, Avery.” Her smile became bigger as she grabbed both of his hands, lacing her fingers between his. “I’m glad I slaved in my hot kitchen for three hours to bake for y’all.” They both let out a laugh, knowing her
thanking
the company wasn’t really the genuine reason she morphed into Martha Stewart for the afternoon with her best friend.

“Have I ever told you how sexy it is when you say the word y’all?” He laughed, taking her lips once more. She moved in, placing both of her hands against his warm chest before backing away and laying her head over his heart.

“As much as I want to hide in this closest, or whatever the hell this is all night, we left my slutty best friend out there with an ass ton of firemen. I’m worried.” They both erupted in laughter while heading for the locker room door.

“You really are worried about her, huh?” Avery questioned as they turned the corner to see Becca and Tom making out against the back of the fire truck on the other side of the door. His hand snaked up her shirt while hers was clearly planted on his crotch. Emily turned to Avery with a grin on her face, nodding toward the oblivious couple.

“See!” Emily mouthed while eyeing Avery and flailing her arms in the air. Just then Avery cleared his throat, disrupting their passionate moment. Both turned around with shock on their face until they noticed it was only Emily and Avery. With a relieved sigh, they fell apart with laughter.

“Did I call this or what?” Emily spoke while staring at Becca, waiting for some kind of explanation. Her friend’s face was red with embarrassment, or was that just from the heavy petting she was caught indulging in?

“I have nothing to say for myself. Well, maybe two words. Hot. Fireman.” She laughed as she turned for the front door. It wasn’t until Tom noticed she was walking away that he turned on his heels and started chasing her.

“Can I at least get your number?” he asked, running after her.

Chapter Five

Back to Work?

It had been two days since Emily spent several heated moments in a firehouse locker room with Avery, and she couldn’t get him out of her mind. Two nights in a row she’d dreamt about their meeting. But instead of them parting and going their own ways, he took her right there against the lockers. Both mornings she’d woke up and pleasured herself in the shower, just as she had after their first date.

The more thought she put into it, the more she just wanted to throw any reservations she had to the wind and screw the hell out of Avery the next time she saw him. It was nice to think about, but she would never act on it.

Their text messaging conversations had remained constant over the past two days. Any time Avery wasn’t on the fire truck, or actually working, he was texting her. She loved every minute of the attention. Because in reality, she was bored out of her mind. She wasn’t going back to work anytime soon, because her memory loss had continued to mess with her career. After talking for hours with her older sister Amelia, she was contemplating sending in a letter of resignation. Continuing to work there just didn’t seem right, and after watching her life flash before her eyes, she was desperate to move into a field she genuinely enjoyed. She just hadn’t decided what exactly that field would be yet.

Tonight Avery would be picking her up for their second
official
date. They planned on dining at a small restaurant on the water, only a mile from the house she grew up in. The same house which still sat empty and neglected. Because in her selfishness, she couldn’t bear to enter it, live in it nor put her childhood home on the market. She sighed and slumped onto the living room sofa, deciding it was time to head out and pick up a new dress for her date, anything to push the thoughts of her dead parents from her mind. She would have to deal with it all soon enough, but today just wasn’t going to be that day.

Sliding on her purple jelly flip-flops and grabbing her purse and keys from the end table at the front door, she bid Flip farewell and headed out. She turned back to lock her apartment door when she heard a voice from behind her call her name.

“Emily?” As she turned toward the strangely familiar voice, she was struck with momentary panic, meeting the eyes of the doctor who had cared for her after the accident.

“Dr. Hart?” She turned the key, unlocking the door, hoping he didn’t notice. She would make a quick escape into her home if she needed to get away from him. Scanning the courtyard of the building, she looked for any of her neighbors, but for once no one was in sight, not even her pesky neighbor, Kevin.
Damn it! He’s always around. Where the hell is he when I actually need him?

“Emily, please call me Jared. There’s no need for us to be so formal outside of the hospital.” He flashed her a smile while walking toward her. His eyes scanned her body while she watched him cautiously. She stood motionless, waiting for him to make a move, or say something because she sure as hell wasn’t going to.

“I was wondering if you had a couple of minutes to talk?” His voice was shaky and he seemed uncertain of himself and what he was asking of her. Surely he realized that after their last meeting, a simple conversation might send her running in the opposite direction.

“Um, I was actually on my way out. Is there a reason you’re here?” she questioned him. She’d continued to go through the photos since being released from the hospital. Maybe it was some kind of internal defense mechanism, but she didn’t have a single memory which included him, good or bad.

“I was wondering if we could have coffee sometime, maybe talk since it’s been so long? I miss you, Ems.” He stretched his hand out and touched her hair, before running a single finger down her cheek. His touch was cold and unsettling, totally unlike Avery’s. She relocked the door and pulled the key out of the dead-bolt, wrapping her keychain lanyard around her wrist as she turned to her car.

“I’m not sure if that would be a good idea, but I will consider it. For some reason, I don’t think I want anything to do with you.” She clicked the unlock button on her new car, setting the lights flashing as she made her way through the parking lot to her designated spot. Jared followed closely behind her. Emily couldn’t bring herself to turn around and look at him again. Something about it all just rubbed her wrong.

“But Ems, please. Just one hour, coffee, in public. I’ll do anything,” he begged as she opened the door of her car.

“I’ll think about it,” was all she said as she lowered herself into the driver’s seat and closed the door, instantly hitting the lock button as her heart raced. The fact that he not only knew where she lived, but also had the nerve to come to her home made her feel vulnerable.

***

Avery had finally gotten off from work, and after a long ass nap and a steaming hot shower, he was ready to pick up Emily for their date at The North Turn. She loved the beach and they had a beautiful deck they could dine on, directly on the water. After dinner he planned on taking her for a walk down the beach.

Stepping out of the shower he toweled off before picking up his phone and noticing a text message waiting for him.

I’m ready when you are ;)

His heart skipped a beat and his body flew into double time, getting ready at lightning speed so he could get back to Emily. Over the years he’d had a handful of relationships; hell he even thought at one time he’d marry his high school sweetheart, Zoe Woods. His mother had adored her to pieces, pushing him to choose the
perfect southern wife,
but the love just never came. Avery often blamed his youth, or maybe it was the fact he knew she was far too dependent on him at such a young age. Nothing healthy could have ever come from their relationship.

His mind rewound to a year ago when Erin had broken his heart. He was just starting to think he’d maybe found someone he could build a future with. He hadn’t worn his heart on his sleeve like he did around Emily; he was cool and distant with the relationship despite his cloaked emotions. It had only taken two months for him to walk into her apartment to surprise her after a long seventy-two hour shift to find her in bed with another man. He’d sworn off dating after that.

It wasn’t until Kelsey fixed him up on a blind date with Quinn that he’d given dating another chance. But she’d become clingy after two dates, and he just didn’t have the kind of connection with her to make tolerating it worthwhile. He hadn’t really called it off, not that there was anything to “call off” after two dates, so he simply ignored her. That was almost three months ago.

But everything with Emily was different. He found himself in the position of being the clingy lover, and they weren’t even lovers yet. Not that he didn’t hope that would change soon. As cheesy and grade school as it sounded, tonight he planned to ask her to be his girlfriend. There was clear cut chemistry between the two of them; no one within a twenty mile radius could deny there was a connection. He just prayed it wouldn’t blow up in his face.

Avery picked his phone up from the counter and typed her a quick text before heading for his car keys.

On my way. Xoxo

***

Avery pulled up to her apartment complex and headed toward the guest spaces when he noticed her standing at the curb with a chunky balding gentleman talking her ear off. She nodded and smiled as he continued to blab about whatever made him tick. Instead of parking to walk to her door, he pulled the truck up to the curb. Putting the truck in park, he jumped down, strolling around the back and coming to a halt at her side.

The balding man had stopped speaking and gaped with an open mouth at Avery and his truck.

“Your chariot awaits, my lady,” Avery joked, taking her hand and placing a tender kiss on each knuckle. It was at that moment her friend decided to beat feet.

“See ya around, Em,” he said as he slunk off toward the staircase which led to the second floor of the building.

“Aww, I think he’s heartbroken now,” Emily said with a sad puppy dog look, sticking her bottom lip out with a pout. “He means well, I think he’s just lonely.” She felt a pang of pity for her neighbor as Avery boosted her up into his truck. “So, where are we off to tonight, Hot Pants?”

Avery laughed at her words.
Hot pants?
If there was one thing he loved about Emily it was her distinct ability to make him laugh at the drop of a hat.

“I was thinking this little beachside favorite of mine, The North Turn. Ever been?”

“You forget I was born and raised here. I love the North Turn. It’s one of my all-time favorites. Two thumbs up for an awesome choice, Mr. Martin. I’m impressed already, and the night is young.” She openly flirted with him as they made their way down Atlantic Avenue.

Later as they walked down the beach, Emily holding Avery’s hand and her fancy tropical mixed drink in the other, they talked about their childhoods. So much of her youth had been spent on the sand they were walking on at that very moment.

He started to slow their pace down, before coming to a stop and pulling her tight into his arms. “You know, Emily, it has only been what...a week?” he asked her as she looked at his face contentedly, listening carefully to every word he spoke. She nodded in reply to his question before he continued, “This has been the most fucking amazing week ever. I never thought I could find someone I am so...just comfortable with.” He leaned in and placed a sweet kiss on her forehead, then continued again, “I know I’m going to come off corny, but I would love to call you my girlfriend.” He watched her with his breath held, eagerly waiting for her to say something. Or even just act on the words he’d just spoken to her.

“Well, Avery. Since we’re in middle school again, I would like, totally love to be your girlfriend.” She let out a short uncomfortable laugh before she continued, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be joking right now. Avery, I would love to call you my boyfriend. I think everything about us is absolutely perfect right now. There isn’t any place else in the world I’d rather be than with you, Avery Martin.”

Before she could put her drink down, he wrapped his arms around her waist and picked her up off of the sand. Instinctively, she tossed her cup while wrapping her legs around him. Looking deeply into his eyes, she ran her fingers through his hair, moving in to take his lips. The same place he was heading.

Their lips crashed together in a passionate kiss. With a whimper, she slowly opened her mouth to allow him all the access he wanted. Her tongue followed his lead, stroking his mouth with the same desperate want passing through her body. As she ran her hands along his rigid, strong arms, a moan escaped from his throat. The sound of his primal desire triggered something deep inside her soul. Her kisses quickly became needier as he slowed their pace down, distantly aware they were still in public.

Emily let her legs fall free as she slid down his body, briefly feeling the erection he was desperately trying to hide. It was then she looked up and realized where they were standing. 

Right in front of the house she’d grown up in.

As her eyes raked over the white and blue exterior of the beachfront home, her body stiffened with memories. Memories she hadn’t been able to replay since her accident.

Avery wrapped his arms around her in comfort while gently placing a small kiss in the crook of her neck. “Are you okay?” he whispered into her neck, trying to figure out what she was staring at besides an empty beach house.

“Come with me,” she said, taking his hand and walking toward the worn wooden staircase which led to a faded white painted deck. She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, taking in a deep breath of the salty ocean air before starting the climb, gripping his fingers tighter with every stair she conquered. “I haven’t been here in so long,” she whispered as she took the last step onto the deck. Looking around, she felt as if it had been a lifetime since her feet touched the sun bleached wood. In reality it had only been barely two years. The last time she’d stood on the deck, she recalled Jared walking away, and never looking back. Avery was shocked to have a memory of him finally come to her mind. Confused, she remembered he’d left her only a couple of days after her parents had been killed. Rage boiled inside her as Avery wrapped his arms around her once more, trying desperately to comfort her, despite not knowing what was wrong.

“I’m sorry, I just…I haven’t been here in so long,” was all she could say before a single tear fell from her eye.

“Whose house is this, Emily?” he asked with a puzzled look on his face as he wiped a second lingering tear away with his finger.

“This...” She motioned around before pointing at the house. “Is my house.”

He felt a slight pang in his chest while he cradled her close, aching to give her what she needed, make her feel safe. He could feel her heart racing as he kissed away the tears on her cheeks.

Emily was putty in his arms. She thought she’d never be able to step foot inside her childhood home again, but having him by her side made the simple but emotionally taxing task possible.

It was in that moment Emily began to think she needed Avery in her life. They had fun, they shared an amazing connection, and she
wanted
him around. This was a turning point. She was starting to think she needed him like she needed food or air and it scared the absolute shit out of her in every way imaginable.

“I haven’t been here since...well, in a long time,” she spoke against his chest while he continued their embrace, rubbing his hands gently down her back with a sense of guardianship surging through him. Whatever she was dealing with, Avery knew it wouldn’t be something she would ever have to experience without him. He wanted to be her rock, her everything, her protector. And he would, no matter what.

Emily’s thoughts turned to living in her childhood home again. She missed everything about it, the sound of the beach so close in her backyard, the sprawling deck she could spend hours on, and the privacy of the small beach she didn’t have to share with tourists. She wanted her home back.

“I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, Emily.”

His words meant the world to her. He wouldn’t push her, and she respected and appreciated that. But after all these years, she finally felt the urgent need to open up about everything.
God, I hope he doesn’t run
. She sat down on the deck, slowly lowering her back against the worn wood and began her tale.

“It was about two years ago, maybe a little bit longer.” She picked at her fingernails as he sat next to her on the deck, paying close attention to her every word. “It was dark out, and the rain had just started rolling in. My parents were in my mother’s car, a small mustang convertible, coming back from some fancy dinner my grandparents had put on up at the raceway.”