Stoking the Embers (New Adult Romantic Suspense): The Complete Series (9 page)

One of paramedics takes his eyes off my tits long enough to look at my face. He recognizes me. “Hey, aren’t you the chick from the store?”

With a furrow in his brow, Ken responds, “She’s also the one who saved the old couple at Sunset, the accident the other day. The one where the drunk slob hit the church van.”

Soft murmurs of acknowledgment spread and the mood changes. One guy speaks up. He looks important.

“Well Stephanie, you did a great job. It would be a pleasure to have you working here. I need you to fill out a couple of papers, and then you can go hang out with Ed and Octavio.” He points at the two paramedics who tip their head in acknowledgment.

“Thanks,” I say and shake his extended hand. “I’m looking forward to it. I think.”

“I’m Captain Frank. I’ll be giving you a quick tour and we’ll complete those consent forms.” He leads me toward a set of offices. I look at Ken, but he just gives me a little salute. I follow the Captain, high stepping it to catch up. He’s already in tour mode.

“I’m proud to say we’re an I.S.O. Class One fire and safety department. We house both the firefighters and paramedics for this section of the city.” He stops and points to a wall of certification and licenses. I nod and make the appropriate noises of agreement.

“Everyone in this building is trained as a first responder and holds a basic EMT certification. A call comes, we go out. Fire, car wreck, heart attack… doesn’t matter.” He starts walking again and I fall behind him, peeking into various rooms as we go. “Our building also serves as a training center for firemen, like Ken, who also want to become certified as a paramedic. Then he’ll need to pass the certification exam required of Nevada paramedics and we’ll have ourselves a damn fine double whammy, fireman slash paramedic.”

Finally, we’re in his office and he tosses me a ‘LVF&R in training’ t-shirt.

“Restroom is around the corner. I’ll give you a temporary badge when you get back and have you sign these.” He points to a notebook. I hurry off and switch shirts and am back in just a few moments.

“These forms basically say you hold us harmless of any injury—physical or mental—you might receive, even death, while on this ride-along. Still game?”

I scan the form and sign without giving myself too much time to think. I hand the clipboard back. “When do we start?”

I nearly jump out of my skin as bells begin to clang. The Captain breaks out into a big grin and says one word, “Guess.”

Chapter 9—Ken

Stephanie skids around a corner, looking around. Her eyes are so wide they almost eat up her face.

“Stephanie, that’s your cue,” Ed yells at her. “You can ride with us or in the truck. It’s up to you.”

Stephanie bites her lower lip, her eyes still wide as saucers. “What’s the call for?”

“Looks like another wreck on the 215, not sure of the injuries. You game or not?” chides Octavio. “Don’t worry, you can sit in the truck if it gets too hairy for you.” He cuts her some slack. “After seeing you in action the other day, I don’t think you’ll have that problem.”

Stephanie grins at the compliment and yells her best macho yell, “Fuck that, I’m in!”

Who is this girl? She isn’t the same one who fled the restaurant a couple hours ago. Fuck me, I like both sides of her—the soft and the bold. I watch her tits bounce as she gives Octavio a high-five. My dick versus my brain, the same old story.

Octavio tosses her a helmet. “Just in case. You can sit up front with me.” Did he just put his hand on her ass to give her a boost?

Before I can even think about why that matters, Captain Frank grabs his jacket off the rack and runs towards the rig. “Ken, it’s your turn to drive, let’s get rollin’.”

Grabbing my helmet and pulling up my suspenders, I open the door and grab the pillar, pulling myself up. No need for the girly step. I love driving, almost as much as I love first responder medicine.

Driving down Pecos, it’s a short drive to the freeway on-ramp. Traffic’s already backed up a quarter mile. This isn’t good. “Captain, should we go the long way?”

Reviewing the accident coordinates again in his mind, Frank agrees. “Yeah, head up to Eastern, we can come in the other side. I’ll call dispatch and make sure the emergency lane is clear.”

I hope this is just a typical whiplash and minor cuts accident, but the paramedics are always a little behind us in case there’s a problem. I give them a heads up, holding the mic to my mouth. “Octavio, this is Ken. You need to head up Pebble to save time. The entrance on Pecos is already jammed.”

As far as I can see, the westbound traffic is stopped. Merging onto the 215, it’s amazing how few people pay attention to the siren and lights. I hope one day, the car manufacturers make a device that turns off your cell phone and announces our presence over a Bluetooth radio.

I notice a blue Mazda oblivious to us on her ass. “Hey Cap, wanna call our buddy, Dave? Have him give this bitch a ticket?”

Captain Frank points to the “IM HOT” license plate. “She’s punished enough!”

He’s right. Isn’t it always the case?

Taking three minutes longer than necessary to reach the scene, I’m trying to take everything in… two cars involved, seems pretty minor. Why the hell are so many people huddled around the black SUV?

Parked and out of the truck, I grab a kit and rush to the cars. Holy fuck, this woman’s having a baby, now.

She’s in the driver’s seat, a toddler wailing in the back. She’s reclined back as far as she can go, her hand reaching back in an attempt to quiet the screaming child.

“It’s okay, mommy’s here,” she’s saying over and over again, even as she grits her way through another contraction.

“Ma’am, I’m Ken Davidson, LV rescue. Are you hurt?”

Her head whips around as I speak and she nearly screams through another contraction. “Do I look hurt?” She snarls at me, but I can hardly blame her.

“I mean, from the accident. Pain?” Her eyes spit daggers at me. I almost laugh, but don’t dare. “Other than contractions?”

“I don’t think so,” she manages to puff out between breaths, the contraction finally breaking. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

“Totally okay, yell all you want. How far along are you?”

“Thirty-nine weeks,” she gasps out and then clamps down on my hand as another contraction seizes her. Wow, that was quick. I look around, where is fucking Octavio and the crew? If they don’t get here soon, we’re having a baby on asphalt or in the truck.

The paramedic truck pulls up just as I slip on some gloves from the kit. “Don’t worry about anything. We’re going to take good care of you and your baby. Do you know if you’re giving this guy a little brother or sister?” The boy in back is now sucking his thumb as huge tears continue to fall down his face. He looks okay strapped in his car seat. Captain Frank’s in the backseat with him, checking him out. He’s a grandpa of four; he charms a smile out of the little guy.

“It’s a giiiirl.” Shit, another contraction. “I can feel her. Burning.”

“I’m going to check, okay?” I slip my gloved hand beneath her skirt, grateful she isn’t in pants. Oh yeah, I bet she can feel her, the baby’s head is crowning and pushing through.

“No pushing yet. Don’t push. I know you want to. Just squeeze my hand, but don’t push, okay?” She nods, her face blooming in pain. “What’s your name?”

“Mel-an-ie.” She’s speaking in syllables. That’s okay.

Come the fuck on guys, I silently scream at the guys pulling out the stretcher in what seems like slow motion. I know I can catch this baby if I need to, but a nice clean stretcher would be much better.

“Okay, Melanie, you’re doing great. Fantastic. The paramedics are here and we’re going to get you out of this car and onto the stretcher. Much better place for little Miss Sunshine to make her debut don’t you think?”

Suddenly, Stephanie is here, looking through the passenger door. “What can I do? I can help her with breathing, anything you need.”

“Look here, Melanie. This is Stephanie, she’s training to be an OB nurse, isn’t this your lucky day?”

Melanie nods, but begins to cry again as another contraction strikes her. Stephanie begins to breathe with her, her voice as soothing as a calm lake. “You’re doing great,” she soothes the other woman and, using the towel in her hand, wipes sweat from the woman’s face as the contraction ends.

“Okay, Melanie, the stretcher is here. We’re going to get you out, okay, before the next one hits.” Hands under her legs and back, I begin to lift her. Stephanie instinctively helps too, taking some of her weight and crawling across the front of the vehicle where Melanie settles on the white sheets.

I step back, letting Octavio and Ed take over. Stripping off my gloves, I watch the pregnant woman scream and lean forward. Designed to push, her instincts take over and no amount of determination can stop it.

Stephanie holds her hand, counting through the push while Octavio gets in receiving position. There is no time for the ambulance, no time for the hospital. Mother Nature has declared her wish and it’s being fulfilled right here.

There’s the head, filled with dark black hair. She turns and her shoulders emerge one by one. Another push and a little girl is born into the world. Bystanders are crying, or holding their hand over their mouth. Everyone is in awe.

Then the moment is broken as the baby’s mouth and nose is suctioned and a wail fills the air, the sweetest sound imaginable. Cheers go up all around us and Melanie is reaching for her baby, crying and laughing at the same time.

“Time to go,” Octavio shouts and Melanie yells for her little boy. Shit, I turn to find him sitting happily on Captain Frank’s lap. I look at the SUV, the front wheel is torqued in; it isn’t drivable. I pull open the back door and begin removing the child seat.

“Hey little guy, want to ride in an ambulance?”

The toddler, on second look he’s about three years old, squeals and makes ‘woo woo’ sounds. I’m guessing that’s a yes. I turn and bump into Stephanie, nearly knocking her down as I swing the car seat around.

She only laughs and says, “I’m going to need additional health insurance if I hang around you too much.” Her green eyes are sparkling, the excitement of the day’s events shining on her face.

“I promised Melanie I’d take care of Travis.” I step back and she reaches in for the little boy who goes to her as willingly as a moth to a flame.

“Want to go see your baby sister?” She sing-songs to him and gets a ‘woo woo’ in return. We all laugh, it’s clear he’s more interested in the ambulance than a pesky baby sister. Stephanie hugs him close to her. “Woo woo it is.”

As I follow her to the truck, I can’t help but admire her as a human being. Sure, she’s beautiful and built like a brick shit house, but there’s so much more underneath the surface. I wonder if she even knows how many layers she possesses.

I don’t think she does.

Chapter 10—Stephanie

“It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced,” I tell Beth again. Her smile just grows wider as she twirls another bite of pasta. “When the baby’s head came out, it was the most magical thing in the world.”

I’d called Beth the evening of my ride-along to share my experience, but had to limit my story to a two-minute version. She was at her parent’s for the weekend, but promised we’d catch up after class Monday night. I agreed to cook, if she’d bring a bottle of wine. She even brought two slices of cheesecake. Blueberry for me, strawberry for her. I eye the strawberries with longing and fear. I used to love them, until the day they almost killed me. Funny how allergies can just kick in with no prior warning.

“Did you get to hold the baby?” Beth asks.

“No, her mom wouldn’t let her go, said she planned to ‘kangaroo’ her.” I laugh at Beth’s expression. “I know, right? I looked it up and it’s essentially skin to skin contact. The mom said that if she didn’t get a birthing room and an epidural then she was going to hold her baby all she wanted.”

“Can’t argue with that,” we said at the same time and jinxed each other. God, it feels good to act like a kid sometimes.

“I did get to play with Trevor, the big brother. He rode to the hospital with us and was a total handful. He wanted to touch every button, blast the siren, drive and use the de-fib paddles on his baby sister. He was hilarious.”

“Sounds like it.” Beth is twirling another bite, laughing in the appropriate places, but something is off.

“What?” I ask and feel like a heel for taking up our entire conversation. I’d told her about the pancake house disaster and the ride-along, and was next going to regale her with all the texting I’d been doing with Ken, but…

“What’s wrong?” I ask again when she doesn’t answer.

“Nothing. I don’t know. I think I’m just tired.”

Going straight into future nurse mode, I lay my hand on her forehead. She isn’t feverish, but her pulse is racing. I grab her wrist and clock it at nearly one hundred beats a minute.

“Beth, what’s wrong? Please tell me.”

“I don’t know where to start, I think I’m going crazy.”

“Why, what do you mean?”

“Little things. Like I thought for sure I set the alarm on my phone, but then overslept and missed class because it didn’t go off. My calendar had the dates changed. And…”

“And what, Beth?”

“I failed the nurse admin exam. I couldn’t believe it. I thought I aced it. I’d been so sure, but no, a sixty-four.”

“Oh Beth.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“That’s why I had to go home for the weekend. Dad accessed e-learn and saw the grade. Steph, he was so pissed. Worse, he wouldn’t believe me when I told him I’d studied like a hundred hours and I had. It gave him the excuse to go on another tangent on how I’m wasting my life, blah, blah, blah.”

“Still? After four years he still wants you to be a lawyer?”

She nods.

“Sweetie, I’m so sorry. Have you gone to talk to Professor Riley, see if he would be willing to give you a re-take?”

She nods again. “I went but he said no. Just told me to study harder next time.”

I take her hand. “It will be fine, I promise. This won’t pull you down too much, all your other grades are fantastic.”

She’s still not convinced, but smiles anyway. “I know. It was just such a shock. Then dad, then missing class. Just kinda piled on, you know. Sorry… didn’t mean to be a downer. I’m really excited for you and all that’s happening. How’s the fireman doing?”