The Firefighter's Cinderella (5 page)

She turned to look at him, and found his whole countenance had changed. She wondered what he'd heard that had altered him so drastically. “Did somebody you know get hurt?”

“Tasha, we need to go!”

“What are you talking about?”

“The station has been trying to find me.” C.J. stood up and grabbed her hand as he began to run.

“Stop! I can barely move.” Tasha was struggling to keep up.

He paused and swung her into his arms. “Your condo is on fire.”

She was stunned. “My cat! Stormy's there!”

“I know the commander in charge of the fire,” C.J. said, striding to the elevator with her in his arms, “and he's the best there is.”

They reached the elevator, and he pushed the button frantically.

Tasha's heart plummeted as they descended. She loved her home, her life, her memorabilia, but only Stormy was irreplaceable.

On the way out to the car—she was still in C.J.'s arms— Tasha reached into her clutch for her cell phone and called Terrance. Once she'd told him what had happened, she gave him instructions on what to do for the rest of the evening.

“Aren't you going to call your parents?” C.J. asked after she clicked off.

“No.”

He pulled her closer. “You're going to need family to deal with this type of upheaval in your life.”

She shook her head. “All they've ever done is make matters worse. Didn't you ever listen when Tim and I used to talk about our parents?”

He put her down, then gave the parking stub to the nearest valet. “I listened all right. I just have a hard time believing parents can be that bad.”

He opened the passenger door for her, then walked around to the driver's seat. She was happy to let him drive. She pulled out a couple of bills and shoved the money into the valet's hand, then turned to C.J. “Hurry!” she cried.

They took off as fast as traffic would allow.

 

T
HEY COULD SEE SMOKE
billowing from the building when they were a block away. “I was hoping the fire would be more contained,” C.J. muttered as he slowed to hunt for a parking spot.

Tasha shot him a confused look. “Why are there firefighters on top of the roof with picks and axes?”

His features hardened. “They're letting heat out in an attempt to create a safer environment to get inside to check for civilians and animals.”

“Oh! Do you think they've found Stormy?” Her voice shook and a tear slipped from her eye.

“Let's go and find out.” C.J. maneuvered the sports car into a tiny parking spot on San Francisco's famed Lombard Street, just a half block from the fire. “If they haven't found your cat, I'll go in and find him for you.”

“No!”

“Why not?” He looked at her as if she were crazy as he unbuckled both their seat belts.

“I'm not letting you risk your life for me and my cat!”

He took her face in his hands. “Nothing's going to happen to me. I give you my word.”

“I'm terrified.” Her eyes were glossy with tears.

“I know and I'm going to bring you past the perimeter, to see if we can find Stormy. But we've got to hurry, okay?” His eyes searched hers, imparting a sense of assurance. No wonder he was a captain.

Tasha nodded. But there was no way she was going to let him go in. She had to talk him out of it once they were at the fire. She knew she wasn't thinking clearly. But after that kiss she couldn't fathom losing C.J. right after finding him again.

Before they even had a chance to get out of the car,
a firefighter came running. “Sorry, folks, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave the area immediately.”

C.J. nodded and began reaching for his wallet. “Officer, I'm Captain C. J. Powell. Mac Jefferson, the geographic chief, just called me and asked me to come down.” He showed him his badge.

“I can let you through, sir, but not your girlfriend.” He was emphatic about it.

Frustrated, C.J. got out of the car so he could stare down at this rookie. “This is Natasha Bennington. It's her condo that's burning. Mac called us here to see what was going on.” C.J. folded his arms. “You phone him. Go ahead. See what he tells you.”

The officer had the grace to look embarrassed. “Sorry, sir,” he mumbled.

C.J. was done with talking, and turned to comfort Tasha. To his horror, the woman who'd set his heart on fire tonight was gone! He threw his jacket in the car and sprinted down the street to find her.

The scene at a fire was something he was used to, but he was viewing it for the first time through a civilian's eyes. It looked like a war zone, with engines lining the winding narrow road as far as the eye could see. He could only imagine what Tasha would think, seeing ladders hoisted against the Spanish-style condo, pairs of men rushing into her building with hoses that would run at full pressure once inside. Black smoke billowing out meant the condo was cooling down, but she couldn't know that.

He thought about all the terrible things that could happen to a civilian at a catastrophe like this, and knew paralyzing fear for the first time ever. His fingers
furrowed through his hair as the acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils. Closer to the building, the air became dark with soot. What if she was struck by a hose? Worse, what if she tried to go into her condo?

He ran to the front of the condo, where he finally spotted Tasha. She was standing beside Mac, arguing with him.

She was all right.

C.J. hurried over just as Tasha was saying, “But you don't understand, Chief. My cat, Stormy, could be in the condo. I always leave his little kitty window open for him, but what if he's up there and scared? I have to get him!”

“I'm sorry, but I can't let you go in. I'll have to arrest you if you continue to interfere in this operation.”

C.J. knew that Mac hated being harsh with civilians, but he couldn't let her risk her life for a cat.

“Mac?”

“Powell! Glad you could make it.”

“I need to go in.”

“C.J., no!” Tasha cried.

He grabbed her hand. “I'm going to get Stormy. I'm a firefighter. I know what to do.”

“But—”

“Tasha. It's going to be fine.” C.J. turned to Mac. “Can you find me a partner while I suit up to find her cat?”

The chief nodded and started talking on the radio, then barked, “Get going, Captain.”

Tasha followed C.J. to a nearby firetruck, where he got into gear. She was mesmerized as the handsome man in a tux who'd taken her to the ball changed into
a fireman. He then led her back to where Mac was standing.

“Who's investigating the scene?” C.J. asked the chief.

“Gonzalez.”

“Can you have him talk to Miss Bennington while I'm inside?”

“Any more orders, Powell?” Mac lifted an eyebrow.

“No, sir.” C.J. lowered his face shield.

Mac took Tasha by the arm and moved back, well away from the fire, just as smoke came out of the entryway of the building in a whoosh. It caused her to cough and her eyes to tear. She watched as C.J. climbed a truck ladder with another man. She'd never felt so afraid.

Excruciating long minutes passed, and C.J. was no longer in sight. She turned to Mac. “Where did he go? Is he okay?”

The chief answered calmly. “Of course. I just heard from him on the radio. He's inside. Miss Bennington, have some faith in Captain Powell. He's one of the best firemen I've ever known.” Mac have her a small smile. “Ah—here comes Gonzalez. He'll have some questions for you.”

She could see a man walking toward her. Dressed in a formal uniform that looked out of place at a fire scene, he appeared to be in his mid-forties.

“Miss Bennington,” he said with he reached her. “I'm Detective Gonzalez.” He held out his hand. “I'm a fire investigator with the San Francisco Fire Department. I'd like to ask you some questions.”

Tasha pulled her hand out of the cocoon she'd created by wrapping her arms around herself, and met his firm grip. The last thing she wanted to deal with was
law enforcement. Her home was burning, and C.J. and Stormy might not make it out alive.

“I'm not in the mood to talk at the moment.” Her tone was firm.

“You aren't the first person to tell me that. Unfortunately, it's either here or at the station later, Miss Bennington.”

“Well, aren't you delightful.” She gave him her best courtroom stare, hoping he'd back off.

He gave her a second look as he took in her appearance versus her attitude. “Let's move out of this danger zone and get you comfortable.”

“Comfortable? Are you kidding? My friend, my cat and my life are all burning up and you want me to get comfortable?”

“Ma'am, I need to start this investigation. We have to move out of the danger zone now.”

Tasha looked at the detective and knew she had no choice. Of course they had to question her.

Detective Gonzalez led her farther from the fire. As he did, he grabbed a blanket, chairs and some coffee from a makeshift triage center. In moments he had her settled in a chair and covered with a blanket while she sipped some coffee.

He was sitting directly opposite her with a pen and a notepad. The whole scene felt surreal. And where was C.J.? She tried to see through the smoke, to no avail. She turned to face the detective. “What do you want to know?”

“Let's start with your full name.”

Tasha got through the beginning of the interview quite simply. She had nothing to hide. She was Na
tasha Bennington, single, twenty-seven, daughter of Congressman George Bennington, and a human rights lawyer. All easy till the next question.

“Do you think you any have enemies?”

That question had her sitting upright with her mind reeling. “Of course I do. The very nature of my father's career makes me a target.”

“I understand, but what about your job? Do you have enemies as a human rights lawyer?”

Her body started trembling. “This is confidential. I will sue the station if this goes public. I have clients whose lives depend on me.”

“Don't threaten me, Miss Bennington. I'm checking all angles.” His posture was rigid. “Please go on.”

“I've been quietly investigating Fernando Mendez for some clients, whom I represent on a pro bono basis. They were brought here with promises of green cards, but upon arrival were put to work in the grape fields illegally. The D.A. and I are working on a huge case that could put him away for years. If this information were to go public, it would ruin our chances of locking him up.”

The detective was quiet for a long time while he took down all the information. “I'll need to corroborate your story with the D.A. For now it will be kept quiet. I have no more questions for you. I do encourage you to contact your insurance agency immediately to file a claim.”

He reached into his pocket and handed her his card. “Call me if you have any more information for me.”

“I will,” she said.

“Thank you for your time.” With that he got up and left.

Tasha ran her hands through her now wild hair. Tears poured down her cheeks as she realized this fire could all be her fault. She needed to make sure she kept her distance from people, especially from C.J. And she would have to put any relationship on hold.

What if Mendez was watching her right now? Anyone she knew or cared about could be at risk. In fact, two of them were.

 

A
PITIFUL MEOW PULLED
Tasha from her thoughts. She shot to her feet. “Stormy!”

Her beautiful Persian, wrapped in a blanket, was put into her arms. His face and the blanket were black with soot.

Tasha looked up and saw C.J. standing directly over her, giving her a smile that made her heart leap. In shock and relief, she tucked Stormy into the crook of one arm and extended her free hand to explore the face of the man who'd put his life in danger to save her pet. That face was covered in soot, too, but she couldn't resist touching him.

“I told you I'd find him,” C.J. said as he leaned closer.

“Were you in terrible danger?”

“No.” He shook his head. “How many times do I have to tell you I'm a firefighter? I do this for a living. What did you think Tim and I did? Just hang out at the station playing pranks?”

“I don't know what I thought. Actually, I usually just blocked it out. The thought of Tim constantly fighting fires made me nervous.” Tasha nestled against C.J.'s jacket.

He began to pull away. “Hey, I'm covered in grime. I don't want to ruin your beautiful dress.”

“I don't care! Please…hold me.”

He wrapped his arms around her and Stormy. Tasha felt him stroke her hair, and nestled closer. “Thank you for everything tonight, C.J. I don't know how to repay you.” She tilted her head back and looked into his eyes. They sparkled like sapphires through the soot.

“Hush.” He shook his head, then kissed her on the lips. It was a soft kiss, different from the one he'd given her earlier that evening. It was a kiss of comfort and affection.

She could feel herself wanting more. Then she remembered Mendez, and she froze and pulled away. When she met C.J.'s eyes again, she saw the look of a man with hope of new love. That was how she felt, too. But it was forbidden now. She couldn't put him at risk.

“Thank you again,” she murmured.

“Why do I get the feeling you're saying goodbye?”

“There's no goodbye with friends,” she said evasively.

He stood a little taller. “I think we're a little more than that now.” C.J. drew a deep breath. “Let me take you back to my place for the night. We can stop to pick up some necessities for you and the cat. You can sleep on my bed. I'll take the couch. Tomorrow you can figure out what to do. But first I need to change.”

She nodded.

Fifteen minutes later the two of them and Stormy were sitting in her car. “I talked to Detective Gonzalez,” C.J. said. “He told me you had some enemies, but he
wouldn't go into details. Is that why you're pushing me away? I'm a big boy, Tasha. I can take care of myself.”

She looked at the man in the ash-covered tux, then to the gaping hole filled with smoke that used to be her home. “It was wrong of the detective to say anything.” She looked away, not wanting to discuss it.

“He has to answer to a captain, especially if he thinks it could be arson.”

She jerked her head toward him again. “Does he really suspect someone's after me?”

“He only alluded to it. Let's get out of here. We can talk more when we get to my place.”

“Thank you for your offer. In fact, thank you for everything. I don't how I would've handled this evening without you.” She reached up and caressed his cheek. “But I can't put you in danger. If this is a case of arson, I need to go to my parents' house until we find out what happened. Dad has a lot of security—I guess having a congressman for a dad has its perks.”