Flaming Desire - Part 2 (An Alpha Billionaire Romance) by Helen Grey Page B
Authors: Helen Grey
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gestured for me to follow him out of the break room. I did. He walked the short distance down the hall toward Diane's office where no one could hear us.
“My regular Hotshot crew is short a firefighter,” he said quietly. “Got married a few months ago and his new bride isn't too keen on him going, so he's decided to opt out of this one.”
I chewed my lip, considering the backhanded invitation. Because we were both independent, we could log into any of the interagency firefighting services including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Forest Service and pretty much had the freedom to choose where we went and how often we joined wildfire crews. I knew, due to the location of this fire, that it would be incredibly difficult to control. Chances were that numerous federal agencies including the National Park Service would have no issues accepting all the help they could get.
Most Hotshot crews consisted of between twenty and twenty-two members that included a superintendent, two captains, squad leaders, and senior firefighters. The remainder were classified by numerous designations, such as GS-3 temporary firefighters, like Matt and myself. Some crews provided specialized roles, such as the roles that I often encompassed as a wildfire fighter and a medic.
Other members of Hotshot crews included the saw team; using chainsaws to cut brush and wood from the fire's edge. A swamper was responsible for taking that material and disposing of it on the non-fireside of a fire line. There was also a follower, or a chainsaw operator who was highly skilled and specialized in falling damage, burning trees as well as clearing snags. Then there was the helicopter crew, responsible for transporting equipment and crew as well as crude supplies. Dozens of specialties. Lots of need.
“Want to join my crew?” he asked. I realized I’d been waiting for him to say the words. “I've already cleared it with my captain.”
Since I had been in New Mexico, I had operated independently, never being assigned repeatedly to one crew or another, but not for lack of trying. As one of the few women in the field, I sometimes found myself having to prove myself over and over again. Matt's trust and confidence in me was touching. “Are you kidding?” I said, my voice rising in excitement.
He nodded, flashing his set of white teeth.
“Now there's a proposition that I can't turn down!”
He gestured toward Diane's office. “Then I think we better go see the DON, don't you?”
I nodded, making my way back to Diane's door.
“You don't think they're going to have a problem with both of us going, do you? That puts the ER department short two nurses.”
I shook my head. “She said she’d clear it with administration. I've never had a problem, because there’s usually at least one nurse willing to pick up the extra shifts. Let's go see.”
Once again I knocked on Diane's door and after a moment heard her reply to enter. I did, this time followed by Matt. She stared up at him, glanced at me, and then spoke.
“I already took care of it, Jessica,” she commented, her eyes glancing quickly toward the trash can at the side of her desk.
“We're not here about that,” I informed her. “There's a wildfire burning out of control in the Bitterroot Range, up in Montana,” I explained. “Matt's been called up, and his crew is short a member. I'd like to go.”
Diane nodded, not surprised. “I was watching that on the news earlier. I had a feeling that you two would be coming into my office.” She glanced at Matt. “I've already cleared you with administration,” she said. “Jessica as well.”
“Thanks, Diane—”
She lifted her hand. “But I want you to know, Matt, that because you've just transferred here, there is a chance that a position won't be open for you when you get back. I have to fill your shift. I don't typically have trouble filling Jessica's shift because her friends usually pick
“My regular Hotshot crew is short a firefighter,” he said quietly. “Got married a few months ago and his new bride isn't too keen on him going, so he's decided to opt out of this one.”
I chewed my lip, considering the backhanded invitation. Because we were both independent, we could log into any of the interagency firefighting services including the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the United States Forest Service and pretty much had the freedom to choose where we went and how often we joined wildfire crews. I knew, due to the location of this fire, that it would be incredibly difficult to control. Chances were that numerous federal agencies including the National Park Service would have no issues accepting all the help they could get.
Most Hotshot crews consisted of between twenty and twenty-two members that included a superintendent, two captains, squad leaders, and senior firefighters. The remainder were classified by numerous designations, such as GS-3 temporary firefighters, like Matt and myself. Some crews provided specialized roles, such as the roles that I often encompassed as a wildfire fighter and a medic.
Other members of Hotshot crews included the saw team; using chainsaws to cut brush and wood from the fire's edge. A swamper was responsible for taking that material and disposing of it on the non-fireside of a fire line. There was also a follower, or a chainsaw operator who was highly skilled and specialized in falling damage, burning trees as well as clearing snags. Then there was the helicopter crew, responsible for transporting equipment and crew as well as crude supplies. Dozens of specialties. Lots of need.
“Want to join my crew?” he asked. I realized I’d been waiting for him to say the words. “I've already cleared it with my captain.”
Since I had been in New Mexico, I had operated independently, never being assigned repeatedly to one crew or another, but not for lack of trying. As one of the few women in the field, I sometimes found myself having to prove myself over and over again. Matt's trust and confidence in me was touching. “Are you kidding?” I said, my voice rising in excitement.
He nodded, flashing his set of white teeth.
“Now there's a proposition that I can't turn down!”
He gestured toward Diane's office. “Then I think we better go see the DON, don't you?”
I nodded, making my way back to Diane's door.
“You don't think they're going to have a problem with both of us going, do you? That puts the ER department short two nurses.”
I shook my head. “She said she’d clear it with administration. I've never had a problem, because there’s usually at least one nurse willing to pick up the extra shifts. Let's go see.”
Once again I knocked on Diane's door and after a moment heard her reply to enter. I did, this time followed by Matt. She stared up at him, glanced at me, and then spoke.
“I already took care of it, Jessica,” she commented, her eyes glancing quickly toward the trash can at the side of her desk.
“We're not here about that,” I informed her. “There's a wildfire burning out of control in the Bitterroot Range, up in Montana,” I explained. “Matt's been called up, and his crew is short a member. I'd like to go.”
Diane nodded, not surprised. “I was watching that on the news earlier. I had a feeling that you two would be coming into my office.” She glanced at Matt. “I've already cleared you with administration,” she said. “Jessica as well.”
“Thanks, Diane—”
She lifted her hand. “But I want you to know, Matt, that because you've just transferred here, there is a chance that a position won't be open for you when you get back. I have to fill your shift. I don't typically have trouble filling Jessica's shift because her friends usually pick
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