Page 8 of Dueling Flames

“Wait,” Thorne said. “Where are you going?”

“Gym.”

“I want to go. You wouldn’t take me last time.” He stood up and hobbled over to grab his shoe.

“It’s not that kind of gym.”

He furrowed his brow. “What…kind of gym is it? Is it a sexy gym?”

“Huh?” I knew my eyes were wide as I stared at him. “What’s a sexy gym?”

He shrugged as he slipped on his shoe. “I don’t know, but it sounds fun. So, is it a boxing gym? I’m racking my brain over here for the different types of gyms.” He sat up straight. “Do you do gymnastics? Flips and shit?”

“It’d be a whole lot cooler if I could.” I stood up. “It’s a rock climbing gym. There isn’t much for you to do there. You should stay here.”

“No. I’m so bored here. I can only walk around the block so many times. Please take me with you.” He clutched his hands together, begging me.

“You were one of those kids that hugged your parents’ legs while you begged, weren’t you?”

“Yep.” He grinned, then switched back to a frown with puppy dog eyes.

I sighed. How was this grown man so cute? “Fine, but don’t distract me.”

Chapter 5

Thorne

Grace was too simple a word to describe Lissa as she climbed the walls at the gym. She made it look easy and fun. How had I never thought of indoor rock climbing?

Her sculpted arms bore her weight with ease as she traversed the wall, climbing higher and maneuvering around awkward obstacles. She only looked down at me once and hasn’t glanced back again.

It reminded me of the first time we met nearly two years ago. I’d come to the firehouse to take a tour a few days before my start date. The last room the captain showed me was the gym. Two people did pull-ups with their backs to the door, both counting aloud and occasionally looking at each other. One was a tall man who looked like he belonged in one of those firefighter calendars, and maybe he was. The other was a woman who was almost as tall as the man. She wore a tank top and had long light brown hair pulled high in a ponytail. Her arms were well-defined, her shoulders strong and toned. I bet her back looked the same. She kept pace with the man, and she had all my attention.

Before one of them could slow down, the captain called it off.

“I don’t have all day to wait for all you to finish this shit. Meet the new guy.”

Both slowly lowered themselves and dropped off the bar.

“Come on, Captain. You didn’t have to stop us. I was planning to let her win.”

The man winked at the woman, and she smacked his arm with the back of her hand.

“Glad you two haven’t gone home yet. This is Hawthorne Graves. He’s been a firefighter for—” the captain paused and looked at me.

“Four years,” I said.

“Four years.” He nodded at me. “This here is Saint Sterling and Lissa.”

We all nodded our hellos, but my attention stayed on Lissa. She was taller than me with hazel eyes, sand-colored skin, a tan on her forearms, and a half smile. Absolutely gorgeous and strong enough to pick me up with minimal effort. Moving to Chicago was a great idea. I’d have to thank my buddy Joe for convincing me to move here.

“Lissa, Hawthorne is your new partner on the pumper. He starts in two days.”

She stepped forward and offered her hand. I shook it with a smile. Partners.

“Nice to meetcha,” she said with a Chicago accent. “Name’s Melissa, but as you can tell everyone calls me Lissa. You work on an engine before?”

“I did back in Portland.”