Page 19 of Rising Heat

“Kowalski put me up for the Chauffeur slot.”

For a second I honestly think I misheard him.

The Bruins commentator is talking about a power play. Mack’s staring at the screen. The radiator knocks somewhere down the hall.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

“Mack.”

“I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do.”

His mouth twitches. It’s the closest thing he has to showing off.

I laugh and tip my beer toward him.

“You deserve it.”

“We’ll see.”

The man could get handed a medal and react like somebody told him it’s going to rain tomorrow.

I lean my head back against the couch and watch a replay of a goal neither of us saw the first time.

The thing about Mack is that he’s been collecting responsibility by accident for as long as I’ve known him. Somebody needs a captain, a team lead, a guy to make the call, and eventually everybody just sort of drifts in his direction.

“Kowalski said something else.”

I glance over.

“He wants Marco working with you. RIT certification.”

For a second I just stare at him. I take a drink before answering.

“Kowalski said that?”

“Yeah.”

I stare at a truck ad and feel my chest loosen anyway. Marco’s one of the best rescue guys in the department. People don’t volunteer him unless they think you’re worth the investment.

I rub a hand across my jaw and try not to grin like an idiot.

“Good.”

Mack raises an eyebrow.

“Good?”

“Yeah.”

I pick my beer back up.

“Marco’s gonna make my life miserable.”

“Probably.”