Spark Of Desire. Christa Maurice

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СКАЧАТЬ tell Bobbie that the minute he’d started talking to Jessica, he’d been drawn to her. That he didn't even want to admit to himself yet. “I just did. Look, I thought you might be able to help.”

      “Help you what? Get her in bed?”

      “I’m not trying to get her into bed.” Kevin thanked his lucky stars he wasn’t having this conversation with her in person. If she could see how hot he was around the collar, she’d start howling again. He wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth, either. “I’m trying to get her into the department. She said she’s always wanted to be a paramedic and she just turned thirty today, so she’s running out of time.”

      “She sure is. Do you really think she’s going to make it on the first try?”

      Kevin shifted in his seat. Somehow, with Jessica, he’d forgotten about the competition. Talking to her, he’d felt like nothing could stop her. Nothing but all the other guys and possibly a couple of women who also wanted to work for the fire department.

      “It took me five tries to get in, and I was younger and probably in better shape. Training almost killed me. Then it got hard. Or should I say difficult?”

      Kevin rubbed his eyes. How had he forgotten about the competition? He didn’t know how many slots were going to be open for the September tests. “She’s got a year. She might not even make it through our training.”

      “Our? No way, pal. This is your baby.”

      Kevin opened his mouth to snap that Jessica wasn’t his baby, but caught himself because he realized she meant baby as in the training, not the girl. Why did this simple offer keep getting more difficult to fulfill without making a fool of himself?

      “I’ll talk to her, but you’re the schmuck who said you’d help her. When are you meeting her again?”

      “I don’t know. She was going to see her doctor, and then we were going to figure out a training schedule.”

      “Okay. When you guys sit down to plan out her training schedule, count me in. We’ll see how quick she scares.”

      “What are you going to do?” Kevin grumbled, feeling very protective.

      “Just talk to her, sweet cheeks. There’s a thing or two she should know, and you seem to be real forgetful all of a sudden. Besides, it’s been a long time since you took that test, old man. I just took it a couple of years ago. Give me a call. I’m on A shift now.”

      “Thanks, Bobbie. I appreciate the help.”

      She laughed again. “We’ll see. Bye, Kevin.”

      “Bye, Bobbie.” Kevin hung up the phone. If she worked A shift, she’d have one day off, the same as him. Her twenty-four-hour shift started tomorrow at eight, his didn’t start until eight the next day, exactly when she got off. That was very good. If she and Jessica hit it off, he’d still only have to see her once every third day. Unfortunately, it meant he’d be alone with Jessica once every third day too.

      * * * *

      In her paper gown, Jessica perched on the examination table, looking at the inspirational posters on the wall. The office desperately needed new ones. For six years now, she’d been staring at the same cute picture every Spring during her annual checkup, and occasionally at other times of the year when she had a cold she couldn’t shake. It might help if Masciano raised the temperature in here to something above freezing, too.

      The door opened, and her short, overweight doctor stepped through it. “So, Jessica, to what do I owe the honor of this visit? Head cold?”

      “I’m going to be a paramedic.” She grinned and bit her lip to keep from giggling.

      Dr. Masciano stopped with the door half open and stared at her. He usually closed the door to keep anyone from peeking into the exam room, but today he looked too stunned to move. “You’re going to what?”

      “I’m going to train to join the fire department so I can be a paramedic.”

      He closed the door behind him and consulted the chart in his hand. “There it is. Full physical. I thought it was a mistake. You always have your physical in the spring. Well, well, well.” Sitting down on the stool, he studied her. “Did you have any head trauma recently?”

      “No. Why?”

      “Because you’ve got to be crazy. Firefighter? Do you know what you’re putting yourself up for?” He started ticking things off on his fingers. “Lung disease, heart disease, various and sundry cancers from toxic smoke inhalation, broken bones, pulled muscles, and trauma. As a paramedic, you’re fair game for every communicable disease going. Add the fact that you’re twenty-nine years old—“

      “Thirty, yesterday.”

      “You’re thirty. So you won’t heal as fast as a younger person when you do get hurt. And I have a feeling the physical tests aren’t going to be a piece of cake, even though you are in very good physical condition.”

      “I’ve got someone helping me train.” Jessica started swinging her feet back and forth under the exam table, banging her heels on it. “There’s three parts to the test, and it doesn’t start until September.”

      “I’m not going to change your mind, am I?”

      Jessica shook her head. She’d been too excited to sleep last night.

      “I guess I’ll be able to afford that boat, now that you’re going to be visiting me more regularly.” He watched her face for any change in expression. “Have you talked to your parents about this?”

      Jessica stopped grinning. She’d meant to call her parents in Florida last night, but never gotten around to it. They were not going to be pleased. Mindi’s fit would be nothing compared to her parents’. Or, rather, her mother’s. Leave it to the doctor to find the one part of this adventure she was nervous about.

      “I see. I guess I’ll leave that up to you.” He stood up and took the blood pressure cuff off the wall. “Let me take your blood pressure.”

      “The nurse already did.”

      “If you’re going to be one of the city’s bravest, I think I’ll want to double-check a few things. I want to have a good baseline to work from when you hurt yourself. Note I didn’t say if. Give me your arm.”

      Jessica held out her arm.

      He wrapped the cuff around her arm and pumped it up. “So you’ve found yourself a nice fireman to train you.” Glancing at her face, he positioned the stethoscope on her arm. “I see you have good color. He must be attractive.”

      “He’s okay. He’s too old for me.”

      “Hmm.” The doctor counted her pulse before speaking again. “If too old can turn you pink like that, I’d hate to see what would happen if you found just right, Goldilocks.”

      “Goldilocks?”

      He reached through the back of her hospital gown and pressed the stethoscope against her back. “Yes, Goldilocks. Deep breath. This porridge is too hot. This bed is too soft. This fireman СКАЧАТЬ