him. “Maybe they didn’t have that particular code where Gretchen’s from.” He dropped his shirt and studied her. “You should talk to her about it.”
She felt a flush building, one that probably had more to do with his abs than the situation, and the heat only increased her annoyance. “It’s not my place, especially considering it’s only my first day here. You’re the chief. It’s more appropriate for you to tell her.” She knew bossing her new boss wasn’t going to win her any brownie points, but she didn’t care.
“And, as chief, I’m concerned that stepping in too early might do more harm than good and keep the two of you from developing a good relationship.”
Katy stopped when they reached the sidewalk in front of the station, not thrilled to go inside just yet. “What happened to being the first and only person to hear about it if anyone gives me grief?”
He stopped and turned to her. “In the two weeks I’ve been here, I haven’t seen Gretchen have a problem with anyone else. For now, I’m just asking you to try again. If it doesn’t work, I’ll step in. Fair?”
She shrugged, not quite thrilled but surprisingly soothed. Maybe he was right; a territorial problem with Gretchen was nothing like dealing with an arrogant, aggressive man. She knew that better than anyone.
Watching as he turned back toward the station, she gasped a little when he abruptly walked back and held out his hand. “My phone and wallet?” he said when she frowned in obvious confusion.
Oh, crap. Oh, damn. Oh . . . She’d left them in the ambulance.
Katy turned to face the road in the direction the vehicle had gone. “Um, is your phone password protected?” she asked without looking at him. “It’s not that your stuff is lost or anything . . .”
He said nothing, though she felt the razor-sharp sting of his impatience.
Damn. Silence was worse.
“It’s . . . They’re in the jump bag in the ambulance.” Still, she couldn’t bring herself to look up him. It was quite possible those icy blue eyes of his would freeze her to the spot.
The silence stretched on. Not sure what else to say, Katy watched the onlookers disperse as the three late-arriving firefighters started back with their wet teammate, making her realize poor Welles had been pressed into service driving the ambulance in wet pants.
Hearing a sigh some distance behind her, Katy finally turned in time to see Chief Wolfe walk into the station while pulling his T-shirt off over his head and exposing an equally gorgeous set of muscled shoulders.
Wow. Did she know how to impress a new boss, or what?
Chapter Five
Barely two hours on the job and she’d already complained about a fellow medic stealing her patient and sent the chief’s wallet and cell phone to the hospital. All she’d needed for an encore was to sideswipe their rescue boat on her way out of the parking lot.
She considered going to chase down his personal property. Anything to see those warm crinkles at the corner of his eyes rather than cold blue derision. His quirky, amused grin flashed through her mind, and then those rock-hard abs and rippling bronze shoulders. She bit her lip, more than shocked at her fascination. He was a lot to take in, that was for sure. And that energetic confidence he exuded threatened to overwhelm her.
Settle down, Katy, she told herself. She couldn’t let something as useless as attraction make her act like an idiot. Or like more of an idiot. It had become quite clear that her new job would bring conflict on way too many fronts. She had to stay sharp and strong to prove herself, and more than ever, she wanted to do just that.
Her phone rang out, the bluesy ringer turning the small space around her into an echo chamber. Pulse racing, she pulled it from her pocket, more concerned about quieting the device than who happened to be calling. Until she saw the caller’s name, that is.
Jane. Again.
With a huge gulp, Katy swallowed a hard lump of emotion—guilt, shame, disappointment, panic. This had to be the twentieth time her best friend had called in recent weeks, and her heart ached to think about the effect her silence must be having on Jane, but she just couldn’t answer. Not yet.
Stuffing her phone out of sight, she closed a supply drawer in the truly badass remote access ambulance and straightened enough to peek out the side window as Madam Sunshine