Keeping Kenzie - Pepper North Page 0,2
for her purse. “Thank you for getting this for me. They just told us that no one would be allowed back into the building until the fire inspector declared it was safe. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”
“Derek was the one who brought it out for you. I thanked him for you.”
“Are those my keys?” she asked, pointing to the mass of keys that taxed even his enormous hand.
“How many boyfriends do you have, Little girl?”
“Oh, I don’t have any boyfriends. They’re all the same key.” She plucked two from his hand and lined up the grooves. Lifting them up for his inspection, she asked, “See?”
“Lose your keys much?”
“All the time.”
“My truck is heading back to the station. They’re having a party for me today. I’d like you to come.”
“Oh, you don’t have to help me anymore. You saved my life, Osiris. I’ll figure it all out now. They’re going to help me.” She pointed to the volunteers speaking individually with families.
“I need to help you and get to know you better. Come to the party and you can ask anyone you like about me. These guys know me inside and out.”
“You’re Kenzie Anders, right? I have the hotel information for you. I tried to get them to put you somewhere else. This isn’t the best environment for a young, single lady by herself. Be very careful, okay?” The volunteer handed over a slip of paper containing an address. “Just check in at the desk with your name.”
Osiris read the information on the note. “That place is a firetrap. We get calls there all the time for meth fires and squatters. You can’t send her there.”
“I’m sorry, sir. That was all we had available.” She looked at Kenzie and added, “If you have a friend to stay with, I’d call for an alternative place to stay.”
He waited for the volunteer to walk away and then stated firmly, “You’re staying with me. Come on. You can ride on the fire truck back to the station.” Osiris took her hand and tugged her toward the waiting vehicle.
Torn between wanting the chance to ride on a real fire truck and the grown-up voice that said she couldn’t stay with anyone she’d just met, Kenzie leaned back to stop him from escorting her forward. “I can’t impose like that. You don’t even know me.”
“I know you’re a Little girl who needs help. I’d lose my Daddy card if I didn’t help you.”
Gasping, she asked, “You know I’m a Little girl?”
“Yes. Come on.” Osiris started walking again. His long legs took big steps, forcing her to jog to stay up with him.
“Does that even exist?” she demanded, no longer resisting but fascinated by what he would reveal next.
“What?” He looked down at her with a puzzled expression.
“A Daddy card? Does that exist, and how do you get one?”
“It’s a super-secret process, Little girl. Now, up!” He boosted Kenzie onto the top step. “You’ll have to sit on my lap, Kenzie. All the seats are full.”
Before she could process that, Osiris had Kenzie ensconced on his lap. She looked around at the other firefighters smiling at her with tired expressions. Kenzie’s heart instantly went out to everyone. “Thank you all for everything you do. You have a super-tough job.”
Their grins intensified as the fire truck roared into life, and she jumped. The captain handed back a helmet, saying, “Put this on her head, Osiris.” Soon, an oversized firefighter’s hard hat was perched on her brown hair. Kenzie turned around to look at Osiris, double-checking that everything was alright.
“Ever ride in a fire truck, Kenzie?” he asked with a wink.
“Never,” she answered, shaking her head, almost knocking the protective gear off. “Oops!” Kenzie clapped a hand on top to stabilize it.
“Want to hear the siren?” one of the firefighters facing her asked.
“No! I’ve heard that enough. Thank you!” she said politely. Then, realizing that she sat there with Cupcake and her bright pink purse, wearing chameleon pajamas, Kenzie tried to hide behind her purse.
“It’s okay, Kenzie. These guys are just glad you’re safe.” Osiris whispered into her ear before asking the gathered firefighters, “I broke down a door to rescue someone a few years ago and found a guy in the shower. He went down the ladder in a towel. Can anyone beat that?”
“I interrupted a honeymooning couple in the middle of doing the deed. They didn’t notice the smoke filling the room until I stood there with my axe.”
Story after story followed, and