Keeping Kenzie - Pepper North Page 0,3

Kenzie couldn’t help laughing. She felt much better about wearing her brightly colored pj’s. As she relaxed back against the muscular torso supporting her, Osiris patted her leg. As they pulled into the fire station, she leaned forward eagerly. She hadn’t ever been there either.

Osiris lifted Kenzie to her feet in an easy display of strength. He held the back of her shirt to stop her when she stumbled on the steps. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he lifted her against him and carried her down the stairs. “You’ve had enough danger for one day, Little girl,” he growled against her ear as he set her feet down on the concrete floor.

“Sorry!” she squeaked.

“Let me get my gear off, and I’ll show you around.”

Kenzie nodded and moved to the side, out of the way, as the firefighters descended and headed for their lockers. It seemed too voyeuristic to watch as they shucked their outer gear. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that one firefighter was a woman. Under the heavy clothing and the soot from the fire, she hadn’t been able to tell.

Reprimanding herself for assuming that all were men, Kenzie searched for a way to busy herself. Maybe there was a way to repay their skill in rescuing her. Shifting her gaze to roam around the room, she was astonished at the immaculate order of the fire station. Everything sat neatly in its place without a speck of dirt or dust.

The crash of something heavy made her look. Oh. My. God. Osiris stood in his uniform pants and a white T-shirt. Sweat plastered the thin cotton garment against the muscles of his body. No wonder he’d been able to pick me up so effortlessly. When several men chuckled, Kenzie knew she’d said that aloud instead of in her brain. Her face instantly heated, and she ducked her head to avoid their eyes.

One helpful guy added, “We’re going to miss Osiris for many things, but his brawn definitely helps out in many situations.”

“You better miss me,” Osiris joked, throwing the comment over his shoulder as he walked toward Kenzie. When he reached her, Osiris put a finger under her chin and lifted her face.

“Even if I wasn’t strong, I would have figured out a way to get you out of that building. But, if you like muscles, that’s even better.” He posed with one arm up to flex his bicep and laughed when Kenzie poked his massive arm bulge with her index finger.

“Ouch!” she yelped, pulling her hand back to thrust her finger into her mouth.

“Careful, Little one. I’m going to jump in the shower. I’ll be right back.”

“You can’t get it wet for three days, remember?” she parroted the instructions from the medic as she pointed to his injury. Kenzie had memorized them as he talked to Osiris.

“I’ll have one of the guys wrap it for me in plastic wrap.”

“I’ll do it!” She jumped at the possibility of helping.

“I’ll need to take my shirt off,” he warned.

“I won’t look if you’re shy,” she promised the big man, tilting her head to the side as she tried to figure out why he’d be embarrassed.

“I’m not shy,” he assured her with a grin before pulling his shirt over his head.

A waft of overly ripe male walloped her in the face as he swung the shirt over his shoulder. “Yikes! You need a shower.” She danced backward as she tried to keep her tone light and her gaze on his face. Unfortunately, her brain and eyes acted independently of her control and cruised over the ripples and ridges of his chiseled chest and abs. He was built like a fitness trainer or weightlifter or maybe a…

“Come on, big eyes. The plastic wrap is in here.” He took her hand naturally as if he’d held it a thousand times.

Kenzie liked it. She liked it a lot. Tentatively, she squeezed his hand and looked at him apprehensively when he looked down at her. “You’re not messing with me, are you, Osiris? I look tough on the outside, but inside, I’m not. Don’t hurt me, okay?”

“Okay.”

“That’s it? You’re not going to ask any questions?”

“No, Little girl. I plan to get to know all the answers myself.” He opened a drawer with his free hand and pulled out the plastic wrap. “You’ll need both hands. Will Cupcake come stay with me for a few minutes?”

Kenzie held her stuffie to her ear and listened carefully. After a few seconds, she reported, “Cupcake says