Chief Distraction by Stella Kelly Read Free Book Online

thorough.”
    “I am. I want to make sure I have…”
    “All the facts, I know.” He winked, surprising
her. Was he flirting or was it her imagination?
    “How big an area are we talking?”
    “Five acres, enough to make a huge impact.”
    “Hmm,” Blythe kept her face on the page,
writing.
    “You know, that fire was one of the highlights
of my career, though it was devastating to watch the island go through that.”
    “It was a big one I understand.”
    “Absolutely. There’s no fire station there so we
had to use helicopters, rescue boats, and our bush attacker hummer.”
    Glancing up, Blythe watched his face light up as
he mentioned the oversized vehicle. “Big toys for big boys.”
    “I do love our hummer,” he said, grinning
boyishly again. A deep dimple she hadn’t noticed before emerged front and
center.
    Blythe wanted to know more about the hulking man
sitting across the table; wanted to know what made him tick. On the other hand,
she didn’t want him knowing too much about her. She would have to stick to
small talk.
    “Tell me about yourself. How long have you been
a fireman?”
    Chief Kalani pulled his chair in closer. “Is
this line of questioning for your article?” He smirked and in that moment,
Blythe spotted the relaxed version of the Fire Chief. The playful side she’d
witnessed up on the volcano. It was refreshing and drew her in deeper.
    “Strictly business,” she said flirtatiously,
surprising herself. “So, how long?”
    “Sixteen years. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to
do…to help people. I can’t imagine any other line of work.”
    “That’s commendable. Knowing what you want I
mean.”
    “Yeah, I think so too. I know what I want.”
    Blythe couldn’t help but view the comment as
suggestive. His confidence was infectiously alluring. If only she knew what she
wanted. There’d always been something missing, a longing for more balance.
Being a workaholic will do that to a girl. “So how does it feel to be one of
the youngest Fire Chiefs?”
    “It’s an honor. I’m humbled every day by the opportunity.
I’m proud to walk in my ancestors footsteps.”
    “Wow, tell me how you really feel,” Blythe
smiled warmly.
    He chuckled, “Prior to joining the county fire
department, I was in the U.S. Air Force crash and structural crew. That’s
helped me out in all sorts of areas of my life. After high school, I was in a
car crash. It really changed things. I joined the Air Force to help get through
the pain. I was numb for the first two years after the crash, going through the
motions.”
    “That’s terrible.” She studied his face,
wondering if the crash happened before or after he’d dumped and humiliated his
girlfriend into cursing him publically. “Life can be extremely unpredictable.”
    “True,” he said, still lost in the past.
    “The Air Force, huh? That’s a tough road.”
    “You’re not kidding. Training to become a
firefighter was similar to my military training though. They break you down,
level you out, then build you back up better than before. Physically, mentally,
all of that. It was a tremendous accomplishment.”
    “Hmm,” she smiled, holding his intense gaze. He
looked lost in thoughts of the past. “So tell me a little about the Maui County
Fire Department.”
    “Well, we protect four islands in total. Maui,
Lanai, Molokai, and the uninhabited Kahoolawe.”
    “Hold on,” she said, “let me get this down.”

 
                      <><><>

 
    It
was Mak’s turn to study her while she wrote. He decided he liked the way she
tilted her head, the way her long silky hair cascaded over her shoulders. She
was stunning, yet natural, with an elegant simplicity about her, not to mention
sexy curves and killer legs. He glanced down the side of their small table,
eyeing her calves and her stylish heels.
    “So how many are you?” she asked, interrupting
his nagging fantasy.
    “How many?” he asked, puzzled.
    “Men. Sorry.”
    “Oh,