Texas Wildfire (Texas Heroes Book 1) by Sable Hunter Read Free Book Online

you in an accident?”
    Blushing, she shook her head. “No, I mean, yes.”
    The doctor chuckled. “I don’t know how well you know this little lady, but she’s notorious for taking falls and slipping down. She runs into things all the time. Why I bet she’s had a half dozen broken bones in the last few years, haven’t you? How did you do this? Jump out of an airplane?”
    “I…uh…I...”
    Titan didn’t smile. He tried to remember if the doctor was right. He’d known she’d had a few mishaps over the last few years, but there was always a good explanation for them. And she never complained. The doctor was smiling and Titan realized he was making a joke. This didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t like people finding humor at Makenna’s expense. She looked to be in pain. “I’m so sorry. Did you fall?”
    “She slipped on the stairs.” Out of nowhere Damien walked up, answering for Makenna.
    Titan didn’t know what to say. Whatever had happened, he wanted to take her in his arms so bad he could taste it. “I hope you’re okay,” was all he managed to say before his Captain headed his wife toward the door. “Go on out and get in the truck. I want to talk to Titan.” All three sets of eyes followed her out the automatic doors. “So, how’s the burns?”
    Titan turned to his Captain, a man he’d stood beside as they fought hellish blazes. Shaking the thoughts from his head, he smiled and offered his hand. “I’m on the mend. Should be back on call in a few days.”
    “Good. We need you.” As if he wasn’t thinking, Damien took his hand, but with his other, he slapped Titan on his back, high up on his shoulder blades—right over the blistered raw wound.
    The contact was agonizing…but Titan never flinched, never let on. “Looking forward to it.” After exchanging a few pleasantries with the doctor, Damien Wade left and Titan went on it to get his appointment over with. “How are we, Mr. Sloan?” The middle-aged nurse patted him on the arm.
    “You tell me.” He gave her a friendly smile.
    Slowly, she removed the gauze and tape, giving him a quick examination. “Well, you’re healing nicely. I think one more day and you’ll be able to forego the bandages. Sometimes letting a burn breathe helps.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He certainly wasn’t going to argue. But all the time he was sitting there, letting the nurse clean his burn and change his dressing, he was remembering Makenna’s face and feeling like he was missing something important.
    Once he was through, Titan signed the paperwork so they could file with his insurance company, then he started toward the door to hunt a meal. His stomach was growling. A pizza sounded good.
    “Sloan, Mr. Sloan,” a voice called from behind him.
    “Yes?” He stopped and turned, finding the receptionist hurrying toward him with a phone in her hand. “Ms. Wade left her cell. We tried calling her. No one answered. I know you work with her husband. Could you see that she gets it?”
    Titan smiled. “Sure thing.” Great. This gave him just the excuse he needed to stop by and check on her. “I’ll be glad to.”
    *  *  *
    Hunger wouldn’t let him forego food, but as soon as he was through eating, Titan drove the five miles or so to what used to be the Kendrick place. When Damien and Makenna had moved here several years before, they’d bought the two story home that sat on about twelve acres across the north pasture from Skyview. Going around the road, it was a mile and a half from his house to hers, but if you cut across the pasture only about a quarter mile separated them. But that quarter mile was across rough country.
    The Captain used to be a full time firefighter. He’d changed careers, and the big city’s loss was Hays County’s gain because he’d brought a lot of knowledge to their group of volunteers. Pulling up into their driveway, Titan picked Makenna’s phone off the seat. A momentary weakness made him take note of Makenna’s number