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“But it isn’t going to hurt in case anyone sees a familiar face in the crowd. This has the entire department on edge, so whatever we can do to get this guy off our backs, the better.” He looked the drive over. “I’ll gather the men and let them know what’s going on. If it stays quiet, we’ll get together in half an hour.”
    Angus left the office and wandered down to the equipment garage. It was sunny and warm outside, so one of the trucks had been pulled out and was being washed. Fire calls always left the trucks covered in soot and film, and everyone had worked so hard to get the money to buy the equipment that they all took pride in its care and maintenance.
    “Did you get it?” Roy asked. He was as big as a house and liked to use his size to intimidate, but most of the guys knew he was really a big softie and paid him little attention. The guy was also hairy as hell, and with his shirt off looked as though he had a bath mat on his chest.
    “He gave me a copy,” I told him.
    “That guy is a pain in the ass. How come you can get through to him?” He narrowed his gaze as though he thought he knew the answer. “He one of your friends ?” Roy had a problem with him; everyone in the station knew it.
    “Jealous? Because you aren’t my type,” Angus retorted. He loved watching Roy turn red.
    “Too manly?” He posed, flexing his arms and jutting out his chest.
    “Too dumb,” Angus said, and the other guys all snickered. “I can do this all day and you’re never going to win, so give it up.” He disguised it as teasing, but he wasn’t going to back down with anyone. Being strong and giving as good as he got was how he’d earned their respect, and that was what ensured his brother firefighters would have his back. Not that he had a doubt about any of them, even Roy. “The truck is looking good,” he said, both to change the subject and to try to ease the tension that was building.
    “We’re almost done,” Roy said. He began walking around it, pointing out areas that had been missed or needed a little extra polishing.
    “Excuse me,” someone said from behind him, and Angus turned around. Kevin stood on the sidewalk, carrying two white boxes in his arms.
    “Cutie” was out of his mouth before he remembered where he was. He heard Roy growl in the background.
    “Knock it off, ya big lug,” Angus scolded and turned back to Kevin. “What are you doing here?”
    “Mrs. V was really grateful for your help on Saturday, and the landlord has replaced her stove. She got a new one—well, a new old one, anyway—and she started baking and then asked me when I got home to bring these to you to say thank you.”
    “Whatcha got there?” Roy demanded.
    “Baklava. Mrs. V, the lady with the oven fire, she made them for you,” Kevin said with a squeak, and Angus wanted to punch Roy right there for being mean. Roy came over and lifted the lid on one of the boxes.
    “Man, those look good.”
    “So the way to a man’s heart and past his prejudices is through his stomach, then.” Angus couldn’t resist, and even Roy gave him a small smile for that one.
    “Where should I put them?” Kevin asked.
    “Come with me,” Angus said, taking the top box before Roy reached in and began grazing. “We’ll go inside and up to the station kitchen.”
    “Okay. I hope I didn’t cause any trouble,” Kevin said, turning back to where Roy watched them.
    “He’s harmless. All bark and no bite.” Angus held the door and motioned Kevin up the stairs. He followed behind him and knew he shouldn’t be watching, but he couldn’t take his gaze off Kevin’s jeans-encased butt as it swung back and forth like a metronome, ramping up the heat with each movement.
    “Who’s this?” the captain said as they reached the kitchen.
    “This is Kevin. He was the hero at the club fire, and the one who got everyone out of the apartment building with the stove fire on Saturday.”
    “The lady with the stove fire, Mrs.