1 Chapter 1

Prologue

FROM THE TEXT MESSAGES OF DANNY RAMIREZ AND HAYDEN HUDSON

D: Do you give your number to every guy who comes through your line at the bank?

H: I was wondering if you'd get the balls to text me or if you were going to be scared of my dad.

D: Not gonna lie, your dad being my Chief is intimidating, but I just keep thinking about how you looked today.

H: Oh yeah? How was that?

D: Like your perfect hair needed to have some fingers run through it. That shirt, it was just a little too high. A finger tucked into the spot your cleavage made would pull it down just enough so I could see what we're working with. And that lipstick? The color that wasn't exactly red, but not black either? I'd like to see it smeared across my lips too.

H: Holy hell.

D: Yeah, I say what I mean and mean what I say.

H: I guess I was lucky you're the one who stopped to help me change my tire.

D: I wanted to do so much more than that.

H: Why?

D: Everyone in this town knows me. I'm the rookie at the firehouse with parents who come from the wrong side of the tracks, but somehow manage to make everything work. You don't know me; there aren't any preconceived notions.

H: Didn't we go to high school together? We're around the same age.

D: Wrong side of the tracks, remember. I went to West.

H: Oh yeah, I went to East.

D: It's not like we ran in the same circles.

H: So, what kind of things do you want me to know about you, Danny Ramirez?

D: I'm a hard worker and loyal to a fault; I love my job and family; and I'm slightly dirty when it comes to the women I admire.

H: Sounds like someone I'd be interested in getting to know.

D: Then maybe you'd like to go out with me tomorrow night.

H: So soon?

D: If not then, I'll be on my twenty-four.

H: Twenty-four hours is a long time to work. What do you do with the downtime?

D: Watch YouTube and take online classes to further my education. Besides, don't act like you don't know what your dad does to rookies. There's always something for me to do at the station.

H: You're not scared of him finding out?

D: I'm more scared of not taking a chance on what could last a lifetime.

H: If you think you're up to it, I'll meet you tomorrow night. Mountainside BBQ?

D: Sounds good to me. What time do you get off work?

H: Five-thirty. Meet you at six-thirty? Give me a chance to change.

D: I'll be there. You want me to come pick you up?

H: As much as I'd enjoy it, we don't want to fuck this up before it even starts. My dad sees you and it's over.

D: You were the one afraid I was worried about it. Looks like you have your own issues.

H: Don't we all?

D: I gotta get to bed. It's been a long day.

H: See you tomorrow?

D: Very excited for it, Hayden.

H: Me too.