Taking Charge (Meet the McIntyres Book 1) Read online

  After swallowing down two aspirin, I walked back into the kitchen. This was my happy place. No one got to invade it. No thoughts. No people. It was my sanctuary. My stainless steel sanctuary. After wiping down the counters and making sure everything was in its place, I did what I loved. I messed it all up.

  Ten minutes later I had canisters of flour, sugar, and spices all over the bench and my once pink apron was now splattered with white flour. I shook my ass back and forth in time with music blaring from my iPod dock. I didn’t even really know what I was making. I just needed to have some fun. Experiment. Nothing was off limits.

  Before I knew what I was doing, every surface of the kitchen was covered in trays filled with deliciousness. Lemon poppy seed muffins. Fluffy lamingtons. Gigantic oatmeal cookies. Crispy, crunchy pastry horseshoes. Individual apple pies. And a three-tiered hazelnut cake just waiting to be constructed and turned into something beautiful.

  Stepping back, I poured myself a glass of water and leant back against the counter, taking a minute to admire my handiwork. The hours had sailed by and I’d had a productive afternoon. Tomorrow’s range was going to be something incredible. It smelt amazing and my mouth watered. Somehow, I’m not exactly sure how, I refrained from taste testing anything. Being hungry and surrounded by baked goods was never a good combination.

  After one final batch of my triple chocolate fudge brownies, I cleaned up and headed back out the front. I’d changed so much since I’d taken over. Painted the walls, refreshed the décor, and added a touch of personality. Gone was the bland beige and single sailboat picture, replaced with photos and books. I’m still not sure why, but I loved the idea of having a book corner. A place where people could grab a good book and just sit and read while they enjoyed their treats. It’s what I liked. I couldn’t understand why others wouldn’t.

  After dipping the lamingtons in the runny chocolate icing and rolling them in shredded coconut, I set them on a wire rack to dry. Lamingtons were my weakness. I finished up as quick as I could, then turned my attention to cleaning. If there was one thing guaranteed to ruin my baking buzz, it was cleaning up my mess. I wished I had a minion, or a fairy godmother, or hell, those cute fuzzy animals from Snow White who’d clean up after me. One day. One day my sweet little bakery would be successful enough I’d have enough cash to hire help. Maybe work the register and deal with the customers. Hell, they could deal with all the crap I didn’t like doing.

  Four o’clock came and I turned the sign on the door over. I was officially closed for the night. Switching off the lights, I bounced up the stairs and through my front door. I started the bath and watched as it filled with vanilla-scented bubbles. It was my daily splurge. Most days I spent more hours on my feet than I could handle, so each afternoon the moment I fell through the door, I’d drag my exhausted body towards my claw foot tub and soak away the aches and pains. Before I sunk into the bubbles, I grabbed my panty drawer and upended it on my bed. There was no way I was forgetting the cleansing that it desperately needed.

  Grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge, I stripped off, tossing my flour-coated clothes towards the hamper, not really caring if I missed. Tonight I just needed to relax. Grabbing the sponge, I lathered up my legs with my favourite bath gel and let my head drop back.

  I woke up freezing. I’d fallen asleep in the bath and was now sitting in a bath full of dirty, cool water. I’d like to pretend this was the first time I’d started snoring in the tub, but it wasn’t. Sadly, it probably wouldn’t be the last either. Pulling the plug, I stood up shivering and wrapped a towel around me before shuffling into my bedroom and pulling on my favourite flannel pants and oversized grey sweater. After yanking on two pairs of socks, I was finally starting to warm up. Shuffling into the kitchen, I threw a frozen dinner in the microwave and watched while it spun on the plate. While I waited, I wove my hair in two long plaits. When the microwave pinged, I grabbed my dinner and a can of lemonade from the fridge and settled into the lounge. I picked at my cardboard dinner, depressed. I was sick of eating all this healthy crap, especially when I couldn’t even see any results. I know I could have asked Mia to help me lose my fat ass or the thunder thighs I hated. Hell, the moment she found out I’d probably be unable to stop her from helping, but I was too embarrassed to ask. Instead, I’d suffer in silence. This battle was mine. One battle I had to fight alone.

  Glancing down at my half-finished dinner, my stomach turned over. Eating it held no interest. Sighing heavily, I tossed it into the trash, pulled on my running shoes, and stepped onto my elliptical. By the time I stepped off, my legs were like jelly, barely holding me upright while sweat dripped down my body. Usually I didn’t push this hard. I don’t know what possessed me to tonight, but every time I thought about stepping off, something made me change my mind and I found myself pushing a little harder.

  After a quick shower to wash away the salty sweat, I slipped into bed, knocking the pile of underwear onto the floor. That was future Payton’s problem. Right now, I was too worn out to care. Diving under the covers, I settled in for the night. Tomorrow was going to be another long day.

  Beeping.

  Incessant beeping.

  Incessantly annoying beeping.

  Ear-splitting beeping.

  It was way too fucking early to be awake.

  It took longer than it should have before the scent of smoke reached my nostrils. Blinking hard, I shook my head, willing away the drowsiness. When I opened them again, I realised it wasn’t my brain that was foggy. My apartment was filled with smoke.

  “Fuck!” I growled.

  Connor’s heavy ass foot landed on my thigh as he sprang from his bed, phone in hand. A moment later I was blinded as he flicked on the overhead light and yanked on his pants. If there was one thing I didn’t want to wake up to, it was my brother’s naked ass in my face.

  “You coming or what?”

  “What?”

  “There’s a fire. Get dressed. We gotta go.”

  Forcing myself to my feet, I was unsteady as I rocked on the air mattress. Crashing on a mattress on Connor’s floor held more appeal than stepping foot inside that dead house. We’d spent the day driving around the farm, making a list of all the things that needed to be done. It was a long list. Longer than I wanted. Connor had done his best over the years, but he couldn’t do it alone. No one could. And the money situation. Well, wasn’t that the biggest mind fuck ever. I had no idea what I was going to do about that, but one thing at a time.

  “Come on, Beau. We gotta go.”

  “I’m coming! I’m coming. Keep your fucking pants on.” After all, that was a sight I’d never forget. Unfortunately.

  A minute later I was in the front of Connor’s ute as we bounced down the drive. I managed to only bang my head twice on the dashboard while I bent down, trying to tie my boots. I’d completely forgotten about this part of Connor’s life. It didn’t surprise me he joined the rural fire service. It was who he was. Who he’d always been. Maybe I was the one who was the disappointment. In the scheme of things, I’d done nothing. So what. I’d gone to college, got a fancy degree, and then a job. Nothing to be proud of. Fuck, I didn’t even know my own mother had up and left.

  “Shit!”

  “What?”

  Shaking my head, I didn’t want to explain. I couldn’t. “Nothing.”

  “Spit it out!”

  “It’s nothing. Really.”

  “You’re a bullshit liar, Beau. Always have been.”

  “And you’re just full of shit.” That earnt me a chuckle.

  We thundered down the highway towards the unknown. I don’t know why he’d brought me along. I didn’t know the first thing about putting out a fire. I knew how to start one, but extinguish one—I was less than helpful. Silence fell over us and I found myself lost in my thoughts. When I’d come home, I’d never planned on staying. Not for any longer than was absolutely necessary, now though, now I couldn’t see an end. It was time to get to know my family again.
r />   “Where’s this fire?” I asked, shifting in my seat.

  Even though yesterday had been more draining than I’d anticipated, now I was wide awake, riding shotgun while Connor sped towards town to play hero. It was a role he’d always enjoyed. All he was missing was the cape.

  “Um, the bakery on Main Street.”

  “What?”

  “The bakery, I think. Actually, did you want to grab my phone and call Logan? See what’s going on. Where we’re headed?”

  Grabbing his phone from the console, I found Logan’s number—whoever Logan was—and dialled his number. For some reason my stomach was in my throat. The bakery was on fire. The cute little bakery with the most delicious cinnamon scrolls I’d ever eaten. And the baker. That sweet, curvy little baker with a rack you’d die to get your hands on. Shit! Suddenly I wanted to know why Connor was driving like a little old lady.

  As we turned the corner and passed over the rickety bridge, I found myself digging my fingers in the arm rest. I wasn’t sure why Connor brought me. I was just going to be in the way. But there was nowhere else I’d rather be right now.

  “Any idea what we’re walking into?”

  “Not really. Someone reported smoke billowing from the back window. Not sure how bad yet. There’s an apartment upstairs. Hopefully everyone got out.”

  “What do you mean, hopefully?”

  How could he be hopeful about something like that? There was a person living there. She could be in trouble.

  “Exactly that. We don’t know what we’re walking into, and I just hope everyone is out. The worst thing in the world is knowing someone is trapped on the other side of a wall of flames, and if you don’t get through it, if you can’t get through it, well, let’s just say I’m thankful I’ve never been put in that situation.”

  I found myself gripping the handle of the door even tighter. Turning into Main Street, my heart stopped at the sight of the fire engine parked out the front surrounded by guys scurrying in every direction wearing fluorescent yellow pants shining under the street light.

  I was out of the car before Connor brought it to a screeching halt.

  I found myself tugging on my hair. Hard. It stung my scalp, but it didn’t lessen the tension coiling in my stomach. I could see the smoke coming from behind the bakery, but no flames. Connor leapt into action and I found myself standing on the sidelines like a gaping idiot.

  I’d met the damn girl once. For barely a handful of minutes. We’d talked bullshit. Stuff that no one in their right mind would remember in the morning. Yet here I was, my stomach churning as my eyes searched the sea of onlookers for the curvy little baker with the smart mouth and smackable ass. I hated that I couldn’t find her, and even worse that I was looking.

  Unable to stand still any longer, I marched over beside the firetruck and leant on the front bumper. Even though people were shuffling back and forth, nothing really seemed to be happening.

  “Where’s Payton?” I asked no one in particular.

  It was like my voice silenced everyone. Dozens of eyes turned to stare at me, and the urge to slide into the fire engine and duck down behind the seat was looking like a good idea. But fuck that. It may have come out louder than I’d anticipated, it didn’t mean though I didn’t stand behind my words. Where the fuck was she? And why weren’t more people concerned?

  Just when I thought my patience was about to expire and the temper I was barely keeping in check exploded, I caught site of her rushing across the footpath before launching herself at some guy.

  My jaw ticked and my hands clenched in fists as I watched their interaction. It made sense. Of course it did. Payton was something else. Why would she be single? A woman with curves like that and who could cook—hell, they didn’t come along very often. It made sense someone would have already called dibs. Damn it! Now I was thinking like a dude from a chick flick. Fucking Callam! He loved that shit. Thought it was good research to watch how those guys got to be the world’s biggest douche bags and then still, somehow landed Jennifer Anniston. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, his ridiculous theories had scored me a warm, willing woman more than once.

  Trying not to stare, I scoured the scene trying to spot Connor. Now I knew she was safe, I thought I should check on my baby brother. I caught sight of him as he yelled at someone and moved towards the back of the building. There were still no flames licking the building, so I couldn’t understand where the smoke was coming from. It didn’t matter though, Payton was safe. I still wasn’t sure why I cared so much, but I did.

  The moment that realisation smacked me up the side of the head, I saw her bury her face against the guy’s neck as he carried her towards the police cruiser parked with the lights flashing in the middle of the road. The way he set her down on the backseat, taking the time to wipe away the tears with his thumbs, told me everything I need to know. She was with him. And he was a cop. I’d seen it enough times to know there was no point competing. For some fucked up reason, chicks seemed to love guys in uniform. It was a reason all male strippers I’d ever heard of, and the few I’d accidentally seen, were police or firemen. There was something about the uniform that drenched their panties and stole their inhibitions.

  Suddenly I was tired.

  Very fucking tired.

  It had been a long day yesterday full of surprises and bullshit, and I was under no illusions that today would be any better. Staring at the tiny bakery, I found myself wishing it was open and I could grab a coffee. Maybe a couple of those delicious scrolls too.

  “You ready to head?”

  I had been so caught up in my own head I hadn’t even seen Connor come back. With my heart pounding in my chest, I pushed at my chest, willing it to calm down. Futile attempt, really.

  “Shit, Connor! You scared the crap out of me.”

  “Sorry,” he replied automatically. He looked like shit. Covered in dirt and soot with dark black rings under his eye.

  “I’ll drive.” It was the least I could do. Poor dude looked like he was about to fall asleep the moment his ass touched the seat.

  “Thanks.”

  After a few quick goodbyes, we slid into the ute and I backed out. I shouldn’t have looked. I don’t know why I did. The moment I did it, I found myself wishing I hadn’t. Payton’s eyes were boring into the side of my head. I don’t know why she was looking past her cop boyfriend and straight at me. It was unnerving.

  As much as I wanted to call her out, I remembered this was her place we’d been summoned in the middle of the night to save from the flames. She’d been through enough. She didn’t need me giving her a hard time.

  Shaking off the thought, I offered her a weak smile and drove away. For five minutes we sat in silence. Connor stunk like smoke. It infiltrated everything. I think it was on my skin. I wanted a shower more than I wanted coffee. Now that was saying something.

  “What happened?”

  “Not one hundred percent sure. Looks like faulty electrical wiring.”

  “Oh, shit!”

  “Yeah.”

  “How bad is it?” When I looked down I realised that not only was I white knuckling the steering wheel, but I was also driving like a bat out of hell. Luckily I knew the only cop in town was a little preoccupied at the moment.

  “We’ll know more in the morning. I’d say the bakery will be closed for at least a couple of days. And the unit upstairs has had all power cut off to it, so I guess that girl won’t be staying there for a bit.”

  This wasn’t good. She had nowhere to live. Or even worse, maybe she did. She could move in with her man in uniform and they could make use of his handcuffs. Silence filled the cabin as my mind drifted. I was no longer tired, instead I just wanted food. Well, food and a shower. I hadn’t stepped foot in the building, hell, I was barely on the property but still the stench of smoke clung to everything. My clothes were going straight in the wash.

  By the time I turned down the drive, Connor was snoring loudly. No wonder the boy was single. I’d spen
t the better part of the last twenty-four hours with him and all he’d done was snore and snort and fart and eat. Holy crap, I’d never seen anyone eat so much. It was like every time I turned around he was stuffing something in his gob. Not one thing healthy either. It was all over-processed garbage. And I was jealous as hell. He might have eaten like it was his last meal, but there wasn’t anything to him. No flabby stomach or beer belly. Wish I could do that. Lucky bastard.

  The gravel crunched under the wheels as I rolled slowly past the house. I had to look twice, but there was no mistaking it. Someone was sitting on the veranda in the dark. The only light was from the crescent moon and a flickering fluoro behind the curtains.

  I nudged Connor less than gently. He grumbled as he straightened himself and wiped away the drool with the back of his hand. “What the…”

  Without a word I pointed towards the shadow slumped in the decrepit chair. Whoever it was had bigger balls than I did. Even from here I could see that it was barely holding together, let alone the strain of someone’s weight.

  “Who’s that?”

  “Who?”

  “Sitting in the dark.”

  Connor sighed and turned his attention towards the house. “Dad.” His voice was flat and full of misery. There was no shock though, something I found profoundly sad. There’d obviously been a hell of a lot of shit going on around here. Something I needed to get my head around ASAP. After I got a few more hours’ sleep.

  “This has happened before?”

  “Couple of times a week. Let me out here, will you?”

  “Why?”

  “So I can get him back to bed.”

  Oh.

  Fuck! Even I didn’t realise how much of a clueless douche bag I was. It hadn’t even occurred to me to help him inside. I was still trying to figure out why he was there in the first place. I pulled the car to a stop and Connor jumped out. “Get some sleep, Beau.”