"It wasn't a hardship. I like kids."

"It shows. And-" she kissed him again "-that's for putting Boyd's mind at ease"

"I don't know if I'd go quite that far. He's still thinking about punching me out if I make the wrong move with his baby sister."

"Well, then..." Her eyes danced up at his. "You'd better be careful, because my big brother is plenty tough."

"You don't have to draw me a picture." He swung her toward the doors. "Come on back up with me. I need to get a couple of things."

"All right." They'd barely started up the stairs when the bells sounded. "Oh." The sound of clattering feet echoed below them.

"I'm sorry the kids missed this." Then she stopped, wincing.

"That's terrible, acting like a fire's a form of entertainment."

"It's a natural reaction. Bells, whistles, men in funny uniforms. It's a h.e.l.l of a show."

They crossed over to his office. She waited while he sorted through papers. "Do you ever get cats out of trees?"

"Yep. And kids' heads out of the pickets on railings. I got someone's pet iguana out of a sewer pipe once."

"You're joking."

"Hey, we don't joke about rescue."

He looked up and grinned. She looked so tidy, he thought, in her navy blazer and slacks, with the cashmere sweater, red as one of his engines, softly draped at the neck. Her hair was loose, honey gold. When she tucked it behind her ear in that fluid, unconscious movement, he could see the wink of rich blue stones. Sapphires, he a.s.sumed. Only the genuine article would suit Natalie Fletcher.

"What is it?" A little self-conscious under his stare, she shifted.

"Did Keenan leave something edible smeared on my face?"

"No. You look good, Legs. Want to go somewhere?"

"Go somewhere?'' The idea put her off balance. Apart from the challenge of that first meal, they hadn't actuallygone anywhere.

"Like a movie. Or..." He supposed he could handle it. "A museum or something."

"I... Yes, that'd be nice." It shouldn't be so awkward, she thought, to plan a simple date with someone you'd been sleeping with.

"Which?"

"Either."

"Okay." He stuffed some papers in a battered briefcase. "The guys should have a newspaper downstairs. We'll check it out."

"Fine." When they started out, Natalie glanced first toward the stairs and then back toward the poles. She took a deep breath and gave up. "Ry?"

"Yeah."

"Can I slide down the pole?"

He stopped dead and stared down at her. "You want to slide down the pole?"

Amused at herself, Natalie shrugged her shoulders. "Ry, I'vegot to slide down the pole. It's driving me crazy."

"No kidding?" His grin broke out as he put a hand on her shoulder and turned her around. "Okay, Aunt Nat. I'll go down first, in case you lose your nerve."

"I'm not going to lose my nerve," she said huffily. "I'll have you know I've been rock-climbing dozens of times."

"There's that height thing again. You get a good grip," he continued, demonstrating. "Swing yourself forward. You can wrap your legs around it as you go down."

He flowed down, smooth and fast. Frowning, she leaned over, peering at him through the opening.

"You didn't wrap your legs around it."

"I don't have to," he said dryly. "I'm a professional. Come on, and don't worry-I'll catch you."

"I don't need you to catch me." Insulted, she tossed back her hair.

She reached out, took a good grip on the bra.s.s pole, then swung agilely into s.p.a.ce.

It took a matter of seconds. Her heart had barely had time to settle before her feet hit the floor. Laughing, she looked longingly up again. "See? I didn't need-" Her boast ended on a squeal of surprise as he scooped her up into his arms. "What?''

"You're a natural." He was grinning as he lowered his mouth to hers. And a constant surprise to him, he thought.

She angled her head, settling her arms comfortably around his neck. "I could do it again."

"If you'd do it in red suspenders, a pair of those really little shorts and let me take a picture, the guys would be very grateful."

She lifted a brow. "I think I'll just make a cash donation to the department."

"It's not the same."

"Inspector?" The dispatcher poked his head out of a doorway. His smile spread slowly at the sight of the woman bundled in Ry's arms. "Suspicious fire over at 12 East Newberry. They want you."

"Tell them I'm on my way." He set Natalie back on her feet.

"Sorry."

"It's all right. I know how it is." Her disappointment was completely out of proportion, she lectured herself. "I've got some work I should be catching up on, anyway. I'll grab a cab."

"I'll take you home," Ry told her. "On my way." He steered her toward the bench where she'd left her coat. "Are you just going to be hanging around at the apartment?"

"Yes. There are some spreadsheets I should have looked at yesterday."

"So I'll call you."

As Ry helped her on with her coat, she glanced over her shoulder.

"All right."

He turned her completely around and indulged himself with one long, hard kiss. "Tell you what, I'll just come by when I'm done."

Natalie worked on getting her breath back. "Better," she managed.

"That's even better."

By the middle of the week, Natalie had discovered that for the first time in memory she was behind on her own personal schedule. Not only had she blown the previous weekend, but she hadn't put in a decent night's work all week.