Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 63

Kelvin's Point of View.

I stand in just my boxers, paying extra attention to ironing my uniform. I don't know why I feel so nervous about having a lunch with my new assistant. Well, I do know why, but still, I need to be professional. I was so happy last night when she text that comment about having a drink first. That is the Joanne I like, the one who says wildly inappropriate things with lots of inuendo, not the one who cannot speak two words to me. Before I could even think I sent the message saying I would take her to lunch today. To be honest, I will be glad of the company. Irrespective of the fact, that woman is taking up a lot of my personal thoughts when I am having 'alone' time. I wanted to grab a decent lunch anyway, because if memory serves me right, it is Wayne and Twinkles turn to do the food these next few shifts, which means, slop-on-slop that is barely edible. I hang up the freshly ironed shirt, placing it on a hanger, and putting it on the door handle so it can cool down and not crease the moment I put it on, then grab my trousers, and proceed to create razor sharp creases in the legs.

Looking at the clock I notice I need to get a move on, so grab my uniform and head back upstairs, to get changed. Even though I showered an hour ago, I decide to grab another. I am like a teenager on a first date. Not that this is a date, just a welcome lunch with a colleague, who is the mother of one of my team and just so happens to have boobs to die for.

Spraying ample deodorant because it is still blistering hot outside, and I really do not want to sweat and smell, along with a dash of my aftershave, which I do not normally wear for work, quickly get ready, take one more look in the mirror, then grabbing my keys I head out of my house, and into the car, heading towards Joanne's home.

The closer I get, the more I feel my heartbeat picking up speed. What the hell is wrong with me?

As I pull up outside her small home, I take a breath, to steady these unfathomable nerves I have managed to acquire. Glancing at the house I see that she has poked her head around the curtains, and so I cannot stay in this car any longer without looking like a total fool. Getting out, I make my way up the short path, and knock on the door. I know she is stood behind, because I can see her outline through the stained-glass panels, but she takes a few moments before she finally answers, and I cannot help but wonder why she had done that.

"Hi." I smile at her, as she grabs her keys from her purse and locks her door.

"Hi." She smiles, but then quickly looks down.

I guess shy Joanne is back, which is a shame. I take a moment to look at her, stood in a red dress that wraps around her body, white leaves printed on it, that hangs just below her knees, her long hair is scooped up into a high formal bun. Bloody hell, she looks Gorgeous, with a capital G. I try and pry my eyes away before my length gets too noticeable in my trousers and take a breath to calm myself down. I walk down the path, then open the car door for her, before heading round the other side and getting in. Buckling my seatbelt, I take a moment to check she is strapped in safely, then set off.

"I thought we could go to the Barnes, have a carvery, or would you prefer a light lunch?" I ask her.

"The Barnes is great, thank you." Joanne flashes me a wide smile.

Nodding my head, I head onto the A690.

"Thank you for coming with me for lunch," I politely say, just for something to say.

"Thank you for inviting me." Joanne smiles shyly.

"Oh, not a problem. Plus, I have an ulterior motive. Twinkle and Wayne are cooking tonight, so I need decent food inside me." I chuckle.

Joanne laughs slightly, then looks back down at her hands on her lap.

"Ben said their food is bad." She smiles again.

"That is an understatement, part of me wants to bar them from doing the cooking, but then that is not fair to the other members of the team." I chuckle.

We pull up into the carpark, and before I can be the gentleman my mother raised me to be, Joanne is out of the car. Well, I suppose it is not a date, so that shouldn't really matter, but somehow, I feel slightly disappointed I did not get to open her door for her. I head towards the double doors that enter the pub, making sure I get to them before her, then open one, and stand back allowing her to go in before me, and I cannot help but get a small sense of victory as she walks past me with a small smile.

Requesting a table for two, the waiter leads us into the restaurant side of the pub and shows us to our seats. Thankfully we are placed in a booth, which means I do not have the dilemma of whether or not I should pull the seat out for her. I guess I am just overthinking this whole thing.

"Oh, I am sure Ben will mention something tonight, but Lucy's brother Cal, he is going to apply to be a firefighter. The only issue is, he needs part-time hours because of the kids. Ben said those jobs are like hen's teeth, but hopefully there will be something." Joanne smiles at me.

The waitress comes over, taking our drinks orders, and informing us to head to the carvery when we are ready. I thank her then turn my attention back to Joanne.

"Actually, this is obviously confidential, so do not say anything yet. Twinkle, his wife wants him to leave, they have agreed he can work part-time, so I will need someone on Ben's shift to cover half Twinkles shifts. He has agreed to stay full-time till I can find someone for him to job-share with. When we get to the office, I will show you how to push through applications to head office, when Cal's comes in, send it straight to me so I can look through it, and then send with a recommendation This could work out really well," I tell her.

I get lost in my thoughts, mulling over this situation. If the young man passes the interviews and medical, it will only be 16 weeks when I can grab him for the job-share with Twinkle, keeping his 'Mrs' happy, which in turn keeps Twinkle happy. This would be perfect, and it will be one less headache to deal with.

Joanne nods, then offers a smile. I am surprised she hasn't gone on a rant about Twinkles 'Mrs. We all know there is no love-loss with those two. Mind, after what that woman had said to her when Ben was in hospital, it is hardly surprising. Still, it is good that she is keeping her council and remaining professional about it all right now. That is a huge tick in the box for me, with regards to her working with me in the office. "So... what will you have me doing?" Joanne asks, clearly still nervous.

"Just keep up-to-date with some of my paperwork, seriously I spend more time in the office than I should just to keep up, I really need to be out with the guys more," I answer honestly.

We go for our food, and return to the table, eating in silence. s**t, she is hardly speaking, and I feel tongue tied. This is not how I imagined this afternoon going. Normally Joanne is the life and soul of the party, but still, she hardly looks at me. Curiosity of why gets the better of me, and so I take a breath.

"Joanne, you are normally very chatty, yet around me you go silent. Can I ask why?" I ask her.

Her cheeks begin to redden, to the point she is as red as that sexy god damn dress she is wearing, and my length grows in appreciation of it.

"Because I am a gobby cow, say the most inappropriate things, and well, you are Ben's boss, and now my boss," she shyly admits.

I nod my head in understanding, but it is the fact that as she puts it is a 'gobby cow' that draws me to her. Along with the boobs that could easily suffocate a man. No, I need to stop thinking about that, it is inappropriate!

"So, it is not that you hate me then." I flash her a smile to let her know I am teasing.

"Hell no, but you are intimidating." She laughs, then blushes again as if she said something she shouldn't have.

"Intimidating, how?" I ask, genuinely wanting to know the answer, because she is the last person I would want to intimidate.

"Well look at you, tall, dark, handsome, full of testosterone, and my son's boss to boot. Of course, you are intimidating," she states as if it is something I should already know.

"So... you think I am handsome?" I grin at her, hell I cannot help but find that little fact amazing, and I feel my body react to it.

The blush on her cheeks deepens again.

"I may be old, but I have eyes. Fair enough they don't work as well as they once did, but yes you are handsome." She laughs, covering her embarrassment.

"Thank you. But that means that you are also intimidating." I smile at her.

"How the hell am I intimidating?" she asks, shocked.

"Beautiful, stunning figure, personality in truck loads, and my teammates mother," I say before I can stop myself.

"Hardly beautiful and stunning figure, but thanks anyway." She smirks, shaking her head not wanting to accept the compliment.

Instinctively I reach out and take her hand in mine. As our hands meet, I feel like an electric-type bolt shot up my arm. s**t, I have been out of the game for a long time, but honestly, I do not remember having this feeling before. Not even with my ex-wife. "Do not ever put yourself down, because you are all of those things, trust me," I tell her in my serious voice.

I pull my hand away from hers, even though I really do not want to, as she stares up at me in shock. s**t, I went to far, but hell if I will allow her to continue to put herself down. I know from Ben she has had some idiots in her life, who treated her badly, but what I did not realise was how much that has affected her self-confidence.

"You just need reminding of how wonderful you are," I say to her, and to myself.

Joanne looks up at me, eyes wide, and blushes even more. I can see she has no clue what to say, so I cut her some slack, placing my napkin down onto my empty plate.

"If you are finished, we can head to the office, and I will go through everything with you." I smile, as she nods her head, placing her own napkin down, and stands up.

I head towards the pay point, to settle our bill, when she turns with the biggest smile I have ever seen on her face.

"I am all yours, boss," she tells me then winks slightly. This woman has game!

Okay, now I really am in trouble, because before I can stop myself, I am leaning into her ear and whispering softly.

"I really wish that were true," I groan slightly at the thought.

f**k let's hope I don't get a s****l harassment complaint before she even starts working for me.

"It could be arranged," she states, then giggles slightly, walking out of the door, leaving me stood watching her, open mouthed, with the biggest bulge in my pants. I really hope she is not joking... like really, really, hope she is not joking.