They were supposed to be working this...whatever it was out of their systems. But it had been weeks now, and Linc’s lust showed no signs of burning itself out, and miracle of miracles Jacob kept coming around, hadn’t gotten tired of Linc and the secrecy. If anything he’d damn embedded himself in Linc’s life, eating his food, playing with his dogs, watching his TV. Hell, he’d even brought groceries last visit when he’d helped Linc transplant several trays of seedlings to the garden. They spent as much time out of bed as in it, talking and hanging out, each encounter another cozy layer Linc would eventually have to peel away. But not yet.
“We ready?” he asked Morrison, the burn boss who had spent weeks planning for that day’s fire. One thing outsiders seldom understood about smoke jumping was how much hurry up and wait there was, and how much time was spent on other forest management projects designed to ensure that their emergency services were needed less. Today they’d been loaned out to help with a prescribed burn project east of Prineville. May had given way to early June, and the risk for fires increased with each sunny week, especially as fireworks season crept up on them. But so far they’d had limited emergency callouts, mainly working on planned projects.
This was a larger controlled burn, so several hotshot and engine crews were assisting along with the crews from the smoke-jumping base. Their job would be to keep the fire within the designated boundaries. Back at base, another crew stood ready to parachute in if things got out of hand and their services were needed. But the objective was to not get to that point.
“I’m not liking this wind.” Morrison frowned. “I want your crew to move into position ahead of ignition, get us some additional data on how the fire is moving. We’re going ahead with the burn, but we need to be smart.”
“Absolutely. We’re on it.” This sort of complex management was exactly why they were involved—their years of experience and training would help the other crews do their jobs more effectively. After sorting out more of what the burn boss needed from them, he took Garrick, Ray and Jacob with him to talk with the firing boss—the person in charge of all the planned ignitions.
Their plan was worked out, so they geared up, checked their communications set, and trudged out. While they waited for the ten a.m. ignition start, Linc checked all the readings on their equipment while Jacob and Garrick were deep in conversation about something. And if Linc was jealous about how close they stood or how animated their voices were, he quickly dismissed that as being pointless. He’d get Jacob all to himself soon enough.
“Are we keeping you guys from book club or what?” Ray teased.
“Nah.” Garrick laughed and pointed at Jacob. “I was just convincing the birthday boy here that it would be rude to not let us take him out after we’re done here.”
“It’s your birthday?” Damn. Linc had totally forgotten that Jacob’s birthday was this part of June, and now he felt stupid. Even so, he modulated his tone, trying to not sound entitled or hurt. But it would have been nice for Jacob to drop a damn hint on one of his many secret visits.
“I know.” Garrick slapped Jacob on the shoulder. “He kept mighty quiet. I wouldn’t know if Kelley hadn’t said something. She and McKenna and a bunch of others want to go out, but he keeps putting us off. Hedging his bets for a better time or something.”
“It’s not that.” Jacob shot Linc a helpless look, shoulders slumping. Heck. He must have been hoping for some Friday night alone time, same as Linc. But Linc couldn’t keep him from his friends, especially not on his birthday.
“Then it’s settled,” Garrick said firmly. “You’re going. Ray, you in? Surely the wife can spare you an hour?”
“One beer,” Ray allowed, keeping his gaze on the horizon, same as Linc should be doing, no doubt scanning for the start of smoke. “You in, Reid?”
“Yeah,” Garrick answered for him. “You’re even worse than the birthday boy here about going out lately. A single beer isn’t going to kill you. Or hell, make it a soda, but you’re coming too.”
The absolute last thing Linc wanted was to be social with the work crew while having to act like Jacob was simply another coworker. It was hard enough at work, when he had all the distractions of the job. And now that Wyatt was gone and that circle was scattered, he couldn’t seem to find his bearings socially. Hell, there were plenty of days where Jacob was the only real friend he cared to see, the only thing truly grounding him.
And that was why when Jacob said, “Yeah, you should come,” he nodded automatically.
He wouldn’t go for himself, but for Jacob there wasn’t much he wouldn’t try. “I’ve got to get home, see to the dogs, but I’ll come out after that.”
“Good.” There was a message in Jacob’s tentative smile, but Linc didn’t have a chance to decipher it before the radio crackled with the countdown to ignition. And then it was on, them studying the fire’s progression, gathering data for the burn boss and other crews as everyone worked together to keep the fire to the planned low-intensity burn. The ignition crew changed their approach based on their reports, minute adjustments that kept all the ground personnel safe.
A few spot fires crept up on the perimeter of the controlled burn, but the holding crew quickly dealt with those. The day was tense but familiar, an energy he always enjoyed, everyone working in concert and on high alert to avert disaster. And not surprising, everyone was in a celebratory mood after the burn boss declared the fire completed and dismissed the various crews. Seemingly half the personnel headed out to drink, successful fire and Jacob’s birthday as good a reason as any.
Linc took care of the dogs and showered and changed as he tried to come up with a plan for Jacob. Not a present exactly and sure as fuck nothing public, but it was the guy’s birthday, and Linc couldn’t help but feel a little sentimental himself. Luckily, a decent idea came to him, one he thought Jacob might like, and he found himself almost eager on the drive back into town.
The bar and grill was popular with the firefighting crowd, an older building near downtown with a worn sign, large covered patio and music spilling out into the parking lot. Kelley, Garrick and a bunch of others had pushed several tables together on the patio. Jacob was penned into the far corner, surrounded by friends, no chance of Linc getting a word with him, so he didn’t try.
Instead, he sent a fast text. Don’t leave without your present. It was direct without being too flirtatious, but he was nevertheless gratified when Jacob checked his phone, smiled and nodded. That smile was worth all the risk, as was getting to watch him from a distance. He’d always known that Jacob was popular and well-liked, but watching him with his friends like this was different somehow. He had a natural way of putting people at ease, making those around him laugh and have a good time. Pride coursed through Linc, like when Jacob had passed training, chest light, mouth unable to keep back a smile, body almost gloating that he alone would get Jacob by himself later.