Ian looked away, a faint blush rising across his cheeks.
“How’re you?” Brad murmured, catching Ian’s hand. He rubbed Ian’s knuckles, scanning discreetly for any marks. Ian had been good with the cutting lately. No new scabs. Brad had made sure to check every inch of him whenever he got the chance.
“Good,” Ian said, tugging his hand out of Brad’s. He glanced around the station, still wary.
“You don’t have to worry here,” Brad said. “My team leader’s older than his bondmates by a couple decades. We’re not the only ones.”
Ian looked at him in surprise. Brad entwined their fingers together. Turned to find Gwen gawking at the ladder truck, all shiny chrome and polished fenders.
“Ready for a grand tour around the station?” Brad asked. “Both of you?”
“You’re a firefighter,” Gwen said, staring at Brad’s station T-shirt and his orange pants. “But where’s your coat?”
“We use that for fires,” Brad said. “The coats are hanging on the rack there—see them?”
Gwen nodded, glancing at the other alphas in the station. “No one’s wearing the coats.”
“That’s because they’re heavy, and they get in the way with our day-to-day jobs. We wear them when we go out to fight fires ‘cuz that’s what they’re for. Fire protection. It’s important to be dressed right for the occasion.”
She absorbed the information, looking back at the trucks. So Brad caught her tiny hand, leading her closer. “These are the ladder trucks,” he said. “We have a bunch of vehicles. The ladders are for getting to high places, and the tankers are the ones that bring water to places.”
He brought Gwen and Ian around the station, pointing out all the different rigs. Then he stopped by the break room, where Harris was. Harris glanced up from a folder of building safety codes—he’d been ranting earlier about the terrible state of the Fernleaf apartments.
Brad waved with Gwen’s hand.
“Here’s my team leader,” Brad said. “Harris tells everyone what to do when there’s a fire. He’s a great guy.”
“What about you?” Gwen asked.
“Sometimes I run the hoses, and sometimes I go into the buildings where the fires are.” Brad grinned, pulling Ian closer with his other arm.
He met Harris’ eyes, reading his team leader’s curiosity. Didn’t want Harris mentioning that Gwen was his daughter.
“Hey, Harris,” Brad said. “This is Gwen, and my omega, Ian. Okay if I take them out?”
Harris studied them all. “Sure. Take Ladder 1, but keep the radio on. We’ll need you to respond if anything comes up.”
“Will do. Thanks.” Brad ruffled Gwen’s hair. “It’s Gwen’s birthday today.”
“Yeah?” Harris cracked a smile, grabbing a red children’s helmet off a stack. “Happy birthday, Gwen! You gonna be a firefighter when you grow up?”
Brad glimpsed the slip in Ian’s smile. Knowing what Ian did, it wasn’t likely that Gwen’s heart had enough strength for the job. Maybe in the future, but Brad would rather not have her take the risk.
Was he getting protective of her now? Maybe.
Gwen rubbed her chest. “If my daddy says it’s okay,” she said. “I got heart problems.”
Harris glanced at Brad, something akin to pity in his eyes. Brad didn’t know how to respond.
“Here’s a helmet anyway,” Harris said, setting the flimsy plastic helmet on Gwen’s head. “Shows everyone you were at the station today.”
Gwen bounced, pulling the hat firmly down on her head.
“Maybe there’ll be something just as fun that you can work as when you grow up,” Ian said, rubbing Gwen’s back. He looked a little sad, somewhat resigned. “Want to take Brad up on the ride?”
“Mm-hm!” Gwen glanced at the trucks through the doorway. Brad nodded his thanks at Harris, turning his omega and daughter back out into the garage.
He led Gwen and Ian to the ladder truck. Gwen looked at the monster of a vehicle, her eyes almost falling out of her head. “We’re gonna ride in that?”
“Yup. Not too big for you, is it?” Brad asked, pulling the door open.
“It’s just right,” she said.
“You almost sound like a size queen,” Ian said, humor glinting in his eyes.
“What’s a size queen?” Gwen asked.
Brad coughed. “It’s when people like big things. Like your dad does.”
Ian flushed a deep red, elbowing Brad in the ribs.
“I like big trucks,” Gwen said, racing up to the ladder truck’s door. “So I’m a size queen!”
Ian groaned. “Brad!”
“Hey, you started it.” Brad pulled Ian close, kissing his temple.
“She’ll be shouting that to the whole station next!” Ian covered his face.
“Not the worst thing in the world.” Brad released Ian, crouching next to Gwen. He adjusted the helmet on her head, making sure she had the elastic beneath her jaw so the helmet wouldn’t fall off. Made sure she was comfortable. “So for today, you’re a firefighter! Welcome to the station.”
Gwen beamed. “Does that mean I can drive the truck?”
“I’ll let you sit in the driver’s seat,” Brad said. “How about that?”
When he turned, he found Ian with his phone out, taking a picture of them.
“You both look great,” Ian said with a half-smile.
“So do you,” Brad answered. Ian blushed, looking away. So Brad waved him over. “You need to get a pic taken of all of us.”
Harris had trailed out of the break room, watching them. “Need a hand with the photo?”
Ian lit up, and Brad grinned. Trust Harris to step in—but maybe Harris knew the importance of pictures, too.
They had a picture taken quickly; Brad and Ian crouched by Gwen, Gwen with her red helmet on, beaming.
“Thank you,” Ian said, taking his phone back.
“No problem.” Harris waved.
Brad helped Gwen into the driver’s seat. He waited for Ian to take a photo of her, before scaling up the side of the truck. “Scoot over to the middle,” he told Gwen. “I’ll be sitting here, and your dad’ll be on the other side.”
Gwen shuffled over to the middle. When Brad shut the driver’s door and hopped back onto the ground, he found Ian looking at him oddly.
“You’re her dad too, you know,” Ian murmured. “Are you ready to tell her?”
Brad gulped, his heart pattering. “I don’t
