He turned around to find a gorgeous black woman standing there, a warm smile curving her full lips. She was wearing a camel cowl-neck sweater with tapered black slacks and black ankle boots. With her flawless mahogany complexion and high cheekbones, she was almost a dead ringer for Tika Sumpter. If Marcus didn’t know better, he would have sworn the actress had just strutted off the set ofThe Haves and the Have Notsand made her way over to the fire station.
“Captain Wolf?”
Marcus grinned, jerking his thumb to the left. “That would be him.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said with an endearingly self-conscious laugh. “I’ve seen your family on TV. You all look so much alike, it’s hard to tell you apart.”
Marcus chuckled. “It’s okay. We get that a lot.”
“Who’s looking for m—” Magnum broke off as the woman stepped into his line of sight. He froze, then slowly pushed his goggles off his face and gave her a thorough once-over, an appreciative gleam sparking in his eyes.
“Well, hello there,” he murmured.
The ebony beauty smiled. “Hello, sir. I’m—”
“Hold that thought, sweetheart. I’m coming out.”
The woman frowned slightly and mouthed to herself,Sweetheart? Really?
Magnum crawled out from the fire truck, climbed down the short ladder and came around to introduce himself.
“Magnum Wolf at your service,” he drawled, wiping his hands on a greasy rag before extending a handshake. “And you are?”
“Brienne Burke.” She shook his grease-stained hand with a firm, sure grip. Although her slender palm was engulfed by his much larger one and he had a considerable height advantage, she looked him confidently in the eye.
As a current of awareness passed between them, their hands clung.
Brienne let go first and retreated back a step, then seemed embarrassed for doing so.
Magnum smiled, his eyes lazily roaming her face. “Pleased to meet you, Brienne Burke. Are you here to cover our holiday toy drive?”
“Toy drive? Oh, no, I’m not a reporter—”
“Then you must be here about our receptionist opening,” Magnum said.
“Actually, sir, I’ve already been hired.” Brienne gave him a narrow smile. “As a firefighter.”
A look of pure surprise crossed Magnum’s face. He looked her over and repeated dumbly, “A firefighter?”
“That’s right.” She lifted one perfectly arched brow. “Don’t tell me you’ve never met a female firefighter, Captain Wolf?”
Marcus covered his mouth with his hand to hide a smile.
“Of course I have,” Magnum said quickly, recovering his composure. But it was too late. He’d already lost major points with the sista.
Too bad. She was a stunner.
“I’ve been assigned to this station,” she said crisply. “I was told to ask for Captain Wolf.”
“Well, you found me.” Magnum’s smile was uncharacteristically sheepish. “I apologize for not knowing who you were. There must have been a mix-up somewhere because I was expecting someone else.”
“Someone with chest hair and a deep voice, right?”
Magnum’s smile wavered. “Uh…”
Brienne’s eyes were glinting with humor. She was totally busting his balls.
Magnum huffed a laugh and rubbed his bristly jaw. “Well, anyway…welcome.”
