“What the hell?” Katie heard a familiar voice say beneath the tree she was clinging to for dear life.

Quickly she glanced down to check if Mason was there or if it was just a bad dream. Immediately she regretted it as she saw how far she was from the ground. She swallowed and held tighter to the branch. Never look down, she reminded herself.

Still, that tall, dark-haired figure of Mason was easily recognisable. Dammit. Him again. Great. Could this day get any worse?

“Uhm. Hello, Mason,” Katie said. “Does no one else work at the fire station these days?”

“The rest of them would just wait until you fall down like rotten fruit,” Mason said nonchalantly.

“Ugh, don’t remind me right now,” Katie said as she tightened her grip on the branch.

Feeling how her long, light brunette hair was caught in between her hand and the branch she was clinging to, Katie forced her fingers to let go a little so she could free her hair.

“Climbing trees while wearing nothing but a baby doll? That’s new even for you, Katie,” Mason said and laughed.

“What?”

“At least you’re wearing panties.”

“This is a skirt, not a baby doll, you ignorant jerk,” Katie flung at Mason.

“You could at least have changed to pants before you started climbing.”

“I thought it would be quick and easy,” Katie blustered.

Mason laughed heartily. “You don’t know the definition of quick and easy, doll. And here I thought you were 24 and not 4 years old.”

Then he turned to the young man beside him.

“Quit gawking, Jacob. Go and get that ladder over there. She enjoys flaunting her assets so don’t encourage her.”

“Yes, boss,” the young man said.

“I do not flaunt myself,” Katie said, feeling annoyed.

“Right now you are. Maybe I should leave you up there so the rest of the neighbourhood can have a good look and a laugh.”

“Don’t you dare, Mason Roberts! Get me down from here at once.”

“Only if you promise never to climb that tree again.”

“It’s not my fault the branch broke.”

“Perhaps you’re too heavy?”

“I’m not! Don’t be such a moron, Mason.”

Katie was fuming. She worked hard to keep herself fit and slim. She was definitely not fat as he suggested. He seemed to take great pleasure in teasing her. It was not her fault he was taller than normal. She was the average height of a woman anyway so there was no point in belittling her by calling her ‘doll’. Come to think of it, ‘doll’ was one of the nicer names he used on her.

But Mason wasn’t criticising her weight, just pointing out the obvious. “You’re much heavier than a cat, girl. Besides, that tree is completely rotten. I’m going to tear it down the next thing I do.”

“Could you get me down before you take down the tree?”

“Relax. We’re professionals. But, you know, taking down the tree first might not be a bad alternative.”

“That’s why I’m worried,” Katie said with a snort.