---

 

“Here they are!” Joe stood up from his place at the kitchen table where he and his group were waiting to have lunch with their visitors. Afterward, the Malvaso son would stay behind with him.

“Morning, team.” The chief’s shoulders were relaxed and he seemed mellow. “Thanks for welcoming the Malvasos.”

“Hi, there.” The big, dark-haired guy with the shrewd brown eyes spoke. “I’m Chief Malvaso. Mitch.”

“And I’m Bob Malvaso, Mitch’s son.” He rolled his eyes. “He still calls me Bobby.”

Joe grinned. “I have the same issue with Joey.”

After Joe shook hands with them all, the chief gestured to the open seats. “Let’s sit.”

Joe turned to his crew. “This is Hildy, Norm, Liam and Trevor.”

Trevor jumped up to shake Bob’s hand, then extended his to Mitch. “Wow, Chief, I never expected to meet you. You’re a legend in Rockford.”

Mitch laughed. “Now that’s a welcome.” When Tully sat back down, the chief added, “And it smells great in here. Potatoes? Bacon?”

“Got that right.” Joe turned to Talbot. “What’s the schedule, Chief?”

“We’re staying for lunch, like you asked. Then Mitch is going to hang out with me and talk shop. We thought we might meet for dinner at Casa Italiano when you get off.”

“My treat,” Malvaso said. “You’re all welcome to come.”

“Wow, really?”

“Yes, Tully,” Talbot drawled.

Liam spoke up that he and Norm had tickets for a Redwings game, but Hildy was free and agreed to go.

Norm said from the stove, “It’s ready.” He served trays of BLTs on thick bread, and bowls full of French fries. “Heavy on the carbs, which isn’t our usual fare, but this a special occasion.”

Mitch grinned. “Looks pretty damn great to me, Norm. Thanks.”

They passed the plates and bowls around, everybody taking huge helpings. Nobody but Joe seemed to notice Bob had gotten up and was snapping pictures. Firefighters at lunch, the caption could read.

They’d barely finished eating when the PA crackled on. “Kitchen fire at Dutch Towers. Truck 8 and Engine 5 go into service.”

People scrambled up.

Talbot said, “Go on, guys. Mitch and I will clean this up.” He slapped his friend on the back. “Ready for some KP?”

“It’s been a while, but yeah.”

Once in the bay, the group jumped into the turnout pants and boots which had been set up and waiting for them. While they dressed for the fire, Bob got some shots of them. Then they hoisted themselves up into the truck. “Room for you in the third seat, Bob,” Joe called out.

Norm drove the rig out of the bay, horn honking.

They arrived at Dutch Towers in six minutes. They dismounted as quickly as they got on and yanked tools and fire extinguishers from the truck. Engine 5 screeched to a halt, its guys dismounted and dragged out a hose. With both their turnout coats and SCBA secured in place, they all entered the building. Bob had to stand outside taking more pictures, as he couldn’t come in until they assessed the damage. Hildy carried one of the two fire extinguishers.

There was no smoke on the first floor, which housed a huge activity room, dining room and a small workout area. Much of the space had been remodeled, Joe knew from his grandparents. Now that he was here, he could worry about them. Over his radio he heard, “First floor apartment, number 123.”

The captain in his old fire station, Jake Scarlatta, would know who lived there. House 12 usually covered Dutch Towers, but when they were out on a call, Joe’s truck took over coverage. Hurrying down the hall, Joe could see smoke coming out of the apartment. He pounded on the door, “Fire department.” And opened it.

A quick check told him the residents had evacuated, and Joe saw the problem right away. The stove was smoking badly. Hildy crossed to it, found the burner in flames and put it out with the fire extinguisher.

Joe and the others inspected the whole kitchen area and the rest of the rooms. He decided the crisis was past. Over his radio, he said, “Norm, tell Bob he can come in,” and gave the apartment number. Photographed smoke could be pretty cool.

Joe left them to find his grandparents. All the residents had followed their escape plan to the backyard. Joe headed there. Most of them were sitting at the picnic tables spread across the lawn under trees. He spotted his grandparents with another couple, chatting away.

He crossed to them. “Hi, Grandma, Grandpa.”

“Joey.” His grandma stood and hugged him. So did Moses. They both linked his arm. “Do you remember Mr. and Mrs. Stone?”

Joe didn’t. “Hi. Glad to see you again.”

After waiting for the all-clear, Grandma leaned on him. “Escort us back, son.”

On the way upstairs, she said, “You have to bring that young woman Holly back to see us, Joey.”

Grandpa winked at him. “She’s a keeper.”

“Things aren’t like that between us,” he said, thinking maybe they could be. She was so nice, it just about killed him. “But maybe I’ll bring her over again.”

“We’d like that.”

When he left his grandparents and climbed back on the truck, Holly Michaels was on his mind. He wished he knew what to do about her.

Chief Talbot lowered his reading glasses and set them down on the spreadsheets Mitch had printed out for him. “So, that’s your new way of checking inventory.”

Mitch nodded to his computer screen. “It’s an effective system.”

“Better than anything we’ve had before.”

“I’m sending you the website for the program.”

“Great.”

As Mitch played with the keys, Chase scanned his office. Contrary to the mayor’s setup, his desk sat in front of the arched windows so he could see outside. Was he hoping to get a glimpse of her as she left the building? He hadn’t seen her in two days, but he could still remember how her skin felt under his hands. How she moved with him. And how she called his name when she came.

She held him afterward like she meant it.

One time, they’d said. But would he ever forget it?

His phone buzzed and his assistant came on the line. “Chief, the mayor called. Fire Marshall Zeleny is in her office. They’d like to see you now if you can go down.”

“Sure. Tell her I’ll be right there.”

Mitch looked up.

“I have to zip downstairs. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

“That’s okay. I’ve got the FAN stuff to study and formulate questions. And if you’re gone too long, I’ll take a snooze on the couch.”

Couch! Vanessa! What they’d done on hers!

He’d gotten the images out of his head by the time he walked into the reception area of her office.

“Hello, Chief Talbot.” Her assistant donned her usual stiff and formal demeanor. He used to think her attitude mimicked Vanessa’s. No longer, though. Betsy stood and walked to the office door, opened it. “Go on in.”

“Thanks, Betsy.”

“Would you like me to stay?” the woman asked her boss. How odd.

“No, thank you.”

Chase found Zeleny sitting in front of her desk, with Vanessa behind it. Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the window. For a second, her eyes lit up when she saw him. But she averted her gaze.

He swallowed hard and said, “Afternoon, all.”

“Chief.” Her voice was hoarse, too. “Let’s sit at the conference table.” A smaller one than in the council meeting room. “We can fit there.”

When she got up, he noticed the heels she wore with the red dress. This time, they were sexy on her.

“So, what’s up?” Chase asked when they all took seats. He focused on Zeleny.

Worry lines had formed on Zeleny’s forehead and around his mouth. “It’s about the cause of the fire.”

“Ah.” Chase waited.

Bob turned to her. “Madame Mayor, we think the cause of the fire was in the dryer vent. The area’s incinerated more than any other in the house. But that isn’t suspicious. Clogged lint combined with heat when the dryer’s on can cause a fire.”

She sat forward, her hands flat on the table. “It sounds damned crazy that the dryer was on at six in the morning on the exact day the fire alarm didn’t activate.”

“Yes,” the fire marshal admitted. “It does.”

Chase didn’t comment. He’d wait until they were done. But he found his hands fisting beneath the table.

“Could the vent have been stuffed with material by someone who then turned the dryer on?” she asked.

“It could have been, but the vent is burned so badly, we wouldn’t know that without further tests. Even then, we might be in the same place as we are with the alarms.”

“Do further tests.”

“All right. We’ll send the debris out to the same lab as last time.”

She seemed thoughtful. “As far as I’m concerned, there are two ways to look at this. As I said, one is the cause of the fire could have been arson.” She hadn’t used that word before, but both he and Bob knew that’s what she was thinking.

Zeleny let a heavy breath. “Let’s suppose for a second that we suspect tampering with the vent. There’s usually clues. But here, there are no forced entry, no incendiary devices like a gas can or matches. None of the material to suggest arson. And there were no environmental factors like an open window which would accelerate the fire.”

“Someone who had a key could have gotten in to set the fire.” Vanessa was like a dog with a bone. But Chase was going to let her have her say then he’d have his.

“Maybe.”

“This brings me to number two. If it was accidental, the alarms didn’t trigger, which means they were faulty.” She looked at him. “And no one found that out since they checked regularly?”

“Are we back to that?” Chase had to speak up now. “You think my men didn’t check the alarms at all? Hell, Vanessa, we’ve already been through this and I thought you let it go.”

“I didn’t.” Vanessa touched his arm. “I know this is hard, Chase, but what are the other alternatives? Someone either got into the house to set a fire. Or someone was negligent. Either way, your guys are the only ones with the keys.”

“You’re accusing one of my people of committing a crime.”

Sighing, he focused on Zeleny. “Where do we go from here, Bob?”

“That’s a damn good question.”

“Chief, could you stay for a second?” Vanessa asked the question when Zeleny got up to leave. “I need to talk to you about something else.”

“Sure.” When Zeleny left, he raised his brows. “Should I close the door?”

“Yes.” After he did, she said quietly, “This isn’t the way I wanted it to be the first time we saw each after the other night.”

“I was thinking the same thing until you accused my men of arson or negligence.”

“I speculated about the cause.”

“How can you believe that of us?”

“Not you. I trust you.”

“But not my department.”

She felt her doubt return. “Maybe I spoke too quickly. I won’t say that I think it could be the fire department in front of anybody until we know for certain, but Chase, if it is your guys, they’ll be fully prosecuted.”

“It won’t be a firefighter. They would never set a fire.”

“There has been research that shows otherwise.”

“Yeah, but those were disgruntled men who got fired, or had some other kind of grudge against the department.”

“This back and forth isn’t helping.”

“All right.” He raised his eyes to the ceiling. “The last thing I want to do with you is argue.” He lowered his voice now, too. “What did you want to talk about?”

She said simply, “I enjoyed the other night.”

“I wish that was all of it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Problem is, darlin’, we connected. Not just physically.”

“Even if that’s true, we’ll have to disconnect.” When he didn’t respond, she said, “Like we agreed.”

“It’s gonna be harder than I thought.”

“For me, too.”

“I wish things were different, Vanessa.”

“Oh, God, so do I. But we are who we are.”

“Yeah, there doesn’t seem to be any way around all this.”

She nodded. He nodded.

After a long, meaningful look, Chase got up and walked out of the room.

Vanessa felt like crying. Instead, she took a couple of deep breaths and turned to her computer.

Casa Italiano was known for its ambience. Rumor had it that the chief liked to come here for conversation as well as good food, so this was the place chosen for their dinner with the Hidden Cove visitors. Joe sat between Trevor and Hildy, with Bob Malvaso next to her. Chief Talbot was across the table with Mitch and his wife Megan.

Joe hadn’t met the beautiful woman who had been a cop in Hidden Cove. She was rumored to be over fifty, but she looked a decade younger. Ben Cordaro was the last to arrive with his wife. From Joe’s time with Francey, he remembered the tumultuous breakup of her parents. Until Diana came to town again and her whirlwind reunion with Ben stunned the department. Both looked happy as the proverbial clams. Joe wondered briefly if he’d ever have that kind of marital bliss.

When someone else came to the table Hildy leaned in to him. “What the hell is he doing here?” It was the police chief, Dane Corrigan.

“I have no idea. Does it matter?”

She shrugged. “I just don’t like him.”

“Hey,” Chief Talbot said. “Glad you could make it, Dane.”

Megan Malvaso stood and hugged him. “How are you, buddy?”

“Great, now that I get to see my favorite teacher.”

“Teacher?” Joe asked.

“Hey, Joe.” Corrigan wore trendy clothes—an untucked shirt of what looked like blue silk and doe-colored pants. “Yeah, Megan Hale taught me everything I know about police work at the academy and then when I worked under her for a decade.”

“And now you’re a chief.” Megan’s voice held a note of pride.

“Yeah. You never wanted to head a department, did you?”

“Nope. Sit next to me. I’ll show you pictures of my kids.”

When Dane sat, he got a glimpse of the others. “Hello, all.”

Greetings all around. Next to him, Hildy mumbled, “Hello, Chief,” threw back her chair with an “Excuse me for a minute,” and left. The police chief frowned when she left.

Huh! Was there a connection with Hildy and the chief?

Diana took a chair across from Joe. “Hello, Joey. Nice to see you again.”

He couldn’t help but smile at this lovely, sincere woman. “You, too, Diana.”

“How are your grandparents?”

“They’re fine. Living in Dutch Towers now.”

“I hear it’s a great place.”

“Someday we might be there,” Ben said leaning into her.

“Whoa. Let’s not rush things.”

“So,” Ben said. “What’d you two do today?” He addressed Diana and Megan, who’d apparently spent the time together.

“We went to see Gracie.” Diana’s face glowed. “She’s such a little...”

Before he started to feel glum about the Templetons, Joe tuned out the conversation and turned his attention to Bob. “Did you enjoy your time with the crew?”

“Yeah, I got some great shots. You guys always have that many calls?”

“We had to take some extra ones from House 8 because they were at a long fire. But we’re a busy house any way.” He winked at Hildy when she returned and sat. “This one gets antsy when we’re station-bound.”

“Damn straight.” Hildy lifted her glass of beer. Usually, she drank it out of a bottle like the rest of them. “I love my job!”

Bob started talking to Hildy. From the corner of his eye, he saw Dane Corrigan’s gaze narrow on them.

Joe’s attention drifted around the restaurant. Two customers came up to the hostess station.

Goddamn it!

Holly Michaels and her teacher boyfriend, Greg Rossi. Her arm linked with his, she smiled up at him as they waited for the hostess to check the reservation book. Her hair caught Joe’s attention first. It waved down her back, looking freshly washed, fluffy and healthy. His hand itched to run his fingers through the mass. She wore a pretty navy blue dress with heels. When she turned, he noticed the dress had a zipper all the way down her back that he could easily pull...he swore at himself silently for the thought.

The couple followed the woman to their table. Unfortunately, they passed by his. She saw the chief first. He’d looked up too, then stood. “Hello, Holly.”

“Hi, Chief. Greg, this is the fire chief of Rockford.”

“Chase Talbot.” He held out his hand.

They shook. “Greg Rossi.”

Joe sat still. Maybe she wouldn’t notice him. No such luck, though, as she scanned the table. Her gaze landed on him. The pure delight that spread across her face made him...happy. Not good.

“Hey, Joe.”

“Hi, Holly. You look beautiful tonight.”

She blushed and Rossi said a curt hello and led her away.

Picking up the menu, Joe buried his face in it so he wouldn’t check out where they sat. When he’d chosen his meal, he reached for his beer. And caught sight of her, almost in his direct line of vision about twenty feet away, seated by the window. The candle on the table cast her in a glow—an angel’s glow. Best he remember that comparison and how well it fit her. How well it didn’t fit him.

While Joe ordered his meal, the waiter brought a bottle of wine to Holly’s table, which she and Rossi split. She sipped it and talked to the guy.

Joe managed to stop staring at them, make conversation and not look at her. When everyone’s meal came, he chowed down the pasta even though he’d lost his appetite.

Don’t look her way. Don’t look her way. Don’t look her way.

He didn’t, until his group ordered dessert which he’d refused. Eventually, he couldn’t help staring at her. Now, they were eating their meal. Rossi startled, then took out his phone. Didn’t the guy know how rude that was? At least he walked out of the dining area to talk.

As if drawn by the pull of the sun, Joe rose, said, “Excuse me a minute” to nobody in particular and crossed the room.

“Hey,” he mumbled when he reached her. And boy, was this a mistake. She had makeup on which accented the blue of her eyes and her dress.

“Hi, Joe. Want to sit?”

He took Rossi’s place. “Go ahead and eat.”

She did.

“Where’d Greg go?”

“A call from his sister. His mother’s sick, so he had to have his phone on and take it.”

“Ah.” Maybe he wasn’t such a jerk after all.

“You having fun?” She glanced at the group. “All the people you’re with seem to like each other.”

“Yeah. One is a fire chief from Hidden Cove down near New York. He and our chief are friends.”

“Ah. We used to have that kind of extended family in our lives.”

“I’m sorry that ended, Holly.”

“Tell me about the firefighters.”

While she finished her meal, he talked about Bobby and how the guy followed him around today. He explained about Bob’s books.

“They both sound fascinating.”

“So,” Joe said gesturing to the path Rossi had taken. “Is he your boyfriend?”

She patted her mouth with her napkin. “I’m a bit old for that term.”

“Is it a serious relationship?”

She took a bite of her lasagna, then answered. “Interesting question.”

“What does that mean, Holly?”

Putting her fork down, she lifted her chin like she had that morning at the hospital after she broke down. “Before I answer, why do you want to know?”

“I have no idea.” He sounded so exasperated, she laughed. Chagrined, he pushed. “So, is your relationship serious?”

Again, she waited a bit before she answered. “On his part.”

“Not on yours?”

“I’m gun-shy, I guess.”

“Because of Linc?”

“Yeah. I know the breakup happened five years ago. I have to get over those last remnants of fear.”

“If only because you deserve a good guy in your life.”

“And you deserve a good woman.”

They held each other’s gaze too long. Finally, Joe shoved back his chair to hightail it out of there just when Rossi came back to the table. Looking worried.

“Everything okay, Greg?” she asked.

“No. My mother’s been rushed to the hospital. She has chest pains. I have to go over there as soon as I drop you off.” He hooked his hand into his back pocket and took out his wallet then a credit card.

“Nonsense. I’ll call an Uber.” She stood, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Just go.”

“You sure?” The poor shmuck looked torn.

“Of course.”

“At least take this.” He held out the card.

“It’s my turn to pay, remember?”

“All right.” Rossi left.

Joe raised his brows. “We’ve been here before.” At her questioning expression he added, “The Uber thing.”

“Ah, yes.”

Joe stood. “You take care of the bill. I’ll say goodbye to my friends.”

“Why?”

“I’m taking you home, babe.”

She shouldn’t have let him drive her home, Holly thought as she slid into the front seat of his Mustang. She’d been inside the snazzy vehicle before, but the atmosphere was different tonight. Tension between her and him, a male/female thing, accompanied them. Finally, they reached the condo complex and he again pulled into her side.

“Thanks, Joe. I appreciate the ride.”

For a few moments, he studied her, then turned off the engine. “Let’s talk.”

She bit her tongue. He looked so handsome in civilian clothes: a deep red shirt, black jeans again, a light gray blazer thrown over the outfit. And he smelled all male. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Why?”

“Just because.”

“That’s not an answer.”

She didn’t respond.

His hand curled on the steering wheel. “I wanna talk about Rossi.”

“No.”

“Are you two exclusive?”

“We’ve never discussed that.”

“Do you date others?”

“I don’t think about that much.” Until I met you.

“Holly, I feel like you’re giving me the runaround.” Exasperation crept into his voice.

He was exasperated? “The runaround? About what?”

Angling his body in the seat, he slid his arm around the back of hers and his fingers hovered close to her hair. “Me asking about Greg.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“Because I want to go out with you.”

Damn. Damn. Damn. “That would be a very bad idea, Joe.”

He grasped a lock of hair. Slid it between his fingers. Holly felt that action down to her toes. “Why? I think you like me. Are attracted to me, maybe.” He let go of her hair and put his hand on her shoulder. Rubbed. Oh, God.

“Of course I like you. You’re a great guy.”

“And...”

She wanted to reach for the door handle, open it up, bolt from the car, but he lived next door to her and this was bound to come up again. Problem was, she wanted too much to say yes. Summoning strength, she looked him in the eyes. “I can’t go out with you.”

“Why?”

“Because I wouldn’t be enough for you!”

“Enough. In what way?”

“In every way.”

Instead of making fun of her, or agreeing with her, his expression turned cocky. “Let’s enumerate them. Intellectually, you’re superior to me.”

“No, Joe, you’re smart.”

“I went into the fire department right after high school. I don’t have a college degree. You probably have a Masters, right?”

“You have to in New York State to teach after three years out of college.”

“So, it isn’t that. Looks wise, you’re pretty tempting. I know I’m not bad-looking.”

“You’re gorgeous.”

He lowered his hand to hers. Began to rub her wrist. She shivered with the caress. “So we’re even there. Hell, Holly, psychologically, we both have similar hang-ups unless you’re hiding something. Are you a criminal?”

She bit her lip to keep from laughing. This was serious. “Of course not.”

“Then it must be sexual.”

That did it. He was trying to seduce her with humor and the magic of his touch. “I do okay sexually with men like Linc. Probably Greg. You’d be a whole different story.”

“I—”

“And it’s more than that. I’m not stupid. You gravitate to women like your ex, Francey. Tough. Brave. One who goes after what she wants.”

“I—”

“Tell me it isn’t true, that you don’t to this day prefer women like her.”

“Up until now, I did.”

“Well, I’m not strong, physically or psychologically. I’d have a fainting spell if I had to walk into a burning building.”

His brow furrowed. “Then do something about all that. Build up your strength and stamina, instead of going for namby-pamby walks.”

“See, you already know I’m fluff.”

“From what I observed, you don’t push yourself to do more.” He watched her. “Isn’t there anything you secretly want to do that you can’t do because you think you probably are too weak?”

She blurted it out. “Yeah, I wish I could compete on Lizzie’s rollerblade team.”

Even in the dim light of the lamp outside, she could see his eyes widen. “I, um, wasn’t suggesting something that extreme.”

“You don’t think I can do it, do you?”

“I didn’t say that.”

She was pissed off. She didn’t know why, since she was the one who made the point about being inferior. “You know what, I’m going to join a gym, make myself stronger.”

“You don’t have to rollerblade for me.”

“I wouldn’t be doing it for you. I’m going to do it for myself!”

“Fine by me. Wanna come to Chelsea’s gym, The Weight Room, with me?”

“Yes.”

“Fine. I’ll pick you up at nine on Saturday morning.”

“Fine.” She opened the door but manners kicked in. “Thanks for driving me home.”

She hurried to her front door. She was already inside before she realized he’d tricked her into a date, after all.