Matt tapped the steering wheel as he drove back to his house, desperately trying not to let his nerves show through. He’d spent the previous night exactly where he’d spent the one before that: sitting in a chair in the hospital watching Lauren sleep. The nurses had brought in a cot for Brayden, and when it had become obvious Matt wasn’t going anywhere, they’d offered him one, too. He had declined the offer with a smile. For one, the sight of him trying to sleep in a tiny hospital portable cot would have been comical enough, but he’d also been afraid he’d break it the instant he lay down and applied his full weight to the spindly legs of the thing.

Monroe was a small town, and their job also put them in contact with the medical community more than Matt wished was necessary. He was certain that at least one sneaked photograph of him squeezed into the tiny bed would have made its way back to the firehouse. The chair had definitely been the safe bet. Plus, it meant he could watch Lauren again—to make sure her chest kept rising and falling until sunrise. It was silly, that much he knew. Her doctor had cleared her, and she was going to be just fine. He still couldn’t take his eyes off her. He’d failed her a decade before. He wasn’t about to do it again.

He’d finally left the hospital that morning, only so he could go home on his own first and make sure the place was clean and fresh for when he brought Lauren and Brayden home.

Home.

Matt mentally shook the word from his mind. However much he liked the sound of it, this wasn’t permanent, not by a long shot. It may even be barely temporary. He was helping an old friend get back on her feet, and that was all. He was still blown away by her revelation that James was dead. In the middle of the night, when he’d been the only one awake, he’d done some internet searching. All he was able to find was the usual beloved-son-and-husband obituaries and articles. The Mancini family was famous enough in their hometown for James’ death to hit the local papers, but they’d been scant with details. He could do some more digging later, if he wanted to know. Lauren deserved peace and quiet, not dredging up any more bad memories that should be left in the past. Besides, there was no way that Lauren was looking for a relationship. He’d give her and Brayden a place to stay until she got things sorted out. God knew he owed her that much.

“Hey, Matt, do you have a games console?”

Brayden’s question pulled Matt back to the present, and he smiled at the enthusiasm in the young boy’s voice. It had been fun getting to know the kid over the last couple of days. Lauren had done an amazing job. “Sure do, Kiddo. Xbox.”

He glanced over at Brayden, who was sitting in the back seat. The boy’s eyes lit up. “Cool! Do you have Minecraft? We could build something together.”

“Now, Brayden,” Lauren said. “Mr. Rivers has already spent a lot of time with you while I was in the hospital. I’m sure he has things he needs to do.”

Damn it. Matt hated the way her voice still caught on his surname. Changing his name after he’d run had been necessary, but with her response, it felt like just one more way he’d hurt Lauren. His gaze shifted to her. She was still pale, and she had to be tired. Despite being discharged from the hospital, she’d probably still be feeling the symptoms of smoke inhalation for a while. Her voice was still raspy, and he didn’t miss the way she cleared her throat every time before she spoke. “It’s no problem at all, Lauren.” He glanced back at Brayden, before turning back to focus on the road. “How about you show me how it’s done after dinner, Brayden? That way we can let your mom rest a bit.”

“I’m fine,” she began, but Matt held up a hand, grabbing hers and squeezing it briefly. He forced himself to ignore the spark he felt between them at the touch of her skin. Even if there was still something smoldering between them, he’d been the one to screw it all up.

“You can sit on the couch and rest up while Brayden helps me cook dinner,” he said. “And then after we eat, you can rest some more.” He grinned at her, trying to keep the atmosphere light. The sight of her tumbling unconscious into his arms had been bad enough when she was an unknown fire victim. Now that he knew who he’d been cradling in his arms, the memory was downright terrifying. Lauren would be in bed for a week if Matt had his way, but he’d settle for the couple of days she’d likely put up with it before ignoring him.

Brayden’s eyes widened when Matt pulled into the driveway of his home. Unlike most of the firefighters, who preferred to live close to the station, his house was in the more rural part of Monroe. His land was nowhere near the size of some of the farms in the local area, but there was a large lawn surrounding the house and a red cedar forest behind them. Just perfect for a boy Brayden’s age to spend running around and exploring with a dog. There was just one problem—Matt didn’t have a dog. Maybe Dean would let him borrow Penny to keep Brayden company. The dog had done wonders for Dean’s girlfriend Amy when she’d been going through a difficult time. Come to think of it, maybe he should have all the guys out for a barbecue. It had been a long time since he’d invited the whole house out to his place. Once Lauren was feeling a little better, it would be nice to introduce to her everyone and make her feel more at home.

Damn it. There was that word again. He had to get over it. Nothing was going to happen between Lauren and him. He wouldn’t let it. It had been over ten years since he’d run, but he still hadn’t stopped looking behind him entirely. Matt wasn’t sure he ever would. He wasn’t about to bring someone else into that life.

Dinner was a quick affair. After he got Matt and Lauren settled into the spare bedrooms, he insisted Lauren put her feet up and rest on the couch while Brayden and Matt made a quick stir-through sauce, pasta, and garlic bread. The whole process couldn’t have taken more than twenty minutes, but Matt swore he saw Lauren’s eyes drift closed at least once. The nap would do her good, even a short one, and so he left her to snooze until the pasta was done and she woke to the sound of Brayden clattering plates and crockery around when setting the table. Matt grinned as forks bounced off each other and glasses hit the table with loud thunks. He’d been practically unable to do anything quietly at that age, too. Maybe the next day, he and Brayden could go and explore the property. It looked as though the boy had plenty of energy to burn.

But he had shift the next day. As much as he wanted to call off and spend the entire day with his two new house guests, he couldn’t in good conscience call in at this late hour unless it was a true emergency. Tadpoles and fort-building were going to have to wait. It didn’t matter. Brayden was still filled with excitement over an Xbox competition after dinner, and even what flavor ice cream Matt had in his freezer for dessert. Besides, perhaps it would be good to give Lauren a few days to digest everything, to get used to his still being alive, for heaven’s sake.

While cleaning up after dinner, he sent a text message out to Sloane, Mason’s partner. She’d rally some helpers and drop in to make sure Lauren and Brayden were doing okay. He was sure of that. Then, twenty-four hours later, he’d have a full two days with them again.

He was still smiling when he dropped into bed that night, falling asleep quickly and easily for what had to be the first time in years. That didn’t stop them, though. The nightmares took advantage of his early night and attacked from all sides, stronger and more furious than ever. As Matt pushed at invisible attackers, a long-lost detail was suddenly all he could think about. A red electric eel—tattooed on the forearm of the man who tried to kill him.