“Lauren, what the fuck?” I ask as we step out of each of our cars in the garage.

“What? I thought he was disrespecting you.”

“I told you already, I don’t look at him like that anymore.”

We head into the house, void of Vanessa because it’s after seven o’clock. Whatever job she’s working, she’s always gone by seven.

“That’s bullshit, Maddie. At least be straight with me.” Lauren sheds the shirt of her scrubs, kicks off her shoes, and heads up the stairs.

I follow her because I need to shower, too, to get a day of being at a work site off me.

“I’d be lying if I said he’s not hot as hell, but I have to respect that we’re partners. I’m not going to ruin that.”

She strips off her pants and heads into her bathroom.

“Just be careful. I saw the way he was looking at you and I don’t care what he says about that Cailin, she wants him.” Lauren shuts the door to the bathroom and I head into my bedroom to take a shower as well.

As much as Lauren can be on the impulsive side, I agree with her. Cailin’s intentions don’t seem pure. I’m surprised Mauro doesn’t see the signs that his friend’s widow is falling for him.

The water cascades over my skin, the warmth soothing muscles that have been working hard this week. I soap up my body, my mind wandering to our almost kiss.

The almost kiss I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The heat between us was searing. The way his gaze dipped to my lips and then met my eyes. How his tongue slid out to lick his lips in expectation of them being on mine.

Damn that Cailin.

When he said, ‘one taste’ like he was begging for one drop of water in the Sierra Desert.

I drop my loofa on the floor of the marble shower and my hand slips below my belly button imagining the weight of Mauro’s body over mine. His lips, his hands in exploration of every inch of my skin.

Five minutes later, my body shudders and the glass door rattles under the pressure of my other hand. An emptiness sets in, knowing my imagination and my hand are not going to ever be enough to quench my thirst for Mauro.

I liked it better when I thought he was an ass.

I step out of the shower and begin to dry off when my phone chirps from its position on the counter.

I wrap myself in a towel and take my phone over to my bed, sitting down and leaning back against the headboard.

The three dots appear immediately.

God, I wanted there to be, too, and if he only knew what my mind took the liberty of exploring moments ago in the shower, he’d probably be surprised at how dirty my mind could be.

My nerves tingle and an unbelievable feeling of euphoria fills every cell in my body.

I smile like a goon.

“Who’s that?” Lauren walks by in her pajama shorts and cami, her hair still tucked into a towel.

“No one.”

“Tell Mauro I can still kick his ass,” she says and heads down the stairs.

Mauro texts a laughing gif.

The blush encompasses my entire body.

I shake my head and don’t respond because who knows what will spill out of his mouth next.

When we began this partnership, I figured my biggest challenge would be keeping my own attraction to him in check. I didn’t consider the fact that he might like me, too.

The next night, I’m vegging on the couch after a long day of grabbing samples from textile and paint companies. And when I say vegging I mean carrots, cucumbers, and celery with ranch dip.

I’m flipping through the channels by myself—Vanessa is gone again—and Lauren is out on a date—not with Luca. I breeze by Chicago Fire since that would only remind me of Mauro, but the ticker on the bottom of the screen grabs my attention. It’s a breaking news alert and with everything going on in the world today I figure I better read it in case I need to head for cover.

I sit up, squinting to see the small print when the words fire, high-rise, and danger catch my eye. It goes on to say that all available engines have been called because it’s out of control and there’s a chance the blaze will spread to the high-rise beside it.

All too quickly Chicago Fire disappears from the screen and a news anchor appears, the scene behind her reminds me of a war zone—emergency vehicles everywhere and a fire blazing out of control in the building behind her.

I swear my heart stills inside of my chest and I sit on the edge of my couch, my phone in hand.

One fire truck after another pulls in behind the woman, each raising their ladders up in the air. Some firefighters climb them, others run inside with hoses and masks on. Angry red and yellow flames pour out windows on the one side of the high-rise condo building.

I pick up my cell phone knowing I won’t get an answer.

Is this what it’s like to care about someone who works in emergency services? I have more compassion for Cailin now and what she must have gone through every night her husband was on shift and then when she eventually lost him.

I lean back on the couch, trying not to let my worst fears invade my mind.

Hours go by and the news is no longer covering the fire, they’ve gone back to their regular programming while I pace back and forth. This feeling of helplessness is horrible. The waiting even more so.

I pull out my phone and look up where Engine Fifty-Five is located.

I shouldn’t go.

I’ll look like a loon.

I don’t even have to talk to him. I just need a glimpse of him when the truck pulls in.

I won’t sleep until I know.

I grab the keys off the table and race out to my car.

The street the fire station is on is lined with cars. There are some reporters hovering around the red doors, but they’re all shut, meaning the firetruck hasn’t returned yet. I drive around the block, circling back to see the same scene as before.

I decide to park on a side street. I don’t want to chance looking like a stalker around the firehouse, so I sit tight and decide that every ten minutes I’ll drive around the block.

And yes, in case you’re wondering, I’m fully aware that I am out of my mind.

The thought of something really bad happening to Mauro has me acting like a crazy woman. His friend Hunter died not that long ago in a fire at a commercial building that they didn’t know had explosives in it because it had been abandoned. It goes to show that anything can happen.

The sixth time driving around the block the bay doors are open with two firetrucks and an ambulance inside each one. The guys are taking their gear off and cleaning up the trucks.

Double parking for a second, I catch a glimpse of Mauro stepping out of his bunker pants. His face has soot on it and there’s a trace of blood from his eyebrow down to his lip, his hair a sweaty mess. But he’s alive and to me, he’s never looked better.

The tension dissipates from my body and I pull away before he notices my car.

On the ride home, I realize how much trouble I’m in. I’ve done the one thing I shouldn’t have. I’ve fallen for him, truly fallen for him as a person, and his text messages suggest he has for me as well.

But does he want me for more than one night?

Even if he did, would the novelty wear off after he had me for a while and he figures out I’m still the nerdy girl I was in high school at heart?

Once I’m inside the house, I head to bed, falling into the softness of my mattress. My phone dings an hour later, stirring me from sleep.

My girly parts go into a full five-alarm fire and I don’t respond because right now the only thing I’d be texting him back would be to come straight over when he finishes his shift in the morning.