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“Thank you, God.” Joe eased farther down into the hot, swirling water of his deck Jacuzzi and was again grateful for being able to buy this little baby. He’d gone without clothes, dinners out, and even his Starbucks coffee for months to save up for it. Today, after the fire, he took a shower, fell asleep for an hour and then climbed into the big tub. He was one happy dude right now.

And not only for that. Hearing Holly’s voice filled with worry had meant more to him than it should have. He hated that she suffered over him—knowing her sensitivity, it had to be rough—but her concern gave him an opening with her again.

He thought about his conversation with Hildy at the hospital...

Injuries and near-death experiences did this kind of thing to firefighters.

“How about you?”

Occasionally, he shared some things with the people under him because they were family. He’d also been in the academy with Hildy so she knew him well. “There’s this girl I’m interested in. She’d already said no to dating me, but she called when she heard about the fire so I think I have another chance.”

Hildy didn’t tease him. “That’s something for you, Joe. You’ve flitted from woman to woman ever since Francey.”

“I know. And this one’s so different from anybody I dated. More sensitive. Fragile, though she got really pissed when I called her that.”

“Aw, then be careful. Your charm is pretty potent.”

“That’s what she said when I asked to see her. That I was out of her league. Only in a worldly way, though. She’s smart, successful and beautiful and...”

“Joe?” The call came from the kitchen. Holly.

He’d left a note on the front door for her to come inside.

“Where are you?”

“On the back deck.”

She came to the open sliding glass doors. Right from school, he guessed, as she wore one of those swirly skirts with a light T-shirt. The end of May had turned warm.

He said, “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

“You, too.” She gave him a weak smile. “I was worried.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Does the water feel good on your injuries?”

“Yeah. Want to join me?”

“I don’t have a suit.”

“You live next door, honey.”

“Oh, yeah. Probably not now, though. I brought dinner. I didn’t cook, but picked it up at Casa Italiano.”

“Hmm. Okay, go ahead and get it ready. There’s wine in the fridge if you want some.” He stood. Moaning. But Holly didn’t seem to hear it. She was gawking at him. He wore trunks, of course, but he was glad she found his body appealing.

“Like what you see?” He’d asked her that one time before.

“You know I do. But it’s the bruises. They’re all over your chest.”

“Hazards of the job.” He climbed up the steps of the tub and grabbed a towel. “Do you think you can dry my back? Gently.”

She laughed. She always seemed to see right through him. “Yeah, but I know what you’re doing.”

“What am I doing?” he asked as she took the terrycloth and brushed it across his shoulders.

“Sucking me in. Do you have anything to put on this?”

“Yep. Biofreeze. It’s on the kitchen table.”

After she retrieved the tube, she rubbed the numbing gel on his back and chest. This was more touching in a few minutes than in the month he’d known her.

“There you go.” She handed him the medicine.

“I’ll go get changed.”

She preceded him inside and he went down the hall and changed into fleece shorts with an elastic waistband and a T-shirt. He’d been injured before and had appropriate clothing that didn’t bind anywhere.

He could smell the food as he walked back to the kitchen. He found her drinking some of the wine and staring out the window. “Holly. You okay?”

“What? Oh, yeah. I was thinking how funny life is. Random occurrences can change everything.”

“You mean your grandparents?”

She faced him. “No, I mean you, Joe.”

Holly drew in a big breath as she watched him in the doorway. “If the offer’s still open, I’d like to see you—go out with you—now.”

His face bloomed with a smile, making her request easier. “That’s great. I wanted you to change your mind. Was it because of the fire?”

“In a sense. But I have to admit I was weakening anyway.” She shrugged a delicate shoulder. “I’m attracted to you.”

He got  a beer out of the fridge and eased himself into a chair. “Is that all?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you like me, at least a little bit?”

She laughed at his wheedling tone. “Yes, Joe, more than a little. The things we’ve done together have been fun. You’re a nice guy when you’re not trying to be macho. And you love your family like I love mine.”

“I hate to put a damper on this, but you need to know what you’re setting yourself up for.”

Her heart beat faster. Had she misunderstood him?

“The fire department is my family, too.”

“Oh. I know that.”

“Events like today will happen again. You’ll worry.”

“I realize that, too. I can accept it for now. Besides, I’m only committing to dating you. We don’t even know if we’ll be together very long.”

“True, but I had to say that.”

“Consider me warned.”

“So, how do we start?”

“With tonight. Let’s have dinner, talk and get to know each other better.”

“Sounds good.”

“One more thing. I won’t sleep with you until we’re closer.”

“Fair enough.” His eyes glittered like onyx. He stood. And came toward her. “But how about this?” He leaned forward and brushed his lips with hers. “Is it okay for now?”

She was a bit disappointed at the mild contact. “Yes. And I think you can do better than that.”

With a growl, his arms banded around her. He pulled her to him, plastered their bodies together and lowered his mouth again. His lips pressed against hers and she rose up on tiptoes to meet them. He probed and opened her mouth, then explored her. Holly felt the touch deep inside. His hands slid down to her butt and he lifted her some. Her breasts, her beaded nipples, rubbed hard against his chest. She moaned and cupped her hand behind his neck, bringing him closer. She fell into lights bursting in her head, her body, her sex, steeping herself in him, and letting herself go.

It was Joe who stepped back. His eyes lazy, he looked at her. “Holy shit, Holly. You hide your light under a barrel.”

“W-What do you mean?” She’d lost control and tried to regain it.

“That...that...was the hottest thing I think I’ve ever experienced.”

Her heart soared. “Really?”

“Yeah, lady, really.”

“Okay. What do you want to know?”

Joe had convinced Holly to stay after dinner, get her suit and lounge in the hot tub with him. The heat felt great on his sore back, the setting sun was soothing and the woman next to him was cute as hell with her hair up in a knot and her face flushed.

Laying her head against the tile, she stared up at the sky. Enough light from the day enabled him to see the top of her candy-apple-red one-piece suit dip a little lower with the weight of the water. She asked, “Why firefighting?”

This one was a piece of cake. “My grandfather. He was in the department as long as I was alive, on the line until he turned forty-five. He used to take me to the firehouse, let me sit in the trucks, and eat at the station house. I always knew that’s what I’d do.”

“Is that all there is to it?”

She was damned perceptive sometimes.

“No. That firefighter family ethic I told you about?” She nodded. “The guys and their families were like brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles to me. Once when Grandpa got hurt climbing off a ladder, he was laid up for weeks. The guys—no women yet on the scene—came to take me to their firehouses, on a department picnic, or have dinner with them at home. They were even more attentive to him. I...wanted that in my life.”

A smile spread across her face. “I can imagine you’d feel that way. You never knew your father, and had a checked-out mother. A whole new family was a gift.”

“Yeah, I don’t need Reed Macauley to tell me that.”

“Did you ever need him?”

He knew he scowled. It was because he was ashamed of some things. “Yeah, like I told you before, when Francey hooked up with Alex, I didn’t handle it well. Reed straightened me out—except for a few lapses.”

“More of the firefighter family coming to the rescue.”

He studied her. “What about you? Your father’s a teacher, isn’t he?”

“A vice principal now at the middle school. But he did teach math until he got that position.”

“Is that why you chose the job?”

“No, I had this great English teacher in high school. She made everything relevant, everything meaningful to our lives. She helped me love reading as a way to look into other people’s lives.”

“That’s a great story, Holly.”

“What were you like in high school?”

How much could he tell her? “Busy sneaking smokes in the woods by the school, or skipping class to hang out with girls.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can picture that. I’ll bet you were a scoundrel.”

“Who the hell uses words like scoundrel?”

“Me. My vocabulary from reading helps in Scrabble.” She looked over at him. “I don’t suppose you play.”

“There you go again, stereotyping me.”

“I’m not.”

“Do you think I play?”

“Well, no.”

“Ha. You’re wrong. Liam, on my group, likes the game. He taught me a lot about those triple-word thingies and using s’s to pluralize words.”

She sat up fast. “Then we can play sometime.”

“Maybe. What else do you do?”

“I take a painting class, though I’m awful at it. I like to go to the beach in the summer. My favorite pastime is reading. I don’t get enough of it during the school year, but in summers I can go through a book in a day.”

“Hmm. What books do you like?”

“New stuff about delving into your spiritual life. Women’s fiction mostly. That includes romance novels.” Glancing over at him, she gave him a sly smile. “There’s one author who writes about firefighters.”

“Oh, Lord. I hate fiction about firefighters. It never shows them doing their jobs. Of course, they can’t because they don’t know what the work entails.”

“Not this author. She researched firefighters for five years. Rode the trucks with the crews. Ate in the firehouses. Spent a lot of time at the fire academy.”

“Now that’s something I never heard of. Have you read her books?”

“Not yet. But I ordered the series.”

“You’ll have to tell me all about them.” He wiggled his brows. “Maybe read the sexy parts out loud to me.”

“Do you read?”

“Fitness magazines. Firehouse magazine. The Rockford Sentinel online.”

“No books?”

He shook his head. “A lot of guys read at the firehouse, though. On downtime. When we’re on watch—somebody has to stay up all night—I put movies on my computer or phone.”

“Like what?”

“I’m partial to thrillers. And some pop fiction turned into film.”

“What pop fiction?”

“The Hunger Games.”

“Oh, I loved those books.”

“See, darlin’, we got a lot in common.”

“In a roundabout way.”

The night had turned dark and cooler, so Joe stood and climbed out of the tub. “Here, let me help you.” After she got up, he grasped her hand and helped her out of the water. Then he tugged her close and kissed her. Again, she fell into the contact, into him, so much so it made him hard. He pulled back before she could feel his erection through his meager swim trunks. “Let’s get changed. I’ll make coffee.”

“You’re on.”

Ten minutes later, they sat in the living room, which looked out at a quiet section of the complex. “Do we dare talk about politics?” she asked.

“Oh, man, I’m so sick of the president and his cronies. But local politics are okay. What do you think about Mayor Jordan’s policies?”

Holly laughed. “Not until you tell me your honest assessment of what she’s done.”

“I hate the cuts she makes in the fire department. Especially the brownouts.”

“What are they?”

He explained. “But to give her credit, after six months, she reversed her decision. I respect people who admit they’re wrong and take steps to rectify what they did.”

“I do, too.”

“Your turn.”

“She didn’t make any cuts in education, though the state did. When that happened, she applied for two grants for the arts and textbooks online. She’s pro school.”

“I’m glad you’re seeing her in a different light.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Glad? Or seeing her different?”

“Both.” Holly yawned despite the coffee. She’d brought over some light stretch clothes along with the suit and cuddled up in them on the couch, her legs under her.

“You tired?” Joe asked.

“Yeah.” She wrinkled her nose. “But I hate to see the night end.”

“Want to watch TV?”

“Okay. You can pick what you want.”

“I know just the thing.”

He clicked into Netflix and movies. In minutes, he had the opening scenes of The Hunger Games up on screen. “I like this one the best.”

“I haven’t seen the movie.”

“Why not?”

“Sometimes the films ruin the books.”

He held out his hand. “Come ‘ere, girl.”

Cocking her head, she waited a few seconds. Then she got up on her knees and inched over. She squeezed next to him and he stretched out his legs. Her head cradled on his chest, she burrowed in.

A ringing jolted Joe awake. Was it the fire bell? No, wait. He was home—and there was a woman snuggled up to him. More ringing. He realized it was Holly’s phone. Untangling himself, he eased up, grimacing from the stiffness, crossed to her purse and, what the hell, he clicked on. “Holly Michaels’s phone.”

“What? Why are you answering her phone, young man?”

Her grandfather?

“Who is this?”

“Paul Michaels. Where is my daughter?”

It was then that he realized he’d made a mistake in taking the call.

Holly was having the most delicious dream when she heard, “Hey, honey, wake up.” Joe. He was the star of those dreams.

“Hmm.”

“Holly.” A gentle shake of her shoulder. She opened her eyes. He was leaning over her, his beard scruffy and his hair tousled. Behind him she saw sun. What... Oh. She realized where she was. She asked, “I stayed over?”

“We both fell asleep watching a movie. We must have slid down on the couch.”

She glanced at his hand. “The phone?”

“Oh, hell. It’s your father. I’m sorry I answered it.”

“No worries. He calls sometimes before school.” Her eyes widened. “What time is it?”

“Seven.”

She bolted up. “Oh, no, I’m late. I have to call in.”

“Talk to your father first. The phone’s on mute.”

She pressed the button. “Dad, look, I’m late and I can’t...”

“Where the hell are you?”

“I’m late for school, I know...but...”

“You didn’t come home last night.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’m at your house.”

At Joe’s questioning look, she rolled her eyes. “Calm down, Dad. I’ll be there in a bit.” She hung up and dialed school. “Hello, Millie, it’s Holly Michaels. I overslept. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Are you sick? You’ve never overslept before.”

“No, I was up late.” With a sexy firefighter. She wondered what Millie or anybody else at school would think of how she’d spent her night.

“Okay, take some time. Cameron Baker is subbing today because of the field trip, and he’s got the first part of the morning free.”

She ended the call and smelled coffee. Wonderful black coffee. Joe handed her a cup. “Here, before you beard the lion in his den.”

After she took a drink, she sighed. “What could he possibly have been thinking to question me like that?”

“That you’re sixteen?”

“I don’t know.” She tossed off the blanket he’d obviously put over them and sat up straight. “How are you feeling?”

“Sorer than yesterday, which is how injuries go.”

“Can you call in sick?”

“I’m off already. Mandatory furlough until Thursday.”

After taking a few more delicious sips, she set the cup down. “I have to go.”

He walked her to the door. Drew her back when she reached for the handle. “Wait a sec.”

When she turned, he swept her into his arms. Her bag fell to the floor and she hugged him.

“I can come with you. Help with your dad.”

“No, I’ll deal with him myself.”

“Let me know what’s going on?”

“Sure. I’ll text you.”

The walk of shame was only a few steps, and Holly entered her house through the garage door. Her father was sitting at the table with her grandparents. He was scowling when he stood. “We were worried about you.”

“We?”

“Your grandparents and I.”

She looked to Ella. “Were you, Grandma?”

“Not as much as your father. We found the note you left us last night that you were out with friends. But when Paul brought us back, it was late and he was worried.”

“We went to bed,” her grandfather told her.

“And I stayed. I fell asleep on the couch.”

So did I. But she didn’t say that. “And you were concerned why?”

“Because you didn’t come home! You could have been in an accident or something.”

“I guess that’s true. But, Dad, I’m not a child. I’m a grown woman and can stay out all night without checking in.”

“Not when other people are living with you.”

She faced her grandparents. “I’m sorry, Grandma and Grandpa, if you were upset.”

“We weren’t until we woke up,” Grandma explained.

Left unsaid, When Dad told them to be upset.

Facing her father, Holly knew it was time to take a stand. “I don’t know how to rectify this without promising to call if I’m going to stay out all night.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Dad, stop! I have a life.”

“A man answered your phone!”

Edward touched his arm. “Paul, you’re being unreasonable. She’s a grown woman. She doesn’t have to check in.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “Were you with Greg?”

“Would that make this any better?”

“I didn’t think it was him on the phone.”

“It wasn’t.” To stop herself from saying something she might regret, she told him, “I’ve got to get ready for school. I’m already late. You should leave for work, too.” With that she walked out of the room.