Flames of Love

by Melissa Foster

  Siena was so excited to travel with him she could hardly see straight. “Super. I’ll make arrangements. I need your birthdate, because they’ll ask for it, and the name on your driver’s license.”

  “I see. This was just a sneaky way to get my middle name. Nice,” he teased. “Cash Martin Ryder.” He gave her his birthdate and his home address, too, which she’d forgotten she might need. “I have to run in a sec, but I’m seeing Vetta later if we don’t get called out. She’d love to see you if you want to come along.”

  Siena didn’t have any plans for the afternoon. “Sure. When?”

  “Whatever works for you, assuming I’m not out on a call.”

  “I’m meeting Dex at six thirty, so how about five?” She’d rather tell him about the dinner with Gunner in person anyway.

  “Perfect. I have to run. I want to fit in a workout so I look good in my turnout pants.”

  Siena laughed. “I’ll meet you at the firehouse at five.” And think about you in your turnout pants until then.

  AT FOUR THIRTY Cash came downstairs to the first floor of the station house with Vetta’s photo albums in hand. He’d had only one call that afternoon, which left him plenty of time to put in the remaining pictures. He found Siena standing at the entrance of the TV room talking with someone. Her back was to Cash. Her long dark hair hung nearly to the waist of her tight-fitting jeans. She wore a white winter coat, and when her hand dropped to her side, he noticed she was wearing the gloves he’d gotten her. He came up behind her and settled an arm around her waist while glaring over her shoulder at Tommy, Joey, and Mike, who were sitting on the couch in the TV room with cocky grins on their faces.

  “Hey, babe. Tommy didn’t tell me you were here.” He narrowed his eyes at Tommy.

  “I’m early.” She smiled, her eyes shifting from him to Tommy.

  She touched his clenching jaw—a good reminder that his emotions weren’t invisible. He ran his hand through his hair to give himself some breathing space.

  Tommy brushed past Cash on his way out of the room and whispered, “I’d stop taking risks for her, too.”

  I bet you would. “Hey, Tom, we’re going to see Vetta. Call if you need me.” He flashed a hot stare at Joey and Mike, then grabbed his coat and headed toward Vetta’s apartment.

  “You had that look in there,” Siena said as she wrapped her arm in his.

  “I’m sure I did.”

  “Why? They were just being nice.”

  “Yup.” And picturing you in your pink panties.

  “Is this one of those times you were talking about?” She looked up at him with her big blue eyes and he saw a little tease in them, but her steady tone washed it away.

  “This is one of those times when I just needed to take a breath.” Shit. He tried to figure out how to be honest with her without making her uncomfortable. “They were being nice, babe. But they’re guys, so they were also just…”

  “Checking me out?”

  He pulled her close as they neared Vetta’s apartment. “Yeah.”

  “Well, boys will be boys. Lucky for you I’m as faithful as a retriever.”

  Cash stopped walking, and with one powerful arm, he drew her to him. “That’s my line.”

  She licked her lower lip, which just about killed him. “Well, now it’s your turn to hold the leash.”

  He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her, reveling in the sweet, fresh smell of her, the feel of her body against his. God, I missed you. When he finally pulled back, she clung to the collar of his coat, looking at him with urgency in her eyes.

  “What?”

  She breathed hard, her eyes dark and serious. “Nothing. I’m just really glad you rescued me that night.”

  He held the door to Vetta’s building open for her. “Because you hate to be cold?”

  “No. Because I didn’t realize how much was missing in my life.”

  Cash stopped cold. The current between them changed. It had been warm before, but now it drew him to her with magnetic force. “What does that mean?”

  “Everything.”

  Her voice carried a thread of love that Cash could practically feel. And when she placed her hand on his chest and looked into his eyes, the love in hers nearly made him drop the photo albums.

  “Siena.” The whisper was all he could manage.

  “Remember when you said that if you made love to me your heart would be in it?” She spoke softly, barely louder than he had.

  Cash nodded.

  “Your heart is in everything you do, and now it’s part of my heart, too. I love you, Cash.”

  Cash opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His heart raced, and it was all he could do to focus on breathing. Siena drew her brows together, and when she continued, Cash still couldn’t respond.

  “I didn’t expect it, and God knows you’re as stubborn as I am. We’ll probably always have this weird push-pull between us, but in some strange way, I think that’s also what makes us work.”

  He lowered his forehead to hers. “Don’t say it if you aren’t sure.”

  “I would never do that to you. You might be a big, strong firefighter that everyone thinks is unbreakable, but you’re also a…” She looked up and down the hall, then whispered, “A big old softy.”

  “Your big old softy, and if you ever say it aloud again, I’ll—”

  “Shut up and kiss me.” Siena wrapped her hand around his neck and lowered his lips to hers.

  “How am I supposed to focus on anything else now?” Cash took her hand in his, and Siena dragged him to the door to Vetta’s apartment.

  “Hopefully, we’ll be together for a very long time, so you might as well figure it out now. And now that you’ve committed to traveling with me this weekend, you’re kinda stuck with me at least until then.”

  As she knocked on the door, Cash knew he was, without a doubt, the luckiest guy on earth.

  “Siena, Cash, how lovely to see you.” Vetta opened the door, and Cash kissed her cheek as he passed.

  “I brought you something,” he said.

  “Yes, you did. And she’s lovely.” Vetta winked at Siena. “Sit, please.”

  Cash set the photo albums on the table, and Vetta ran her shaky hand over the top of them.

  “This was so nice of you, Cash.” She smiled up at him, and her eyes moved between him and Siena. “You two look different.”

  Cash sat beside Siena and put his arm around her. “Well, the last time you saw us together we weren’t exactly at our best. It had been a long, hard day.”

  “We’d spent the day doing a photo shoot together for Cash’s annual firehouse calendar. It was a little stressful, and we were really tired.” Siena patted his thigh.

  “Mm-hmm.” Vetta nodded and picked up a photo album. She leafed through it, lingering over pictures and sighing. “This is…” She tugged a tissue from a box on the end table and dabbed at the corners of her eyes.

  Oh, damn. Cash could handle a lot of things, but women’s tears when not caused by a fire was not one of them.

  Siena covered Vetta’s hand with her own. “He did a nice job, didn’t he?”

  She folded her hands in her lap and her lips curved into a smile. “Yes. Cash always does his best. That’s how I knew I could trust him with these pictures. Since I’ve known him, he’s never let me down.”

  A sinking feeling settled into his gut. He lifted his eyes to hers, wondering how she could possibly say such a thing. He brought her out of the fire and came back empty-handed when he went to get her husband.

  “He hasn’t let me down, either,” Siena agreed.

  Bradleyt.

  Vetta set her other hand on top of Siena’s. “You know, Siena. I think everything in life happens for a reason.”

  Siena smiled at Cash. “I think so, too.”

  Vetta locked eyes with him with a seriousness that he’d never before seen in her eyes. “Even death.”

  Holy hell. Are we really doing this? Here? Now?

&nbs
p; “I’m not sure I follow.” Cash shook his head, fighting the urge to flee her apartment.

  “Me either.” Vetta laughed softly under her breath. “But I’m sure we will understand it eventually. At least that’s what Samuel always believed.”

  Samuel. Shit. Here it comes. He drew in a deep breath. It was time for him to face the truth of what happened. He sat up tall and pulled his shoulders back.

  “Vetta, I’m sorry about Samuel, but how can you just accept his death with such…grace?” And not hate me?

  “What choice do I have?” Her eyes filled with compassion, and she glanced down at her lap for a second, blinking repeatedly, as if gathering her composure. She met Cash’s gaze and sat up a little straighter. “I could let it eat me up inside, but Samuel wouldn’t have wanted that. He was a pediatric surgeon. Did I tell you that?” She looked at Siena, then Cash, who nodded. “He helped save lives—like you, Cash, and also like you, he was a good man. He healed many, many children, but as with your job, sometimes the fate of those who relied on him was out of his hands.”

  Questions flew through Cash’s mind at record speed. Did Samuel ever feel that if he’d only done something more he could have saved someone he’d lost? If he did, then how did he handle it without going crazy? As a doctor, what could he have done? Donated his own organs? Given his own blood? Would that have been the equivalent to Cash risking his life as a firefighter?

  “Vetta.” His voice cracked when he said her name, and he cleared his throat to gain control. “I…I take responsibility for not getting into the apartment fast enough, and I know words are never going to be enough, but I am truly sorry.”

  “I know you are, Cash. And you shouldn’t feel responsible. I spoke to Chief Weber after the fire. I know that you fought tooth and nail to get into the apartment. Siena, do you know what a gem this man is?”

  “I think I do,” she answered.

  She released Siena’s hand and pushed herself up from her chair; then she took Samuel’s picture off the wall and sat down beside Cash.

  Cash reached for Siena’s hand, clenching his jaw and fighting against the goddamn tears in his eyes.

  “As I said, everything happens for a reason. Samuel’s death brought you to me. He had a weak heart. We didn’t know how long he’d live, and if I hadn’t met you, I’d have been alone. Really alone.” She paused, as if letting the words sink in. “Look at me, Cash.”

  He lifted his eyes and didn’t see an ounce of blame on her face, the absence of which caused a thick lump to form in his throat.

  “Chief Weber told me that you fought to save Samuel even though you probably knew in your heart that you would never make it out alive. For that, I will forever be indebted to you.”

  “Vetta, I didn’t save him.”

  “No, you didn’t. But you cared enough to try, and then, from what Chief Weber said, you sort of lost your mind a little.” She smiled and set Samuel’s picture in his lap.

  He stared at it, his chest tight, muscles clenched. “Chief Weber told you I lost my mind?”

  “No. Chief Weber said that you hadn’t forgiven yourself. I made up the rest.”

  What the hell?

  “Samuel would have done the same thing. He didn’t lose many children, but when he did, he beat himself up for weeks. And it took a lot of love, and a lot of reminding, and a mountain of faith, to bring him back to who he was. Eventually, he understood that some things were stronger than his will to heal, just like some things are stronger than your will to save.”

  Cash looked at Siena, whose eyes were also damp. “That’s why you said Siena softened me.” And you were goddamn right.

  “I’ve been around a very long time, and from where I sit, I see a couple willing to fight for each other. I could be way off base, an old woman rambling about nonsense, I suppose. But fate is a powerful thing, and I do believe Samuel was right. Everything happens for a reason.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  CASH AND SIENA walked down the busy street hand in hand. Cash had been pretty quiet since leaving Vetta’s, but when Siena asked him if he had time to just stop in at NightCaps to say hello to her brothers, he seemed eager to join her.

  “So, you love me?” Cash looked down at her and arched a brow.

  “Well, how could I not? I mean, just look at you.” She ran her eyes down his body. “Mm-mm-mm. You’re easy on the eyes, and you’re a fairly good lover…”

  He spun her toward him. “Fairly good?”

  Siena broke out in a fit of laughter in his arms. “And you’re the…” She raised her voice. “Sweetest, softest man I know.”

  He backed her up against the front wall of NightCaps. “Hey. You’re going to ruin my rep.”

  She tugged at his collar until his lips were so close she could feel his breath on hers. “Good. That’ll keep the other women away.” She kissed him, then pushed him playfully away. “Besides, I know it gets your back up, so the next time we’re alone you’ll show me the man you really are.” She pulled open the door to the bar. Cash reached above her and held it open as she scanned the room for Dex and Ellie, finally catching sight of them, along with her other brothers, at a big table off to the side. She grabbed Cash’s hand. “Come on. I can’t wait for you to meet them. I can’t believe Rush is here.” As they approached the table, she realized her brothers weren’t their usual smiling selves, and it occurred to her that she couldn’t remember the last time Kurt or Rush had joined them for a drink.

  “Hi, guys.” She hugged Rush. “I didn’t even know you were in town! Wow, look at you all tan in winter. I never get used to that.”

  “Yeah, well, spend enough time on the slopes.” Rush hugged her and ran his eyes down Cash.

  “Kurt, I’m so glad you’re here, but you all look like something’s wrong. Did I miss a memo?” Her phone vibrated and she read a text from Jewel. My office, noon tomorrow? She sent a quick confirmation and tucked her phone into her purse.

  Jack rose to hug her, then extended a hand to Cash. “Nice to see you again, Cash.”

  Cash shook his hand. “Jack.” He nodded.

  “This is my boyfriend, Cash.” She knew her smile was too wide, like a little girl showing off her first dress, but she couldn’t help it. She loved Cash, and she hoped her brothers would, too. “Cash, these are my brothers.” She pointed to each as she introduced them. “This is Kurt, who rarely comes out of his writer’s cave. Dex and his girlfriend, Ellie; Sage and his girlfriend, Kate, and this is Rush, who is in the middle of his ski competition season, so I still can’t believe he made it. And you know Jack. And this is Jack’s fiancée, Savannah.”

  Each of her brothers stood to shake Cash’s hand. Ellie, Kate, and Savannah said hello from their seats.

  “So you’re the fireman,” Sage said with a nod. “Thanks for rescuing her from the snowstorm.”

  Cash smiled at Siena. “It must have been my lucky night.”

  He placed his hand on Siena’s lower back, and even though he hadn’t left yet, she knew she’d miss him when he did.

  “How did you know he’s a fireman?” Siena asked.

  Sage cocked his head.

  Rush laughed. “There isn’t much we don’t know about you, buddy.”

  “Mom?” She should have known. The Remington grapevine at work.

  Sage shook his head and nodded toward Savannah.

  “I might have let the news slip.” Savannah lifted her shoulders with an apologetic smile.

  “It’s not like I wanted to keep him a secret, but…”

  Cash helped her take off her jacket, and she touched his chest, wishing he could stay and knowing he had to get back to the station.

  “I wish you could stay. Thanks for coming with me to meet everyone.”

  “We’ll plan a get-together when I’m not working. It was really nice to meet you all. Siena talks about your family a lot, so I hope we can spend some time together at some point.”

  Siena watched him walk out as she sat down beside Kurt. “I
can’t believe you’re here. What’s the occasion?”

  Jack slapped Us Daily on the table, and suddenly all her brothers’ faces had that What in the hell are you doing? look on them. The look they’d given her throughout her teenage and college years. She blew out a breath and rolled her eyes.

  “So, what is this? Some kind of intervention?” She looked at Ellie, who shrugged. “Kate?”

  Sage reached for Kate’s hand. “Don’t get mad at them, or Savannah. We threatened them with death if they said anything to you before we saw you.”

  “What’s the issue?” Other than the guy’s a total prick that I know none of you approve of.

  “Well, I for one am totally confused.” Kurt was the most reserved of all of her brothers. While the others wore their hair a little long and always appeared windblown, Kurt wore his dark hair short, and it was always perfectly combed. He preferred collared shirts to her other brothers’ tees, and though he worked out daily and was equally as muscular as the others, his personality wasn’t one of outward brawn. As a writer, he came across more academic than sporty.

  “About what?” Siena asked, wishing she didn’t feel like she was being scrutinized, even though she knew she deserved it.

  “If Cash is your boyfriend—and from the look on your face when you introduced him, you’re quite taken with him—then why go out with a troglodyte like Gunner Gibson?”

  Kurt was the last person she’d expected to confront her, but then again, he was her older brother. There had been plenty of times he’d made comments that were just striking enough to have an impact on her decisions.

  “It’s not what it looks like.” And I can’t tell you the truth, so let’s just drop it. “I’m with Cash, not Gunner.”

  Rush pointed to the picture. “That kiss looks pretty real to me, Siena.”

  Why can’t they see what Cash saw when he looked at it?

  “Is Cash a nice guy?” Dex asked.

  “Of course.”

  “So he’s not the smart-ass you portrayed him as last time we met for drinks?” Sage asked.

  She rolled her eyes. “Yes, he’s a smart-ass, but I like his smart-assness.” She shot a look at Kurt. “I know that’s not a word, so don’t correct me.” She leaned her elbows on the table and tried to figure out how to explain what she didn’t even understand herself. “Cash is a smart-ass, and he’s tough, but he’s also kind and generous and funny…” And an amazing lover. “I really like him. I just judged him too quickly before.”