then, run and don’t stop. Before I get to him, Baker sees me. He does a doubletake, but figures out it’s me.
He starts walking my way, and I should be embarrassed. I know this isn’t the right time or place for this, but I don’t care. I dive into his arms, my arms going around his waist and I hold on for dear life.
He’s leaning his cheek against the top of my head. “Heather, I’m okay. I promise I’m okay.”
I pull back from him, still crying. “I should have believed you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. Can you forgive me?”
He smiles at me, and he must have taken his gloves off because he’s cupping my face in between his soot-covered hands. “Yes, yes, yes.”
I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss him, putting everything I have into that kiss. This whole week was wasted because I trusted Jamie. Because I didn’t believe that he really wanted me. Because I thought he was a liar. I open my mouth and his tongue thrusts in. My breasts are smashed against his hard chest and even though he’s holding me tight, I can’t get close enough to him.
“Baker, let’s go, you’ve got to get checked out,” I hear someone call and I pull away from him, trying to open his jacket and look for any injuries.
“Oh my God, I didn’t even think, are you hurt?” I ask him, running my hand across his chest, his shoulders and his arms.
He groans and I jerk my hands away, afraid that I hurt him.
“No, honey, but your hands on me are what I’ve been praying for.” His voice is gruff, filled with emotion.
I smile at him and he leans down to kiss me again, but I stop him. “I should probably let you get back to work.”
Baker
I look over at my boss and my team. Everyone is still fighting the fire and I know I need to get checked out and get back to work. But I don’t want to let her go.
I grab on to her hand, holding her, lacing our fingers together. “I get off at midnight.”
She nods her head. “Okay. Will you call me, just let me know you’re all right?”
I don’t answer her. I just got her back and I don’t want to let her go. “Will you do me a favor?”
She nods her head, smiling at me. “Anything.”
“Will you go to my house? Wait for me there? I need you there, at my house, in my bed,” I plead with her.
She starts to shake her head and I try to reassure her. “No, it’s not like that. Nothing’s going to happen. I just want you close, that’s all. Please?”
She smiles. “I was just going to say, you sure you want me there without you? I could snoop through your things.”
She may feel like she’s warning me, but I’m not worried. “I have nothing to hide. Please, I may be a little later. You can have my bed, I just want you there.”
When she finally agrees, I give her my address and tell her where the hidden key is. I kiss her one more time and it could have been longer if I didn’t get another warning from my captain.
I watch her walk away before turning back to the fire. It’s a hellacious fire, but nothing is going to stop me from going home to her tonight.
9
Baker
It’s way past midnight, almost three o’clock in the morning before I finally make it home. As soon as we got to the station, I showered and clocked out, racing home.
When I see her car in the driveway, an excitement goes through me. I had wondered if she chickened out if maybe she went home instead. The fact she’s inside, in my home has my heart rate picking up.
I tiptoe through the house. She left a lamp on in the living room for me. I take off my boots and start walking through the house, stopping at my bedroom doorway.
She’s in my bed. I creep over to side and look down at her. The moonlight spilling in through the window shows me that she’s fast asleep. I can’t help it; I squat next to her, reaching out for her, stroking the back of my hand across her cheek.
I do it so softly, I think there’s no way she’ll wake up, but she does. She springs up and the sheet falls from her body, showing me her naked breasts.
“Baker! You’re home,” she says groggily, holding her