“It’s not that I don’t think the plan is good.” He helped me shrug out of my coat and hung it carefully on the wall hook before turning back to me. “I just wish you weren’t in the middle of it all.”
I frowned. “I’m not in the middle of it all. If anything, you’re in the middle of it.”
He rubbed the back of his neck, tension pulling at his shoulders. “I just want you to stay safe.”
His protectiveness made me feel warm and seen. It also made me sad.
“What are you thinking?” he asked after I stared too long without speaking.
I straightened and shook my head. “Nothing. I should really get dinner started.”
His mouth pressed into a line, like he didn’t believe me, but he didn’t push.
I turned toward the kitchen, but he caught my elbow.
He stepped closer. “Are you going to be okay down here by yourself for a while?”
My brows knit. “Where are you going?”
“I’d really like to take a shower. If that’s okay.”
I looked him over properly then.
He was still in his stiff fire chief uniform. The brass on his collar caught the soft light from the entryway lamp. He was powerful and commanding in it.
Suddenly my skin felt too tight as I thought of him taking it off…the heavy jacket sliding from his shoulders and himunbuttoning the structured fabric. I imagined the heat of the shower curling around bare skin and water running over muscle and—
My stomach flipped.
Heat rushed straight up my neck and into my cheeks.
Oh my God.
I blinked in horror.
Where had that come from?
I stepped back from him abruptly, putting space between us before he saw anything on my face.
“Yeah. Sure. Of course,” I said quickly. “I’ll go start dinner. You hop in the shower.”
He studied me, like he was trying to piece together what had just shifted.
“Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” he asked.
I nodded too fast, my head bobbing comically. “Yes. Of course,” I repeated, forcing my voice to calm down. “I’ll be fine.”
He studied me for another second; then he nodded. “All right. I won’t be long.”
With that, he turned and headed upstairs.
Leaving me utterly embarrassed and feeling way too warm.
32
Roman
Thehotwaterhitmy shoulders, and I let my head fall forward.
