His cell phone vibrated. Johanna glanced down at the table and saw the screen light up with a call from Seattle. Blaze looked at it too. Then his expression shifted. It was subtle but enough for her to notice.
Blaze hesitated and released her hand before answering. “This is Carter.”
His voice changed at once. It was professional and guarded.
Johanna wrapped both hands around her iced tea glass while Blaze listened quietly for several moments.
Then—
“Yes, I appreciate that.”
A pause.
Another one.
“Yes, I received the relocation package, but I haven’t had a chance to review it yet.”
Johanna’s stomach tightened instantly.
Relocation package.
Blaze leaned back slightly in his chair as he said, “Yes, it’s a very attractive offer.”
The restaurant suddenly felt too warm, the air pressing against her chest while pieces slowly started fitting together in her mind.
Johanna stared across the table while pieces slowly started fitting together inside her head.
Strong offer.
Relocation.
Seattle.
And just like that, old fear came rushing back hard enough to steal her breath.
Because years ago, Blaze used to talk about Seattle like it was some firefighter fantasy brought to life, while Johanna listened quietly beside him, pretending his excitement didn’t terrify her.
Even back then, Johanna understood one painful truth: one day Blaze Carter would leave Sheraton Beach, and there was a very real chance he might leave her too. In the end, both fears had come true.
Blaze ended the call after promising to respond sometime next week. Then he placed his phone face down.
Johanna stared at him across the table. When Blaze looked up, his expression had sharpened with quiet awareness. There it was. The look that told her he already knew exactly where her thoughts had gone.
“Was that the fire department in Seattle?” She tried to sound casual and failed completely.
Blaze went still for half a second before finally nodding once. “Yeah.”
The tightness in Johanna’s chest deepened. “Sounds like they made you a job offer.”
Blaze leaned back slowly in his chair. “I interviewed months ago. A final offer came through a few days ago."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
“A few days ago,” she repeated softly.
Before us.
Before Baltimore.
