Feel the Heat

by Kathryn Shay

  Francey caught her mother’s gaze in the mirror. “How did you know?”

  She squeezed Francey’s arm. “Just an educated guess.”

  Giving her mother a weak smile, Francey said, “No warnings? Like from Dad?”

  “No, Francesca. None.” Briefly Diana’s face clouded. “Your father’s wrong about this. You aren’t like me. You’re stronger.”

  “I’m not so sure.” Francey swallowed hard. “I’m afraid of the feelings I have for him.”

  “Don’t be.” Diana turned Francey toward her and held her by the shoulders. “Your father made me happier than I’ve ever been in my whole life.”

  Francey scowled

  “What?”

  “That’s the exact same thing he told me about you.”

  Diana’s jaw dropped. “He did?”

  “Yeah. But he still objects to my seeing Alex. That makes me more anxious.”

  Diana reached out to tuck a strand of Francey’s hair behind her ear. “Go for it, honey. It’s worth the hard times. If I could do things over, I’d make my marriage work for our family. I know I would.”

  Francey smiled at her mother. “Thanks, that helps.”

  Diana smiled, too. “Good.” She stepped back. “Now, let’s see what jewelry will go with that outfit.”

  oOo

  “God, Mitch, it’s good to see you.” Ben spoke to his old buddy Mitch Malvaso from Hidden Cove, New York. He and Mitch had both spent a brief stint working for the FDNY. And stayed buddies when they went their separate ways. They’d met up off and on for years. Today, Mitch had come to Rockford to meet with Fire Chief Talbot and had invited Ben out to lunch.

  “It’s good to see you, too. I’m glad you could meet me here. My appointment with Talbot isn’t until two.”

  “Yeah, now that you’ve grabbed the white helmet, you and our chief have a lot in common. Congratulations in person, this time.”

  “You phoned and sent that fancy case of beer when I got promoted.”

  Mitch looked around Pumpers. “Can you believe where we are in our careers? When we started with the FDNY, we never pictured we’d be off the line, ever.”

  “We’re old, buddy.” Deciding to tease, Ben added, “But you got a little kid to keep you young.”

  “I do. The light of my life, next to her mother.” His friend examined him. “There’s still shadows in your eyes, Ben. How come?”

  “A million reasons. Francey just got hurt. Budget cuts at the academy.”

  Mitch scowled, his physique and stature not too different from all those years ago, though he had some gray in his dark hair. “I heard about your daughter. Gives me a kick that she saved a rich guy.”

  “Don’t start. This could very well ruin our relationship. She’s not happy with me because I’m against her dating him.”

  “Haven’t you learned anything? Girls always go for the boy their parents dislike.”

  “She’s not a kid anymore.”

  “Want some fatherly advice?” Ben nodded. “Remember how much trouble I had with Trish and Bobby?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “My daughter’s deliriously happy with her two and my son just got engaged. They find their way without our help.”

  “I suppose. Let’s change the subject. How’s Tess Righetti doing in Hidden Cove? She was one of my favorite instructors at our academy, though she wasn’t here long.”

  “Terrific. She and her new husband still argue over recruit training methods but I can tell how happy they are together.” Mitch took a bead on Ben. “How about you? Are you involved with anyone?” Mitch asked candidly. He’d come to Rockford after Diana left and spent time trying to help Ben through the aftermath.

  “Nope. Once burned…”

  “Even now, I can’t believe you two got divorced.”

  “You and Cindy did.”

  “Yeah, but our marriage was troubled from day one. You were the lovebirds.”

  “I guess. Life can turn on a dime.”

  The waitress came to their table and they both ordered hamburgers. Ben was bothered by the conversation so he was glad when they turned to another matter. Talking about his ex-wife was the worst thing he could do given the mess he’d made with Diana.

  He was still thinking about her as he climbed the back staircase at the academy to his private entrance. Once inside, he pulled out some HazMat training materials to look over for the next training.

  Not long after, Eric Scanlon, the officer in charge of training appeared at the outer door to his office. “Diana’s here, Ben.”

  Ben dropped the heavy black binder he’d been reading, and it clattered to the floor. “Who?”

  “Diana. Your ex.”

  “Fine. I’ll be right out.” Ben retrieved the manual from the floor, then crossed to the door Scanlon had left ajar, closed it and leaned his head against heavy wood. His colleague’s words had flashed Ben back almost thirty years.

  He’d been a five-year veteran firefighter at Engine Four and he was humping hose onto the truck when one of his co-workers came into the bay.

  “Ben,” he’d said. “Diana’s here.”

  Ben had looked over to see his wife of three years standing by the door. Dressed in jeans and his Rockford Fire Department sweatshirt, she gracefully crossed the wide cement floor toward him. Just the sight of her made him hard.

  “Hi,” she said.

  He responded with a worried scowl. “You never come here. Is something wrong?”

  Her violet eyes shone like purple jewels. “No, everything’s perfect.”

  Recognizing the mischief in her expression, he dragged her behind the rig, out of sight of anyone coming into the bay. He couldn’t resist touching her. Smoothing his hand down her corn-silk hair, he asked, “What is it?”

  “I’m pregnant again.”

  A lump formed in his throat, and his shoulders sagged. “Oh, Dee, so soon? Tony’s only a year and a half, and Nicky’s six months.”

  “It’s not too soon. I want a dozen babies.”

  “I thought we’d agreed to wait.”

  Her eyes dancing, she circled his waist with her arms. “Mother Nature has other ideas.” She seduced him with a grin. “Ma and Pa are taking the boys over to her sister Patty’s about five today.”

  Ben glanced at his watch. It was three in the afternoon. “How’d you manage that?”

  She didn’t answer him. Instead, she plastered herself to him, in the firehouse bay, for God’s sake. “Hurry home.”

  Then she was gone. And he’d been hard the rest of his shift.

  When he got to the house, they went straight to bed, and he’d kept her there until they heard voices downstairs two hours later. He remembered telling her, “Thank you for my babies. All of them.”

  She’d looked at him, her eyes brimming with love. “All I want out of life is you and your children.”

  Swearing vilely, he yanked open the door and stalked to the outer office, which was crammed with cubicles and desks, a table and chairs and a coffee machine. She was reading a bulletin board, her back to him. “Diana?” he said sharply. Anger from the reminiscence poured out of his voice.

  She turned, and as always, just looking at her made his heart hurt. No wonder men still tripped over themselves watching her. He’d heard that little gem Tuesday night from his mother, and it burned him up. “What do you want?”

  “To talk to you.” She glanced around. Scanlon, along with several others, watched them openly. “In private.”

  He nodded, pivoted and she followed, as he’d expected.

  Inside his office, he shut the door, crossed the room and waited for her to speak. She squared her shoulders and angled her chin like she was about to face a firing squad. “We need to discuss Francesca.”

  “What about her?”

  “You’re making things difficult for her.”

  Though his heart was pounding harder than it did at a four-alarm fire, he nonchalantly eased a hip onto his desk and folded his arms. “I am? H
ow?”

  “She came to see me this morning. She mentioned you were upset about her and Alex.”

  “They’re not just friends, Diana.”

  “Of course they’re not.”

  “This relationship isn’t good for her.”

  “You may think that, but it’s her choice.”

  He stiffened. “Are you criticizing my parenting?”

  “She’s thirty years old. She doesn’t need parenting now.”

  “No, she needed it at three, and thirteen.” He paused. “When you weren’t around.”

  Diana blanched. “I didn’t come here to spar with you. I came here to ask you to let her make her own choices.”

  “Like your parents let you?”

  Stepping close enough to him so that he could smell some light, sweet fragrance on her, she grasped his arm. “She’s not me, Ben. He isn’t you. They can do this if they try.”

  “Are you saying we didn’t try?”

  “No, I’m saying I was at fault. But Francesca’s stronger than I was. Her life can turn out differently than ours.”

  “I don’t want to discuss this with you.” He shook her off, pushed away from the desk and gave her his back.

  “Well, she wanted to talk about it when she came to the shop this morning.”

  He whirled on Diana and grabbed her by the arms. “Don’t you see what’s happening here? She’s turning to you, instead of me, because she can get your approval. And you’re latching on to this thing with Alex because you want to be a part of her life. You’re both just using each other.”

  Huge tears welled in Diana’s eyes. “Do you hate me so much that you need to say the most hurtful things you can every time I see you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  She blinked back the tears. “Today you say Francesca’s using me when you know I’d give my right arm to have some sort of mother-daughter relationship with her. And

  Tuesday night—” she swallowed hard “—you couldn’t wait to tell me how much you didn’t care about me.”

  “Why should that bother you?” he asked, his grip tightening on her arms.

  He expected her to yank out of his grasp. She didn’t. Instead, she leaned into him and buried her face in his chest. He was so swamped with emotion he couldn’t push her away.

  In a voice muffled by his shirt, she said, “You don’t see it, do you?”

  “See what?”

  “That I’ve never gotten over you.”

  Momentarily, he froze. Then, almost against his will, his hand crept to her hair. He buried his fingers in the silky blond mass and let his lips brush over a few strands. It was still as soft as a kitten’s fur. And touching her still turned him inside out. “You married someone else,” he said raggedly. And it almost killed me.

  She looked at him with unshed tears in her eyes. “After I finished at the Fashion Institute in New York, I met Nathan Hathaway. He was kind to me. He needed a wife. I was so lonely for you and the children, I tried to replace all of you.” She bit her bottom lip. “It didn’t work.”

  He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t lose himself in her like he had before. He wouldn’t live through the pain again. “I don’t want to hear this.” He stepped back.

  Shaking, she straightened and swiped at her face. “Of course you don’t. But please, Ben, think about Francesca, not your dislike of me. Think about what she needs now.” His wife stared at him for a few seconds, then turned and left.

  Ben spun around and faced his desk. Bracing his hands on it, he sucked in air like a recruit on his first air pack. But that didn’t quell the rage. He swore viciously then swept the contents off the surface of his desk onto the floor.

  oOo

  Alex’s heart pounded as he rang Francesca’s doorbell at eight o’clock Friday night. You’re like a kid on your first date, he thought, wiping his sweaty palms on his suit pants. Drawing in a breath of fresh spring air, letting the soft breeze calm him, he strove for some of that legendary Templeton cool that had driven the women in college crazy.

  When she swung open the door, any semblance of control fled like leaves in the wind. Stunned, he gulped at the sight before him. He couldn’t remember her ever looking so beautiful. So desirable. Her face was radiant, and the knowledge that she’d dressed up for him made his stomach somersault. “Hi,” she said softly, almost shyly.

  “Hi.” He stared at her a moment longer, then picked up his suitcase. “I took a cab right from the airport. I wanted to get here fast.”

  A Jezebel smile on her lips, she watched him. “You wanted to get here fast?”

  “Yes, very.” He scanned her, taking in the stunning purple outfit. “Those clothes you’re wearing make me glad I did.”

  The color in her cheeks deepened.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Not that you weren’t always gorgeous, Francesca. But you look exceptionally beautiful tonight.”

  In a slow and graceful movement, she turned around in a circle for him.

  “You like?”

  He had to clear his throat. “I like.”

  Reaching out, she drew him inside the foyer and closed the door. “Are the clothes new?”

  She nodded. “I went to Diana’s shop this morning. She dressed me up.”

  “Remind me to send your mother a thank-you note.” He studied her. “What did you do to your hair?”

  “Chelsea came over today. She played with a curling iron.” Francesca seemed unsure suddenly. “Does it look okay?”

  Alex’s gaze raked her boldly. “Come here, woman, and I’ll show you just how okay.”

  Her smile quickened his pulse rate. “Now, don’t turn all macho on me, Templeton.”

  “Then don’t tease me with your feminine wiles, Francesca.” He sobered. “Come here,” he repeated more softly. “I can’t wait another minute to touch you.”

  She stepped toward him. When she stood so close he could see the lavender lace peeking from the open buttons of her top, he was hit with a surge of desire so potent he wanted to drag her to the floor and bury himself in her.

  I’m scared, Alex. Could we take it slow?

  Remembering his promise, he eased her into his arms and drew her close, the fit natural. She stared at him with those fathomless violet eyes made richer by the purple outfit. He studied every inch of her face, kissed her forehead. “Do you have any idea how much I want to do this?” Her eyelids fluttered closed as his lips grazed them. “What it feels like to have the right to touch you?” His hands slid down to grasp her hips. “To hold you?” Brushing his mouth across each cheek, he felt her sink into him. “How I’ve needed to be close to you?” Struggling for control, he skimmed her jaw with tiny kisses, then moved to her ear.

  She shivered. “Alex. If you don’t kiss me pretty soon, I’m going to embarrass myself and beg.”

  He laughed and felt an answering chuckle from her in her chest. Drawing back, he tilted her chin, let himself soak in the sight of her once more then lowered his head.

  Gentleness fled, and he took her mouth hungrily, feasting after weeks of the fast she’d insisted on. He could feel his entire body harden as she aligned herself with him, stood on tiptoe, drew him closer. He needed no more invitation to plunge his tongue into her and claim what he craved. She returned the gesture with a throaty moan.

  After glorious minutes of tasting her, he was the one to break the kiss. He knew his body, and if he was to keep his promise to go slow, he’d better ease off now.

  She obviously sensed his concern, too, and stepped away from him. But she clasped his hand in hers and kissed it. That small, intimate gesture almost did him in; he closed his eyes, praying for self-discipline. When he opened them, he caught sight of her arm. Encircling her wrist with his fingers, he slid them to her elbow.

  “You bewitch me. I didn’t even notice this.” Continuing the gentle glide up and down, he asked, “Feel good?”

  “Right now it feels wonderful.”

  “I mean getting the cast off.”r />
  “Oh.”

  He chuckled, and she said, “Yeah, great.”

  After bestowing a kiss on her hand, he linked their fingers. “Let’s go sit down. I, ah, need distraction from you.”

  The seductive smile came back. “I like hearing that.”

  Francey led him to the living room and glanced around, hoping she hadn’t been too obvious. The lights were dimmed, soulful music crooned in the background, and she’d fixed a tray of cheese, crackers and fruit. When he saw the scene, he stopped abruptly. She winced. “Too obvious?”

  His hand tightened in hers. “No, of course not.” Turning to her, he tilted her face. “I’m flattered.” When she still looked unsure, he said, “Francesca, you can let yourself go with me. Be as romantic as you want.” When she smiled he said, “Hey, it’s a hell of a position to put me in, but somebody’s got to do it”

  She smiled. “Thanks.”

  “For what?”

  “For understanding how new this is to me.”

  “Sweetheart, no man in his right mind would balk at being the recipient of all this.” He waved to encompass the setting and her clothing. “How can you think otherwise?”

  “When you look at me like that, I don’t think otherwise. It’s just when I see how feminine I’m behaving, I panic.”

  Leaning over, he took her mouth again. Though quick, the kiss was searing. And convincing.

  He sat on the couch as she fixed them drinks. Forgoing her usual beer, she poured herself wine. When she was beside him, he held up his Scotch. “To friendship—” he clinked their glasses “—and much, much more.”

  “So, how was Boston?” she asked. “Did you get to see your friends?”

  He tried to hide his smile. “Some of them.”

  “Which ones?”

  His eyes sparkled like rare jade. “Is there something you want to know?”

  “Know?”

  “Yes. About Boston.”

  She took a sip of her drink. “Oh, all right. Did you get together with Suzanne?”

  Staring at her intently, he let the question hang in the air. “Yes,” he finally said. “I had dinner with her Thursday.”

  “Is that where you were when I called?”

  His hand slid to her neck and caressed the soft skin there. “Francesca, if you’re asking if I slept with Suzanne, the answer’s no.”