Into the Flames

by Multi-Author

  Though instead of acting on his impulses, Knox broke the kiss and stepped back, determined to stay cool. After letting her into his head, he wanted to build their emotional connection rather than risk destroying it with intimacy that came too soon. He needed her. Wanted her. Liked her too much to rush things. Lexi was worth waiting for. Until the time was right, he’d let their fire smolder.

  In the not-too-distant future, he’d find Lexi’s flashpoint and they’d burn up the sheets.

  Chapter Eight

  Text message, Monday, 11 AM:

  Knox: I can stop by your classroom Wed. before lunch. Will that work?

  Lexi: Sounds great. Thx! See you then.

  * * *

  Two days later…

  Lexi wasn’t sure who was more excited about Knox’s visit—her or her students. The anticipation inside the classroom crackled as the eight-year-old audience sat up straight in their seats, eyes locked on the firefighter from the time he made his approach from the hall until Lexi introduced him at the front of the room.

  He wore full firefighter regalia from his helmet to his turnout coat, pants, and steel-lined boots. His face mask stuck out from his pocket, probably as a show-and-tell item, since wearing it might have scared the children. In his hands he carried a platform with an unfinished castle on top, made of wood, like a dollhouse. The structure had two towers and turrets, a drawbridge, and double doors large enough to accommodate action figures.

  Lexi wasn’t sure what Knox’s project had to do with firefighting, but let him take the lead on the explanation after he handed it over to her. All eyes in the room followed her and the castle to the counter beneath the row of windows, and then turned back to Knox when he began to speak.

  Her students sat in rapt attention as Knox explained how his gear worked, showed them his face mask, and then regaled them with the tale of Lexi’s rescue from the apple tree.

  He downplayed the life-threatening aspect of the event, and pretended he was afraid of Lexi’s cat at first, because he thought it might have been a lion before he got a good look, and the children laughed with delight. Knox was a natural-born storyteller. Although Lexi had been the victim, and remembered the difficult morning clearly, she appreciated Knox’s delicate handling and found herself laughing, too, at the absurdity of her predicament.

  When he reached the part about the cherry picker that carried them to safety on the ground, he left out the description of her wardrobe, of lifting her in his arms, and their intimate kiss. Knox turned to Lexi and winked, and she smiled back, recalling the scene as vividly as if it were happening all over again—without the pain and fear. Her lips tingled with the urge to press them to his.

  It had only been four days since their first date at the beer bash, but Lexi’d had plenty of time to think about her new relationship with Knox. His uniform symbolized integrity, assuring all who met him that he was a man of honor, an essential quality she’d learned to expect before she gave her heart away again. Knox had given her every reason to believe she could anticipate that from him.

  “Who wants to ask a question?” he said at the end of his presentation. The roomful of students raised their hands. Knox called on them one at a time, responding with answers about his duties and what he liked best about being a firefighter.

  The inevitable question about the castle he’d brought came from the front of the room. One of Lexi’s more timid students, Kaylynn, raised her hand. “I like your castle,” she said, and blushed.

  Knox grinned. “I brought it for you.” Gasps echoed through the room as he pointed to each child in turn. “And for you. And you. And you…you…all of you.” His expression turned solemn. “It belonged to another third grader—someone very special to me, but she can’t finish it, so I thought you could do it for her.”

  “Did she move away?” James asked, from the center of the room.

  Knox nodded. “Something like that.”

  He turned to Lexi and the shroud of sadness in his eyes made tears spring to hers. She blinked them away before her students noticed her shift in mood.

  “Can we keep it?” asked a boy named Roman.

  “Of course,” Knox replied. “You’ll be the castle guardians. I can’t think of a better place for it to stay.”

  “Will you help us finish it?” Kaylynn asked.

  Knox nodded. “If it’s okay with Ms. Wentworth.”

  Lexi met his eyes. “Of course.” She turned to her class. “We’ll work on it until the end of the school year then display it at the back of the room for the next third grade class, and the next, and the next, and the one after that. The castle will become the third-grade mascot. Okay?”

  The children clapped their hands and nodded with approval.

  Lexi dismissed the class for lunch and watched them line up outside the door for the lunchroom monitor who would lead them to the cafeteria. She and Knox had about forty-five minutes for pizza before she had to be back at work.

  After her students had gone, Lexi turned again to Knox. She wanted to say she realized what it must have taken for him to share Chelsea in his unique way, but resisted the urge to do more than touch his hand. He’d revealed his sorrow and his loss during their conversation at Kelly’s, and now he’d entrusted his niece’s memory to her care—a gesture that told her more about his hope for their relationship than any words he might have spoken.

  Knox laid his hand over hers. Their eyes met, and in that moment Lexi knew she was falling in love.

  * * *

  She sat in the section of bleachers behind home plate on the softball field at Shadyside Park on Sunday, wearing sunglasses and her West Arbor Elementary School Spirit Day t-shirt with cutoffs and flip-flops, her stomach fluttering as the local firefighters and police teams prepared to take the field. An ice cream truck pulled in, someone fired up a grill and opened a cooler filled with soft drinks, and the scoreboard lit up. Lexi waved to Knox, and he waved back with a grin that made her feel connected to him and the town in entirely new and thrilling ways.

  It had taken her a little time to figure out that her damp palms, butterflies, and tight chest were caused by excitement, not anxiety, because the physical symptoms felt similar. Knowing that Knox was glad to see her made her heart race, but she didn’t want the pill that would take away its wild beating. Her feet wouldn’t keep still at the sight of him, but she gave in to her jitters and let herself feel whatever she wanted, without fear, because she was learning to trust her instincts. Her internal radar gave her the go sign to be happy.

  “Hey there,” a feminine voice beside her said, jolting her from her reverie.

  Lexi looked up and scooted over to make room for Daniela on the crowded stands. She’d been so busy staring at Knox she’d hardly noticed the people around her. Girlfriends, spouses, and children chattered like old friends as they waited for the game to start.

  “I tried waving to you, like, five times,” Daniela said, “but you were too busy staring at the field to notice.”

  Lexi tilted her head in Knox’s direction. “Can’t keep my eyes off the man.” She giggled then—giggled like one of the girls in her classroom, and was alternately horrified and elated by the sound. When was the last time she’d wanted to let go and embrace life? Suddenly, the lavender nightie and matching thong Daniela had bullied her into buying made perfect sense.

  “Ooooh, I think someone’s been bitten by the love bug,” Daniela teased. She followed Lexi’s line of sight to the guys gathering by the benches they used like a dugout. “Can’t say I blame you. Knox is hotter than chipotle.”

  Daniela’s body went still and she made rumbling sounds deep in her throat. “Who’s that sexy guy next to him?” She grabbed Lexi’s arm. “Wait. Is that his partner? The gorgeous man I saw at the hospital?”

  Lexi nodded. “Sure is. But don’t you have a boyfriend?”

  Daniela looked over at her like she was talking nonsense. “There’s a difference between having a lover
and having a boyfriend, mi amiga. Arturo has been an amazing lover. Past tense.” She pointed a glossy fingernail at Marcus. “He, however, is boyfriend material.”

  Lexi had to laugh. “How do you know that?”

  Danila’s eyes turned to slits with her trademark are-you-kidding-me look. “Because that’s the position that’s open.”

  Lexi had to give Daniela credit. For her, the options were as simple as that.

  “Well, it looks like our boyfriends are headed this way.” Lexi watched as Knox and Marcus strolled toward the stands carrying cardboard cartons. She and Daniela walked down to meet them, the fireworks between her and Knox growing stronger with each step. Lexi tipped her sunglasses to the top of her head to maintain eye contact. Her face began to hurt from smiling.

  “I’m glad you could make it,” he said, smiling back. Knox handed Lexi a container filled with lunch items. “I promised you a hot dog.”

  Lexi wanted to kiss him for remembering his promise, but held back, since about a hundred people milled around. “With mustard and relish, just the way I like it. Baked chips, too. And iced tea. Perfect.”

  Marcus held out a similar container to Daniela, and introduced himself. The light in Daniela’s eyes shone brighter than the scoreboard. “Such gentlemen,” she said, clearly impressed. She glanced over at Lexi with her classic I-knew-it look, and turned back to Marcus to make small talk.

  “Want to come over after the game?” Lexi blurted to Knox. She didn’t say, “Want to have sex at my house after the game?” though that’s what she meant. The sexy grin Knox returned said he’d translated the code.

  “We usually meet at Kelly’s after, but I like your idea better.” Knox ran his fingers over the curve of her cheek, sending tingles over her skin. Her nipples tightened like ripe raisins under her t-shirt and Knox definitely noticed.

  He gave her a smile that lit her insides like a shot from a blowtorch. “I remember where you live.”

  She guessed that would become their private joke from now on. And she liked it. She liked it a lot.

  * * *

  The game was fun, and rah-rah-rah, the firefighters beat the police league 10–7, though softball had been a mere backdrop to Lexi’s appreciation of Knox while he played first base. She watched his lean, muscular body move around the field with masculine grace and agility until the game became incidental to admiring him from afar. Knox was a presence, a leader, and clearly a man on whom his team relied both on and off the field.

  Hers. The thought repeated itself and the overwhelming desire to make it true swept through her. She took in the sight of Knox again and her heart smiled. Hers. The man was fit and gorgeous, and she could hardly wait to see what he looked like under his clothes. That fantasy wouldn’t quit.

  “Earth to Lexi.” Daniela nudged her, rousing her from her daydream.

  Lexi turned with a mild start and looked around her. Spectators were gathering empty drinks containers, tote bags, and seat cushions to make their way out of the stands. Lexi and Daniela stood, too, to collect their belongings.

  “The guys are going to wait for us on the field,” Daniela said. “Marcus invited me to Kelly’s. Are you going?”

  Lexi shook her head. “Knox and I have other plans.”

  Daniela cackled. “I just bet. I saw the way you two looked at each other.” She sucked air through her teeth. “So hot.”

  Lexi grinned. She couldn’t disagree. Knox had jolted her libido wide awake. “I guess you and I need another shopping trip.”

  Daniela glanced toward the infield. “As they say, ‘copy that.’” Lexi followed her line of sight to Marcus. They both laughed at her use of firefighter jargon.

  By the time they’d tossed their trash and recycling and sauntered to the edge of the field, Knox and Marcus stood waiting for them. “Congratulations,” Lexi said to the men in turn. Daniela smiled and said the same. Pheromones flew around them like a box of lighted sparklers.

  Lexi gave Knox a celebratory squeeze that turned into a full-body hug that led to a kiss. She pulled back before she created a spectacle in front of dozens of first responders and their families, though it might have been too late, because her panties had caught fire.

  Knox wrapped his arm around her shoulders and stared down at her with a look that said he knew what she was thinking. Lexi held back a giggling fit. If only.

  Softball games sure were fun.

  She eyed the flirting between Daniela and Marcus and whispered to Knox, “Bye-bye, Tanya.”

  Knox whispered back. “They already agreed it wouldn’t work out. He sure does seem to like your friend, though.”

  Voices sounded behind them. Lexi turned as a few guys she recognized from Knox’s firehouse—the candidate, Enrico Rodriguez; Max Brown; and Derek Chang—joined them with two men she didn’t know. Both were wearing jeans and casual shirts, not softball gear, so she figured they must have been spectators. One of the guests stared at Daniela in a way that prickled the base of Lexi’s spine. She looked over at her friend, whose mouth had thinned, though she’d refused to lower her eyes.

  Brown asked, “Anyone else heading over to Kelly’s?”

  Marcus replied, “Daniela and I are going.”

  The man who’d been staring at Daniela snapped, “¿No se Arturo es mujer? Qué chingados.”

  Lexi’s Spanish wasn’t great, but she knew the man was calling Daniela out about being with Marcus instead of Arturo, and there was definitely an “F” word thrown in for emphasis.

  Daniela blanched but held her ground. She squared her shoulders. “I don’t know you, and I don’t owe you any explanations.”

  Lexi knew that Daniela and Arturo had broken up, but decided to follow her friend’s lead and say nothing. Daniela’s love life was nobody else’s business.

  Marcus turned to the guy who’d insulted Daniela and hitched a thumb toward the parking lot. “She doesn’t know you, and I don’t know you, so maybe you should get lost.”

  The stranger balled his fists, and his friend did likewise, both looking ready to lunge. The next thing Lexi knew, Knox stepped in front of her and Daniela. Marcus closed the gap and stood by Knox’s side. The men squared off. Tensions ran so high the air snapped like a bundle of live wires.

  Rodriguez looked visibly shaken. He turned to the men in street clothes. “Hey, guys, chill. Antonio. Zack. This is family time. Brotherhood time. Don’t make me sorry I invited you to the game.”

  Antonio was the one who’d spoken harshly to Daniela. He flicked his head toward Rodriguez. “Back off, cousin.”

  Zack took an aggressive step in Marcus’s direction, but he spoke to Rodriguez. “Arturo would expect us to stand up for him.”

  Knox held up a hand to block Zack from moving closer. “Stay right where you are or things are going to get ugly.”

  Lexi touched Knox’s shoulder in a gesture meant to diffuse the hostilities, but he shook her off. The veins in his neck stood out, his color had risen, and he clenched and unclenched his fists. If Lexi didn’t know better, she’d say Knox wanted a fight. His body language said as much, because his muscles were taut and his breathing turned rapid.

  Jeez, she had no idea Knox had such a bad temper. Tensions among the men were about to explode. The possibility didn’t sit well and her unease grew.

  Daniela tugged Marcus’s arm. “He’s not worth it. Let’s go.” When Marcus ignored her, she swore in Spanish, and then turned on the stranger who’d started the conflict. She pointed a finger. “I’m not with Arturo anymore, so there’s no reason to butt into my business. Why don’t you just go.”

  Chang backed her up. “Leave. Now.” He jerked his head in the direction of the dispersing crowd. “There are still plenty of cops here.”

  Antonio’s eyes flickered with uncertainty.

  Just then, Rodriguez’s girlfriend, Maggie, strolled up, her eyes fixed on her phone screen, seemingly unaware that a fight was about to break out. Lexi tried to give her
the heads-up, but Maggie wasn’t paying attention. When she finally looked up, she saw Lexi, and called out her name.

  Before she could reply, Antonio rolled out the word, “Lexi.” Her name sounded dirty on his tongue. Instead of leaving, he turned to Rodriguez. “Hey, cuz, isn’t that the chick you told us about? The one stuck naked in a tree?” He began to laugh, and the ugly sound cut Lexi to the bone. He was clearly enjoying himself. “Where are the pictures you promised?”

  Pictures? The hair on the back of Lexi’s neck stood on end and every square inch of her skin prickled. Goosebumps broke over her flesh and her knees turned to water. The only way there could be pictures was if Knox, or Marcus, or one of the ambulance workers took them.

  Group tension ratcheted another ten notches. Knox looked like he wanted to commit murder. He glared at the men. “What are you talking about?”

  Brown’s eyes grew wide. “Kiss your candidacy good-bye, Rodriguez,” he said. “You broke the code by telling outsiders about the extraction and giving her name.”

  Marcus let out a curse. “Why’d you do that, man?”

  Knox shoved fingers in Rodriguez’s direction. “You’re done. Count on it.”

  He turned his head to look at Lexi, his expression beseeching. West Arbor was a mid-size town, and everyone knew someone who knew someone. Stories here tended to boomerang.

  Lexi stood, mortified. She vacillated between wanting to run and wanting to kick some ass.

  Maggie began to shout. “Enrico, if you have naked pictures of this woman, I’m going to kill you!” She charged in her boyfriend’s direction. “I’ve had enough of your shit.”

  Antonio and Zack began to laugh. Antonio said, “Go for it.”

  Rodriguez began to shout, and then pushed Antonio hard in the chest, knocking him off balance. The man stumbled, but when he regained his footing, he charged like a bull at a red flag and knocked his cousin to the ground. The men rolled, threw punches, and then rolled again until Zack jumped in. When that happened, all hell broke loose.