Behind the Flame: An Everyday Heroes World Book (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Renee Harless

  “I like that you care for my daughter so much.”

  “She’s pretty amazing, just like her dad,” she told him truthfully, leaning back against his body.

  Ridge tilted his head to nip at her neck, then soothed the pinch with his tongue.

  “Did you have fun tonight?”

  “I did. You have great friends, Ridge.”

  “I do.”

  Turning in his arms River pressed her mouth against his as she draped her arms around his neck.

  “If you find Penny, have you considered moving back to California?” It was a question that had been plaguing her for a while. Keeping his daughter safe was the motive for his move. If his ex was no longer in the equation, there was no reason for him to stay.

  “I hadn’t really thought about it, but no, I don’t think so. My family is here and Delilah seems to like it here, and. . .well. . .you’re here.”

  “I thought we agreed to keep things casual, Ridge.”

  “We did, but that doesn’t mean I can’t care about you and enjoy the things we do together.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Want me to show you what some of those things are?”

  River brushed her lips against his, pressing her body closer until not even a sliver of paper could pass between them as she said, “I’m sure I could be persuaded.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  He didn’t think he’d ever tire of waking up with River in his bed. She tended to steal all of the covers and press her body against him all night. Her skin was like a furnace, but there was something remarkable knowing that she sought him out even in her sleep.

  Turning his head, he couldn’t fight back his smile. She was lying on her stomach, her arms tucked under her pillow while her slumbering face was directed toward him. She had one leg draped over him, unable to sever their connection completely.

  Ridge was truly afraid of the feelings he had for her. He felt like he was a spinning top about to fall off its axis.

  As quietly as he could, he extracted himself from the bed and made his way to the bathroom. Delilah would be waking soon and he wanted to give River a morning to relax. A short shower later, Ridge stepped into a pair of sweatpants and went to check on his daughter, who was still sleeping away in her crib. It was rare that she slept past 7 a.m., but he knew that she was a bit overstimulated with the later dinner the night before.

  He was surprised to find River standing in front of the coffee pot in the kitchen, pouring two mugs of the delectable liquid.

  “I was trying to let you sleep in,” he told her as he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  “That’s okay. I have a hard time sleeping once the sun comes up.”

  “Me too.”

  While wrapped in his arms, she turned and took a sip of her coffee, offering him a taste from her own mug.

  “So,” he began. “What do you have in store today?”

  “Well, I intend to take a very long and hot shower and then run to the store and stock my fridge. Then, as you know, I have the knitting club this afternoon. After that, I have no plans.”

  “Maybe we can switch it up and stay at your place tonight?”

  Laughing, River said, “Sure, I’m up for a little adventure so long as you think Delilah will adjust okay.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

  A cry sounded from down the hall and Ridge reached behind River and grabbed his mug, gulping the hot liquid before setting the mug back on the counter.

  “Take your shower and I’ll make us some breakfast once I get Delilah situated.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Ridge went to work getting his daughter ready for the day, savoring each toothy grin she sent his way. She was growing up so fast and he hated the feeling that he was missing it all.

  Setting Delilah into her high chair, he settled her down with some puffed cereal while he grabbed the items to make omelets.

  He was just plating the two western omelets when a knock on his front door sounded. Ridge was surprised since he wasn’t expecting anyone, but as he glanced at his phone to look at the security camera's image, he rushed over to the door.

  “Grady! What are you doing here?” he said, ushering his friend inside the house.

  “Hey, man. Sorry to barge in, but Dylan left early to head to the studio with Ryker and the nice lady at the bed and breakfast gave me directions to your house.”

  “Well, damn. Can I get you some breakfast? I’m making omelets,” he said just as a towel-clad River walked into the kitchen area where Ridge stood with Grady.

  “Oh!” she startled and took a few steps back into the slightly darker hallway. “I didn’t know we had company.”

  “Sorry. Grady just popped in. Dylan is at the studio already.”

  “That’s ok. Er. . .um. . .I was going to ask if you could run across the street to grab me some. . .um. . .undergarments. It seems my supply here needs to be restocked. But you’re busy. It’s fine. I can make do.”

  No way was he going to allow her to go without panties in public. Even if he was the only one that would know, well, him and Grady, it would drive him crazy the rest of the day.

  “No, I’d be happy to do it. I’ll be right back.”

  Before she could object, Ridge reached for her set of keys on the kitchen counter and made his way out the front door leaving Grady and Delilah in the kitchen and a stunned towel-covered River standing in the hall with her mouth hanging open in surprise.

  When he returned with a loaded pocket full of lace panties for River, he found Grady taking a bite of his omelet and feeding tiny pieces of the other to Delilah.

  Bypassing his friend, he walked back to his bedroom and found River sitting in the middle of his bed on her phone.

  “Thank you, Ridge. I’m sorry I made you leave your friend.”

  “It’s okay. I didn’t mind.” He looked at her more closely and noticed the worry lines between her brows. “Is everything okay?”

  Finally pulling her gaze away from the screen of her phone, River looked up at him with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “Yeah, I was just trying to call my grandmother, but I didn’t get an answer. She was more confused when we spoke the last couple of days and I just wanted to check in with her and the nurse Mark.”

  “I’m sure everything is fine. He’d call you if something was wrong.”

  “You’re right. I know you’re right. I’d just like to hear her voice for myself, you know?”

  “Yeah, I get it.” Ridge leaned forward and kissed her gently. She was stressed and he wanted to do what he could to alleviate it. Taking a step back, Ridge turned toward the bedroom door then glanced over his shoulder. “I’ll let you get dressed. When you come out, I’ll start our breakfast. Grady ate your omelet.”

  “Of course he did. I’ll be out soon.” She tried to sound more like herself, but those anxiety lines were still present and he didn’t know what he could do to make those disappear.

  “And try not to worry, okay? You can try to call again this afternoon.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  ***

  River couldn’t seem to shake the feeling that something wasn’t right with her grandmother. She tried calling three more times but couldn’t get a hold of her. She even went so far as to contacting the facility’s general phone line, but because it was the weekend, the person that answered the phone didn’t have much information.

  She was on her way to pick up Dylan at the bed and breakfast for their trip to the knitting club’s gathering and she was trying as hard as she could to push her worry to the back of her mind. She was excited to spend more time with the songwriter. She genuinely liked the woman and Dylan would be a sound barrier between her and the many Connelly women.

  As she pulled into the long driveway for the bed and breakfast River found Dylan waiting on the main porch in a wooden bench swing. She looked relaxed and carefree, bundled up in a jacket to brace agains
t the chilly fall air. River barely had her SUV in park before Dylan flung the passenger door open and jumped inside.

  They were one of the last to arrive, finding a room in the back of the fabric store filled with women of various ages. Amy Connelly greeted them first and introduced them to the remainder of the crowd. It didn’t take River long to realize that Ryker hadn’t been joking about what they did at the knitting club meetings.

  A few older women quietly worked with pieces of yarn to crochet blankets or knit a scarf in the corner. One had a pattern so intricate that River could have sworn that a machine had knit the item.

  The rest of the group consisted of Amy, her daughters, her daughters-in-law and future daughters-in-law, and a few local women River’s age that she had seen around time. A bottle of white wine was being passed around and poured into plastic cups as the women exchanged the latest gossip.

  “I have no idea what’s going on, but I can’t tune it out,” Dylan whispered beside her and River couldn’t help but giggle, which had been the wrong move. Suddenly the women descended on her like vultures.

  “So, what’s going on with you and Ridge?” Poppy asked and the crowd of women beside her mumbled their interest as well.

  River hated being put on the spot and this time was no different. Ridge was their family member.

  “Nothing,” she lied.

  “Yeah, right. I’d have believed you if the man hadn’t begged me to let you take off for lunch yesterday. So please, try again.”

  “We’re just friends. That’s it. Neither of us wants anything serious.”

  Poppy hummed as if she didn’t believe River’s answer, then went back to sipping her cup of wine, leaving the topic tabled for the moment.

  As she suspected, though, Dylan was interested in knowing more about River and Ridge's relationship.

  “So, tell me why you’re okay with a casual fling with Ridge. I mean, I don’t know you extremely well, but you seem like the kind of girl searching for her happily ever after.”

  “You’re right. That’s exactly what I’m looking for.”

  “And you don’t think you could get that with Ridge?”

  River thought for a moment on how to answer Dylan’s question. Her problem was that recently she could see herself getting her happily ever after with Ridge. She just knew it wasn’t probable.

  “Let me ask you something. What is the most important thing to Ridge besides his daughter?”

  “That’s easy, his job. He’s one of the best firefighters I know,” Dylan replied with a hint of defense in her tone.

  “He is. I agree. And do you think he has room for anything else in his life besides those two priorities?”

  Dylan stared at River in surprise.

  “I. . .I don’t know. I think he could make room for you. I see the way he looks at you, the way he followed your every movement yesterday at dinner. You’re special to him, River.”

  “That may be so, but as someone that has spent her entire life giving every ounce of herself to whoever needed it, I think it’s time I am more than just special.”

  Dylan stared at her in a silence that had descended upon the room. It seemed as if everyone had listened to the tail of their conversation. If she didn’t feel awkward walking into the meeting earlier, she absolutely did now.

  As if a higher power knew she needed to get a breath of fresh air, the phone lodged in her purse began ringing.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” she said to the group as she accepted the call and stepped into the shop.

  “Hello?” she said to the caller with the unknown number.

  “Is this River Matthews?”

  “It is.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Matthews. This Tasha with the Carson Assisted Living Facility. I was calling to tell you that your grandmother has suffered a stroke and has been transferred to Asheville General.”

  “I’m sorry, what? She had a stroke? How long ago? I’ve been trying to call all day!”

  “I’m sorry, miss. I called you the moment the ambulance arrived for transport. As far as the missed calls this morning, I can’t say.”

  River tried to calm down. Something deep inside her knew something was wrong all day. She should have done something more, like visit her grandmother, instead of meeting up with a bunch of women she barely knew.

  “Th-thank you for the call. I’ll make my way toward the hospital.”

  River ended the call, and without a second thought, started to make her way outside the shop until she remembered that she had brought Dylan to the get-together. She rushed back into the room and quietly explained to Dylan that she needed to go to the hospital. Poppy overheard and offered to give Dylan a ride back to the bed and breakfast.

  In the car, River tried to reach Ridge but the call went to voicemail where she asked for him to call her immediately. Her heart was lodged in her chest the entire drive and she almost didn’t recall the journey until she arrived at the hospital.

  She rushed inside and asked the nurse at the guest services desk where to find her grandmother and the woman directed her to the emergency room waiting area. River wasn’t sure how long she waited, but the sun had begun to set when a doctor finally came through the double doors and called out for her. He described the severity of her grandmother's stroke and the complications that may arise as time progresses. The doctor made sure to add that the nurses at the facility had acted quickly which was going to help her grandmother recover. River listened intently but wasn’t sure how the stroke would affect Sue’s dementia, and when she inquired, the doctor said they would have to wait and see.

  An hour later, River sat quietly in the room where her grandmother laid in the bed, looking lifeless though her chest moved with shallow breaths. Glancing at her phone, River noticed that Ridge hadn’t returned her call, though she did have a few messages from Amy, Poppy, and Dylan. She answered them all with a standard statement of her grandmother being stable.

  She called Ridge one more time, only to hear the phone ring endlessly on her end. River had almost given up hope until the door to the room opened and the man in question stepped inside.

  “Ridge? What are you. . .how did you. . .?

  “I’m so sorry. I would have been here sooner, but I needed to find someone to watch Delilah. What can I do? What do you need?”

  Through the entire journey River hadn’t shed a tear, but the moment his questions rolled off his tongue, the tears built up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

  “I don’t know,” she said, choking on a sob. “I don’t know.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Things had changed since Ridge showed up at the hospital to comfort River two weeks ago. Though her grandmother had recovered well enough to return to the assisted living facility, River had kept her distance from him.

  She continued to watch Delilah during the nights and spent time in his bed; she was propelling herself farther and farther away with each passing day. And Ridge didn’t know why. He knew she had been upset that he hadn’t answered her calls, but she didn’t seem appeased to learn that he had left his mobile phone at home when he went out with Grady that day.

  He didn’t know how to make things better between them.

  And to make matters worse, Penny's letters had been nonexistent since Grady and Dylan had left Carson. Preston had pulled back on searching for Ridge's ex-wife without any more letters and nothing out of place on the security footage.

  After his shower, Ridge stepped into the kitchen to find River standing at the counter, cutting up some vegetables for a salad. It reminded him of their moment in the kitchen two weeks ago.

  “Anything I can help with?” he asked as he sidled up behind her, placing his hands on top of hers as she held a cucumber and a knife. He eased them out of her hands slowly.

  “No, I have everything done. The lasagna you put in will be done in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Good,” he said, tugging on one of her arms until she spun around to face him. “That g
ives me just enough time to do this.” Ridge gathered her hands behind her back as he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. These were the moments when he could feel her let go. Her body simply reacted to his in the same way his responded to hers. They had a chemical attraction that neither of them could deny. It was animalistic and he hungered for it.

  “Ridge,” she whispered against his mouth as she rocked her hips against his. These were the nights he hated the most—the nights where he was leaving her ready and wanting.

  “I can’t help myself with you. You make me crazy.”

  With a sexy grin, she smiled up at him as she extricated her hands from his grip and placed them on his chest. She had told him on more than one occasion how much she liked him in his navy Carson Fire shirt and that she had vivid fantasies involving him in the shirt and his turnouts.

  She didn’t know, but when he returned after his night shift, he planned on gifting her one of his shirts. She hadn’t asked for it, but it was one of his own fantasies. Seeing her wearing his shirt was going to be a dream come true, especially when he imagined the navy hem gliding across the pale, soft skin of her thighs.

  He was getting an erection just thinking about it.

  “Sorry, big boy. You’re going to have to wait until the morning.”

  “It’s a date,” he called out as he turned to leave the kitchen to head for his daughter’s play area in the living room.

  It was another slow night – both a blessing and a curse. The only call they’d had was an inquiry from an intoxicated woman requesting a sexy fireman stripper. He had almost sent his partner Conner to answer the woman’s call just for shits and giggles.

  Deciding to use his time to catch up on some sleep, Ridge made his way to the small dorm room where the crew members could rest. It took him a while to wind down, but he finally settled into sleep with visions of River wearing his department shirt as she rode his cock in bed.

  The alarm sounded in the fire station just as Ridge’s dream went on repeat. A dumpster fire in the small shopping center near the highway.

  He and the crew quickly tugged on their turnouts and made their way to the fire truck. It was an easy enough call to answer, but when they arrived at the area that dispatch had located, the dumpster fire had spread from the metal container to the bushes lining the parking lot. It burned dangerously close to the forest and with the fall winds whipping around, they needed to work fast.