Too Much Heat (Wounded Heroes: The Redemption #4)

Chapter 6

Joe sat at his desk and stared at the computer. He’d refrained from seeing or calling Lara on their second day off. Only one more day to go and they’d be back at work together. He’d checked the firehouse and repairs were coming along.

He wondered if the guys went to her place again to spell her. If she hired an aide who was strong and could deal with her husband. He clicked into some residential sites and read what they offered. Bright Oaks Park advertised itself as a care facility for people with memory loss, MS, Parkinson’s and ALS. The testimonials were on the main page.

Wonderful care…I feel relieved and blessed to have Bright Oaks Park…I wish I had done this sooner…

He sat back. Should he email this to Lara and underscore what he’d told her?

No. She wasn’t ready. He wished…

His phone rang. “Romano.”

“H-hi, Joe.” The voice was shaky. “This is Maisy Kane.”

“Hi, Maisy.”

“I’m at the hospital. There’s been an accident.” He bolted out of his chair. “Jackson was hurt.”

“How badly?”

“He’s unconscious. The doctors are worried because he’s been out for a while.”

She should have called him sooner.

“I’ll be right there, Maisy.”

His heart thrumming, he drove fast to Westwood Hospital. Memories of losing Jimmy came back along with an onslaught of pain. He couldn’t lose the man who was his brother now, too.

The hospital waiting room was sparsely populated. He checked his watch. 5 p.m. Maisy wasn’t here, of course. She was probably in his room. He went to the desk. “Jackson Kane’s room?”

The receptionist called something up on the computer. “He’s in ICU. Only family is allowed up there.”

“I’m his brother.” She did a double take, then nodded. “The waiting room is on the fifth floor.”

Joe took the elevator up, his stomach aching from this gut-punch. The ICU waiting room was small. He gave his information to the man at the desk.

“Go on in.”

When he reached the room, he stood in the doorway. Maisy sat by Jackson’s bed, holding his hand. His friend lay still as death. He walked further inside and Maisy looked up.

She stood. “Hey, Joe.”

For the first time, Maisy seemed vulnerable. Usually she was a force to be reckoned with.

He hugged her and she held on.

“I don’t know what I’ll do…”

“Hey, none of that. He’s going to wake up.” He had to.

“Can I sit with him for a bit?”

“I was hoping you would. I’m barely three months pregnant but I have to pee every hour.”

“Go ahead, honey.” He kissed her head.

Joe sat in a straight chair by the bed. He, too, took Jackson’s hand. It was cold. His friend was pale. He lay still in the bed. Joe bent his head. “Jackson. Come on, buddy, you gotta wake up. I can’t…” He trailed off. Felt his eyes moisten. And hung on.

He became aware of his circumstances when Maisy walked back in the room. “Joe? Sorry. I took too long.”

“No, no you didn’t.”

“My brother’s here. I sat with him for a while. When I told him you were inside, he said he wanted to talk to you. He can be very…comforting.”

Ordinarily, Joe would have avoided the minister. Not this time. He said, “I’ll go out there. I’m not leaving the hospital until Jackson wakes up.”

“Thanks.”

Joe took one last look at Jackson, then he headed to the waiting room. Caleb Shepherd stood when he walked into it. “Joe.”

“Caleb.”

“How is he?”

“The same.”

“Sit.” The rest of the room was empty. It was a small area, with a couple of private smaller rooms off it. It smelled like coffee. “I know you and Jackson are like brothers.” Caleb’s gaze was piercing. “And I know you lost your brother three years ago.”

“Yeah.” He couldn’t talk about that. “Do you know how Jackson got hurt?”

“Maisy told me. He was participating in the Adventure Couse at Pathways. He was doing a rope swing and the rope snapped. He fell hard and hit his head.”

“He loves to play with those kids.”

“Yeah.” Caleb studied him. “I want to talk about you. How are you feeling?”

He glanced away, then back to Caleb. “I’m feeling helpless. I can’t lose him…” His throat clogged.

Caleb squeezed his arm and left his hand there. “Don’t buy trouble before it happens, Joe.”

“He could be like this forever.”

“Don’t go there. Have hope.”

Joe bit his lip. He wanted to have hope. But you couldn’t make yourself feel that emotion. Besides, he’d had hope before Jimmy died.

Not now, though. Not now.

* * *

His phone rang. He checked the ID. “I have to take this, Caleb.”

“Go ahead.”

“Romano.”

“Joe, it’s Lara. I-I’m not sure how to say this, but I got a bad feeling about you. That something’s wrong. Is it?”

The words came out jumbled. “I’m at the hospital…no no, not me, Jackson…hurt, not waking up.”

“Oh, Joe, I’m so sorry. I know what he means to you.”

He blurted out, “I—is there any way you can come? To the hospital?”

“Yes. My brother-in-law stopped in and told me to go out. He won’t take any shit from Sam. I’m already driving. I’ll be there in a bit.”

When Joe disconnected, Caleb smiled. “Help’s on the way?”

“Yeah, a woman I have no right having feelings for.”

“Love is love, no matter what the circumstances.”

* * *

Lara walked into the ICU waiting room and saw Joe sitting alone. Caleb Shepherd had gone inside to be with his sister.

Joe scraped back his chair and stood. They fell together. Joe buried his face in Lara’s neck. She held onto him, her heart beating faster at seeing such a strong man destroyed like this. When they drew back, she said, “Let’s sit.” Then, “What happened to Jackson?”

He explained the Adventure Course. “The important part is he hit his head and he isn’t waking up.”

“Oh, no.”

“He was playing with those damn kids again. I told him to be careful.”

“One of the Pathways kids did this to him?”

“No. A rope that he was swinging on snapped.”

“What a fluke.”

“Yeah.” A horrible thought came to mind. “Maybe.”

She took his hand. “This must remind you of Jimmy.”

They’d never talked about his brother.

“You know about him?”

“Yes, of course. I read about it online when I was checking out the Westwood Fire Department before I came to town. When I met you, I already knew what happened to him.” She squeezed his hands. “And you survived.”

“I can’t survive this, Lara. I can’t.”

“I know you must feel that way now but…”

Caleb burst into the waiting room. “Good news. Jackson woke up.”

* * *

“Hey, Maisy call you?”

“Yeah.” The doctors had lowered the status on Jackson and he was allowed more than one visitor at a time. All three of them were inside. Lara stayed in the waiting area.

Joe sat in a chair on one side of the bed, Maisy on the other. Caleb stood at the foot. Jackson held Joe’s gaze. “I bet you were worried. It must have reminded you of Jimmy.”

“Yeah. I was worried. But the important thing is you’re going to be okay.”

“My head hurts like hell.”

Maisy folded her arms across her chest. “You should stay off that equipment, love.”

He looked at her indulgently. “I’m glad this didn’t happen to one of the students. And for the record, I have that Adventure Course checked monthly.”

“Bad luck?” Joe asked.

“I guess. I don’t know how the inspectors missed it.”

They chatted for a few minutes, then Joe stood. “I’ll let you visit with your family.”

All three said together, “You are family.”

Joe gave a weak smile. “Thanks. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“I hope I’m home by then.”

Shaky now—he only allowed the terror to rise inside him when he was sure of the outcome—he walked out into the waiting area. He dropped down in a chair next to Lara. “Thanks for waiting.”

Her face was soft and sympathetic. “Of course.” She held out her hand. “Come with me.”

“I have my car.”

“You’re too upset. I’m driving you.”

“Lara…” But she’d already started out. She was probably right. His hands were shaking and his whole body was weak.

Once they got out of the hospital parking lot, she turned onto the wrong road. “I live—”

“I know where you live. You’re coming home with me.”

“I appreciate the thought but you have enough on your plate. You don’t have to take care of me, too.”

“Hmm.” She didn’t spare him a glance.

He sighed. In truth, he didn’t want to be alone. In truth, he wanted to be with Lara.

They reached her house and she parked in the driveway then led him to the porch. He noticed something was different. “Who fixed the boards?”

“Danny. He’s pretty good at carpentry.” She pulled open the screen door.

“No squeaks,” he commented. “Let me guess. Abe Pike.”

“Yep.”

Her brother-in-law stood when they walked inside. “Hi, Mark.”

“Hey, Lara.”

“Mark Dawson, this is Joe Romano.”

“Hey, Captain.”

“Hi, Mark. Nice to meet you.”

“Sammy in bed?” Lara asked.

“Yeah. I got him ready. It wasn’t too bad tonight. I think he likes me.”

Some tasks were harder than others. When Sam went to bed, he had to pee and brush his teeth. Getting him into his pajamas was almost as difficult as getting him out of them in the morning. And sometimes, he refused to take the medicine that slowed the progression of the disease. Lara was thankful she only had to do the morning stuff four days a week because on the other three, she left before he got up.

After Mark said goodbye, Lara turned to Joe. “Want a drink?”

“Sure. A beer if you have one.”

“I do. Sammy likes it.”

She got them both bottles of Molson’s and said, “Let’s sit on the porch.”

She’d cleaned and straightened the small area as best she could, but the screens were still falling apart. He said, “I could put new screens on.”

“I can’t afford them. Especially now that I have to pay more for his care.”

“Did you hire the aides yet?” His voice was gruff. He hated that she had financial woes.

“Enough to give me breathing room to find one more.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m fine, Joe. Things’ll work out.”

He said, “I remodeled my whole house, you know.”

“No, I didn’t know.”

“Me and Jimmy. With him, it was fun. We bought the place together and designed it with a section for him and one for me.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

He turned in his seat. “How sorry?”

“Excuse me?”

Taking her beer and setting it on the table, along with his, he drew her toward him. “I gotta do this again, Lara. I didn’t get nearly enough the last time.”

Joe tried to gentle the kiss, but he’d used up all his reserve with Jackson. He took her mouth, tasted the recesses of it and deepened the kiss. He felt her sigh and inch closer. They kissed and kissed.

He opened her blouse, pulled down her bra.

She tugged his shirt over his head.

Skin to skin, they embraced. Finally, he mumbled against her mouth, “I need more, sweetheart.”

“Let’s go upstairs. Sammy will sleep till morning.”

He bolted up. “You’re on.” He drew her to her feet, kissed her quickly then let her lead him through the living room and up the steps. He could barely wait to get her horizontal.

* * *

Their eyes locked, they disrobed each other. The slide of her shirt off her shoulders made her shiver. Her senses heightened, she thought she could hear it hit the floor. He pushed down her capris. Stepping back, his eyes widened at her maroon why-bother bra and skimpy panties.

“Tell me you don’t wear those to work.”

“Of course I do.”

“Arrgh! I’ll never be able to—”

She moved in closer, shutting him up. She finished unbuttoning his shirt. The unzipping of his jeans seemed loud. Finally he was down to his skivvies. She whipped off her bra and disposed of her panties. “I’m in a hurry now.”

His eyes twinkled. “I can see that.” Her nipples were hard.

She dragged down his briefs. “Ha. You’re ready. too.”

He eased her onto the bed and stretched her out. Kneeling over her, he kissed his way down her body. She squirmed. He tongued her naval, nosed into her curls, sighed. When he got to her ankles, he picked one up and admired it. Kissed it, too.

“Stop, Joe. Get on the bed.”

He kissed her ankle again. “You don’t like that?”

“Of course I do. I want more.”

“Oh, all right.” He set her leg down and climbed on beside her. Surrounded by all the lovely peach hues of this room, he kissed her long and slow and liquid. She lowered her hand to his groin. He moaned loudly. Finally he said, “Stop! Or you won’t get any pleasure.”

He drew a lovely long leg over him and slid his hand to her vagina. Pressed with his palm. “Oh, God.”

He opened her and slid inside her.

The feel of Joe, hard and pulsing in her womb eclipsed the room. The bed. She could only see him. His slumberous eyes. The slow, sexy smile.

Then he began to move.

The first time, she tumbled over the cliff. The second time, she was hurled into pleasure. He came, too, then with such force it thrilled her.

* * *

Joe teased open the door to Jimmy’s room, planning to wake his brother in the most inelegant way. The light from the hallway slanted through the entrance. He heard sounds.

“I waited a decent amount of time to do this.”

Shhh…

Lovemaking sounds. Jimmy was having sex. But with who? He didn’t have a girlfriend now.

He started to close the door but halted when he heard, “I love you so much, Diana. Promise you’ll never leave me.”

And there it was. The woman’s answer. Diana’s answer. Never. I’ll never leave you.

“Joe, wake up.”

“No, not you. He can’t be with you.”

She shook him. “Joe, you’re scaring me.”

He bolted up. “What’s that?”

“It’s me. Lara. You’re having a bad dream. God, you’re covered in sweat.”

“Jimmy…It was Jimmy. He’s alive and with Diana Hartfield.”

“Oh, honey. Jimmy isn’t alive. He’s not with Diana.”

He rubbed his eyes. “He’s not alive?”

“No. You had a bad dream.”

Tears sprang to his eyes.

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.”

They laid back down and she held him in her arms. When he calmed, his eyes closed.

They woke again to her phone ringing. Lara came fully awake. Fast.

She kissed his cheek. “Joe, we have to get up. Sammy calls me when he’s awake.”

“Okay.” He started to sit up. He said hoarsely, “What do we do?”

“Wait a sec. Don’t you remember your dream?”

“I dreamed? About what?”

“About Jimmy.”

“Oh, God.”

“He was in bed with Diana.”

The color drained from his face. “Hell. That never happened.”

The phone rang again.

“I have to get up.”

“All right. What about us together?” He gestured to the room. “And him.”

“I don’t want to hide what happened.”

“He’s your husband, love.”

“In every sense of that word, he’s not. In his saner moments, he told me to find someone else to fulfill my…needs. I’ll go downstairs first.” She swung her feet over the bed. “You take a shower, get dressed and come down as if nothing’s wrong with us being together. But linger here for a bit. It takes me a while to get him ready for the day.”

She reached for a robe.

“Hold on a second.” He pressed her back into the mattress. “I know why this can’t happen again, why we can’t be together, but I want you to know something.” He kissed her deeply again. “I’ll never forget our time together. Never.”

He felt a bit guilty for making that statement and not telling her there was a battalion chief position opening soon and he was going to fight like hell for it. He couldn’t let her hope for something that might not happen. The disappointment would be too great if he didn’t get it.

* * *

As he stepped under the spray, Joe started to remember the dream but he couldn’t. Somewhere he knew he wouldn’t let himself. So he thought about making love with Lara. He couldn’t believe he didn’t feel guilty. He’d broken a cardinal rule of the fire department, which had been his life. He lathered his hair with her shampoo then pressed the plunger of a bottle of soap. It smelled like lavender. Like her. He rinsed and dried off.

He’d forgo the dirty underwear and go commando. Out of habit, he threw his briefs in the hamper. And laughed. Let them be a reminder to her. His shorts and T-shirt were expensive so they didn’t wrinkle. He finger-combed his hair then sat in a chair.

To linger , he called Jackson. He needed to hear his friend’s voice. “Hey, Joe.”

“How are you, buddy?”

“On the mend. I got a headache but the meds help. Maisy won’t let me get out of bed. And she won’t stay in it with me.”

Joe laughed. “You got a concussion, buddy. I was there when the doctor told you to take it easy.”

“I know, I know. But I’m basically fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“Where are you?”

“I’m in Lara’s bedroom.”

“Ah.” A pause. “I didn’t expect that.

Joe told him about Lara coming to the hospital and taking him home.

“So, where do you go from here?”

“Nowhere. We can’t have a relationship with her under my command but last night sure did feel good.” He hadn’t told anyone, even Jackson, about the battalion chief possibility.

When they disconnected, he made the bed then checked out her space. The whole upstairs was done in peach and taupe. Very feminine. The furniture was teak. He sat down at her desk. A picture of a dog caught his attention. Theirs? Must be one from her past. He pulled open a drawer and found bills and paid receipts.

For a few minutes, he laid in the hammock and watched the birds peck at the feeder outside her window. It was open and let in the warm air.

When the dream started to come back, he got off and went downstairs.

Sammy looked over and did a double take. “Captain Romano?”

“Call me Joe, Sammy. Good morning.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Breakfast is ready,” Lara told them. “Sit, Joe.”

She helped Sammy to the table. They drank coffee and orange juice, which he could still manage on his own with covered cups, but his hands shook more every day. After she cut his French toast up, he could manage that and the eggs. Sammy was unusually pleasant and Lara made small talk.

When the meal ended, Joe stood. He bent down and kissed Lara. “Do you mind cleaning up?”

Her pretty brow furrowed. “Are you leaving?”

“Yep.” He tilted his chin to Sammy. “You wanna come with me, Sam?”

“Where to?”

“We can play it by ear. Maybe have a little man-to-man talk.”

Lara was still staring up at him. “What are you doing?”

“I’m taking Sammy out for a say, an hour or two. Right buddy?”

“Sure.”

Joe helped Sammy into the wheelchair, then pushed him out to Joe’s SUV. The seat was higher than a car’s, where Sammy could slide in, so Joe had to lift him up and slide him inside and secure his seatbelt. He was struck by how awful this must be for Sammy, who was once a dynamic firefighter who saved people. Joe went around to the other side. They started to drive. “So, Sam, anything to say to me?”

“Yeah.” In a grave voice he added, “I’m her husband, you know.”

Joe’s brows shot up and he swerved to the side of the street. “I do know. I’m sorry if we hurt you.”

Sammy snorted. “Gotcha.”