Chapter 6 - Stella
I stare at the ceiling, my mind replaying every interaction with Luke. How is it possible to feel so connected to someone I just met? Yet here I am, unable to stop thinking about his broad shoulders, the way his beard frames his strong jaw, and how his massive hands dwarf mine.
Those deep blue eyes that seem to see right through me. I huff in frustration, gripping the sheets tightly. This is ridiculous.
A knock interrupts my spiraling thoughts. "Stella? Can I come in?"
"Come in, Sadie," I call out, recognizing her voice. "Is everything okay?"
Sadie pokes her head in, her red hair catching the evening light.
"Everything's fine. Dad asked me to help you down to the kitchen for dinner."
I force a smile, trying to ignore the twinge of disappointment that Luke didn't come himself. Apparently, I'm not as successful at hiding it as I think.
"Don't overthink it," Sadie says, sitting on the edge of my bed. "Dad can be an idiot sometimes. He needs time to process his emotions – probably still stuck in the 'must maintain professional distance' phase."
"Maybe you're just hoping your dad likes someone," I say softly. "But I might not be that person."
A mischievous grin spreads across Sadie's face. "Want to bet on it? You can ask anything of me if I'm wrong."
I raise an eyebrow, an idea forming. "Anything? Okay, if you're wrong about your dad having feelings for me, you have to ask Kane out on a date."
Her eyes light up with terror and excitement, and I can't tell if this challenge is encouraging or terrifying her.
"Deal. The firefighter's ball is next week – most of the town will be there. They're hoping for some big donations this year." She takes a deep breath. "I was already thinking about asking Kane to dance, but if Dad doesn't like you, I'll ask Kane to be my date instead."
"The firefighter's ball?"
"It's this huge annual event. Everyone dresses up; there's dancing and silent auctions. It's actually pretty magical." She holds out her hand. "So, do we have a deal?"
I shake her hand, grinning. "Deal."
Sadie helps me out of bed, and I'm grateful for her support as we make our way to the stairs. Even halfway down, we can hear the loud voices and laughter coming from the kitchen.
"Is this... normal?" I ask, gesturing toward the noise.
Sadie laughs. "Oh yeah. They might be all serious and professional when they're saving lives, but the rest of the time? They're just big kids playing heroes. Dinner is always chaos."
I pause on the stairs, suddenly nervous. My body still aches, and I'm exhausted – what if I bring down everyone's mood? But then I think about Luke possibly being in that kitchen, and I know I must go.
This might be my last chance to see him.
I'll probably leave the station tomorrow or the day after, and who knows what happens after that? My life is a complete mess right now, and my future is uncertain, but one thing I do know: I want Luke to be part of it, whatever 'it' turns out to be.
"Ready?" Sadie asks as we reach the kitchen door.
I nod, and she knocks.
"Knock it off, everyone!" Max's voice booms from inside. "The ladies are here!"
The door swings open to reveal organized chaos. Danny's at the stove, wielding what looks like several cooking utensils at once. Ashton and Max are setting the table while arguing about the proper way to fold napkins.
Damon's trying to rescue what appears to be burning garlic bread from the oven. Shane's mixing something in a bowl that's definitely splashing over the sides. And in the corner, Kane stands with his arms crossed, looking both annoyed and amused.
But my eyes immediately find Luke standing near the counter with a beer in his hand, and when our eyes meet, I swear the room temperature rises several degrees.
"Welcome to the madhouse," Sadie whispers in my ear. "Just wait until they break out the embarrassing stories."
"Should I be scared?" I whisper back.
"Terrified. But don't worry – I'll protect you from the worst of it." She pauses, then grins, "Though I'm pretty sure Dad would do that job if you asked him to."
I watch as Luke sets down his beer and moves toward us, his expression unreadable. My heart starts racing, and I'm suddenly very aware that I forgot to change clothes, and I'm still in his station's clothes, probably looking like a mess.
But when he reaches us, his eyes soften slightly.
"Feeling up to joining this circus for dinner?"
"Wouldn't miss it," I say, proud that my voice doesn't shake. "Though I can't promise I'll be very entertaining company."
"Trust me," he says, his voice dropping lower, "you're already the most interesting person in this room."
His words hang in the air, and suddenly, it feels like everyone in the kitchen is watching us. The moment is broken by Sadie clearing her throat behind me.
"What about me, Dad? Am I not interesting, too?"
Luke's composure finally cracks. He starts fidgeting with his hands, mouth opening and closing as he tries to find the right words.
"Of course, of course – you and Stella are the two most interesting people in the room."
I bite back a smile, enjoying seeing the usually confident Chief so flustered. Sadie is clearly enjoying teasing her father, though she seems oblivious to how Kane keeps stealing glances at her from across the room.
The stoic firefighter might maintain his cold exterior, but his eyes betray him whenever they land on Sadie. He doesn't strike me as someone who makes the first move, though. Maybe the ball really will be Sadie's chance – assuming I'm not proven right about Luke's feelings.
"Alright, everyone!" Danny claps his hands. "Dinner is served, and I've outdone myself this time!"
Ashton rolls his eyes dramatically. "We'll be happy if you didn't burn the meat."
"Please," Danny scoffs, brushing invisible dust off his shoulders. "Even you will be impressed with this masterpiece. Had to do my best for our guest." He winks at me.
"Thank you," I say, but the words trigger a small coughing fit.
Luke's hand is immediately on my arm, steady and warm.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" he asks, concern evident in his voice.
I nod, trying to catch my breath. "I'm fine, just a bit weak. But I'm sure once I taste this amazing meal, I'll feel better than ever."
Danny beams while Max starts herding everyone toward the tables. "Come on, people, let's eat!"
Shane brings over what looks like fresh orange juice while Damon places slightly charred garlic bread on the table.
"Sorry about this," he says sheepishly. "Was on the phone with my girl and got distracted."
Luke shakes his head beside me. "I hope you don't think all Pine Valley's firefighters are this unprofessional."
"They proved themselves when they saved my life," I respond softly. "That's what matters."
Damon flexes exaggeratedly. "We're pretty incredible."
Everyone laughs except Kane, while Luke offers a small smile.
Sadie masterfully maneuvers everyone around the table, ensuring Luke and I end up side by side, while she claims the seat on Luke's other side, conveniently next to Kane. I have to admire her strategy.
Danny brings out the main course with a flourish. The meat looks like it might have seen better days, but the smell is absolutely incredible. Even Ashton looks impressed, clapping Danny on the shoulder.
"You actually did it, you madman. Finally proved yourself useful."
Danny rolls his eyes. "Maybe you should trust your wingman more often. After all, I'm the reason you left the biker bar with that redhead the other night—"
"That's enough," Luke cuts in, his voice firm but not angry. "I don’t want that type of talk at the dinner table."
"Sorry, Chief," Danny says, not looking sorry at all.
As everyone starts passing dishes around, I'm struck by how familiar this feels. Despite having just met these men, there's something comfortable about sitting here, surrounded by their banter and camaraderie. Even Kane's stoic presence adds to the atmosphere, like the straight man in a comedy routine.
"So, Stella," Max says, drawing all the attention to him, "what exactly do you illustrate?"
"Children's books, mainly," I reply, grateful for the distraction. "I was actually working on a series about firefighting animals when..." I trail off, remembering my lost work.
"That sounds amazing," Sadie jumps in. "Maybe you could use these guys as inspiration for your next project. Though I'm not sure which animals would suit them."
"Oh, that's easy," Shane grins. "Chief's definitely a grizzly bear."
"Hey now," Luke protests, but he's smiling.
"No, no. The Chief is definitely a grizzly," Shane insists. "Big, protective, and grumpy most of the time."
"I am not grumpy," Luke grumbles beside me, proving Shane's point and making everyone laugh.
I have to bite my lip to keep from giggling.
"Ooh, what about me?" Danny asks, practically bouncing in his seat.
Before I can stop myself, I'm speaking. "A golden retriever." When everyone turns to look at me, I shrug. "What? Enthusiastic, eager to please, occasionally destructive but with the best intentions."
"She's got you," Ashton howls with laughter. "Remember when you tried to 'help' that kid get his kite from the tree and ended up needing rescue yourself?"
Danny points his fork accusingly. "We agreed never to speak of that again!"
"What about Kane?" Sadie asks, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.
I hide my smile behind my water glass, noting how Kane's posture straightens slightly at Sadie's voice.
"Wolf," Max says immediately.
"Falcon," Damon counters.
"Definitely a wolf," I chime in. "Lone wolf type, but secretly protective of his pack."
Kane's expression doesn't change, but I notice a slight softening around his eyes, making me think I might have hit closer to home than expected.
"Damon's a horse," Max declares. "Reliable, hardworking—"
"Whinnies when he sees his girlfriend," Ashton interrupts, making everyone snort.
"I do not whinny!" Damon protests.
"You kind of do, man," Shane says sympathetically. "It's this high-pitched thing you do—"
"Moving on!" Damon cuts in. "Ashton's clearly a monkey. Always climbing things he shouldn't, making mischief."
"I take offense to that," Ashton says, then pauses. "Actually, no, that's pretty accurate."
"Max is a bulldog," Luke adds unexpectedly, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. "Stubborn as hell, but loyal to a fault."
"What about me?" Sadie asks, looking at her father.
"Hummingbird," Luke says softly, and the tenderness in his voice makes my heart ache. "Always moving, bringing life wherever you go."
There's a moment of tender silence before Danny breaks it. "Shane's definitely a penguin."
"A penguin?" Shane looks offended. "How am I a penguin?"
"You waddle when you're tired," Danny shrugs. "Plus, you're always formally dressed even off-duty."
"I do not waddle!"
"You absolutely waddle," Kane speaks up for the first time, making everyone freeze in surprise before bursting into laughter.
"What about Stella?" Sadie asks, and I can hear the mischief in her voice.
I feel Luke's eyes on me, and my heart starts racing.
"A fox," he says finally, his voice low. "Smart, adaptable, and beau..." he stops himself, and I swear I can see a blush creeping up his neck.
"And?" Max prompts, smirking.
"And good at surviving against the odds," Luke finishes, but we all know that wasn't what he was initially going to say.
"Plus, they're known for their beauty," Sadie teases, making Luke choke on his drink while I feel my face heat up.
"Sadie!" Luke warns, but his daughter just grins unrepentantly.
"What? I'm just saying what everyone's thinking."
"I think that's enough animal assignments for one night," Luke says firmly, though I notice his ears are still red.
"Aw, come on, Chief," Danny whines. "We haven't even gotten to comparing Kane to a brooding lion yet."
Kane's deadpan "Try it" sends everyone into another round of laughter, and the conversation shifts to other topics.
I can't help stealing glances at Luke throughout the meal, thinking about foxes and grizzly bears and how well they might get along if given the chance.
And every time I catch him looking at me, too, and I wonder if he's thinking the same thing.