Chapter 7 - Luke
Max and Ashton clear the table while Damon and Shane are already at the sink, their usual bickering about proper washing techniques starting up. But my attention keeps drifting to the other end of the table, where my daughter is attempting to engage Kane in conversation.
Damn it. It hurts watching this, knowing Sadie's been carrying a torch for Kane for years. My second in command, one of my best friends, and completely unavailable emotionally.
I should talk to her about it, help her move on, but how? I've never been good at these conversations, not since her mother walked out without even leaving a note. I've tried my best as a single dad, but some talks are more complex than others.
There was a time I thought Kane might have feelings for her, too, but that hope died quickly when I overheard him telling Max he wouldn't consider relationships until he was done being a firefighter—which, knowing Kane, means never.
My eyes drift to Stella, and my chest tightens. She's playing with her hair absently, looking somehow both out of place and perfectly at home in our chaos.
She handled dinner beautifully, matching wits with my men, making everyone laugh, fitting into our dysfunctional family like she was meant to be here.
I want to keep her here, but that means actually talking to herandtelling her how I feel, even though we just met. How do you tell someone they've completely upended your world in less than twenty-four hours?
"Dad? Dad! Earth to Chief Harrison!"
I start as Sadie nudges my ribs with her shoulder.
"Sorry, just thinking about the ball next week," I say.
"Well, stop thinking and start acting," she says pointedly. "Stella's tired. You should be a gentleman and help her upstairs."
I look at Stella – her eyes are heavy-lidded, her face a bit paler than before, but she's still wearing that gentle smile that makes my heart race.
"I'm fine," she protests weakly. "You don't need to get up. I'm sure you have things to take care of."
I'm on my feet before she finishes speaking.
"I'll help you up. You're still recovering."
She smiles and moves toward the door, pausing there like she's waiting for me to follow. My legs feel frozen, my heart hammering in my chest.
"You still need a date for the ball," Sadie whispers behind me. "Seize the moment, Dad."
Even Kane nods in Stella’s direction, a silent endorsement that speaks volumes. I look around the kitchen – all my men have stopped what they're doing, watching me with expressions ranging from amusement to exasperation at my hesitation.
Goddamn it. I'm a firefighter. I run into burning buildings for a living. I protect people, save lives, andface danger head-on. And right now, I want Stella more than I've wanted anything in years.
More than that, I need her – need her smile, her sass, her softness. I need the way she makes me feel alive again.
My feet finally start moving. Each step toward her feels momentous like I'm walking toward something bigger than myself. She's waiting in the doorway, backlit by the hallway lights, looking like everything I never knew I wanted.
I'm done fighting this. I'm done pretending I'm not affected by her. Done maintaining professional distance. She might have been a victim I rescued yesterday, but now she's something else entirely. Something more.
And I'm going to do whatever it takes to make her mine.
I catch up to Stella in a few long strides. "How are you really feeling?"
"Better," she says, offering a tired smile. "The meat was actually incredible, but I'm suddenly exhausted."
"That's normal," I tell her gently. "Your body's still in shock, and it can take a mental toll, too. Nearly dying in a fire isn't something you just shake off."
She turns those green eyes on me. "I imagine running into burning buildings thousands of times isn't easy to shake off either."
I can't help but smile. "Got over that a long time ago. It's just part of who I am now, what I was born to do."
"I'm still looking for that thing I was born to do," she shyly confesses.
The scent of vanilla catches my attention again.
"Isn't illustration that thing?"
She takes a deep breath, rubbing her cheeks in a gesture I'm starting to recognize as a nervous habit.
"I thought so, and I do love it, but lately..." she pauses. "I've been having doubts."
"How so?" I arch an eyebrow, genuinely curious.
"My parents are both lawyers," she explains as we reach the stairs. "They always wanted me to follow in their footsteps, but I hated the idea of being so... exposed, standing in front of people, potentially having to defend criminals. I thought they'd accepted my choice to study illustration, but recently, they started pushing me to go back to school and get a law degree. They even offered to pay for it."
I place my hand on her waist to steady her as we climb, trying to ignore how right it feels to touch her. "But?"
"But it feels like they just want a trophy daughter to show off to their lawyer friends. Like what I want doesn't matter."
"I can't say much about having other dreams," I admit. "I practically grew up in this station. Being a firefighter is all I've ever wanted. But you can't live your life for other people, Stella. Your happiness is what matters. Are you happy?"
She considers this for a moment. "I am, but... sometimes I think maybe I'd rather be illustrating romance novel covers instead of children's books."
"That's something only you can decide," I tell her. "But whatever you choose, I'll support you however I can."
She turns to smile at me, and god, she's beautiful. The soft lighting in the hallway makes her skin glow, and her eyes sparkle, and I'm so caught up in staring at her that I nearly miss that we've reached her door.
"Thank you," she says quietly. "For everything."
Something in her voice, in the way she's looking at me, makes my heart race. We're standing close – too close, but not nearly close enough for what I want.
The urge to kiss her is almost overwhelming.
"Stella," I start, my voice rougher than intended, but I have no idea how to finish that sentence.
How do I tell her that she's completely transformed my world in less than a day? That I can't stop thinking about her? That I want to protect her and possess her in equal measure?
She's looking up at me expectantly, her lips slightly parted, and I swear the temperature in the hallway rises several degrees. My hand is still on her waist, and I can feel her pulse racing under my fingers.
All it would take is one step forward, one moment of bravery different from the kind I use every day as a firefighter. One chance to show her exactly what she's doing to me.
But am I ready to take that risk? And more importantly, is she?
I don't have enough words to tell her what I'm feeling, but when she gently opens the door and asks, "What is it, Luke?" I know it's now or never.
I step forward, but she surprises me before I can form the words.
"Do you want to come in? We can continue talking inside."
I nod, though talking is the last thing on my mind right now. All I can think about is kissing her, claiming her, making her mine. I want to hear her say she belongs to me, that she's not going anywhere.
The room feels smaller with both of us in it. She sits on the bed, and I join her, feeling like a nervous teenager again. I haven't felt this way in over twenty years, and it's both terrifying and exhilarating.
"You said my name earlier," she prompts softly. "But didn't finish."
"I..." I stumble over my words. "You're so much younger than me, Stella."
"I know that," she says, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Why are you bringing that up now?"
"I just... our life experiences are so different. We probably wouldn't have much to talk about beyond—"
She huffs and falls backward onto the bed, arms stretched above her head. Her breasts move with the motion, and I have to force myself to look away.
"Are you trying to let me down gently, or are you just scared of whatever this is between us?"
I swallow hard. "I wasn't expecting you to be so direct."
"Well, one of us has to be," she says, still staring at the ceiling. "Otherwise, we'll stay in this weird limbo forever. Besides," she adds, "Sadie seems convinced you feel something for me, so I'm taking a chance."
I can't help but smile at the mention of my daughter.
"Sadie's a good kid. Very perceptive, just not about herself."
"You mean about Kane?" She turns her head to look at me. "You might be surprised. I'm pretty sure he's not as uninterested as he acts."
My eyes widen. "Are you sure? I always thought he had no interest in dating anyone."
"Men say that a lot until they meet the right person," she says knowingly. "And he looks at Sadie way too often to be uninterested."
"I never noticed," I admit. "I wouldn't mind it, though. Yes, she's younger, but Kane's a good man. He'd treat her right." I sigh. "But Kane's too in his head. He won't give anyone a chance until he accepts that he deserves happiness."
Stella's hand finds my arm, "What about you? Are you ready to accept happiness?"
I look at her. She's spread across the bed like an offering, her lips glossy, her neck exposed. It's torture, pure and simple. I can't take it anymore.
Instead of answering, I clench my fist and lean forward, closing my eyes and running my tongue across my chapped lips before pressing them against her soft ones.
The moment our lips meet, everything else fades away. All my doubts, all my protests about age differences and life experiences – none of it matters.
The only thing that matters is Stella - her taste, her feeling, and her small gasp against my mouth.
I realize this is what I was born to do—not just be a firefighter but be here, with her, claiming what's mine.
And god help anyone who tries to take her away from me.