Chapter 7
Full Blaze
Ryan
Irun through the equipment checklist, marking off each item while Blake checks the oxygen tanks, his movements precise and practiced.
My mind drifts to Ember—how she brightens every room she enters, how she’s transformed our fundraiser plans with her creative touches, and remember those late-night texts that leave me grinning like a lovesick teenager with a raging boner.
“Earth to Ryan.” Blake waves his hand in front of my face, his eyebrows raised. “That’s the third time you’ve checked the same gauge. At this rate, we’ll be here forever.”
“Sorry.” I scratch my neck, feeling the heat rise to my face.
Caught daydreaming again. “Ember... she gets me, you know? The other night, we talked for hours about everything from stupid stories from when we were kids. She knows how to fly fish and loves the water. Ember is so witty and funny, too. I’m—”
“Man, I haven’t seen you this gone over a girl since high school, when half the cheerleading squad was falling over themselves to date you,” Blake teases, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Remember Jenny Matthews was following you around with those homemade cookies for the Sadie Hawkins dance?”
I snort, setting down my clipboard on the truck’s bumper. “Please. These days, they’re all chasing after Cody. Remember the beach volleyball tournament a few summers ago? That group of college girls tripped over themselves to get his attention.”
“God,” Blake rolls his eyes, adjusting the strap on one tank. “Don’t remind me. Though it’ll be awhile before he’s breaking hearts again. Eight more months left of deployment, right?”
Cody, our brother, went into the military after college. He needed the structure and the challenge out of our small town, but damn, I miss his crazy antics.
“Yeah.” I lean against the truck, missing our youngest brother. “He’s going to flip when he sees all the changes here. And you’ll be a full investigator by then.”
Blake’s face lights up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Got the final interview in a month. It’s happening. County says my case study analysis is spot-on.”
“You’ve worked your ass off for this.” I clasp his shoulder, a surge of pride for my middle brother. “Dad would be proud, you know. Following your gut, making your path. He always said you had the sharpest mind of all of us.”
“Thanks, Ry.” He ducks his head, but I catch his smile, genuine and touched. “Really.”
My phone buzzes against my hip, and I pull it out to find a text from Ember.
Ember: Hey, Captain, I’m with Nic. I’ll be back at your place shortly for dinner.
Blake peers over my shoulder, grinning. “Bold move, Captain. Please tell me you’re not attempting to cook.”
“I can handle spaghetti and meatballs,” I say, typing back to Ember. “Got a nice bottle of red wine, too.”
“Remember when you tried to impress that girl with your ‘world-famous’ chili?” Blake air-quotes with his gloved hands. “Romeo had to save your ass that night.”
“It was different.” I pocket my phone, fighting back a smile as another text comes through. “I’ve learned since then. Besides, Ember appreciates simple things, I don’t feel like I have to try so hard.”
“Sure, sure.” Blake starts stacking the oxygen tanks. “Just keep Romeo on speed dial. He’s got a new recipe for bruschetta bread that’ll save any disaster you create.”
“You’re hilarious.” I grab my clipboard. “At least I’m not the one who burned instant ramen in the station kitchen.”
“That was one time!” Blake protests, but he’s laughing. “And in my defense, Cody distracted me with a stupid TikTok dance.”
My phone buzzes again.
Ember: Perfect! See you in a couple of hours.
Me: Hope you’re hungry.
Blake looks over my shoulder. “Bro, your game sucks.”
Ember: Have fork and spoon will eat and will judge you.”
I laugh and show her response to Blake, who rolls his eyes.
The doorbell chimes, and my chest tightens as I briskly walk from the kitchen toward the front door. I swing it open to find Ember standing there, looking beautiful in casual jeans and a dark green V-neck top, holding a bottle of wine and a bag.
“I brought reinforcements.” She lifts the wine with a smile. “My mom always said never show up empty-handed to someone’s home.”
“You didn’t have to ring the bell. You are staying here after all.” I notice a bag in her hand with food.
Her cheeks flush pink. “And—I brought dessert...” She lifts the bag.
I can’t help thinking she’s the real treat. God, she’s stunning, and having her here in my home is incredible. Knowing she’s staying here has my mind going straight to the gutter.
The timer beeps, saving us both from the moment. “That’s the garlic bread. Come in.”
She enters the great room with its floor-to-ceiling windows and a massive stone fireplace dominating one wall. The log accent wall catches the setting sun, making the wood glow amber.
“Ryan, your home is stunning.” She walks to the table in the nook right off the kitchen. I’ve set it with our plates overlooking the pond. “The view... It’s amazing.”
I pull the bread from the oven, adding it to the spread of spaghetti and meatballs. “Would you rather eat outside? The deck’s my favorite spot at sunset. Which will start in a few.”
“Yes, absolutely. I would love that.”
We carry our plates and wine glasses out to the deck and sit on the sectional. I love that she’s snuggled near me with her shoes off and legs tucked under her. She looks at home here, and damn, I like it.
The pond stretches before us, mirror-smooth in the evening light, its surface painted in shades of amber and rose from the setting sun. A family of ducks paddle past my dock, the mother leading her tiny brood in a perfect V-formation, and Ember leans forward, enchanted by their graceful procession.
“I can’t believe you live here.” She takes a sip of wine, her eyes never leaving the tranquil scene before us. “It’s like something out of a dream or a movie. One of those perfect romantic ones where everything feels magical.”
The sky turns pink and orange, but I can’t pull myself from looking at Ember. “It’s magical having you here,” I say.
Her eyes sparkle in the fading light as she turns to me. “Magical, huh? And here I thought firefighters were supposed to be all tough and practical.” She pokes my chest playfully. “But I think you’re a romantic at heart, Captain McCallister.”
I can’t help but laugh. The way she sees through my professional exterior, calling me out with a teasing smile—it’s refreshing. Natural.
The last rays of sun paint her hair in shades of gold and copper. My hand finds its way to her cheek, my thumb brushing across her soft, freckled skin. Her breath catches, and I lean in, drawn to her like a moth to a flame, completely willing to burn for her.
We connect as the sunset settles in, her lips sweet with traces of cabernet and an unspoken promise. She responds with a gentle urgency, melting into me while her fingers tease my hair at the nape of my neck, drawing me nearer as we lose ourselves in each other.
When we break apart, she blinks those gorgeous hazel eyes at me. “Well, would you look at that—we completely missed the sunset.” Her lips curve into a mischievous smile. “Guess we’ll have to try this again tomorrow. You know, for proper sunset appreciation purposes.”
My heart soars at her words.
Tomorrow.
She’s thinking about tomorrow, about being here, about staying. I’ve only known her a short while, but the thought of her leaving Peachwood Grove makes my chest ache.
“I think it could be arranged,” I say, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I happen to have an excellent track record of sunset viewings from this very spot.”
“Oh really?” She raises an eyebrow. “And how many other women have you brought up here to verify this claim?”
“None.” I reply, and it gets the best smile that’s almost shy behind her bravado.
When the mosquitoes start buzzing, I take our plates, and we go inside.
Ember’s eyes glimmer in the soft glow of the living room, and as she saunters toward the kitchen island, every step she takes is a testament to her allure.
It’s as if my thoughts have been scrambled, and when she asks, “Ready for dessert?” my ability to form a coherent response falters as my cock twitches under my pants—fucking animal he is.
Quick, think about peaceful or random things—not Ember’s glowing skin, her sparkling eyes. Her full breasts under that fitted shirt showing off her perfect cleavage. Or the fact that I want to pull her shirt over her head while kissing her skin up and down.
Fuck.
She laughs, and the sound does something to my chest. Her confidence as she strides toward me, the way she moves through my space, because she belongs here—it’s intoxicating.
She opens the bag, pulling out cheesecake, strawberries, and chocolate sauce. “I hope you love cheesecake.”
I lean against the counter, hyperaware of how close she is. “I like cheesecake.”
“Only like?” She dips a strawberry in chocolate, then looks at me with those hazel eyes that see right through every defense I’ve built. “Well, what about chocolate-covered strawberries? Open up...”
I open my mouth, and she feeds me the strawberry, her fingers lingering at my lips longer than they should. Her smile doesn’t disappear so much as change into something else. Something we’ve both been circling tonight.
My hands find her hips, pulling her closer. “Ember—” My voice is rough. “I’d rather devour you.”
She inhales, and then I’m kissing her, and she’s kissing me back as if she’s been waiting for this. Her hands fist in my hair, pulling me closer, and I realize with startling clarity, I’ve never craved anyone the way I do with her.
Not only physically—though God knows I do.
But all of her. The woman who spirals into random facts when she’s nervous.
Who handled a fire scene as if she was born for it.
Who looks at me like I’m more than the captain, the McCallister legacy, the role I’ve played for so long I forgot there was anything else.