2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Finn
T he chatter of the other firefighters filled the air, their voices bouncing off the walls of the fire station. The guys were going over every detail of the fire, shaking their heads in disbelief.
“Unbelievable, right?” Marco said, his voice hoarse from the smoke, as he scrubbed his face with a towel. “I've never seen a blaze that fierce. Felt like it was fighting back.”
The others nodded in agreement. Lieutenant Carter let out a low whistle. “You don’t come across fires like that every day. Felt like the whole damn city was on fire.”
I wasn’t listening to them. I couldn’t.
My mind was stuck somewhere else—somewhere between the heat of the fire and the moment I’d spent with Amelia.
The heat from the fire had been brutal, suffocating. But the thing that lingered in my chest wasn’t the scorch of flames—it was the way Amelia’s hands had felt on my arm when she’d cleaned the cut. Her fingers had brushed my skin with such softness that for a second, I almost forgot where I was. The way her grey eyes had locked with mine—like she was seeing right through me.
I shook my head to clear the thoughts. It wasn’t the first time I’d felt a spark with someone, but this? This was different. I wasn’t sure why, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something about Amelia was important.
“Finn, you okay, man?” Marco’s voice cut through the fog in my mind, and I blinked, realizing that everyone was staring at me.
“Yeah.” I exhaled sharply, trying to shake off the haze. “Just... thinking.”
“Thinking?” Marco raised an eyebrow. “About that fire? Or that nurse you were with?”
I froze. How had he known?
“Did you see her?” Marco grinned knowingly. “That woman was stunning. You couldn’t take your eyes off her.”
I felt heat creep up my neck. It wasn’t just that I couldn’t stop looking at her. It was the way she had looked at me. The way she had been so steady, even in the chaos. The way her voice had grounded me, even for just a moment, amidst the storm of everything happening around us.
“I’m going to wash up,” I muttered, stepping away from the group, the weight of their knowing looks still on my back.
I didn’t need their teasing right now. I needed some space, some air, to get my head straight.
The bathroom was small but cold with the scent of bleach and soap hanging in the air. I stood in front of the mirror, looking at my reflection. I was covered in soot, my face streaked with sweat and grime. After a quick shower, the scene from earlier that night—the fire, the chaos, the rescue—flooded back to me in a flash.
My mind immediately went back to when I saw Aidan’s injury healing when I carried him from his office.
“What the hell was that? How’s it possible his burns healed so fast?” I whispered.
Suddenly Marco threw a towel at me, and it jolted me back to reality.
“Ever since we got back you barely said anything … sure you don’t want to talk about it?”
“I’m fine… just tired”
I grabbed Marco’s arm as he passed by, trying to keep my voice casual. “Hey, do you know who Aidan Hale is?”
Marco shot me a look, brow furrowing. “How do you not know who he is?”
I raised an eyebrow, the question feeling even stranger as soon as it left my lips. "I don't. Why? Should I?"
Marco let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You’ve been in this city how long, Harper? Aidan Hale is the owner of Hale Refinery, the one that just went up in flames. And—” he paused, looking me over with a grin. “He’s the wealthiest bachelor in the city. Every headline, every gossip column. The guy’s got more money than anyone around here, and no one knows a damn thing about his family.”
I blinked. “What do you mean?”
Marco’s grin widened, like he was about to drop a bomb. “Rumor has it, the guy just appeared out of nowhere. He practically fell from heaven. No background, no family ties. Just started the refinery, turned it into a goldmine, and bam—suddenly he’s on every socialite’s radar. Some people think there’s more to his story, though. People don’t just get that rich that fast without some questions.”
I shook my head, trying to process it. "So, you’re saying his wealth is... suspicious?"
“Let’s just say it doesn’t add up,” Marco said with a shrug. “But don’t take my word for it. It’s all just talk. What’s more interesting is how no one knows where he came from.”
I chewed on that, my mind racing. Aidan Hale. The mysterious, wealthy, reclusive businessman. It didn’t make sense. I had pulled him from a burning building, and now I was supposed to believe that this guy had no real past. Nothing to trace him back to?
“Something definitely doesn’t sit right,” I muttered, more to myself than to Marco.
“Oh shoot! My baby mama has been calling me, I totally forgot I was meant to take my daughter to the hospital for her immunization… I have to go. Bye!” Marco said and ran out.
“Damn! It’s almost 8 am, my shift is over” I whispered.
As I walked down the hallway of the fire station, I kept on thinking about Amelia. I couldn’t get her out of my head.
I need to get to know her, I thought.
I needed answers, so I headed straight to Lieutenant Carter’s office. The door was ajar, and I knocked lightly before stepping inside. Carter was hunched over his desk, scribbling something in his logbook. He didn’t look up as I walked in, but he grunted, acknowledging me.
“Harper. What’s up?”
“I need some information,” I said, leaning against the doorframe. “About the nurse. Do you know which hospital sent them to the refinery?”
Carter glanced at me, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You looking to follow up on that nurse, Harper?”
“What do you mean?”
“You don’t have to pretend with me, we all saw how you both looked at each other” he chuckled and grabbed his phone.
I felt a flush creep up my neck. “This is so embarrassing…”
“Alright, give me a second.” He dialed quickly and spoke with someone on the other end. A minute later, he hung up, turning to face me with a raised brow.
“St. Luke’s Hospital. Downtown. 345 West Magnolia St. That’s the one.”
I nodded; my mind was already racing. I was going to see her. No more second-guessing. I had to get to her, even if it meant pretending to have an injury just to get in the door.
“Thanks, Lieutenant.”
The drive to St. Luke’s was a blur. I barely remembered the street signs as I navigated my way through the city.
By the time I parked, I was already working out a plan in my head.
I can’t just walk up to her and say, hey, I came to see you because I couldn’t stop thinking about you after our brief encounter. That would be too forward… Oh Finn… you have to be creative… I thought.
When I entered the hospital, the sterile air and the faint smell of antiseptic did nothing to calm my nerves. My heart was racing as I walked toward the front desk, trying to look casual, like I wasn’t on a mission to find a specific nurse.
“Excuse me,” I said, my voice sounding too loud in the quiet lobby. “I think I might’ve sprained my arm. I just need to get it checked out.”
The receptionist looked up, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Oh, I’m sure we can help with that. Go down this hallway, take a left, and you’ll see the ER section. They’ll be able to assist you.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, forcing a calm smile as I followed her directions.
As I walked down the hallway, I kept my eyes peeled. I didn’t know what I was looking for..., just any sign of her, anything that might lead me to Amelia.
And then, just as I rounded a corner, I spotted her.
She was walking toward me, her dark hair falling messily around her shoulders, her scrubs slightly wrinkled, but still so damn beautiful. I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face.
“Amelia!” I called out before I could stop myself.
She turned, her eyes lighting up when she saw me. “Finn?” Her voice was like a cool breeze, comforting and steady. “What are you doing here?”
I hesitated for a moment, suddenly realizing how ridiculous I must look, standing there with no real reason to be in the hospital. But then I shrugged, trying to keep it casual.
“Came to check on my arm,” I said, lifting it slightly, though it didn’t hurt at all.
“Uh come with me” she said as she gently held my hand.
Her lavender smell lingered on my nose. Having her hands on mine made me think of all the things I could to her.
I followed Amelia down the hospital corridor, trying to act casual, even though my heart was beating a little faster than usual.
“How bad is it? This arm of yours?” she asked, glancing at me over her shoulder.
I winced, playing it up just enough to sell the lie. “It’s bad. A real ache that won’t quit,” I said, letting the pain in my voice linger just a little. “I think I might’ve overdone it at the refinery. I don’t know, it started out dull, but now it’s getting worse.”
“That’s not good,” she said, gently adjusting her hold on my arm as she led me down the hallway.
“Yeah, I thought I could tough it out,” I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. “But now it’s really bothering me.”
She pushed open the door to an exam room and gestured for me to sit on the bed. I did, still feeling like an idiot for pretending my arm was really hurting. But if it meant I’d get to spend more time with her, I figured it was worth it.
She grabbed a pair of gloves and slid them on, her movements quick and professional. Her eyes never left my arm as she started to examine it, but I could tell she was also keeping a close watch on me—probably looking for any signs that I was faking it.
When she gently pressed her fingers along my wrist, I winced again, just the right amount, and I saw the shift in her face. The concern deepened, and I could feel myself starting to regret the lie, just a little.
“This doesn’t feel right,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the line of my forearm. “It’s not swollen, but I think you might’ve sprained it. You’re lucky it’s not worse.”
I felt my chest tighten, but I didn’t want to backtrack. “Yeah, it’s just been sore. But you know, I had to keep moving during the fire. Figured I could deal with it later.”
Amelia looked up at me, her expression softening.
She rubbed an ointment and massaged my hand gently as I kept on pretending to be in pain. “You’re good to go. I think the massage should help considering the fact that it’s not swollen. But take it easy for a few days. No heavy lifting.”
I nodded, trying to act like I wasn’t over the moon about how much she seemed to care. “Thanks, Amelia. I really appreciate you helping me out.”
“You welcome”
As we both left the room the silence between us was comfortable, the kind that didn’t feel awkward at all. And for a second, I thought about telling her the truth—that my arm wasn’t really hurt. That I’d been lying just to spend more time with her. But I didn’t.
Instead, I decided to take a different shot. “You know,” I started, glancing up at her as I tried to keep my voice casual, “I’m feeling a lot better already. But maybe... just maybe... you’d like to grab coffee we can just go to the cafeteria.”
Her smile widened, and I could feel my heart race in my chest, like she had just given me the green light. “Coffee? I think I could be persuaded.”
“I mean, if you’re free,” I added, feeling a little more confident now. “I’d really like to thank you.”
“You really don’t have to thank me though… was just doing my job”
“Please… just say yes”
“Okay fine… let’s go she said as she bit her lower lip.
Oh, please don’t do that… I won’t be able to control myself, I thought.
We stepped into the cafeteria, and it was a little quieter than I expected for the time of day, the sound of clattering trays and the soft murmur of voices echoing around the room. I grabbed a tray and moved toward the counter. Amelia followed me, glancing over the coffee options.
“You know,” I said, leaning closer to her, “if this is going to work, you have to promise not to judge my coffee choice.”
She raised an eyebrow as I picked up a cup. “And what’s that?”
“Black. No sugar, no cream. Just straight up.”
“You’re brave.”
“Not brave, just committed,” I said with a laugh. "What about you?"
“I’ll take my coffee with a little less... fear factor," she said, grabbing a cup herself. "Just one sugar, splash of milk. But hey, I’m not judging you. At least you're not going for the weird, flavored stuff."
I smiled at that. I liked that she wasn’t pretending to be something she wasn’t, that she was being real. “We’re probably the only people in the world who can talk about coffee this seriously.”
She laughed softly as we walked to a table in the corner, the quiet clink of mugs and trays creating a familiar, almost cozy atmosphere between us. I sat across from her and felt a wave of comfort wash over me, like everything was falling into place, one step at a time.
I leaned forward, coffee cup in hand, trying to keep it casual. "So, when you're not saving lives, what do you do for fun? Any hobbies?"
Amelia smiled, thinking for a moment. "Well, I guess I'm kind of boring. I like reading—mostly mystery novels, the ones with twisty endings."
"A mystery lover, huh? Didn't peg you for a detective type."
She laughed. "I guess I just like puzzles, whether it's a book or a nurse."
"Sounds like you thrive on challenges," I said, intrigued.
"Definitely," she agreed. "That's why I love my job—every day’s different, keeps me on my toes."
I leaned in. "But when you're not working, do you ever do something that doesn't require your brain?"
She raised an eyebrow, teasing, "You think I need a break from thinking?"
I laughed. "Just curious how you unwind."
"Well, I like to hike. There's a trail by the lake I go to when I need to clear my head," she said, her smile softening.
"That sounds amazing. Maybe you could show me sometime?" I asked, my heart picking up speed.
She met my eyes, smiling wider. "Maybe. If you can keep up."
"Oh, I can keep up." I chuckled.
After a brief pause, I asked, "Anything else? Any surprises I should know about?"
She winked. "You'll have to figure that out on your own."
I raised my cup in a mock toast. "Challenge accepted."
And just like that, I was hooked.
We sat there for a moment, sipping our coffee in the quiet cafeteria, the noise from the rest of the hospital drifting in and out.
As Amelia finished her cup and set it down, I leaned forward slightly, unable to resist. "So, you think you'll let me take you out for real sometime?" I asked, my voice low but hopeful.
Her eyes sparkled, a playful glint shining through. "Well, if the coffee date goes well," she said, her smile teasing, "maybe."
I set my cup down, heart racing, and without thinking, I leaned in closer, my breath catching in my throat. Amelia didn’t move away. She stayed right there, her eyes flickering to my lips, then back to my eyes.
“I’m going to kiss you now. If you don’t want it, you can just tell me to stop” I whispered.
My hand reached up, gently cupping her face as I closed the distance between us. The kiss was soft at first, just a brush of lips, but the moment I felt her respond, it deepened, and everything else seemed to fade away.
“Am I interrupting?” Aidan said.