Free One Fiery Night by Em Petrova

this have to do with that woman that you rescued?”
    The mention of Josie took the fight from Luke instantly. His tense muscles caved in on themselves. He tore free of Pearce’s hold and collapsed on the floor with his back against the opposite bank of lockers. Dropping his head into his hands, he fought against the tears that threatened to fall. The last thing he wanted to do was break down here in the firehouse in front of his friends and his boss.
    He jammed a heel into the floor. Its thud did nothing to loosen the lump in his throat.
    Pearce pulled up a metal folding chair and straddled it backward. “What’s going on, Luke?”
    He breathed heavily and tried to formulate the words so they could understand. “I thought something had happened between the woman I’m seeing and my brother.”
    “Ryan?” Morelli sank to the floor beside him.
    “Yeah. Years ago when we were in college. That’s why I broke up with her, but I never really told her the reason. It’s been eating at me. I thought I could get past it and l-love her—” The word grated from him. “But I couldn’t. I brought it up and when I did…” He scrubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands, feeling more despondent than he ever had in his life. “The instant the words were out, I could tell by her face that I was wrong. Horribly wrong.”
    “But by then it was too late,” Morelli guessed.
    He nodded. He opened his mouth to speak, but whatever he was about to say was drowned by the shriek of the fire alarm.
    Pearce stood so quickly his chair scooted back and hit the lockers. The door burst open and the rest of the fire crew ran in, suiting up at warp speeds. Luke jumped to his feet and pulled on his pants, coat and boots. Reaching into his big locker, he shoved his gloves aside to locate his mask and air tank.
    The particulars of a two-alarm fire blared from the radio. Pearce was issuing commands between pauses. “Morelli, you’re with me. Dobbs, Howland and Zacherel, you’re in unit one. Luke, it sounds like you’d better put on those gloves, man. The building isn’t safe and you’re going in.”
    Luke nodded but ignored his captain’s command to grab his gloves. Instead, he tugged his hat down and picked up his air tank. “I’m ready, Caps. I won’t let anything hinder my performance.”
    * * * * *
     
    Josie stripped off her clothes and dropped them into a pile on the floor of the hotel bathroom. What she wouldn’t give for her own comfortable bath in her Victorian house. She’d loved the decadent tiles and the big old porcelain tub. She’d carefully chosen the most luxurious towels and brass accoutrements for the space. For many months it had been her refuge.
    Now it was rubble. A black tooth in the unbroken smile of the neighborhood where they’d lived.
    With a hitching sigh, she pulled the thin, coarse, hotel towel down from the wire rack on the wall and stepped into the shower. The hot water poured over her, washing away the traces of Luke’s kisses. His scents swirled down the drain, eradicated by the citrus body wash she used.
    Thank goodness Maggie was with her father. At least her little girl wouldn’t see her in this state. A glance in the mirror had shown Josie a face more ravaged than it had been after the house fire.
    Hours had passed since Luke had walked out. She’d spent the time alternately sobbing and inwardly raging. How stupid it had been to put herself out there again, only to be kicked into the dirt.
    Well, now I really have nothing. She turned her back on the spray and let the warm fingers of water spread over her scalp. There was little she could do but start over. New house, new car, new stuff. Luke fell into the “old” category, since he was an old boyfriend twice over.
    She didn’t need love in her life. Focusing on her career and raising her daughter to be a good person were enough.
    They’ll have to be.
    She scrubbed her hair and rinsed it. Then she leaned against the wall and closed her