Page 24 of Blazing Hearts

Kara: Maybe you’d like to see me up close, get a better look at what I’m really capable of.

Mallory: You’re tempting fate, Kara. But I can’t say I don’t like it.

Kara: I bet you’re blushing right now. And you look beautiful when you blush. Am I right?Kara teased.

Mallory: Blushing? I don’t know what you’re talking about. But if anyone’s blushing, it’s you, imagining all the ways I might respond.

It didn’t take long for Kara to reply, her boldness shining through every word.

Kara:Oh, I’m not imagining. I’m very good at picturing exactly what I want.

Mallory: Is that so? And what exactly are you picturing?

Kara needed no time to think of her response.

Kara: Let’s just say it involves your beautiful body, that gorgeous green shirt dress on the floor again, and absolutely no interruptions.

Mallory: Hmm, sounds intriguing. But I don’t know… I might be too busy for all that. You know, saving lives and all.

Kara: Saving lives, huh? Funny, because you’ve been on my mind 24/7, and I’m not sure how much longer I can wait for you to rescue me from my own thoughts.Kara laughed at her own attempts to flirt.

Mallory: You seem awfully confident. What makes you think I’d rescue you?

Kara paused, her thumbs poised over her phone. How to respond to keep Mallory thinking about her? Kara took her time before answering.

Kara: Because, Doc, you’re not the kind to leave someone hanging. Especially not me.

It had started as playful banter, something that allowed them both to dip their toes into the intense chemistry that had been building for weeks. But now, maybe they were close to crossing a line. A line she wasn’t sure Mallory was ready to cross.

The night had fallen, and the air was cool, a welcome relief after the suffocating heat of the flames. Kara leaned back against the truck, her eyes on the stars above, her mind still racing from the adrenaline of the day. She wanted to be back with her team, doing the work she loved, but this sudden exchange with Mallory had her in its grip.

Her phone buzzed again, and her stomach fluttered with the anticipation of Mallory’s response to her last text. For the briefest moment, her heart swelled with hope, thinking that maybe Mallory was ready to let her in. But when she read the message, the words hit her with an unexpected force.

Mallory: We’re not getting anywhere like this, Kara. I don’t want this to be just about the chemistry. Because we both know how strong and undeniable that is. I want something real. And I do feel it with you. But I’m scared.

Kara stared at the screen, her heart pounding, the weight of Mallory’s vulnerability pressing on her chest. She could feel it in her bones—the fear, the hesitation, the walls Mallory had built around herself. Kara knew all too well what it was like to guard yourself, to keep your emotions locked away out of fear of getting hurt. But this? This was different. She wanted Mallory. She wanted to show her that she could be trusted, that she wasn’t going anywhere. But the uncertainty in Mallory’s words made Kara’s own feelings of doubt rise to the surface.

She typed quickly, wanting to reassure Mallory, wanting to bridge the gap between them. She didn’t have all the answers, but she knew that she could offer her heart, and that had to count for something.

Kara: I’m not going anywhere, Mallory. And you know I feel it too. I want something real with you. But you need to decide if you want to take the risk with me.

She hit send, the words lingering in her mind even as the message left her phone. She knew it wasn’t enough. She knew Mallory’s fear ran deeper than just this conversation. But Kara was tired of waiting for Mallory to come around. She was tired of hiding her feelings, of pretending that the pull between them wasn’t strong enough to break through the walls they’d both built.

The stars outside were brighter now, their light flickering in the night sky, as Kara sat in silence with her team. She knew Mallory’s hesitation would be the hardest thing to overcome. She had seen it before, felt it before—people held back because they were afraid. But she also knew that the longer Mallory waited, the more time they would lose. She could feel the weight of their unspoken words pressing down on her chest.

Kara wanted Mallory. There was no denying it. But she also knew that she couldn’t force Mallory to take that leap. She had to wait for her to decide. And as she sat there, the fire now just a memory in the distance, she wondered if that was the hardest part. Waiting.

11

MALLORY

Mallory sat in the small office tucked away in the corner of Phoenix Ridge Hospital, staring at the pile of patient files in front of her. It was supposed to be a quiet afternoon. She could feel the unease coiling in her chest, a tight knot that refused to loosen. The source of it, as always, was Kara.

She’d tried to push her thoughts about Kara aside, focusing on work, diving into the routine that helped her feel grounded. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Kara—saw the way she commanded attention with every step, the way she was so unflinchingly strong yet tender. Mallory wanted to be with her, more than anything. But the fear… the fear of getting too close, of opening up to someone only to lose them, had kept her from taking that step.

Her phone buzzed on the desk, interrupting her thoughts. The screen lit up with Josephine Mars’s name.

Mallory smiled to herself. Josephine had become more than just a colleague—she’d become a mentor, someone Mallory had turned to for guidance in the most uncertain moments. Josephine was a woman who had been through her own battles, who understood the weight of doubt and the struggle of vulnerability. Mallory knew that, even if she was just a voice on the other end of the line, Josephine’s words would always hold weight.

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