Page 5 of The Heat Between Us

After a moment's hesitation, she says, "I moved here yesterday. From Chicago. I was going to open a law practice."

"Was?" I question, raising an eyebrow.

A ghost of a smile touches her lips. "Am. I am going to open a law practice. Just maybe not in this exact location."

I find myself smiling back, admiring her spirit. "That's more like it. Cedar Falls needs a good lawyer."

"What about you?" she asks, then coughs harshly. "You're a firefighter, obviously. But why?"

It's a deeper question than she probably realizes, and one I haven't really answered even for myself. But looking at her now, smoke-smudged and brave, I find myself wanting to be honest.

"My brother," I admit. "He became a firefighter first. I followed him into it because... well, I was always following him. But then I found out I loved it. The rush, the chance to help people on their worst days."

She nods, understanding in her eyes. "Family can be complicated."

"You have siblings?" I ask, grateful for the conversation despite our circumstances. It's keeping us both calmer than we have any right to be.

"Only child," she says. Then, after a pause, "Part of why I left Chicago. Too many expectations, too little room to breathe."

I want to ask more, to understand what drove this beautiful, clearly intelligent woman to start over in a small town like Cedar Falls. But a sudden crash from the outer room jolts us back to reality. The door to our sanctuary gives way, flames licking into the room. The heat is immediate and overwhelming.

"Stay with me," I say, wrapping my arms around her as we press ourselves further into the corner. "My team will be here soon. We just need to hold on."

She nods against my chest, and I can feel her trembling. Or maybe that's me. It's getting harder to tell where my fear ends and hers begins.

"Lewis," she says, my name sounding different in her voice. "If we don't…"

"We will," I interrupt firmly. "We're going to get out of here, Chloe."

The conviction in my voice surprises even me. But looking at her, I know it's true. I refuse to accept any other outcome. The fire is now spreading across the ceiling, consuming ourremaining safe space. The smoke is so thick I can barely make out her face just inches from mine.

In the distance, I finally hear it. Sirens. Help is coming. But the building is groaning around us, the structure weakening. I'm not sure if they'll reach us in time.

"Do you hear that?" I ask her, my voice rougher from the smoke. "The sirens? My team is coming."

She nods, hope flickering in her eyes. But we both know the fire is moving faster than any rescue team could.

In this moment, trapped with a stranger as the world burns around us, I make a silent promise: if we get out of here, I'm going to get to know Chloe properly. Take her to dinner, learn her story, find out what makes her laugh.

First, though, we have to survive.

Chapter 3 - Chloe

The heat is unbearable now. My lungs burn with every breath, and the wet cloth Lewis gave me doesn't seem to be helping anymore. The smoke stings my eyes, making tears fall non-stop. And yet, with Lewis's arms around me, I feel strangely protected, as if his body could shield me from the inferno closing in.

"They're coming," I say, more to myself than to him. The sirens are louder now, but the building is groaning around us, threatening to collapse at any moment.

"They'll be here soon," Lewis confirms, his voice hoarse but steady. "My brother Ollis is probably with them. He's the best firefighter in Cedar Falls."

I look up at his face, barely visible through the thickening smoke. Despite everything, there's something reassuring about his presence—the solid weight of his arms around me, the calm determination in his eyes.

"You and your brother are close?" I ask, desperate for distraction from the flames creeping closer to our corner.

Lewis coughs before answering. "Yes and no. It's complicated. He's older, always been the star of the family. I spent most of my life trying to catch up."

"And now you both fight fires," I say, understanding something about his earlier admission.

He nods, a rueful smile touching his lips. "Funny how that worked out."

---