Page 57 of Four Firemen For Christmas

“Emma?” Henry turned his eyes to me, and the hurt in them speared me right through the heart.

“Why would I come here and ask to have sex with all of you if I’d filed a complaint?” I rubbed my face with both hands.

“She makes a good point.” Derek never left my side.

Samuel looked from face to face but didn’t comment for or against me. He seemed torn on who to listen to. I couldn’t blame him. It sounded pretty damning, even to me, and I knew I was innocent.

“Everybody, stop.” Henry raised both hands over his head.

We all froze and waited.

Henry stood stock still, his hands still in the air. I processed the whole situation and forced my tongue to work. “Can someone tell me, calmly, what happened?”

“I was fired.” Henry’s jaw worked and he palmed his cheek. The weight of his silence crushed me. I’d never seen him look like that before, and I wished I could make it all better. I’d do anything to fix the problem, if he’d give me some way to help.

“Someone filed a sexual harassment claim against Henry. The report states they had sex in Henry’s office and his sexual advances were unwanted, and they felt coerced.” Samuel said the words with calm detachment, almost like it wasn’t his captain and the man he admired being ripped to shreds.

“My reputation is ruined. I’ll never work in a position of authority again. And if things escalate to the point that it goes further, I could face jail time.” Henry’s voice rose with each word. Anger colored his cheeks, and the heat of their combined energy slammed into me like a fist.

I tried to work the pain from my throat so I could speak, but it was all too much. Henry and Alex really thought that I’d do something like that?

“It wasn’t Emma.” Derek’s staunch allegiance to me made no sense, but I’d never been more grateful.

“How can you say that?” Alex fisted his hands and moved like he was about to swing a fist at Derek.

Samuel grabbed his elbow and pulled him back. “We’re not going to fight about this.”

“Whose side are you on?” Alex demanded.

“I’m not picking a side, except for the truth. And we’ll get to the bottom of this.” He flicked a look at me. “One way or the other.”

“Unbelievable.” Alex shoved Samuel back and moved to stand beside Henry.

“How could you do this?” Resignation sounded in Henry’s voice. And defeat. “I’ve never had a strike against me, Emma. Not one. Then you come along, and everything is ruined. Why?”

“Stop accusing her. Unless Miles showed you the complaint, you have no idea who filed it,” Derek said.

“And you know this, how?” Alex spat back.

Derek straightened and looked Alex dead in the eye. “Because I’ve been in Henry’s position.”

That froze everyone in their tracks, but only long enough for Alex to catch his breath. “Well, great for you. But Miles was clear that Henry was accused of having sex in his office. That same person filed the complaint.”

“Unless someone overheard Emma and Henry and decided to use it against Henry.” Derek remained calm, but he was fraying around the edges.

They devolved into another argument, with Derek defending me and Samuel working to keep the peace as Henry and Alex accused me.

It was all too much. They were falling apart, a relationship years in the making, unraveling in a matter of minutes because of me. Nausea churned and bubbled hard enough that I put a hand over my mouth to hold it back.

Not only was I being accused when I was completely innocent, but I felt like my presence was tearing them apart. This never would’ve happened if I hadn’t come along. I didn’t know who’d filed the complaint, but it had ruined more than our relationship.

“I would never hurt any of you,” I whispered.

Derek heard me and turned to slide an arm around my waist.

I pulled away and held up a hand for him to stop. Tears welled in my eyes, and I barely managed to keep them at bay while I met all their eyes. Alex and Henry’s gazes were accusatory, while Samuel’s just looked hurt and uncertain.

This situation forced him to choose. I couldn’t put any of them in that situation. Samuel and Henry had known each other for a dozen years. Alex too. Derek was the newcomer to the group, aside from me, but he still had a place here. I—obviously—did not.

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