Page 11 of Break Me

“Captain O’Leary!”

“Here. Here.” The slight spell was broken and I pulled the homeowner away, avoiding the debris as I headed for the sound. Fires were very disorienting and I almost fell into the fog, but refused.

The inner voice in my mind was pushing me.

Go. Go. Go!

I would save him.

I felt hands pulling us, guiding us. Soon, we were outside in the night air. I took gasping breaths, refusing to let him go until we were a safe distance from the building. As gently as possible, I eased him down to the ground.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Halle,” Jeff hissed. “You almost got yourself killed.”

“But… I… didn’t.” Coughing, I remained on my knees, glancing at the fire as flames quickly consumed the entire structure.

EMTs rushed toward us and I turned my attention to the man I’d saved. While his breathing was labored, he was awake. I leaned over, gently pulling the mask free. “You’re going to be… okay.” A sudden light blinded me, but in the periphery of my vision, I realized it was a goddamn reporter. What the hell? “Get them out of here.” My snarl was met with a few gasps from the closest homeowners.

“One tough… lady,” the man I’d saved said in an even deeper voice.

Just before the light was pulled completely away, I peered down at him as tiny prickles of heat that had nothing to do with the fire tickled my arms. Recognition was instant.

The man from earlier in the day.

Was karma fucking kidding me? I’d saved the same man who’d parked in front of the fire hydrant?

God, the man was handsome.

And built.

There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. In my wicked mind, which hadn’t surfaced in over a year, I could see running my fingers through his thick, dark hair.

All. Night. Long.

“It’s you,” he said just before the EMTs tried to place an oxygen mask over his face.

“Yep. It’s me. Your knight in fucking tarnished armor.” I shouldn’t be angry with the rough and tumble hunk, and I wouldn’t have done anything differently in saving him had I known the irritation remained.

“Captain O’Leary. You’ve inhaled a lot of smoke. Let’s get you to the ambulance so I can check you out.”

“I need to get back… to the…” I couldn’t finish, still choking from the smoke. The EMT gently helped me to my feet, trying to put another oxygen mask over my face. Before he managed, I looked down at the man I’d saved. “You’re going to… be… okay.”

Whether or not he heard me I wasn’t certain, but it didn’t matter.

I’d saved a life.

I’d redeemed myself if only slightly.

The EMT allowed me to sit on the back floor of the ambulance with my feet on the ground. With the lights directed on the fire, I could tell the firefighters were slowly getting control of the blaze. But it was too late for the house. It would be a total loss.

Jeff appeared from the darkness, storming toward me as he ripped off his helmet, immediately snarling, “What in the fuck were you thinking going in there by yourself?”

I pulled away the oxygen mask, glaring at him. “I was thinking I needed to save a life. And watch your tone, Jeff Randall. I’m still your captain.”

Jeff’s eyes opened wide and he cursed under his breath. As if I couldn’t hear him. He’d been my husband’s best friend, a guy Sean had grown up with. He’d fashioned himself to be my protector whenever possible, doting on Emily as often as I would allow.

Sadly, he wanted to get closer, including dating and that just wasn’t going to happen. I liked the guy. I appreciated all that he’d done and how much he cared, but I felt no attraction whatsoever.

“All I’m saying is that you have Emily to think about.”