Heartfire by Karen Rose Smith

want you here out of some sense of duty."
    She wanted to reach out and stroke the lines on his forehead, the worry around his mouth.  But she was afraid, so she kept her hands at her sides.  "I want to be here.  Do you believe me?"
    After a very long moment, he answered her.  "Yes."
    A train whistle blew in the distance.  Muted music vibrated in the fire hall.  Leaves danced around Tessa's feet as the breeze pushed them into the corner of the building.  Time seemed to stand still.
    Taking one of the curls along Tessa's cheek between his thumb and forefinger, Max felt its silky softness.  "I don't think I've told you how pretty you look tonight."
    No one had ever told her she looked pretty.  But then, she didn't dress up very often.  Unreasonably, her lip quivered.  "Thank you."
    He must have seen the trembling because he traced his thumb across that lip.  He was close enough that she could smell his cologne, a scent that mixed with his male scent.  The touch of his rougher skin against her soft lip sent shock waves through her.
    She lifted her head, and he bent his.
    The kiss was gentle and easy until his tongue slipped into her mouth.  Her knees went weak and she grabbed onto him.  His arms came around her to hold her to him.  His powerful thighs strained against her.  He tasted male and hot.
    Abruptly he ended the quick burst of passion by tearing away and stepping back.  Swearing, he raked his hand through his hair.  "This is wrong."
    Maybe it was time they both faced up to what was happening.  "Why?"
    "Because...Leslie was my wife and your best friend."
    The loss of Leslie still hurt.  Tessa would never forget their hours of conversation, secrets they'd shared, a bond that would never die.  But Tessa had had plenty of experience facing reality, so maybe she could accept it easier than others, easier than Max.  "She's been gone for three years."
    A myriad of emotions played over his face.  "So that means I should forget all about her and go back to where we left off nine years ago?"  He sounded not only confused but bitter.
    "No, of course you shouldn't.  You'll never forget her, and I won't, either.  She wasn't just my friend, she was the only close friend I ever had.  She was the first person I could talk to about my hopes and dreams and fears.  She listened and she accepted me for who I was.  No one else has ever done that for me.  I loved her, Max."
    For once Max's guard was down.  Turbulent emotions played across his face.  "And I did, too.  Never once did I wish anything had been different.  My feelings for you died when you left, and for the past nine years you've been Leslie's best friend.  Nothing more.  So what is happening now?"
    Tessa lifted her chin and met his gaze head-on.  "We were attracted to each other once.  Living in the same house, taking care of Ryan together has stirred up the chemistry again.  That's all."
    Max slashed his hand through the air.  "That's all?  Have you thought about what it means?  Both of us know why it didn't work before.  Your career.  And that hasn't changed.  Has it?"
    She had to be truthful.  "No, it hasn't."
    He took a step away, her honesty driving a huge wedge between them.
    The rattle of the fire hall doors opening preceded a burst of laughter as a group of teenagers spilled into the parking lot.
    Max's face was blank now, his guard firmly back in place.  He motioned toward the noise.  "We'd better go back in."
    There was nothing Tessa could say to ease the tension.  Because nothing had changed.  But maybe for the first time in her adult life she wondered if it could.

Chapter Eight
     
    The burnished leaves covered the grass in a thick layer.  Tessa fought a losing battle, trying to rake them into one large pile in the corner of the yard as the breeze ruffled and sent them skittering away.  She'd needed something physical to do this afternoon so she could burn off disturbing feelings from last night and everything she