Page 44 of Hearts Storm

Logan is standing at the head of the table, fiddling with a stack of folders. His captain’s uniform fits him like it’s been tailored specifically for his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Even from across the room, I can sense the tension radiating off him.

“Close the door,” he says, keeping his focus on his task. His tone is clipped, professional. Nothing like the low, raspy growl I remember from our weekend we spent together last year.

Brex is right behind me as I step inside.

When the door clicks shut, Logan finally looks up.

His green eyes meet mine for one brief, electric second before darting away, muscle in his jaw ticking as he clears his throat.

“Good afternoon, EMT Winters.”

Oh. Keeping this professional right from the get-go. Alrighty, then.

“Please, have a seat.” He gestures to the chair kitty-corner from his.

I pull out the chair and sit, folding my hands on the table in what I hope looks like a professional, ‘I’ve-got-my-shit-together’ and not the ‘I’m-about-to-have-a-panic-attack’ pose it actually is.

Ever the picture of casual indifference, Brex moves between us and leans against the wall, arms folded across his massive chest, hooking one ankle over the other.

Logan glances at him. “You don’t need to be here.”

“I think I do.” Brex shrugs. “Reyna and I are going to be working closely together. So I need to know what’s going on.”

There’s a moment where I think Logan is about to argue. Muscles feathering at his temples, he shakes his head. “Fine.”

Dismissing Brex, he turns his attention back to me.

Visibly relaxing against the wall, Brex’s lips twitch, but he says nothing.

Flicking open the top folder, Logan slides it over. Inside is a stack of paperwork—schedules, protocols, emergency contact forms, all the standard first-day stuff.

“Welcome to Lakeside Fire Search and Rescue. As you already know, I’m Captain Cade and you’ll be reporting directly to me.”

I give him a quick nod.

“Your partner will be EMT Calloway,” he continues, tapping the stack of folders with his pen. “Dave’s been with LFSR for six years. He knows the territory, the protocols, and he’ll be your go-to for any questions that come up during your first few weeks.”

Eyes fixed on the folder, he continues. “As captain, I’m on call twenty-four seven,” he says. “Whether I’m here at the station or at my apartment—which, for the record, is right next door—I’m available. You need something, you call. You have a question, you ask. But make no mistake, EMT Winters.” Finally, his green eyes lift, locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my stomach flip. “I’m your captain. Nothing more.”

Even though I expected them, hearing those words—the finality in his tone, the absolute wall he’s attempting to build between us—stings.

Thankfully, I manage to keep my voice much steadier than I feel. “Understood, Captain.”

He holds my gaze for a beat longer than necessary before looking back down at his papers. “Our schedules run three days on, three days off. You’ll be on A-shift, which means you’re working the same rotation as Lieutenant Saint,” he growls, waving a dismissive hand at Brex.

I glance over at Brex, who gives me a lazy grin and a wink that makes my face heat.

Logan’s gaze bounces between us, irritation more than evident in his tone. “Which brings me to my next point.” Narrowing his focus on Brex, his expression hardens. “Whatever happens outside these walls is none of my business. But in here—on shift, at the station, during calls—you will maintain a professional relationship. Both of you.”

“Jesus, Logan.” Brex pushes off the wall, arms dropping to his sides. “Can you stop being a dick for one freaking second?”

Keeping his eyes locked on the folder in front of him like it holds the secrets to the universe, Logan sucks in what sounds like a fortifying breath.

“I mean it,” Brex growls, stepping up to the table. “For the past year you’ve been sulking about what went down between you two, and now she’s here, right in front of you, and you’re treating her like she’s nothing but a new recruit.”

“Because she is a new recruit.”

The words hit hard making me flinch, which Brex happens to notice. His expression darkens as he turns his attention back to Logan.