Page 17 of Rekindle My Heart

He picked up his phone. Shit. Too late. He opened his email and typed out his thoughts, then sent it off to Fenley, Larson, and Erica. They’d get it tomorrow.

With the words out of his head, he slid down in the sheets and released a breath. His mind calmed. He started to drift.

A minute later, a notification pinged.

His eyelids flew open, and he snatched his phone from the night stand.

She was awake. Erica sent a text.

Excitement rushed through his veins. Why? He couldn’t say.

Bullshit.He knew exactly why. It’s the same rush he got back in high school when they talked at night. He may have dated Sarah, but Erica was the Randall sister he wanted to spend time with. She got him. Always had.

He held his breath as he opened her text.

Erica: Saw your email. Working late?

Ryan: Yeah, just finished.

Erica: You always were a night owl.

His cheek pulled up as he read the words.

Ryan: You weren’t. Work late?

Erica always liked her sleep. Didn’t matter what time of day.

His foot twitched as he waited for her reply.

Erica: No. Unwinding. It was a day.

Ryan: That bad?

Erica: Had a piece of equipment malfunction. It all worked out fine.

He didn’t like the sound of that. But he knew AFD was one of the best fire stations in the Twin Cities.

Ryan: Glad it all worked out. Want to talk about it?

Erica: No, I’m good. Thanks.

Now what? He wanted to keep her chatting, but this thread of friendship was so frail. The last thing he wanted to do was pull too tight and break it. He should let her go. Give her space.

Erica: I didn’t have time to go through the files today. Too busy. Too many eyes around.

Work. Yes, he’d emailed about work.

Ryan: No luck on scanning the files. This guy is good or has admin access.

They texted back and forth about the case for a few minutes.

Ryan yawned. Erica’s response time was growing longer. He glanced at the time. After 1 a.m. and he had to be in the office tomorrow.

His phone pinged.

Erica: Need sleep. Good thing I can sleep in tomorrow.

Ryan: Wish I could. Lounging around all day… with Erica. He used to, so many years ago.

Erica: Chat later.

Ryan: Night.

He checked his alarm, then plugged in his charging cord. This time, as he watched the shadows of the trees through his window, he smiled. Just a few minutes texting with Erica, and his restless mind calmed. Their conversation replayed on a loop—the case files, equipment malfunction, chat later.

His smile widened. She’d used that sign-off forever.