3. Lux

3

LUX

L ux woke up the next day more tired than when she went to bed. She rolled over and patted the empty space next to her.

She recalled Phoebe's words but quickly discarded them. It was of no use. She'd rather have just a cup of coffee in bed with her. She certainly didn't need a partner.

She picked up her phone. Two missed calls from Dad . It's been a day since she last heard from him. Perhaps she could stop by at his place before heading back to the station for the meeting at command ops.

She returned the call, and he picked up after a few rings. "Hello, princess."

"Princess?" She chuckled. "I'm Chief Pilot Valentine now, Dad."

Her father's laugh floated into her ears from the other end of the line. "My bad then. How're you, little princess?" He stressed the word " little ."

"I'm fine, Dad. Sorry I missed your calls. Are you okay?"

"Younger than I've ever been. I'm sure I'd be better if you came to see me."

"I could stop by before going to the station."

"That'll be nice. Your brother is far off in the city. You don't want me to grow old so soon, do you?"

"You're still too young to think of aging, Dad," Lux said. "I'll see you soon."

"I'll hold you to that."

Half an hour later, she entered the coffee shop off Main Street. The place was small but cozy with mismatched wooden chairs and tables scattered throughout.

She once frequented this place when she had dated Sarah. They'd come here every weekend before she went to the station. It was beautiful, at least for the months it lasted. Soon, their time here grew shorter and shorter. At first, by an hour, then to mere minutes.

She wasn't surprised when Sarah asked for a breakup. It all didn't matter anymore. That was nearly half a decade ago. Now, all she craved was coffee.

She approached the counter, nodding at the barista. "The usual, Flora," she said. "Black."

"Sure you don't want our special for today?"

"Only if you can convince me that the day is special."

"Every day is special in Phoenix Ridge." Flora chuckled. "Something special coming up."

Lux leaned against the counter, waiting for her coffee. Her eyes wandered over the few patrons scattered around the shop. Most were familiar faces, townspeople who started their day with the same routine as her.

As she scanned, her gaze landed on someone familiar sitting at a corner table—the new lieutenant at the fire station. Dark ponytail. Big, expressive brown eyes. Full lips. A body made for sin. Very attractive. Zoey something, wasn't it?

Maybe Flora was right; today might be special after all.

Lux watched a little longer. Zoey sat alone, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee, her eyes fixed on something outside the window. She looked out of place in the relaxed setting, her posture stiff, her eyes distant.

"A cappuccino for Phoenix Ridge's best pilot," Flora said, smiling at Lux.

She placed it on the counter with a quiet clink, but Lux didn't move to grab it immediately. Instead, she watched Zoey, curious as she was interested in what lay behind those pretty eyes.

Lux finally picked up her cup and walked across the room slowly.

"Morning," Lux said with her most seductive look, stopping at Zoey's table.

Zoey looked up, her eyes widening, then quickly becoming neutral. "Morning."Her voice was calm but had a hint of something guarded in her tone. It was as though she had been lost in her head and hated the interruption. Lux didn't mind. She nodded toward the empty chair across from Zoey.

"Mind if I sit?"

Zoey hesitated for a moment then gestured to the chair. "Go ahead."

Lux sat down, setting her coffee on the table. The chair creaked slightly under her weight. She studied Zoey, trying to get a read on her.

"How are you settling in?" Lux asked, even though she already knew the answer. It was an easy way to start the conversation.

"If I had a penny every time I've been asked that, I'd be a billionaire by now."

"I doubt there are that many people in these parts," Lux said with a little laugh. Zoey didn't join in. Lux curled her lips in a warm smile nonetheless."You seem to be finding your way around quite well."

"I guess so."

Lux motioned toward the coffee in Zoey's hand. "Great coffee, right?"

Zoey nodded. "Best I've had since I've been here."

"You've had coffee elsewhere?"

"No."

Lux chuckled. "You're funny."

"Yeah," Zoey said, taking a sip of her coffee. "Why do I doubt that?"

Lux nodded, leaning back in her chair. "What do you think of Phoenix Ridge so far?"

Zoey glanced around the coffee shop then back at Lux. "It's quiet. Different from Forest Vale."

"Forest Vale, huh?" Lux said, pretending to be surprised. "I've heard it's a bit rougher up there."

"It has its moments."

"Phoenix Ridge isn't so bad once you get used to it. There's a lot to like about this place. And it isn't so quiet, I promise you that. Not once fire season starts. We will be very busy."

Zoey looked at her, saying nothing. Her beautiful brown eyes were framed with long, thick lashes, and they were hard to read. There was stuff going on there; Lux could see that for sure. Lux could also see the curve of her full breasts under her shirt, and she liked it. She ran her eyes over them appreciatively, knowing Zoey would notice.

Zoey didn't react. Women always reacted to Lux's moves.

Hmmm. A tough one here. Maybe she isn't gay?

Even the straight ones usually reacted to Lux. She had that effect on women.

Lux smiled slightly, taken aback by Zoey. "I'm guessing you haven't had much time to explore yet."

"Not really," Zoey said, her expression unchanging.

Lux felt herself getting more annoyed at Zoey's lack of reaction.

"So, how are you finding the station?" Lux asked, her tone casual.

"It's fine," Zoey said. "Still getting to know everyone."

Lux took a sip of her cappuccino, studying Zoey over the rim of her cup. Zoey was very attractive, no doubt about it. Her features were sharp, and there was a quiet intensity about her that Lux found intriguing. Oh, and her resistance to Lux's charms. That had to be a challenge.

She put her cup down. "I know it can be tough being the new person. Especially in a place like this where everyone knows each other."

Zoey's eyes met Lux's, and for a moment, Lux thought she saw a crack in the armor. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

"I'll be fine," Zoey said, her tone polite but firm.

Lux nodded, leaning back in her chair again. She wasn't going to push. "If you need anything, you can always ask. People here are friendly, even if they don't seem like it initially."

Zoey offered a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "I appreciate that."

There was a brief silence between them. Lux could feel the awkwardness settling in, but she wasn't ready to walk away.

"What brought you to Phoenix Ridge?" Lux asked.

Zoey hesitated again, her fingers tightening slightly around her coffee mug. "Just needed a change of scenery, I guess."

Lux nodded, sensing that was all she was going to get. "Well, I'm glad you ended up here. We can always use good people."

Lux caught Zoey's wince at the mention of good people . Did Zoey feel like she wasn't good? A modest firefighter. That was unusual.

"Thanks," Zoey said.

Lux went to finish her coffee, but the cup was empty already. She stood up, adjusting her jacket. "I should get going. Got a lot to do today."

Zoey nodded, looking up at her. "Sure."

"I'll see you around."

As Lux left the coffee shop, she glanced back at Zoey one last time. She had finally remembered her surname: Knight. Lieutenant Zoey Knight. She was still sitting there, her big brown eyes again focused on something outside the window. Lux felt a bit puzzled by her and her complete lack of reaction to Lux.

Zoey was attractive. Damn, she was hot. Merely staring at her brought up wild fantasies in Lux's mind. But there was something about her that felt distant, almost unreachable. Lux found herself both frustrated and intrigued by it.

As she walked back toward her truck, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Zoey's story than she was letting on. Maybe it was just the newness of the town, the strangeness of being in a place where everyone already knew each other.

Or maybe it was something else, something that Zoey wasn't ready to talk about.

Whatever it was, Lux decided to let it go, at least for now. She had her own life to focus on, her own responsibilities. But as she reached the station and stepped inside, she couldn't help but glance back down the street, wondering if she'd see Zoey Knight again before the day was done.

She held that thought as she started the truck heading straight for her father's house.

The drive was short as she wound through quiet streets lined with trees and modest houses. She had grown up in this neighborhood, every turn familiar, every yard and front porch a part of her childhood.

Her father's house was a small, single-story home with white siding and a neatly kept lawn. The flower beds out front were filled with blooming roses, their vibrant colors standing out against the green.

She parked in the driveway and got out of the truck, taking a deep breath as she approached the front door. The screen door creaked as she pushed it open, the sound familiar and somewhat nostalgic.

It reminded her of the many nights she had stood on the other side of this door, crying for her mom to come back to her. Losing her mom when she was so young had been devastating, and Lux had carried the trauma of it her whole life.

She often thought of what might have been, what her mom might have been like. How they might have had a great relationship now that Lux was an adult. She wished so deeply that things had been different.

They—Lux and her father—soon became inseparable, so much that she wanted nothing more than to be a firefighter, just like him. She walked inside.

The house smelled like freshly baked bread and coffee, a combination that always made her feel at home. The living room was cozy, filled with well-worn furniture and awards sitting atop the shelves. Her father had been a pretty outstanding firefighter in his time.

"Dad," Lux called out as she walked inside. "You in?"

"Kitchen!"

Lux made her way to the kitchen where her father was standing at the counter slicing a loaf of homemade bread. He was a tall man with graying hair and a friendly face; his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled.

Lux smiled and took a deep breath as she watched him. He wore an apron over his plaid shirt and jeans, his hands moving with practiced ease.

"Hey, kiddo," he said, looking up from his work.

"Hey, Dad." Lux leaned against the counter. She watched him for a moment, then walked over and hugged him from behind.

"Want a slice?" He held up a piece of bread. "There's nothing like warm, homemade bread."

"Sure." She took a slice and bit into it. The bread was warm and soft, the crust just the right amount of crunchy. "This is good."

"Glad you like it," he said, grinning. "I'm trying out a new recipe."

"It's a winner!"

He poured them both a cup of coffee, and they sat down at the small kitchen table. The table was old, the wood worn smooth from years of use. Lux's father took a sip of his coffee, his eyes on her, full of the same warmth and affection that had always been there.

"So, how's work?" he asked, his tone casual but interested.

"It's good." She set her cup down. "Busy as always."

"Anything interesting happen?"

Lux thought about Zoey, about their brief conversation at the coffee shop. She wasn't sure how much to share, not wanting to make too big a deal out of it.

"Not really," Lux said, keeping her tone light. "Just the usual stuff."

Her father nodded, taking another sip. He didn't press for more, just smiled at her, content with whatever she was willing to share. That was one of the things Lux loved most about her dad—he never pushed, never demanded more than she was ready to give.

"How about you?" Lux asked. "How's everything here?"

"Oh, you know" He waved a hand absentmindedly. "Same old, same old. I went fishing yesterday and caught a couple nice ones."

"Yeah? Did you cook them up?"

"Of course," he said, grinning. "Saved you some for later."

"Thanks, Dad." She smiled back at him.

Lux's phone rang, cutting into their conversation. She recognized Chief Thompson's number.

"Work calling?" her father asked, his tone light.

"Yeah, Chief Thompson," Lux said. She knew her father knew Becky well and respected her.

"Already?"

Lux shrugged. "You know how it is, Dad."

"Well, don't let me keep you if you need to get going."

"Yeah," Lux said. "But I'll be back soon. Maybe this weekend?"

"I'd like that." He stood up.

They walked to the front door together, and Lux hugged her father before stepping outside.

"Drive safe."

"I will," Lux said, giving him one last smile before heading to her truck.