Page 78 of Too Hot

“Just Brianna and Andy. I can’t believe she went back into the school.”

Rafe didn’t hesitate; he ran back to the truck. “Chief, we have a teacher and student inside the school.” He grabbed another hose and headed for Brianna’s classroom.

“Rafe,” the chief yelled his name and put a hand on his arm. “We’ll take care it.”

“But…”

“Rules. You’re involved.” The chief yelled at the others. “Where is her classroom?”

Rafe told them and watched as others went into the school to fight the fire and find his Brianna. Yes, she was his. He was in love with her and couldn’t see his life without her.

Why did that realization come to him now? He glanced at the kids. Many were crying and upset, especially those in Brianna’s class. He couldn’t do anything, so he walked up to the class and began comforting the kids.

He told them Brianna and Andy would be all right. He had to believe that. His fellow firefighters were good. Hopefully Brianna and Andy hadn’t been overcome by smoke. That was sometimes more deadly than fire.

There were shouts, and he glanced over at the doorway to see a group of firefighters backing out. What the hell? He noticed the roof was coming down. Damn. They needed to find Brianna now.

A hand settled on his shoulder, and Rafe jumped, turning to see the other teacher. “I’m Ruby, Brianna’s friend. Parents are starting to arrive, so I need to take the kids to the other side of the parking lot. The parents are frantic.”

“I bet.” He helped her usher the kids around the grass to the pick-up zone as parents began pouring into the area. Several of Brianna’s kids didn’t want to leave.

“We’ll find Brianna and Andy. They’ll be fine.” Rafe assured everyone until their parents arrived.

He had no idea how he was going to keep that promise. Rafe pictured her classroom in his mind. She was mid-way down the hall, two exits at each end of the hallway, and…windows. To hell with standing back. He needed to save his woman. Rafe ran around the side of the building.

Brianna’s shout made his heart race. That’s when he saw a man dressed in a dark hoodie and jeans, holding something in his hand. It was then he realized Brianna and Andy were standing on the ground, outside the burning school, about ten feet from the guy.

She was safe. Relief hit him along with another shot of adrenaline. Rafe shouted at the guy, who dropped what he was holding and ran. Rafe went after him. It wasn’t much of a race even with the gear he wore. Rafe caught up with him and tackled him to the ground. The man tried to buck him off, but Rafe knew how to hold him down.

“We’ve got it, Rafe.”

Rafe turned his head to see Logan and two other officers standing there. He eased up and let Logan take over, then he turned. Where was Brianna? His gaze roamed the area, and he saw her with a team of paramedics.

“I’m okay, really,” Brianna said to the paramedics.

“You should keep the oxygen on, ma’am.”

“I don’t need it.” She pushed the man’s arm away and glanced over at the little boy sitting next to her. “How are you doing, Andy?”

“I’m good, Miss Brianna.” A little pink nose peeked out from the boy’s shirt. “So is Mr. Hammy.”

“Good.” She glanced up and met Rafe’s gaze. “Stay right here.” Brianna stood and walked toward him.

Rafe’s long strides met her before she got more than a few feet from the paramedics. “You should listen to the paramedics,” he said. Would his heart ever calm down?

“As I told them. I’m fine.” Just then, there was a shout, and a blonde woman raced toward the paramedics. “That’s Andy’s mom. Be right back.”

He kept his gaze on her as she talked with the mother and then the father when he arrived. Andy sat there as his parents alternately scolded him, then hugged him and told him he was a good kid. The mother hugged Brianna before she took Andy’s hand and dad took Mr. Hammy.

“Wait,” Andy called out and pulled away from his mother. “Thank you for saving me, Miss Brianna.” The little boy hugged her tight, released her, and joined his parents.

Rafe slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. “Mr. Hammy?”

“The hamster. Andy’s show and tell today. He went back in to get him.”

“And you went in after Andy.” The pieces were starting to come together.

“What else could I do? He’s one of my kids.”

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