Page 222 of Smoke and Fire
Dahlia hurried down the stairs and met me halfway. I wrapped my arms around her waist and lifted her up, relieved to see her safe. She tightened her hold around my neck and whispered, "I'm so glad you're here."
"Everything okay?" I asked.
"Fine now."
She held onto me for several long moments. When I could finally pull away, she stepped back. Her hands stayed on my arms. She had to tilt her head back a little to look up at me from this close. She'd fit perfectly under my arm. My gaze drifted to her lips. All I wanted to do was lock us together and forget everything else existed. I fisted my hand at my side to stop myself from touching her lips with my thumb.
Did fire live in those lips?
The smoky gaze?
Yes, it had to. I'd already been burned.
"There's a lot to update you on," she said, a little breathlessly. She smiled, the edges of her lips twitching, like she couldn't hold it back, even if she wanted to. "But let's just say that it's not what you'd ever imagine, and everything is fine."
My shoulders relaxed. "Good."
Her expression creased a little. I reached up to smooth the wrinkles away.
"I, uh . . . I hope it's okay," she continued, "but I called Inessa's care center to check on her. They said she was worried about the fire growing so big. Smoke in Jackson City was bad, and she heard the news. I spoke with her for a while. Several times, in fact. She's been calling when she's worried."
"Really?"
Dahlia nodded, swallowing. She squeezed my arm where her hand still rested.
"I've loved talking to her, and she calmed down as soon as we got on the phone together. Everything is fine. I just . . . I wanted them to have my number in case you were on a fire and they needed something. I'm sorry if it was presumptuous, maybe, but—"
I silenced her by kissing her. She quieted immediately, limp in my arms. It forced me to wrap an arm around her back to hold her weight, which pulled her even closer. The press of her chest against mine sent my stomach into a giddy whirl.
Breathless, I pulled away. She blinked, dazed.
"Oh," she whispered.
I pressed my forehead to hers. "Thank you," I murmured. "It means so much. It's going to take some practice for me not to feel like I have to do all of this alone, but I'm confident we can figure it out."
She smiled, flushed with relief. "Me too."
A sound from the station caught my ear. I glanced back, saw James waving for me, and reluctantly turned back to her.
"My two weeks is still just beginning. We'll be assigned here for that time. Maybe later it will be easier to connect, but I need you to assume you won't see me again."
"Can do."
"Just like that?" An incredulous smile spread across my face. "It's that easy for you? Two weeks and you're fine with it?"
"If you're the prize," she murmured with her bright grin, "then yes."
One last crushing kiss and I forced her away from me before I made an ass of myself in front of the squad. Dahlia stood there, toying with a strand of hair, while I yanked my bag out of the back of the buggy and headed for the station.
Meanwhile, smoky sunlight burst over the top of the mountains to the north like a welcome into better days ahead.
29
DAHLIA
Two weeks later
A breath of fresh air raced over my cheeks.
