Page 49 of Smoke and Fire
“Danget.”
The word came out of me in a hiss. I was about to shove the phone back in my pocket when it buzzed again. Bastian’s name flickered across the screen in a call. My stomach fluttered when I answered, then pressed it to my ear.
“Hello?”
His rolling voice responded with a casual, “Hey,” that sent my stomach into flips. The sound of his voice felt like submerging into a steaming bath. For how frantic my video had been, he sounded calm. My response came quick and a bit shaky, but it had nothing to do with The Situation.
Everything to do with his smooth-as-butterhey.
“Hey," I choked out and ran a hand through my hair to get it out of my face. “Sorry if my video was a bit panicked. I just . . . ah . . ."
My mind stopped working.
“No, it’s fine. Not your fault.”
His voice was low, quick, like he didn’t want anyone to hear him. I could picture him leaning against a tree, standing away from a crowd of firefighters, head bent in concentration as he spoke.
“You got my message?” I asked.
“Yeah. Just now. I only have a few minutes.”
My nostrils flared at a little stretch of quiet on his part.Now is not the time to get shy, Bastian! I need answers.Questions clogged my throat. They dove deeper than what he wanted me to do about the stalker woman—whose name I didn’t even get, I realized belatedly.
As far as detectives went, I clearly failed.
No, I wanted information on the fire. On his whereabouts. Was he safe? Did he need to leave and come down here? Because I’d gladly house him.
Those thoughts dissipated when he spoke again.
“First, I’m sorry that happened. I never dreamed it would have or I wouldn’t have put you in this position.”
I licked my dry lips. The sun sank lower in the distant horizon, casting a brilliant gold and orange on the sky above the mountains. Hot pink lined the clouds, highlighted by smoke.
“It’s fine,” I croaked.
“Are you safe?”
The undertone in his voice flipped my belly again. I’d need medicine to calm these inner-gymnastic.
“Yes, fine.”
“You’re sure? She’s not unstable or something?”
“No, nothing like that. I’m not in danger or anything. Jess’s reputation is, I’d wager, but not me.”
He let out a long breath, clearly relieved. “Good. Jess will be fine. You did great.”
His praise sent a ridiculous little thrill through me. He asked about my safety before Jess. That meant something!
“I’m going to contact Pri and let her know,” he continued, “I’ll see if she’s heard anything. Have you noticed chatter about it in the social media group?”
“No.”
“No threads about this?”
My mind ran back over the comments I’d monitored today, but I couldn’t recall an instance that would apply here. I hadn't perused very far, though. There were over 40,000 people in the group and thirty new posts a day. Keeping track of any of it was like picking up thrown glitter.
“I can check again tonight, but nothing stood out.”
