Page 28 of September's Bad Boy: Cooper
He turns toward the crowd, raising his voice. "Everyone, listen up. That was a report from one of Shane’s ranch hands. There’s a fire—Kinley and Miles’s new house is engulfed. Shane’s property is dangerously close."
Gasps ripple through the room. Cooper’s entire body goes rigid beside me.
He turns to me, his jaw tight. "Want to bet the developer is behind this? I can't prove it, but my gut is saying so."
I nod, "Mine too."
The gym goes still. Shane is already on his phone, barking instructions. Caitlin grabs his arm, grounding him.
Cullen continues, "Anyone who can help, let’s move. Fire crews are en route. Let’s clear a path and assist where needed."
People spring into action. Ruby gathers a group to organize water and aid. Huck and Ty follow Shane out the door.
I look at Cooper. "Go. I’ll close up and then help however I can from here."
Cooper grabs my hand and pulls me a few steps away from the others. His voice is low, urgent.
"Stay back from the fire, okay? Promise me. Let the professionals handle it. Cullen’s leading the response. If anyone can get it under control, it’s him."
I nod, swallowing hard. "Only if you promise me the same."
He gives a tight smile, then leans in and kisses me like it might be the last time. "I promise. I love you."
"I love you too," I whisper.
He nods, grabs his keys, and rushes to his truck.
Red and white lights flash down Main Street as the engines roar past, headed straight for the mountainside.
I stand frozen for a heartbeat, watching Cooper disappear into the smoke-filled horizon.
This fight—the real one—is still coming.
And we’re not backing down.
Not this time.
EPILOGUE
CULLEN
After two days of fighting the fire at Miles and Kinley’s place, my body felt like it had been worked over with a crowbar. Every muscle ached, my throat burned, and my eyes were so gritty I could barely keep them open. I’d been battling fires in Mustang Mountain for the past ten years. Each one had its own personality. Some crept along, moving slow and staying low. Others bulldozed their way over everything in their path. This one had been the worst kind… the kind that dug in and fought back. It raced ahead, jumping from one patch of dry grass to the next, always one step ahead.
We’d managed to save the house, but two barns and an outbuilding were gone. Miles stood at the edge of the blackened field, his jaw clenched, one arm wrapped around Kinley like he was afraid she’d vanish too.
I could relate. Fire stripped everything away. What you built, what you thought was safe… it could chew through it in a matter of seconds and leave you with absolutely nothing.
I hauled my wet gear toward my truck, my boots heavy with mud. Huck was rolling up a hose a few yards away. He looked like he’d been through a meat grinder and barely survived.
As I passed, he caught my eye and hollered, “Ruby’s looking for you.”
“Now?” My stomach clenched. All I wanted was a shower, something to fill my belly, and my bed. Maybe not even in that order.
“Yeah. She said to tell you it’s urgent.” Huck leaned against his truck and offered a sympathetic grin. Hell, even his teeth were streaked with black from the fire. “Her words. Not mine.”
I groaned. Ruby’s definition of urgent usually involved coffee running low or one of her schemes to try to marry me off before I hit forty.
“Did she say what it’s about?”
