Page 91 of Slow Burn
"At the bakery, why?"
A shaky breath filtered through the line. "Oh, no. Frankie, please get out of there. Right now."
"What? Why?" I could hear her pacing through the phone. "Maddie, what's going on?"
"Adam just called. Mr. Hamilton's shop caught fire and they're struggling to put it out. He's worried because the buildings are so close together the fire will spread too fast." Another shaky breath reached my ears. "Frankie, please get out of there. Sugar Booger is four shops away from the drycleaner."
Maddie sounded so scared, and that made me scared too. "I'm going."
"Okay, good. Call me when you're home so I'll know you're safe."
"Promise."
I shoved my phone back into my pocket with every intention of turning around and marching my butt out of the bakery. Until I saw the muffins sitting pretty on the bench. The bench still covered in frosting from when the piping bag's seam gave out.
I couldn't leave my kitchen like that.
Moving as fast as I could, I snatched a rag and cleaner from the sink and tidied up my work space. The pungent smell of smoke hitting my nostrils as I packed the muffins in an airtight container.
Shit, that was fast.
Panic clawed at my throat and I walked as fast as my feet would allow. All I needed was to get the muffins to the storeroom and then get the hell out of there. I should've known better because all signs pointed to it not being my day.
In my hurried state, I kicked the stopper holding the door open. I spun around, but the door had already clicked shut.
"No, no, no."
My heart flatlined for a nanosecond before it slammed against my ribs like a wild beast trying to make an escape. The walls started shifting, steadily closing in on me. This couldn't be happening.
One hand reached for the handle while the other furiously rubbed at my neck, desperately trying to get air to my lungs.
I needed to breathe. If only the damn door would open, and the walls would stop moving. My lips parted to call for help. Only no sound came. Nothing but the deafening thumps of my heart.
I tried the handle again, but whatever I did made my world spin. Around and around until up was down and right was left. My head connected with something hard; cold sensations traveled along my skin.
My lids felt heavy; keeping them open near impossible. Maybe I had time to close my eyes, just for a few minutes, until the world stopped going around and around.
I let out a breath, allowing my body to give into the tiredness. It was so calm and peaceful until I was viciously pulled from my state of bliss.
My eyes flew open, my entire body shaking as I furiously coughed up fire from my lungs. There were people—an EMT and a firefighter—in front of me desperately trying to get a mask to my face, but all I could see was the smoke billowing out of the building.
My building.
No. Oh, please no.
I needed to get inside, to save what was left of my bakery. In one quick move, I jumped up and darted for the entrance of Sugar Booger. I didn't make it very far when a strong arm snaked around my waist and yanked my back against a wall of hard muscles.
"You can't go in there."
The moment he spoke, every muscle in my body tensed. Because it might've been more than a decade, but I'd never forget that voice. It was one I both longed to hear and loathed at the same time.
Gage freaking Calloway.
I had no idea how I managed it, but I spun around and poked him in the chest. "You can't tell me what to do." Well, he probably could.
He stood stock-still for a few long seconds, and because he was still wearing his gear, I had no idea what his face was doing behind that mask. That was until he whipped the thing off.
One look at his face and my lungs collapsed in one big whoosh, leaving me with another coughing fit that had nothing to do with the smoke I'd inhaled. Hair wet and disheveled. Face sweaty and covered in soot. And yet, he was still the most beautiful man in my world.
