Page 21 of Lethal Danger

His warm grip slipped around hers. Goodness. His hand was large and strong but gentle. She was touching Hawthorne Emerson.

And she’d just blurted that she loved him. “Your writing, I mean. Your stories. I love your stories.” More heat surged into her face. She probably looked more like a beet now. “They’re amazing.”

Was she pumping his hand too hard? She dropped her hold and yanked her hand back. “You’re a terrific writer. My copy of Seconds in Shadow came last night. I wanted to start it right away, but…” She stopped before she spilled that she was attacked and all of the weirdness of her life he didn’t need to know.

In fact, he didn’t need to know any of whatever she’d babbled about. And probably didn’t want to. She was rambling like an idiot. “I’m honored to meet you.” She firmly shut her mouth. Hopefully, that was a more rational thing to say.

Though deciphering what was rational with a breathless, swoony sensation spiraling through her body might be impossible. How had she not recognized him? Her favorite author in the world?

She tried to casually study his face while Molly said something.

The beard. His photo on the back cover of all his books showed him with a beard. He looked so different without it. Even more handsome, if that were possible. With only the little bit of stubble he had now, she could see the shape of his strong jawline that had been hidden in his photo.

But she should’ve recognized the eyes. Except that the photo made them look simply blue. They were so much more vibrant in person. The photo didn’t capture their electric intensity, their vivid teal color.

The swoony faintness seemed to be increasing. Good thing Molly still had her hand under Jazz’s arm.

And Flash chose that moment to brush against her leg. Probably getting concerned about the weird flood of chemicals rushing through her body.

“I have a question for you.” His deep voice seemed to surround her in this dream she must be having.

“You do?”

He smiled. “I was wondering if—”

A boom punctured the air.

It took Jazz a second to be sure the sound wasn’t her mind exploding from the realization she was standing in front of her favorite author.

Flash’s barks helped. Along with Hawthorne and Molly spinning toward the sound.

Smoke rose from the area of…the Giant Slide?

Jazz and Flash took off, sprinting toward the smoke at the same time as Hawthorne. She pressed the button to activate her coms set. “PT3 to Base. Explosion at Giant Slide. En route to site. ETA one minute.” She couldn’t see the slide above the cattle barn and horse arena that stood between them, but she knew the layout of this fair as well as she knew her own name. The smoke was from the slide, no doubt.

Hawthorne outpaced her, an advantage to Jazz since he cleared a path through the crowds.

Flash strained at the leash, eager to outrun her and Hawthorne.

Jazz picked up her pace. She swung off into the shortcut around the feed shed and through the indoor horse arena, which would be empty right now.

Sand kicked up around her feet as she and Flash darted across the large arena and flew out the opening at the other end.

The smoke was fading as she locked eyes on the Giant Slide.

It teetered, listing to one side. She forced herself to keep breathing and closed the remaining distance, scanning the area.

“How did you—” Hawthorne ran up behind her as she slowed. But his question hung unanswered as they stared at the wreckage.

People scattered the grass beside the huge slide where it leaned precariously. Had they fallen off with the explosion?

Other people were at the bottom of the slide, some lying on the pavement and some sitting up.

Crying filled the air. A child calling for her mom.

“S4 to Base.” Hawthorne’s firm tone duplicated in Jazz’s ear over coms. “At scene with PT3. Need nurse and medics. Ambulance. Also crew to stabilize the slide.”

“Mommy!”

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