Page 112 of The Firefighter's Fate

“What is that?” he asks sleepily. He keeps his eyes closed.

“Sorry for the modern technology,” I reply. “But it’s my friend Paisley.”

“Go ahead and answer her.”

Connor slowly slides out of the bed and groggily heads to the cabin’s kitchen as I pick up the phone.

“Hello, Paisley,” I say. “Long time.”

“Ember! God, I’ve just heard about the fire. Are you okay?”

I laugh.

“Yeah, I’m okay, Paisley. Had to spend a few nights in hospital but I’m all good now.”

“Hospital? Wow. That’s intense. What happened?”

“I kinda got... caught up in it all.”

“No way.”

“What can I say? No one can accuse me of not risking my life to get the story.”

“You always love joking about your adventures,” Paisley replies. “Seems like you’re living in one now.”

“Yeah, it’s been a hell of an adventure these last few weeks,” I remark, looking at Connor from across the cabin. Him... naked. God, he looks gorgeous with those wide shoulders and toned abs. So damn perfect. “A lot has happened, to say the least.”

“Like what?”

“That’s my little secret,” I reply. “I’ll tell you over some bottles of wine next time we meet.”

“When are you coming back home?” Paisley asks.

I take in a deep breath and pause for a long time before I dare answer.

“I’ve been thinking... I might not.”

“What? What do you mean? What’s happened?”

I’m being so damn careful with what I can say as Connor can overhear everything. He’s currently making a coffee, but I can easily tell he’s keeping one ear open.

“You know what we were talking about the last time we met?” I ask my friend. “At lunch?”

“Yeah...”

“Well, I’ve found one.”

“Found what, Ember?”

“I’ve found a strange man.”

“That’s impossible, Ember.”

“It’s very much not impossible, Paisley. I’ve somehow done it. He exists.”

I look over at Connor. He’s holding a mug of coffee.

And he’s looking at me with a smile on his beautiful face.

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