Page 37 of Some Like It Hot

I take a deep breath as we both step down into the bookstore. “Okay.” I’m only partially taking in what he’s telling me. But it sounds good. His tone is reassuring, and I love that he’s holding my hand.

We head for the bakery side of the building.

“There’s smoke coming from the kitchen,” he says, pausing in the doorway between the two businesses. He turns to look at me. “Stay here.”

I grasp his hand tighter. “No. You can’t go in there alone.”

“I’m fine. I’m going to check it out. Stay here.”

A little part of my brain recognizes that he’s protecting me, and I love that.

The bigger part of my brain realizes that this man, who I really care about, is heading into a fire that I probably started. In one of my best friend’s kitchen.

I obviously cannot let him do that. “Simon, don’t?—”

Just then, there’s a loud pounding on the front door.

I jump and swing toward the door.

“Fire department! Open the door!”

There are firefighters gathered in front of the glass door and window.

Well, perfect.

I look at Simon. “Do not go into that kitchen.”

He sighs. “Fine. But I’m answering the door.”

I frown. “No, I?—”

“Don’t have a bra on.” Simon fills in just as he starts for the door to let the Chicago Fire Department in.

CHAPTER 10

Aidan

“See you all later,” I say, giving a wave to my crew as I head for my locker. My twenty-four-hour shift is done and the new crew is on duty.

I’m looking forward to catching a little more sleep and then taking my little brother, who is still on winter break from college, curling. I’ve always thought it was a bit of a puzzling sport, but according to my brother everyone is doing it and I’m as competitive as the next guy. I embrace every opportunity to show my siblings who is the biggest and the strongest. In a friendly, we-love-each-other-way, of course. My family means everything to me.

I’m just grabbing my coat when I hear the call.

“Smoke detected from home security system. Books and Buns bakery,” the dispatcher says.

That gives me instant pause. That’s the bakery where Elise works. She’s talked about it in our text exchanges. There can’t be another bakery with that same name.

Dispatch gives the street address, but I barely hear it. I’m following the crew to the truck.

“What the hell are you doing, Burke?” Shelly asks. “You’re off-duty.”

We don’t work together often, but Shelly is around thirty-five and looks very sweet but is an absolute beast in the gym. She’s American Ninja Warrior level athletic. But she isn’t going to stop me from riding along on this call.

“I know a woman who works there. I need to make sure she’s okay.” I shoot Shelly a look that brooks no argument.

She doesn’t want to waste time debating it. “Fine. But you know you can’t go in.”

“Got it.” I can’t battle any blaze, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get eyes on Elise to see for myself that she’s unharmed.

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