Page 63 of Five Alarm Kiss

“Everyone’s safe,” Jake reminded her.

“I know, it’s just…” She swiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. “I did this. It’s my fault.”

“It was an accident, not arson.”

“I know, but?—”

“How’d it happen?”

A sharp inhale of the lingering smoke threw her into a coughing fit. She couldnottell him what she’d been doing! Cheeks burning, she parroted the same story she’d given the police. “I fell asleep on the couch while I was waiting for thechicken to cook.” Apparently, one ofhervices was lying, but how could she tell him the real reason she’d practically burned down the place was because she’d been?—

“Oh, fudge,” she whimpered, burying her face in the blanket.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Jake soothed, oblivious to what was really troubling her.

Thank goodness because she’d have to move to an uncharted island if he knew.

“Do you have someplace to stay for a while?”

Looking at the destruction, Laurel conceded he was right. She couldn’t stay here. Skye was out of town for a destination wedding. She’d been hired to do hair and makeup for the bride and all of her bridesmaids and wouldn’t be back until Sunday. She knew Skye would be happy to let her stay at her place, and she did have a key in case of emergencies. But the thought of being trapped, unprotected in a bus with his royal psycho, Eugene, gave Laurel the heebie-jeebies. She valued her life too much to offer herself up as a sacrifice to the feline death ninja.

“Skye’s out of town, but I’m sure I can stay with Britt.”

“Okay,” Jake said. “Get what you need, and I’ll drop you off.”

“She’s working right now, and I don’t have a key.” The restaurant wasn’t open as late during the week as it was on the weekends, but it was only a little after five p.m. It would still be around six hours before Britt was home. “I’ll just wait here until she’s off.”

“The hell you will,” Jake told her. “You’re coming home with me.”

Her eyes snapped to his.

“Relax, Princess. I’m not gonna take advantage of you… unless you want me to,” he added with a roguish grin. Her entire face flushed. “But you shouldn’t stay here. Come to my house, let me make you dinner, and you can go to your friend’s when she’s off work. Sound good?”

The taking advantage part? Yes! But no way in bells was she going to tell him that.

“You cook?” she asked instead.

“I can microwave ramen with the best of them.”

“Wow.” She drew out the word. “Impressive.”

“I’m a man of many talents.”

I’m sure you are.

“Say yes,” he coaxed. “I need a ride, anyway.”

She furrowed her brows. “Didn’t you just offer to drop me off?”

“I did, but I figured we’d take your car.”

“What?” The question came out as more of a puff of breath than an actual word.

“I came on the rig, Princess.” He tugged the collar of his turnout coat. “Not in my Jeep.”

“You’re on the clock until Saturday,” she said, the fact he was working finally sinking in. “You should go before they leave. I don’t want to get you into trouble.”

“I won’t get into trouble.”

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