Page 2 of When You Saved Me

Everything is on fire now except for the sliver of floor I have between myself and the outside facing wall. Drawing my feet as close to myself as possible, I strain to cover as much of myself with the towel as I can.

Burning.My entire body is burning.

I blink back the tears and take in a few shallow breaths before I let out another scream, “Help! Please! Help me!”

The only answer is the whipping fire before my vision tunnels, my breath gets lodged in my throat and everything goes dark.

Death is peaceful. It is floating high above my fears of bright red and blue light that burns and takes and devours.

Floating.Yes. I am floating.

Darkness gives way to light, and I see him. Bright green eyes the color of fresh spring look down at me. He is saying something with his beautiful mouth, but I don’t hear a word. My heartbeat rushes in my ears.

Alive. Not dead.Alive.

I think I smile at him. This beautiful man with bright green eyes and black hair with stubble along his jaw.

How can eyes like his be so vivid and hauntedat the same time?

I want to ask him. I want to know what lies behind his eyes. But something above us catches in my vision and then I’m falling.

CRASH!

Air leaves my raw lungs. Pain erupts in the back of my head and little stars dance along my vision.

I look to my left and see him. Those piercing green eyes under worried brows as he reaches for me.

I’m on fire.

I’M ON FIRE!

I want to scream at him to save me. Please! Put the fire out. It burns.

“Stay with me,” his voice is weak. It doesn’t match him. Not at all. “Keep your eyes on me.”

No sound moves past my lips as I try to reach for him, but my arm is stuck. Something is holding me down. I can’t…I can’t move.

The pain…the pain!

A hiss of hot breath rushes into my lungs and darkness takes me once again.

Chapter 1

Seven Years Later

CHARLIE

“Oh my gosh, Casper! Look how cute this town is!”

The white furball chirped with a meow and popped his head up like he knew exactly what I’d just said. Sticking my fingers through the front of his crate, I gave him a scratch under his chin before looking back to the small downtown area we were driving through in our new hometown.

Townsfolk bundled in long coats and scarves walked along the cobblestone sidewalks. Trees were decorated with twinkling lights—remnants from the holiday season that just passed.

There were so many cute shops inside of the old brick buildings. Excitement thrummed through my veins as I wondered what little treasures I might find inside.

As I slowly drove forward, I made a note to come back to Sarah’s Bakery. It looked too cute with its pink awning andswirly logo. You could always tell how good a place was by the number of people inside. The small bakery was packed to the brim with patrons. Every single table was occupied and there were several people standing in line.

My new home.

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