Page 2 of The Heat Between Us

As I'm wiping down the last window, I notice something odd. The outlet beneath it has a strange dark spot around it, and when I look closer, I see that the plastic is slightly melted. Remembering Mabel's warning about the electrical system, I make a mental note to call an electrician tomorrow.

My stomach growls, reminding me I haven't eaten since the granola bar I had for breakfast. I decide to take a quick break and grab something from the coffee shop I spotted down the street.

The fresh air feels amazing after hours in the dusty office. Cedar Falls' main street is charming, with its brick storefronts and hanging flower baskets. People nod and smile as I pass, a few even stopping to introduce themselves when they realize I'm new in town.

"You're the new lawyer, right?" asks the man behind the counter. His name tag reads "Lou."

"Word travels fast," I say with a smile.

"Small town," he says, "What can I get you?"

I order a sandwich and an iced tea, then head back to my office. As I approach the building, I notice something strange—a faint haze around the upper windows. At first, I think it's just the sun hitting the dirty glass, but as I get closer, my heart starts to race.

It's smoke.

I drop my sandwich and run the last few yards to the building. When I throw open the door, I'm hit by a wall of heat and smoke that makes me stagger back. Flames are already licking up the back wall where those old filing cabinets stood, right near the outlet I'd noticed earlier.

Without thinking, I rush inside. My laptop is in there, along with all my legal books and the files I've started preparing. And Mabel—is she upstairs?

"Mabel!" I scream, but the roar of the fire drowns me out.

The smoke is thicker now, making it hard to see or breathe. I pull my shirt up over my nose and mouth and crouch low, trying to make my way to the stairs that lead to the apartments above.

But the flames are spreading fast, feeding on the old wood and my freshly opened cans of paint. There's a sudden crack as something gives way above me, and a piece of the ceiling comes crashing down just feet from where I stand.

I'm trapped, and the realization hits me with more force than the heat: I might not make it out of here.

And that's when I hear it—someone shouting from what seems like very far away.

"Hey! Is anyone in there?"

A figure appears through the smoke, tall and broad-shouldered, wearing what looks like a firefighter's jacket. But there's no mask, no oxygen tank. Just a man who's rushed in to help.

As he gets closer, I can make out dark hair, intense eyes scanning the room, and a determined set to his jaw.

"Are you okay?" he asks, reaching for me. His voice is deep and steady, a calm center in the chaos around us.

"Yes," I manage to say through my coughing. "But Mabel might be upstairs—the woman who lives above the office."

"I already checked the upper floor," he says firmly. "She's safe outside. You're the only one left in here."

Relief floods through me, followed quickly by a new wave of fear. "Are the other firefighters coming?"

He glances toward the door, his expression tightening. "I was passing by when I saw the smoke. My team's been called, but they're not here yet. It's just us for now."

As we turn toward the door, there's a deafening crack from above, and the ceiling gives way entirely. A shower of burning debris crashes down, blocking our path.

The man pulls me back against his chest, shielding me from the falling embers. For a moment, we just stand there, his heart pounding against my back, both of us staring at the wall of flames that now separates us from safety.

"Looks like we need a new plan," he says, and despite everything, there's a hint of something almost like humor in his voice.

I turn to look at him, this stranger who's now trapped in my burning office with me, and for the first time, I really see his face. Strong features, sharp jawline, and eyes that somehow convey a look of both concern and confidence at the same time.

"I'm Lewis," he says, offering me his hand even as the world burns around us. "And I promise I'm going to get you out of here."

Chapter 2 - Lewis

I watch her face as she takes my hand, noting how her eyes widen slightly at my promise.

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