Page 37 of Fast and Dirty

“Honey, it’s okay,” Maggies says firmly, although her eyes are staring off into the distance with God knows what going on behind them.

“What happened?”

Maggie steps in before Kira can speak. “One of my ovens is old and not working right for some time now,” she explains. “Kira didn’t know notto use it. It’s not her fault.”

“I blew up an oven and almost set the place on fire,” Kira chimes in, like she can’t believe herself and I pull her into me closer. My hand finds the back of her neck, which is bare except for a few dark whisps of her hair that have come loose from her ponytail and start gently massaging, hoping to give her a little comfort.

This time, Maggie lets out a cackle. “Oh…psshhh…” She looks around like the right words might float by at any moment so she can snag them. “It could happen to anyone,” she finally settles on.

“Throwing water on it didn’t help,” Kira mumbles.

“Ooh,” I accidentally let out because that definitely would not.

“Well… no,” Maggie’s eyes shift to the side for a moment, but she’s still clearly determined not to lose her shit for Kira’s benefit. “But hey! No longer an issue!”

“This one’s been sheltered in a tower,” Agnes appears at Kira’s other side. “Poor thing missed out on some of life’s basics. Excuse me.” She gently nudges a few people aside as Kira goes back to fretting.

“Maggie, I’m so sorry. I feel so bad!”

I press my lips to her temple like it’s the most natural thing I’ve ever done.

“You’re going to lose income,” Kira waves a hand at the customers that have been evacuated, just as I hear the clang of a trashcan somewhere behind me.

Maggie waves a dismissive hand. “I can make up for that easy with one of my BOGO donuts days, or hey! Your biscuits have done very well today. People have been eating those right up!” I write myself a mental reminder to bitch slap Hunt across the face next time I see him.

“Move aside, people, or I’ll have to get out my bullhorn!” Agnes orders a little more sharply this time and it’s now I notice that she has a folding chair tucked under her arm. This time the three of us stop to take stock of exactly what it is she’s doing. She shakes out the folding chair and plops down in.

“What are you doing?” Kira looks down at her.

“Is it that time, Agnes?” Maggie leans down. “Do I need to call Shady Meadows?”

“No!” Agnes shouts and whips out one of those little personal mister fans, and even with her huge shades I can tell her eyes are frowning. “Now, kindly move out of my face, the show’s about to start.”

“What show?” I ask and immediately wish I hadn’t when the crowd parts for Jace who emerges from the front bakery door.

I’m guessing any potential danger has been ruled out as he’s ditched his helmet and jacket, which I can’t blame him for in June. Instead, he’s in a WestBridge Fire Department grey t shirt with the suspenders of his pants hanging at his sides. His black hair is sweaty and sticking to his forehead, and he reeks of smoke and two younger crew members come out to flank him. He shakes his head when he sees Agnes before turning to Maggie. “Well, I can’t say I’ve seen an oven actually blow up before…” He smirks at her.

“Kira honey, go and call it a day,” Maggie gently orders Kira and my girl just nods, almost looking relieved, when Maggie adds, sweetly, “and no need to come back tomorrow.”

Kira nods again and presses her lips together before I lace my fingers with hers and lead her away. I get the feeling she’s not used to this much commotion. I’m hoping the news I have for her will turn her day around.

“I can’t believe I blew my first day of my first ever job,” Kira mumbles defeatedly.

“You made an innocent mistake,” I sigh as I look at her, giving her hand a squeeze.

“I blew up an oven.”

“Sounds like that oven was a landmine and you stepped on it, like anyone could make the mistake of doing.”

“I swear, I’ve brought nothing but trouble to this town,” she sighs and I stop our stride to look her in the eye.

“You’ve livened this town up,” I correct.

“Please,” she lets go of my hand so that she can wave both of hers around as she talks. “I’ve left you with a broken-down, expensive-ass heap of metal, I’m freeloading off Agnes, and the one job I try to work has to close down for half a day - maybe longer - because I did god knows how much in fire damage to her establishment that she probably put her blood, sweat and tears - Ihopethat’s all - into it!”

“Agnes likes having you here, and you know what - so do I.” I pull her into me close and fold my arms over her shoulders. She makes some kind of squeak as if in protest before I feel her long exhale through the cotton of my t-shirt. Her body relaxes a little before drawing in a long breath to replace the one she just let out and her slender arms come around my back. “You’re in a whole new realm, and you’re just trying to learn how to exist in it,” I continue to talk her down as she repeats a few more breaths. When her respirations regulate, she turns her cheek to rest against my chest as we stand there on the corner, under the shade of a sycamore with nothing but the lazy sound of early morning traffic and chatter as our soundtrack.

Finally, when Mr. Palmer’s loud-ass pick up truck rounds the corner, rattling us out of our peaceful bubble, Kira lifts her head and turns to look at me. I release, her just enough to look at her.

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