Page 22 of All Dressed Up

Or maybe not. She turned around to see Bethany hanging on the door, looking exasperated.

“Hey, everything okay?”

“Come quick!”

“Where?”

“TheButtermilk Advocateis on fire!”

“What?” Rachel’s stomach knotted as fear rushed through her. She ran over to the door just as the fire truck pulled up, its siren blaring. A half a dozen volunteer firefighters she recognized immediately jumped out and moved toward the building.

She pushed open the glass door and darted across the street, the loud siren vibrating in her ears. Had the fire spread to the Belle Bridal Boutique? Was Will okay?

Her heart dropped to her stomach. What if he was hurt?

He can’t be. He just can’t be.She rushed the length of the fire truck, needing to know. The heavy smoke now billowing out from both theButtermilk Advocateand the Belle Bridal Boutique aggravated her lungs, causing her to cough.

“Rachel!” Bethany yelled over the commotion. “We really shouldn’t be this close.”

“I need to find Will.” She took a few determined steps toward the boutique but was immediately blocked by Adam.

“You can’t go any farther,” he shouted, adjusting his fireman’s helmet and then touching Bethany’s shoulder. “You two go wait across the street. I’ll come over as soon as I can with an update,” he said and disappeared around the other side of the truck.

“Come on.” Bethany grabbed Rachel’s hand. “It’ll be okay. We’re only in the way here. Adam will fill us in when he can.”

Rachel yanked free. The hell with Adam and having to wait across the street hopelessly. Wasn’t going to happen. She wasn’t going anywhere until she confirmed with her own eyes that Will was okay. She beelined straight for the bridal shop’s door and was nearly knocked over by Will bursting through, his arms full of wedding dresses.

She steadied herself in her wedges and breathed a huge sigh of relief. He wasn’t hurt. “Can I help?” she asked.

“Here take these.” He shoved the dresses at her. “There’s a lot of smoke in there. I’m trying to salvage all that I can. You can set them over there.” He pointed to a nearby bench full of white dresses.

Rachel wrapped her arms around the gowns. “I’ll help.”

Will shook his head. “No. There’s too much smoke. I don’t want you in there.”

A furious Adam came up beside them. “Rachel, across the street, now!”

She shot her ex a look of disgust, but she knew she was just in the way. “Fine. I’m going.”

“You too, Will,” Adam said.

“I’m not leaving.” Will took a couple of steps toward the Belle Bridal Boutique, but Adam blocked him.

“Sorry, man. You know the rules.”

“The hell with the rules, Reed. That’s my mom’s shop. Get out of my way.”

Adam stood his ground. “You’re not on duty, man. We got this. The fire’s contained. I’ll come get you once we clear the boutique. We can’t do our job with you in there, and you know it.”

Will raked a hand through his hair, and Rachel could feel his frustration as she stood helpless with the dresses in her arms.

“Is everyone okay in theButtermilk Advocate?” Will asked.

Adam nodded. “Jason and his staff were all out to lunch. I’m going to go help the guys. You two, stay out of the building.” His gaze begged Rachel to listen this time. “Please.”

“I’m going.” She motioned for Will to help her take all the wedding dresses across the street, which he reluctantly did.

But he refused to go into her shop, standing on the curb and watching the action across the street. “My mom is going to kill me,” he said, gazing down at all the gowns they’d set on the bench outside her shop.

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