Page 29 of Hot For Her Bear

Oh no.

He wouldn’t, would he?

Bishop was deranged.

He was going to burn her building down with her locked up in it.

Saffron closed her eyes and hoped help came before it was too late.

If they didn’t get her out soon, she was a goner. Visions of Dasha filled her mind. If this was the way she died, she was glad of one thing.

Following her gut to seek Dasha out was the best decision she’d ever made.

From that small instinct, she had got to mate with the most talented and beautiful woman she had ever known.

Looking around, she didn’t see anything that could help her escape or keep her warm. She rubbed her arms harder and prayed for a miracle.

Fate couldn’t have given her and Dasha this fabulous life only to take it away. She refused to believe that.

Saffron wrapped her arms around herself and thought of Dasha. Shivers racked her body uncontrollably. The heat that always spread through her when she thought of her bear should be plenty enough to ward off the cold air.

“We’ll make sure it’s wrapped up really good. This is an amazing painting, Dasha.” Jack stared at her work.

She had sold a painting that she was a little behind in sending off. She always brought her work to Jack who specialized in specialty shipping.

Dasha never knew how to respond when someone admired her work. It was her living and her passion, but she wasn’t one who liked to receive praise. She just did what she loved, and there were people willing to pay for it.

“Um, thank you?”

“You have real talent, girl. I see why people are beating down at your door to get their hands on your work.” He grinned and placed the painting on the floor behind him. He turned back and rang up her transaction. It was a little pricey to ship through him, but she trusted that her work would arrive to her client unscathed. For the amount of money she was paid for her work, Jack was worth it.

Dasha offered a small smile while she signed the receipt. He handed her back her credit card which she slid back into her wristlet.

“I’ll be back in a few days. I have a three-piece series I need to mail out,” she said.

“Oh, that sounds interesting. One day I may have to save up some money to purchase one of your paintings. You’re going to be famous one day, and I would love to already have a something of yours.” He laughed.

“Well, I do know the artist and I can get you a really great deal.”

He barked a hard laugh and slapped a hand on the counter. “I’ll take you up on it one day.”

“Thanks again, Jack. I’ll see you later,” Dasha said. She gave him a wave and headed out of his store. She inhaled sharply and picked up on the faint scent of smoke.

Shaking her head, she walked back to her SUV that was parked on the street in front of Jack’s store. He was located two streets over from Saffron’s ice cream shop. Now that she had concluded her business, she could go pick up her beautiful mate and take her out to lunch.

She jogged around the front of her truck and paused. She glanced over at the sidewalk and took in two men and a woman frantically running down toward the corner of the street. They rounded the corner and were no longer in sight.

That was weird.

The sound of a fire engine blaring its horn. That explained the scent of smoke she’d picked up. Something must be on fire.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up to attention.

Dasha opened the driver’s door of her vehicle and tossed her wristlet onto the passenger seat. She paused and kept a hand on the door as a feeling pulsed inside her.

Fear.

She frowned, not sure where this was coming from. She wasn’t scared of anything at the moment.

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