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“But don’t worry,” he says. “Sounds like it’s still relatively small. We’ll beat it back. But I need to go.”
I try to gather my wits. “Yeah. Of course. Oh, Jeremy, please be careful!”
He grins at me. “Can I have that kiss now? For luck?”
In answer, I grab the sides of his head, pull his face to mine, and kiss him like my life depends on it.
I don’t want to let him go, but he finally pulls away, cocky grin firmly in place. “That’s my girl. I’ll make this up to you, I promise. Tell people to check the news before they head home. And hey,” he winks, “don’t forget I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whisper as he turns away, but the bliss that I’ve been swimming in for the past few hours is gone. Instead, I feel like the air has been sucked out of the room and I don’t have enough to breathe.
The man I love is purposefully heading into a fire, and I can’t do anything except watch him go.
There’s no sign of Jeremy’s car when I get home at midnight. I change into my pajamas and check the local news. The fire seems to have started at a makeshift campsite about seven miles west of the outskirts of town. Thanks to the dry weather and a firm breeze, it grew rapidly. A couple of small hamlets are being evacuated. Welkins Ridge isn’t in serious danger yet, but there is concern that if the wind gets stronger and the firefighters can’t get it under control, it could get here late tomorrow.
The newscaster’s face is replaced with a shot of the fire itself, a dark forest threaded with glowing red embers, the sky a sickly shade of pale orange.
I snap the television off.
Is Jeremy okay? Half frantic, I rack my brains, trying to think of a way to find out. All his available men will have their hands full, and 911 dispatch has better things to do than reassure me.
But how do I stand the not knowing?
Heading outside, I unlock Jeremy’s front door, grateful to have the code. Jackie is wide awake and waiting for me. He whines like he knows something isn’t right.
I scoop him up. “Come on, boy. Let’s not be alone tonight.”
In the end, I park us in the Adirondack chair on the front porch so that I’ll know the minute that Jeremy comes home. The night is warm, but I grab a light blanket for comfort and wrap it around me and Jackie, who curls up on my lap.
I hold onto my phone like a lifeline, flipping between local news and social media, trying to figure out what’s going on. Jackie eventually goes to sleep, and I guess I do too, a little, because the night becomes one long, hazy muddle of checking my phone and blinking awake to see if Jeremy’s car is in the driveway.
The sun is just starting to rise when a car pulls up. It’s not until Jeremy gets out, clearly alive, that I realize how much tension I’ve been holding onto. If I weren’t already sitting, I’d collapsed into the chair.
Jackie jumps off my lap and runs down the steps to Jeremy, whining and waggling his entire back half.
“Hey, boy.” Sounding tired, Jeremy scoops the little dog up.
I gather my strength and push myself to my feet. “Are you okay? How’s the fire?”
He looks up at me. He’s wearing a clean t-shirt but his face is streaked with soot. He begins a weary climb up the stairs. “You been out here all night?”
“I was worried about you. We both were.” I nod at Jackie, who is licking Jeremy’s face. “Was it really bad?”
“Pretty bad, but it could have been a lot worse. Wind died down around four a.m., which helped a lot. It’s still going, but it’s under control now. As soon as they got some fresh blood in from Laramie County, they sent the rest of us home.”
I throw my arms around him, careful not to squash Jackie. “I was so worried!”
A reassuring chuckle rumbles through his chest. “I was never in any real danger. But I desperately need a shower, and I wouldn’t mind a nap.”
“Yeah, of course.” I drop my arms like he’s suddenly gone red hot. Guys need their space, especially after manly alpha things like fighting fires. Just because we said I love you doesn’t mean I need to get all clingy.
He tilts his head. “Wouldn’t mind taking a nap with you…?”
“Really?” Happiness blossoms all over again. Oh, I have it bad.
“Really.” He turns to unlock his door. “But shower first. I smell like a sweaty barbeque.”
“I’ll take it,” I follow him into his place. “I’m just so glad you’re alive. I was terrified for you. And I don’t want the Addison building,” I add in a rush. “I want you to be able to hire the best men you can.” Because the more good men he has, the better chance he has of coming home at the end of the day.
