“We’ve got a hot one,” Morgan calls out.
Within seconds we’re on the truck and rushing towards the first actual fire we’ve seen in weeks. Most of our calls are medical, car accidents, and despite the hilarity of it—cats stuck in trees. It’s a real thing. We pull up to Sugarhill’s only apartment complex, which is really just a big house converted into eight small units.
There is smoke billowing out of the first-floor windows. We don’t hesitate to take action. Morgan grabs the hose and quickly has the water flowing. The flames seem to be confined to the lower left unit, so we direct the powerful stream of water there.
Amos runs up to where we’re working and asks what he can do.
“Check the residents for injuries. Make sure everyone’s okay,” I holler above the chaotic noise surrounding us.
“On it,” Amos says, taking off towards the crowd of people hovering close by.
Thankfully the fire is contained quickly. Once it’s out, we do a quick walk-through, first making sure there are no hotspots, then to ensure the building is empty and to take inventory of the damages. It’s immediately apparent that the fire was due to shoddy electrical work. I shake my head, knowing that things could have been a helluva lot worse.
Mr. Phizer is known for being cheap as hell, but this is beyond neglectful, and it’s obvious that this building isn’t up to code. Not even close. Which means the residents will be without a home for a long while until he makes some serious repairs. With a shake of my head, I go to give the chief a rundown of what happened.
Chief Weiss lets out a string of curses when I tell him about the condition of the building. “I told that stingy asshole he needed to update the electric, among other things.”
“He did make updates… it looks like he did it himself instead of hiring a professional.”
“Motherfucker. He’s lucky he didn’t burn down the whole damn building or get someone killed.” He storms off, Mr. Phizer in his sights. Definitely wouldn’t want to be him right now. When the chief gets a burr in his bonnet, he’s a real bear.
I scan the clusters of residents and neighborhood looky-loos, my eyes land on Lani Smith. She’s standing off to the side, away from the crowd. Lani’s got a fat, gray cat clutched to her chest and tears streaming down her beautiful face. Without a moment’s hesitation, I change course and head straight towards her.
Even with the tears, she’s a fucking knockout. Her brown hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun, her brown eyes are red-rimmed from crying, and she’s wearing pajamas that have seen better days, not that I’m going to complain because they show off her curves and are nearly threadbare. I feel like a dick for noticing her beauty when she’s distraught over the night’s events, but I can’t help it. I’ve loved Lani Smith from afar for as long as I can remember.
Every time I’m lucky enough to see her, I can’t help taking her in from head to toe. A ten-year-old me put his claim on the girl next door, whether or not she knows it. I’ve been patiently waiting for the right time to make my move. I was ready to make my intentions known when she first moved home after college, but then her grandmother passed, and it wasn’t the right time. Once her tears subsided, and her smiles came back in full force, I once again decided it was the right time… Then she opened Sweet Reads and, again, the time wasn’t right.
The animal inside me that’s been desperate for her for years has decided right now is the time. I tell myself not to go in for the kill right away. She’s upset after her home being on fire. I can’t and won’t take advantage of her, but it won’t hurt to start planting seeds. I’m done waiting. Seeing her here like this, so upset and heartbroken, makes me want to be the one who soothes her and brings back her beautiful smiles.
“Lani,” I murmur as I close the distance between us. The cat in her arms hisses and growls at my approach. She shushes him and coos that it’s okay. It seems that Lani isn’t the only one upset with the circumstances of the night. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She lets out a sad sniffle, then straightens up. “I’m fine. Mr. Grey and I weren’t hurt.”
“I’m glad, but I wasn’t talking about injury…”
“Oh… um…” she chews on her bottom lip as she weighs her response as another set of tears falls from her eyes. “It was scary.”
I desperately want to wrap her up in my arms and promise her that everything is going to be okay, but I can’t. She’s not ready for that. Soon. If she were to give me even the slightest hint right now that she wants me, it would all be over. She’d be in my arms in a heartbeat, and I’d do everything in my power to keep not only her body but also her heart safe.
“I know, sweetheart. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
She shrugs. “It happens. I just never thought it would happen to me. I guess that’s what they all say, right? I’m just thankful it wasn’t in my apartment.”
The chief walks up with a very angry Mr. Phizer. “Torin, we need to start taking the residents inside to gather some things. As of now, the building is condemned until Mr. Phizer here makes the necessary updates.”
Lani gasps beside me. “C-condemned?”
Chief Weiss gives her a sad look. “Yes, Miss Smith. The building just isn’t safe.”
“But… my apartment is fine…”
“Lani, honey,” I say quietly, “The entire building is dangerous. Mr. Phizer,” I give the man in question a look that could kill, “was told to
