Call Milton and ask for another favor? Or, my friend Anita? I hate asking for help.
“Hey!” I wave down one of the firefighters that’s standing next to one of the trucks. “Is there a fire? When can I get back in?”
“No evidence of fire yet. If you were on the floor where the alarm sounded, I don’t know, we are still up there seeing what’s what. But, a few days at least. But, if there is a fire, and it takes off, there’s no tellin’.”
I close my eyes, covering my nose and mouth with my shaking hands.
More firefighters rush by, heading for the door. I need my work. I need the money. Benjamin’s current trouble aside, I have bills to pay. Both of ours.
And this handsome hunk of hockey craziness that seems hell-bent on tipping my world on its head is offering me a solution.
“Fine,” I say. “Fine. But, I will be paying you back.”
“Good luck with that,” he says, reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. “Here. You can’t be without money.”
I shake my head, but he shoves a wad of cash my way, along with a black credit card.
When I shake my head, he shoves it into the drenched pocket of my sweatpants.
“You will take it. You can’t be without money, baby.”
“I…” A wicked rush of excitement warms me, seeing the dangerous but protective look in his eyes. “Fine. But I’m keeping track of every penny. I’ll give you an exact accounting with receipts and as soon as I get things sorted out, I’m paying you. Period.”
He tips his head on a sniff, like I’m entertaining him. Water drips down his neck from the waves of hair plastered to his skin.
“I like you thinking you owe me something, baby. But you should know,” He leans in, his lips grazing my cheek, moving toward my ear, “the second you said my name up there, while you creamed in your panties, you agreed to be mine.”
My breath hitches, embarrassment heating my cheeks as his fingers twine with mine and that throbbing starts again between my legs.
“And,” he says, with an irritating smirk, tempting me to kiss him. His hand sneaks its way down my drenched back, radiating warmth. Then he lands a loud, wet smack on my behind. “I take care of my things.”
Chapter 10
Emee
The firefighters finally confirm there is no fire, but apparently I can’t get back inside for an unknown period of time.
I stand there, feeling lost. Traffic speeds by, pigeons pecking at the sidewalk, all oblivious to my world falling apart.
Until warm fingers weave through mine.
“Come.” King’s lids are heavy as he nods down the street.
“Where are we going?” I ask as he pulls me along beside him, walking back toward the front of the building as the firefighters file back outside, clearing people from other floors to go back to work.
I need to figure out what’s next. My breathing picks up, my chest getting tight as panic has sweat breaking out on my forehead.
Everything is out of order. There are so many unknowns.
King is dragging me down the sidewalk toward an enormous blue truck.
“You’re coming with me. I’m not leaving you here like this.”
“But, no. I have my car, I need to go home, change clothes at least, try to—”
“You have car keys? Apartment keys?” He looks down at me, raising his eyebrows on a smug look as my shoulders fall, realizing how much this fire-non-fire situation is going to upend my orderly life. “That’s what I thought.”
I skip a few steps, trying to keep up as my eyes take in the way his t-shirt clings to his back, showing off the definition of each muscle and the width of his shoulders. The morning has taken such a bizarre turn, but somehow I feel like I’m riding an exciting, forbidden wave.