The SEAL's Surprise Son (The Admiral's Seals, #1) - Leslie North Page 0,34

it with me.”

She reached for his hand, lacing their fingers together. She didn’t know quite what to say to his declaration, but she felt the same way. He raised their joined hands to his lips and kissed the back of hers. She felt her insides melt a little and didn’t object when he pulled her onto his lap. As his hands slipped under the edge of her shirt, her phone rang from where she’d left it on the kitchen counter.

“Ignore it,” she said, locking her arms around his neck and bringing her lips to his. Just before they touched, the ring blasted again. “Damn. It might be something. I’ll be right back.”

Reluctantly, she got up and went to the kitchen. Her sister’s name showed on the screen, so she answered it. Before Charlotte could speak, the wail of fire sirens came through the phone. Carolyn gripped the counter as fear ripped through her.

“The store…the store’s on fire,” Charlotte shouted over the din, confirming Carolyn’s worst nightmare.

“Is everyone out?” She glanced at the kitchen clock. It was twenty minutes past their Saturday closing time.

“Yes, yes. Just come.” Charlotte hung up without saying anything else.

“What is it?” Zach said from behind Carolyn.

“All That Sparkles is on fire,” she said, the shock temporarily stunning her until Zach wrapped his arms around her, making her snap out of it. “I’ve got to get there.” She tried to push him away, but he held her.

“I’ll drive you.” His voice was calm and firm.

“Austin?” She couldn’t take him to a fire scene, but she did want Zach with her.

“Alex lives close by. He can be here in five minutes.” Zach already had his phone out to call his brother.

She rested her head against Zach’s shoulder as he spoke into the phone, telling his brother to be there ASAP.

“He’s on his way,” Zach said, hanging up. She felt his light kiss on her hair, trying to reassure her when she was possibly losing the store that represented twenty years of her family’s hard work.

13

“Oh, God,” she whimpered when Zach turned the last corner. The second Alex was in her driveway they’d bolted from the house and made the short trip to All That Sparkles. Emergency vehicles blocked the street, their lights flashing in the smoky air. Ahead, she could see flames pouring from the front of the store and reaching upward.

As soon as Zach pulled to the curb, she grabbed for the door handle, but Zach gripped her arm. “Wait for me,” he said. How could he be so calm when her world was on fire? “Rushing now could just get you into trouble.”

She hated that he was right. It was an active fire scene, with all the hazards that entailed. She wondered, though, if he ever lost his cool. The night of the robbery, when he’d confronted her about Austin, his mask of control had slipped—but that was a rarity. Even when she broke their engagement, he’d said nearly nothing, expressed nothing.

She would bet his heart rate wasn’t even accelerated. Hers was racing, but she waited until he was beside her before moving forward. Together they negotiated the maze of hoses, trucks, and firefighters doing their job. Despite the emergency service’s response, what she saw was devastating. The front windows and door were blown out, with flames licking up their frames. The recently refurbished interior was ablaze, fire streaking up the walls and across the carpet.

Firefighters kept a steady arc of water flowing in, but the flames seemed resistant to it. Black smoke rolled from the brick building. At least there was no wind to fan the flames and blow the smoke at them.

Zach’s hand never loosened on her arm as they made their way to her mother and Charlotte standing across the street from the store. Carolyn drew strength from his touch, because she had to be the strong one here. She saw that immediately. Grimy tears streaked her sister’s and mother’s faces. Zach let go of her when she put her arms around them, but she could feel him close behind her.

“What happened?” she asked Charlotte.

“We’d just closed for the evening. Everyone was gone but me.” Her sister’s words sent a chill down Carolyn’s spine. “I wanted to finish some paperwork. I was in the office when I heard a crash and explosion and then everything was on fire.”

“Are you hurt?” Carolyn grabbed her sister’s trembling hands.

“No. I made it to the back door. I almost forgot the new code for the mantrap, but