Wildfire - Honey Palomino Page 0,21

get back to camp now.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I said. She turned and headed down the trail ahead of me with a pep in her step. It made me happy to see her so pleased with herself. It made me even happier that we’d both made it out of that situation without any injuries.

I followed along with a smile, my eyes glued to her tight ass sashaying down the trail in front of me.

That’s why I didn’t notice the tree behind me begin the slow fall to its death. A swoosh of air rushed past me just as Fiona glanced over her shoulder to smile at me again.

The last thing I saw was the look on her face, eyes wide with fear.

I didn’t feel the tree hit me.

I didn’t feel my body crumple to the ground.

It was just the fear in Fiona’s beautiful eyes and then total blackness.

Chapter 26

Fiona

I slapped him again.

“Wake up! Jesse! Dammit!” I cried.

I didn’t have time to be emotional. I’d seen that damned tree after it was too late to warn him. Watching it come down on him was the worst thing I’d ever experienced.

Immediately, though, something in me snapped and my professional training took over. He wasn’t Jesse, the guy I’d spent all last night and today kissing and making love to. He wasn’t my coworker, either.

He was just a human in need.

After assessing his condition, I went to work.

He was out cold, but his heartbeat and breathing were still good. Flames sputtered and sparked around us, but they were far enough away that I didn’t worry about them immediately.

I lifted Jesse’s head and cradled it in my lap, slapping him again. Gently, but enough to wake him.

This time, it worked.

He blinked awake and I let out a huge cry of relief.

“Hey,” he mumbled.

“Shh,” I said. “Don’t talk.”

“What?” He looked at me like I was crazy, and tried to move.

“Don’t move, either, dummy!” I said.

“What?”

“You’re stuck. Under this huge tree. Your leg is under there. I think it may be broken.”

“I don’t feel a thing,” he said.

“Which only concerns me more,” I said.

“I bet I can pull it out,” he said, trying to sit up.

“No, Jesse, don’t —.”

He attempted to move his leg, then let out a huge shout of pain.

“Well, as I was saying…” I said, shooting him a look.

“Right,” he grunted. “Fuck.”

“Yep,” I said. “But, we’re going to get you out of here. I already called Max but they’re deep in the rescue they’re doing. They’ll be here as soon as they can.”

“Goddammit,” he growled. “This fucks up everything!”

“How did you not see the tree falling?”

“I was too busy looking at your ass, apparently.”

“Oh,” I said, instantly feeling a surge of regret.

He saw my face and shook his head. “Don’t do that, Fiona. It’s not your fault, it’s mine for being a total dumbass.”

“You aren’t a dumbass,” I said, my heart breaking for the guy.

“This isn’t going to be so great for my new career.”

“Eh, you were only doing it for the money, remember?”

“Right,” he said, his eyes suddenly filling with concern. “Are you okay? Did you get hit?”

“Nope, lucky me, I’m just fine,” I replied.

“Yes, you are,” he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“Are you seriously flirting with me right now? Trapped under a tree with a broken leg?”

“I suppose I am,” he said, smiling weakly.

“Maniac,” I replied, pushing back a lock of hair from his eyes. “Alright, listen, I need you to stay put. Now that you’re awake, I need to look around and figure out how to get you out of there, okay?”

“I don’t think I’m going anywhere of my own accord for a while,” he said. “At this point, you could do anything you want to me and I wouldn’t be in a position to argue.”

“I kinda like that,” I winked.

“Kinky,” he said. “I’m going to remember that you like being in charge.”

“I’ll bring the handcuffs next time,” I laughed, kissing him quickly before jumping up. “I’ll be right back.”

I took a moment to check out the surrounding terrain and dig out a small fireline surrounding us, hoping to slow the flames’ growth. I already knew I couldn’t pull the tree off of him, but if I could cut some of the trunk away, I may be able to pull him free.

“I think we’re good right now,” I said. “But the wind is shifting slightly. We’ll need to monitor it and watch closely for any change, especially on the west of us. But I think I may be