Second Burn Cowboy (Second Chance Series Book 6) (2 page)

“I’m glad I
was close.”

“I heard something in the back and seconds later I heard a loud bang. The fire…it spread so fast.” Her breathing was heavy.

“Is there anyone I should call for you?” She gave her head a quick shake.
“Okay, then. Try and breathe easy.” He patted her shoulder with his free hand while he kept the other entangled with hers. Swirls of red feathered across the buildings and through the darkness as a fire truck and ambulance screamed up the street and came to a stop in front of his truck. “Help is here. You’ll be okay.”

Her grip tightened
on his fingers.

“
Thank you, Deckland.” Her eyes spoke volumes—more than just fright. Did she recall the passionate kiss they’d shared months ago? Even though this wasn’t the most suitable moment to remember, he certainly couldn’t forget the fervency between them.

     Panicked
voices sounded in the street while firefighters rushed to the sidewalk. He watched them pull on their safety hats and prepare the hoses. Paramedics exited their vehicle, searching the growing crowd. “Over here,” Deckland called out.

“
Excuse us, sir. We’ll take it from here.”

Deckland was
pushed aside by an EMT who immediately hooked Elsa up to oxygen. 

Taking a step back, Deckland and Elsa’s
tangled fingers parted. She watched him with uncertainty in her gaze and guilt spread through him.

A tug on his elbow pulled his attention away
from the action at the truck. A uniformed officer was standing at his side. “Sir, were you here when the fire started?”

“No, I came after.”

“Did you go into the building?

“Yes,” Deckland
answered.

“
You’re bleeding.” The officer pointed.

Deckland looked down at his
hand. His knuckles were stained red and blood dripped onto his boots. “I had to break the glass to get inside.”

The officer motioned to the other emergency worker
, who quickly came. “Sir, were you in the fire?” the EMT asked, reaching for Deckland’s hand. “This is a bad cut.”

“I went in and brought the owner out.”

“Can I ask you to step over to the ambulance so I can examine your hand and listen to your lungs?”

Deckland looked
passed the EMT to Elsa. The oxygen cup covered half of her face. “Is she going to be okay?”

“She’s doing fine. Now we need to get you looked at
too.” The worker was already leading him across the street to the parked ambulance.

Sitting on the back of the vehicle, Deckland waited while the EMT did a quick
evaluation. Everything seemed to pass in a whirlwind as his adrenaline finally started to slow.

“You’
re going to need a couple of stitches, but I’ll put a wrap on that’ll do you until you get to the hospital,” the EMT said. “Your lungs sound clear.”

“Care if I ask you a few questions
while she wraps you up?” The officer already had his paper and pen out.

“Sure, but first
…” Deckland scanned the area, got up and crossed the street. He picked up his hat from the wet asphalt, turned it over and dumped out the water. Knocking it against his thigh a few times, he placed it back on his head and went back to the ambulance. Noticing the officer’s curious gaze, Deckland shrugged. “A cowboy needs his hat, especially when it’s his favorite.”

The officer nodded his understanding. “I won’t keep you long so you can get that hand taken care of, but since you were here before anyone, I need to ask some basics
.”

“
Not sure I can add much to the situation, but I’ll try.” He looked over his shoulder at Elsa, who still sat in his truck. Gazes connected, and his heart pitched.

“Ready, sir?”

Deckland turned away, and focused on the officer, dutifully answering every question while the storm passed.

Before he went to the hospital, h
e called his sisters-in-law and told them the bad news. No chocolate for them tonight.

****

Elsa sat on the edge of the hospital bed, her legs dangling over the side as the straitlaced officer asked her questions about the fire. He jotted something in his notebook, scratched his forehead then brought his beady gaze back on her. She shifted uneasily.

“
So, you heard someone?”

“How many more times
must I repeat what happened?” Her patience thinned. Officer Unfriendly made her skin crawl, and the unflattering thin gown only made her more uncomfortable.

“
These are important questions, ma’am.” There was no sign of understanding in the officer’s expression. “Now, again, did you hear someone?”

“Officer
Un—I mean—Downs, I’ve told you. I had closed for the evening but I was filling an order for a customer when a noise came from the back of the store. Before I could investigate, I heard a loud bang followed by a strong smell of smoke. I realized the kitchen was on fire, I hurried and grabbed the fire extinguisher and I fell. Everything went blank until I woke up to Deckland rescuing me.”

“Deckland Brooke?”

“Yes. He was picking up the order I mentioned,” she explained.

“Do you have an
y enemies?” He looked down his nose at her. “You haven’t had the business long, right? I bet it’s very expensive starting up a bakery.”

“Less than a year.”
Her temples throbbed and she was tired. “And yes, it wasn’t cheap.”

“Did you burn someone’s cake?”
His sneer made her go cold.

She was to the end of her rope with the innuendos.
“No one would have motive to burn my business down. Do you have reason to believe someone intentionally started the fire? Maybe a clue or evidence? And is my bakery completely destroyed?”

With a sigh, Officer Downs closed
his notebook and dropped it into his front pocket with finality. He stood up and straightened his hat, his jaw loosening some. “Firefighters were able to put out the fire before it spread to the surrounding shops, but there’s nothing left of the bakery. I don’t have any news on how it started, yet, but we’ll keep you notified. We’ve had a lot of business owners in the area deliberately starting fires for insurance money. With the failing economy and all.”

Elsa
choked back a sob. She wouldn’t allow her emotions to get the best of her in front of the stranger. He showed no compassion for her plight, not that she expected or wanted sympathy, but a little kindness would help. “I assure you that is not the case in this circumstance.”

Once
the officer turned his back, she had a strong urge to flip him off, but refrained. Going to jail wouldn’t make her predicament any easier.

Alone,
Elsa lay down and closed her eyes. Everything was gone. Her livelihood. Her small apartment above the bakery. All she’d worked for over the last year was down the drain. What would she do?

Hearing the
rustling of the curtain, she exhaled, refusing to sit up. “Haven’t you asked enough questions?”

“Apparently you’re not fond of Officer Downs.”

The thick Texas twang brought her eyes open. She’d know that voice anywhere.
Deckland.

Lifting on elbows, she skimmed the six-foot-something
, two hundred pound or more, massive frame of dreamy cowboy. He filled the room with his virility and unforgettable magnetism—filling her with a need that scared and thrilled her at the same time. Heat seeped through her veins and zapped her loins as memories exploded, one by aching one. His lips on hers, his hands stroking her, bodies melding…a sensuality she’d never felt before, and that was with clothes on. The trembling in the pit of her stomach was a warning that he was dangerous—and why she’d pushed him away before things had gone too far.

“Am I interrupting?
Were you resting?” he asked.

“Oh.
No. Come in.” She pressed the button on the flat panel, and the top of the bed slowly lifted until she was face to face with masculine sex appeal.

“
Your head feeling better?” He shifted in his worn boots.

“
At the moment, yes.” How could he make her want to smile even when her world was falling down around her ears?

“Glad to hear.” He reached up and dragged his hat off. Dark locks sprang alive as
his baby blues lit up, searing her to the bone. She melted like chocolate. “I wanted to stop and check on you before I left.” He took a step closer, and she got a whiff of burnt wood and noticed the spots of blood on his shirt.

She focused on his bandaged hand. “The paramedic told me you were cut by glass. Are you okay?”

Her throat tightened at the reality of the situation.  He’d saved her life. She didn’t want to be indebted to anyone, but how could she deny the impact of his heroism?

The blood pressure cuff
tightened on her arm, and she grimaced. This was the most inopportune time for a check.

He shrugged and waved his fingers. “An itty bitty scratch, that’s all. Doc thought I should get stitches to prevent infection.”

“How many?”

“Seven.”

She gripped the material of her gown. “And you call that a scratch?”

“Yes, ma’am. How about you? Any stitches or burns?” He ticked his curious gaze over her, and her flesh quivered. What had come over her? She’d almost lost her life, her business was destroyed and here she was practically drooling over him. Had she lost her mind? Then again, she had fallen and hit her head.

Moistening
her dry lips, she cleared her throat, demanding that her body stop responding like a schoolgirl. “A bump on my head and a few scratches. Nothing more. I owe you a big thank you. I wouldn’t have made it out alive if you hadn’t come along when you did. I’m not sure how I can ever repay you.”

“You don’t owe me a thing. I did what anyone else would do in the same circumstance.”
He twisted his hat in his hands.

Modest
, polite and attractive. Men with this combination of characteristics were hard to find these days. “No, I don’t think just anyone would rush into a burning building and save a stranger.”

“You’re not a stranger.”

She guessed he was right. “I feel bad that Peyton and April didn’t get their craving satisfied.”

“
I called and explained. They’d already demolished a jar of pickled eggs.” A smile curved one corner of his lips. “They asked me to send you their warm thoughts.”

“
Those two are my best customers. They’ve offered to buy stock in my business.” She laughed and awkwardly played with the IV tube.

“I wouldn’t be surprised. They’re going to give birth to babies addicted to pastries.
You already have future customers in the making.” He chuckled. “It’s a good thing they sent me to your shop. The fire spread like—” His eyes widened. “What’s wrong?” Panic flooded his features.

“I-I’m sorry.”
Tears were falling onto her cheeks and she did her best to wipe them away, but they came faster than she could keep up. “I-I…my business…my home—it’s gone.” Her loud hiccup echoed off the sanitary walls.

“I know this must be difficult
.” He took a step closer and his brow furrowed. “Hell, I don’t know how it must feel. I’m sorry.”

“I’ve worked so hard, saved so much.” Looking at him through her
damp lashes, she wrung her hands together. The monitor beeped loudly.

“Your blood pressure is a little high. You should relax.” He studied the digital reading.

His words didn’t sink in. “How could this happen? Everything I had is gone. The fire destroyed it. Then that cop acted so cruel. And you come along being nice.”

His gaze narrowed. “I…well, I’m sorry.”

“See what I mean? You won’t stop apologizing.” She sobbed harder.

“Everything can be replaced, but you’re alive. And that’s what matters.”

“I know—but—but…”

He handed her a tissue. “There are no buts when it comes to life.”

She blinked. “That’s true.” She blew her nose into the paper.

“When I was a kid my mom did something that calmed me.” He took her hand into
his. Her skin looked remarkably pale against the backdrop of his tanned skin.

What is he doing?
Her bottom lip trembled and every part of her exploded to attention. “I—I don’t—”

“No worries.” He turned her arm over and brushed the tips of his fingers over the sensitive skin of her wrist
, taking on a rhythm of lightly rubbing. Her toes curled and her inner thighs quivered. The combination of his closeness and the soft massage did wonders to her body. She oozed into the bed, experiencing complete euphoria.

“That’s amazing,” she mumbled.

“We have lots of nerve endings in this area. Just let your body go.”

Was this really happening?

His soothing tone and touch seemed odd coming from such a big, brawny man. She’d bet he could wrangle a cow faster than the blink of an eye and ride the wildest bull longer than eight seconds. Yet he was gentle enough to pacify her.