by K. C. Crowne
“Yeah, but that’s not the only reason I came by,” he said, licking his lips. He looked over his shoulder at Grant, who was still standing there. He cringed but continued anyway. “I wanted to apologize for the other day.”
“No, it’s me who should be apologizing,” I exclaimed. “I mean it. I jumped down your throat without knowing the full story, and I’m sorry about that.”
I, too, looked over at Grant, who seemed perplexed. He raised an eyebrow and I waved him off. “Can we have a moment alone, please? I need to clear the air with your best friend here.”
“Sure,” Grant said, giving us both a cursory look before leaving. “I’ll work on the hot water heater in the basement.”
“Sounds good,” I said, not truly listening to what my brother had said. My focus was on Kellen instead.
As soon as we were alone, we both tried to speak at the same time.
“Listen, I—”
“I didn’t know—”
We stopped and chuckled. He ran a hand over his head and said, “You first.”
Taking a deep breath, I let it all out. “I didn’t know you were a single father. I thought you had to be married or something. That’s why I overreacted at the cafe when you mentioned the kiss. I felt like you were cheating on someone, and as someone who’s been cheated on before, that didn’t sit well with me. But Piper told me that Matilda’s mother isn’t in the picture, and I feel like such an asshole now.”
He gave me a crooked grin. “It’s alright. Easy mistake to have made. I’m actually Matilda’s guardian. I’m not even her father. Both of her parents are gone.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” My cheeks burned, and I averted my gaze. “It’s really none of my business anyway, but—”
Before I could finish my sentence, Kellen’s lips met mine. It literally took my breath away, and I gasped for air, pulling away out of surprise more than anything else.
“I’m sorry,” Kellen muttered. “I shouldn’t have done that. You’re just so—captivating.”
“Don’t be sorry.”
I leaned forward and kissed him again, opening my mouth to him. We kissed for a few seconds before I realized where we were and pulled away.
“Come on, follow me.”
He followed me into my office. There was a bell at the front if anyone came in, but I wasn’t expecting anyone. As soon as we were in my office, I locked the door behind me.
His hands were on me as soon as we were alone.
Neither one of us spoke; we let our hands and kisses do the talking.
His mouth moved from my lips to my neck as he pushed me backward toward my desk. Lifting me up, he put me down on the desk. It was the perfect height to wrap my legs around him. His erection pressed into me, causing me to gasp at the size.
But we weren’t going straight to fucking. Oh no. Kellen had other plans.
He dropped to his knees in front of me, placing my legs over his shoulders. I was wearing a skirt; it was too hot for pants. He pushed the skirt up and slipped my panties down my thighs.
Trembling, all I could think about was how badly I needed to feel him.
His head dove between my legs as he muttered, “God, I need to taste you.”
I grabbed his head, my eyes widening as his tongue found my most sensitive parts. He circled my clit, just as I’d imagined. His scruffy beard rubbed against my thighs, reminding me this wasn’t a fantasy - it was reality.
Pleasure coursed through my body as he devoured my pussy, sucking and licking as if it was the most delicious dessert he’d ever had the luxury of eating.
And he was so fucking good at it.
My legs tightened around him, and I pressed him down into me without even thinking about it. It just felt so damn good. He slipped a finger inside me. Then another.
I was trying to be quiet, afraid that someone might overhear us, but that all went out the window as the first wave of my orgasm washed over me. I cried out, taken by surprise at how fast it came on. Kellen never stopped, keeping the perfect rhythm with his tongue on my clit.
“Oh God,” I whimpered, my body tensing. “Yes, yes!”
My words became garbled as I came, my thighs quivering from the pleasure. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to walk after the earth-shattering orgasm.
As soon as it subsided, I pulled Kellen up. I needed him inside me. He stood, and we fumbled with his belt. He stopped, and I could tell something was wrong from the look on his face.
“What is it?” I asked, still breathless from my orgasm.
“Do you smell smoke?”
I’d been so caught up in the moment, I wasn’t paying attention. But he was right. My heart raced as I jumped down from the desk, my legs still wobbly. Kellen helped me stand, holding me up.
My office window was cracked since the air conditioning in that part of the hotel was down. It was coming from outside. Smoke billowed through the open window, and there were fire alarms in the distance. Not too far.
In fact, they were very close by. Close enough to be either the cafe or the daycare.
Kellen was out the door, and I was on his heels.
Grant was also heading outside, and we ran into him. All three of us stepped outside at the same time. Smoke billowed from down the block.
“The daycare!” I cried out.
Kellen took off, running faster than a man his size should be able to run. I couldn’t keep up, but I tried. Grant was right behind him. The sound of sirens echoed through the air as the smoke burned at my nostrils.
When I approached the building, I saw both Kellen and Grant rushing inside. My heart continued to thunder in my chest. All those children. Piper. And now my brother and Kellen. Lives were at risk, and I couldn’t just stand there and wait for help to arrive.
I rushed toward the burning building myself, not thinking clearly.
Someone grabbed my arm, and I yanked it away instinctively.
“Stop,” a man’s voice said. “You’re going to put more lives at risk. Let us handle it.”
It was Levi, one of the local firemen. Help had arrived.
“My brother’s in there. He went in to help,” I cried. “And Kellen Mayberry.”
Levi nodded, then told me, “Stand back, please. Let us take care of it.”
I knew that by going inside, I’d be one more life they’d have to save. There was nothing I could do. Both Grant and Kellen had some training, at least. Kellen had been a firefighter, Grant had to do rescue missions as part of his SEALS training. I was just a hotel owner.
I hated waiting, but that was literally the best thing I could do. It was the only thing I could do. My insides ached, everything inside of me was twisted into knots.
There were kids in there. Babies and children. With my fists balled up at my side, I searched the perimeter for any sign of Wade. If I couldn’t save the people inside, I could find the asshole who did this.
When I didn’t see him around the building, I headed back to the hotel, thinking he went back to his room to hide. I was no longer afraid of him. I was more afraid of what I might do to him when I found him. Nobody hurt children and got away with it.
I pounded on his door, but there was no answer. “Wade, it’s Leah! Answer, please.”
Nothing. Not even a sound.
I rushed to the counter and grabbed the spare key, determined to find out if he was behind it - and if so, turn him over to the authorities.
I went back to the room, knocked once more.
“I’m coming in whether you let me in or not.”
Still, no sound.
I swiped the key card and pushed the door open.
The room was empty.
Not just empty of Wade himself, but of everything. No sign of him staying there at all. He hadn’t checked out as far as I knew, but there, on his bed, was his keycard and an envelope with my name on it. Inside the envelope was a letter and some cash.
I sat down on the bed and unfolded the letter.
Dear Leah,<
br />
I’m sorry I couldn’t say goodbye, but I think it’s time I leave Liberty. You’ll find the remainder of my visit paid for, even the days I didn’t stay. I hope your hotel continues to thrive, and maybe one day we’ll meet again.
Love,
Wade
A chill ran down my spine. Hopefully we meet again? If he was behind all these fires, I hope we didn’t. Unless it’s in a courtroom to convict his ass. I was shaking as I put the letter away, trying not to disturb anything. I needed to hand it over to Teddy as evidence.
I was shaking, in anger. No one had a right to do this to my town.
To my Liberty.
No one came here and hurt innocent children and got away with it.
And to think he was doing it in my name? To get even with Kellen? Only made it worse.
I’d see him convicted for this.
Chapter 13
Kellen
All I could think about when I saw smoke coming from the daycare was Matilda’s in there.
I was confident that Wade had been locked up, thought she was safe at the daycare with that asshole behind bars. Guess Teddy didn’t catch the guy. Either way, I knew what I had to do.
I knew the building well, having walked it countless times, making sure it was up to my standards. I knew where the nursery was, even with the hallway full of smoke. Thankfully, I wasn’t as bad inside as I thought - the fire wasn’t too far inside the building.
Grant ushered the older kids out and helped Tabby with the toddlers. I rushed back to the nursery, where the most vulnerable were located.
Where Matilda was.
The big, heavy door was closed to the nursery, and I checked the handle. It wasn’t hot. I pulled it open and slipped inside quickly, relieved to find the room was free of smoke.
Piper was grabbing the babies and passing them to Frannie out the window. When she heard the door, she looked back, and I could tell she was relieved to see me.
“How bad is it?” she asked.
“Not as bad as it looked.” I walked through the nursery, scanning the beds until I saw Matilda. The other beds were empty already, except for the last one Piper approached, scooping the infant from it and passing him or her to Frannie outside. From where I was standing, there were a group of people, all of them looked to be parents themselves, helping and holding the screaming children.
She was awake, shrieking from terror, but she was alive. My little angel was okay.
Piper handed the last infant to Frannie, letting me take Matilda myself. I felt safer with her in my arms, but then thought about the other children in the front of the building. Grant was with them, they had Tabby, but it didn’t sit right with me to leave them.
I’d heard sirens upon entering the building, help was here already, I was sure of it. But I couldn’t leave without knowing about those kids.
Piper couldn’t either, apparently. “I’m going to help Tabby,” she told Frannie.
“Grant is with her,” I said, passing Matilda to her. “And I’m going too. Get outside and take care of these babies.”
Piper almost argued with me, but she looked down at the child in her arms - the scared, terrified baby - and stopped. Before she could hand the baby back to me, I left the room. It felt like someone had ripped my heart out to leave Matilda, but she was safe.
The kids in the front weren’t.
The smoke in the hallway had turned to white, meaning the fire was extinguished or close to it. The firefighters had arrived, and the building was filled with them. I saw Levi and hurried to him.
“Where are the kids?” I called out over the sound of the fire hose.
“All of them are outside, Tabby confirmed it,” Levi yelled through his mask.
Hearing that, relief washed over me.
“You’re not in proper gear,” Levi shouted. “You need to get outta here, man.”
I was frozen in the middle of the chaos. Not from fear, but from the memories. Leaving a fire, even one that was under control, felt wrong to me. I shouldn’t just walk out of here and leave others to clean up the mess - I should be there too.
I should be helping.
“Go, now,” Levi ordered. “I don’t want to ask you again.”
His voice was stern, just like a fire chief’s should be. He meant business. I knew that as a pedestrian - which I was in their eyes - me being there was a liability. I was another person they’d have to save if things went to shit.
Still, I couldn’t move.
Memories flooded my head.
Voices around me screamed in pain and agony. Familiar voices.
Henry’s voice was the loudest.
I remember telling him I’d be right there to save his ass. I didn’t realize it was as serious as it was. I had no idea the building was coming down on top of them. I thought I’d get them out.
I didn’t.
“Now, man!” Levi shouted, pulling me from the flashback.
I don’t remember my legs actually moving, but somehow, I ended up outside. The air in front of the daycare was acrid with smoke. It would take a while before that smell went away.
The sun shone down on me and reminded me that I was alive, that others hadn’t been so lucky.
Babies crying in the distance reminded me of why I was there, why I was still pushing forward.
Matilda.
I found my footing once again and walked toward the sounds of the crying. On the other side of the fire truck, just down the block a bit - far enough away from the smoke and danger - all the kids and daycare staff waited. All of them looked shell-shocked and terrified. Even Piper showed some fear now, after she’d held it together in the middle of the crisis.
And she still had Matilda in her arms.
I took the child from her, holding her close to me. Tears welled in my eyes as I held onto her, so relieved she was alive and alright.
None of the kids were hurt, thankfully. EMTs checked everyone out. A nice woman looked Matilda over, listened to her breathing and heartbeat, and told me she seemed fine. The babies had not been exposed to any smoke, as far as I knew.
We were lucky.
As soon as the shock wore off and I knew everyone was safe, I grew angry. I was enraged. I had a pretty good idea who was behind it and why. Going after my truck was one thing.
Going after my little girl?
Hell, no.
With Matilda in my arms, I walked toward the hotel. My blood was boiling, and I was afraid of what I might do if I saw Wade.
I found Leah at the front counter talking to Teddy. When I stomped in, she rushed toward me.
“Is she okay? Are you okay?”
She looked down at Matilda, worry etched across her face as she examined her. Leah hadn’t really spent much time with Matilda; I had no idea how she would act around children, but the look on her face told me all I needed to know. I knew she supported children’s charities, that she had a soft spot for kids, but for some reason, it hadn’t clicked until that moment.
“She’s fine, had her checked out, but the smoke didn’t reach the nursery.”
“Thank God,” Leah said, taking Matilda’s little hand in hers. Leah smiled down at her, and I swear, Matilda smiled back. Probably just gas, but it looked genuine to me. “I was so worried.”
“What’s going on here?” I asked. “Did they catch that bastard?”
“Well, actually, Wade was picked up trying to leave Liberty early this morning,” Leah said, biting her lip. “He was in custody when the fire started.”
“So it wasn’t him?” I asked. “You sure?” I turned to Teddy, who backed Leah up.
“Positive. In fact, we caught someone on surveillance footage at the daycare. We’re already looking into it - but it wasn’t Wade.”
Was someone else after me and Matilda? Or was it a coincidence? Was there someone else running havoc across the small town of Liberty? Not having the answers filled me with dread, and I held Matilda closer to me.
“Wade is still being char
ged for the vandalism to your vehicle. You don’t have to worry about that,” Teddy assured me.
I nodded. “Thanks, Teddy.”
Teddy tipped his sheriff’s hat at me, and Leah saw him out. I leaned against the counter, Matilda cradled against me. She was safe, that was all that mattered. But how would I keep her safe with an arsonist on the loose?
Leah returned, walking to me and rubbing my arm, a soothing gesture. Her brown eyes held so much warmth and compassion.
Matilda had calmed down since the fire, resting in my arms. Leah focused on her instead of talking to me, an air of awkwardness between us after what had happened in the office before the fire. Neither one of us seemed to want to mention it, and I was fine with that.
“Do you think someone is still after you and Matilda?” she asked, her worried eyes turned up toward me.
“I don’t know,” I said. “It might be a coincidence that I’ve been near all the fires, or it might not be.”
Leah nodded solemnly, her gaze on the baby. “May I hold her?”
I felt at ease with Leah, knowing how much she cared about children. I handed Matilda to her gently, and the look on Leah’s face filled my heart with such joy. She looked so happy. She held her like a mother would; it just seemed to come naturally to her.
She spoke in a soft voice to Matilda. “Your daddy will keep you safe, though, I have no doubt about that.”
Daddy? I had mostly called myself her guardian. Henry was her father, not me. I felt ashamed that part of me even liked hearing those words. Maybe one day we’d decide what she could call me - she could call me Dad or Kellen, whatever made her happiest. She’d grow up hearing about her parents, knowing that her biological father was in Heaven but that he’d loved her very much.
Tears welled in my eyes. Before I could wipe them away, Leah noticed.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. ‘You’ve been through so much. Both of you have. If you ever need anything—”
I stepped closer, leaning down toward Leah with Matilda safely tucked between us. I kissed her forehead first, then her nose, before moving lower to her lips. It was a chaste kiss, nothing too wild. And it felt so natural. I don’t even know why I did it, it just felt right. Leah smiled at me, her cheeks a rosy pink.