by Meghan March
“I . . . I just talked to him about twenty minutes ago. He was waiting for you in the garage.” Her voice trembles as if she wishes she was saying anything but the words coming out of her mouth.
“No!”
Sheer agony rips through me. I slap a hand over my chest, trying to stop the pain, and wonder why there isn’t a gaping hole in my chest where my heart was ripped out.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers.
“He couldn’t have been—” I choke on the words and start again. “He wasn’t—”
“I’m so sorry,” Julianne repeats, shaking her head. “I’m so sorry.”
Wailing sirens come closer and pierce the buzzing in my ears.
“Oh my God. I’m going to be sick.” I jerk away from Julianne, pressing a hand to the wall of the building as I empty my stomach on the pitted asphalt before falling backward onto my ass.
Julianne joins me on the ground and wraps her arms around me, and together we rock back and forth. I don’t know how long we stay like that before someone comes around the building and starts barking out orders.
“You need to get back. We need everyone at least two hundred feet away. This isn’t safe.”
“Jesus, Cody,” Julianne says. “What the fuck just happened?”
Through the tears blurring my eyes, I see the man issuing orders. The cop. He knows Logan.
“Where’s Logan?” I demand. “Is he out there? Please tell me you saw him.”
The cop’s expression is grim. “I haven’t seen him. That’s not to say he’s not out here somewhere. It’s a fucking madhouse, but I need you both to go back behind the post office and stay out of harm’s way. We’re not taking any chances with this shit.”
I’m on my knees, my hand on his jeans, as I beg him, “Please. Find him. I can’t lose him. Please.”
The cop crouches down to wrap an arm around me, and helps me to my feet. “Look, I know we haven’t been formally introduced, but I’m Cody, ma’am, and I need you to come on around the back of the building so I can make sure you’re safe.”
I slap a hand to his chest. “Why are you worried about us? Logan—” My voice breaks again as he half carries me around the back of the building where the man who pulled me back from the fire is still standing.
“Did you see that shit?” the man asks.
Cody releases me, and Julianne glues herself to my side.
“No,” Cody says, “but I heard it. Did you see it? We’re gonna need witnesses so I can figure out what happened.”
“I saw part of it,” the man said. “I was in my car, getting ready to leave. I thought I smelled something funny, and then I heard the explosion and saw the flames.”
“I didn’t see it,” Julianne says, snuffling back her tears. “I just felt it. Thought the entire building was going to come down on my head.”
“I saw the fire,” I say. “Felt the blast. I tried to get closer, but he—” I point to the guy standing a few feet away. “He stopped me.”
Cody nods, and the man who grabbed me speaks again. “I saw her start running, so I jumped out of my car and pulled her back. I knew the service station tanks were gonna blow. Didn’t want anyone else gettin’ hurt, Cody.”
At the words anyone else, a sob escapes my throat, and my body shakes uncontrollably.
“It’s okay, Lonnie. You did what you needed to do.” Cody’s gaze lands on me again. “Shit. You going into shock? Ambulance is already on its way.”
“Logan,” I whisper, my voice destroyed.
Julianne knows what I’m trying to say, and finishes my thought. “He was inside.”
Cody’s face falls. “You’re fucking kidding me.”
Julianne shakes her head. “Inside. Waiting—” She cuts off her word as she looks at me.
Cody rubs a hand down his face. “Well, there’s nothing you can do here right now. We need everyone to stay back so the firefighters can do their job. The gas pumps made this a hell of a lot worse.” More sirens approach, and this time they’re coming from the ambulance. “Let’s get you checked out, ma’am,” he says to me.
I wrap both arms around my chest, rocking on my heels as I shake my head. “No. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here.” If he tries to move me, I’ll scream.
“I’m real sorry, ma’am. But Logan would want me to make sure—”
“Shut up! Don’t talk about him!” I’m nearly hysterical, but I don’t care. If a doctor were to tell me I’m dying right now, I’d believe him. I’ve never felt this kind of pain crushing down on me.
“I gotta go make sure the perimeter is solid. Julianne, can you make sure she stays back?”
I hate that he’s talking about me like I’m not here, but I don’t have the energy to argue.
“Of course. I got her.”
“Lonnie, if you could write down everything you remember right now to give me as an official statement, I’d appreciate it.”
The man nods. “I can do that. No problem.”
An unwelcome voice joins the conversation.
“Oh my word, Officer. What in the world just happened?” Emmy Harris rushes over to join our small group. “I was taking inventory in the back when I heard it all. Do we need to evacuate? Was it some kind of chemical explosion? Is it even safe to be here?”
“You should go back to the restaurant, Emmy. Make sure everyone stays inside. Maybe get some coffee going for the firefighters. It’s gonna be a few hours before this thing is under control.”
“Of course. Anything I can do to help. Do we know if anyone was hurt?” she asks, sending another slice of pain ripping through my body.
“Logan was inside,” Julianne whispers.
Emmy’s hand flies to her face, and her eyes immediately fill with tears. “No. That’s not possible. He couldn’t have been—”
“We’re not going to be able to tell for sure until the fire is out and the chief can walk through the structure,” Cody says.
We all know what he’s not saying. That the fire chief, Logan’s friend, has to look for a body to be sure.
My chest feels like it’s collapsing under a thousand-pound weight, and sobs rack my body.
Chapter 33
Logan
Fifteen minutes earlier
Today just hasn’t been my day. Seriously, sometimes I wonder how in the hell my employees manage to do a damned thing right when Rick can’t remember any of his shit when he leaves the shop.
Julianne’s words stay with me as I head back into the garage to grab a chamois to wipe down the Olds 442 one more time before Banner gets here. That’s when I see Rick’s wallet sticking out from the top of his toolbox, which he also forgot to close and lock up in his haste to leave.
I don’t blame him for being in a hurry. Both he and Jock have busted their asses working on this car and the other repair jobs we’ve had come in.
I owe Holly one hell of a thank-you for talking this place up to Boone, because this is going to change everything. Just goes to show that life really does revolve around who you know.
I could get pissed at that reality, or I can accept it. I choose the second. I may never be on Banner’s financial level, what with her inheritance, but at least I’m not some hick who looks like he’s just with her as a sugar mama. My pride wouldn’t allow it.
With the chamois and wallet in hand, I check the time. She said a few minutes, but I’ve learned that in Banner speak, that could be an hour. Might as well fire up the old girl and put her through her paces.
There’s nothing quite like the rumble of a big-block engine, and when I turn the key, I’m anticipating the vibrations that will roll through my body. Instead, all I get is a click.
Fuck. My stomach sinks.
I pull the hood release, hop out of the car, and go around to check. It only takes a few minutes before I realize what the problem is. Battery is still disconnected. I hook it back up and shut the hood.
Do not fuck with me, world. This needs to be perfect.
&
nbsp; I hold my breath the second time I turn the key.
Thank God.
The rumble of the big block rolls through my body, and a sense of accomplishment comes along with it.
I did this.
After I shift into gear, I press down on the accelerator and let her roll out of the garage. Adrenaline dumps into my veins, and I decide to say fuck it about putting the door down. I’ll be back quick, and the nosy people of Gold Haven are enough of a security system for me.
I keep the growl of the exhaust low until I’m a quarter mile away from the Four Corners where the speed limit changes from thirty-five to fifty-five. Then I open her up.
My laugh is lost in the snarl of the engine as the speedometer climbs. I can’t wait to do this with Banner in the seat beside me.
Life is fucking good.
* * *
It took longer than I thought to drop off Rick’s wallet at the bowling alley. Every single person who was there for the Thursday-night bowling league came out to admire Boone Thrasher’s new beauty of a car.
If I had to make a bet, I’d say that more than one guy went back inside and started searching for his own project. They might not be able to afford my prices for the entire thing, but I think I just started a muscle-car revolution.
I’m extra careful in the gravel parking lot as I pull out, not wanting to chip the pristine paint job. It takes all the restraint I have not to do a burn out once I’m on pavement. Knowing that Boone is gonna want to tear up his own tires is the only thing that keeps me from it.
I shift into a lower gear at the sound of sirens up ahead as I close in on downtown. It’s not an uncommon occurrence, given the sheer number of old folks having heart-attack scares. But as I get closer, the wail is louder and louder.
Fuck, I hope it’s not Mrs.—
My thought cuts off when my gaze locks on flames climbing into the darkening sky just beyond the tree line.
My shop.
Banner.
Fuck.
No longer concerned about the tires, I floor it, and the engine roars as the car speeds toward a barricade blocking off the Four Corners intersection ahead. An inferno engulfs the painted cinder-block walls of my shop, leaving nothing visible but evil orange flames and thick black smoke.
Banner.
No!
I can’t fucking lose her.
I remember the day I got the call that my ma was dead. I shed tears because that’s what you do when you lose your last remaining family member. But this is nothing like that, even though it hurt like hell to know Ma killed herself with that needle in her vein.
Pain claws through me.
This is all my fault. I’m the only reason Banner’s here, the reason she’s at my shop. The reason she’s still in Gold Haven. Fuck, I don’t deserve anything as perfect as her in my life, because I can’t keep it that way.
Cars have stopped everywhere, turning the road into a parking lot, and there’s no way I can get through. Fury and rage have me whip the wheel to the left and cut down a side street, determined to get around them.
My heart thunders in my chest, keeping tempo with the rumble of the engine. Sweat coats my palms as I grip the steering wheel tighter.
I offer everything I own—and even things I don’t—to every higher power in existence if there’s some way she can be safe.
Blinding, instinctive fear grips my chest like a vise and crushes the breath from my lungs as I tear into the parking lot behind the pharmacy and the post office, where a crowd is gathered behind.
Up ahead, around the corner of the building, Banner’s rental is parked.
No. Fuck. No.
My body shakes in my seat as I slam on the brakes without a care for the car, and yank open the door to run toward the blaze. To run toward her.
My feet hit the pavement, and I sprint.
“Logan? Oh my God!”
It’s Julianne’s voice, not the one I desperately want to hear. My gaze locks on her—and the woman next to her.
“Banner!”
Chapter 34
Banner
I barely have my feet under me before I fly toward him, dodging the outstretched arms of the cop who would keep me away from Logan.
“Logan!”
He charges in my direction. “You’re okay! Sweet fucking Christ. Don’t you ever scare me like that. I thought you—”
My body slams into his, and Logan’s arms wrap around me. “I thought you were inside. Oh my God. Julianne told me you were inside. I thought you were gone.” Tears spill from my eyes onto his shirt, soaking the cotton fabric.
“No. Jesus Christ, I thought you were in there. Scared the shit out of me.” He squeezes me so tight, I can barely breathe, and it’s the best feeling in the world.
“Thank God you’re okay.”
Julianne and Emmy come toward us, but I don’t care about anything except for the fact that Logan is alive and holding me.
He lifts his head and looks over my shoulder, presumably at Cody. “What the fuck happened?”
I turn sideways to see the cop’s face as he answers.
“I have no clue. But you need to stay back until they get this put out. Where the hell were you? Julianne said you were inside.”
“Rick forgot his wallet, so I took it over to Pints and Pins.”
Julianne punches Logan in the shoulder. “I didn’t see you leave, you dumbass. I thought you were in there! I told Banner you were!”
Logan grips me even tighter when another sob escapes my lips. “Well, I wasn’t.”
“Oh my God, I can’t believe you’re okay. We all thought—” Emmy’s voice breaks off.
Logan steps us around the edge of the post office so we can see what’s left of the building, and the others follow. Foam covers the walls that remain standing as the firemen continue to fight the blaze.
It’s a lost cause. No one has to announce that there will be nothing left, because it’s perfectly clear.
“What the hell happened?” he asks again, and this time, someone answers.
“Trying to figure that out right now. I got the call and came down. Fully involved structure fire. Chemical hazards.” Cody pauses. “I hate to have to ask you this, but you weren’t cooking meth inside, were you? Or one of your guys?”
“Hell no.” Logan spits out the words. “Fuck no,” he adds for extra emphasis.
“No cigarettes left burning? Any kind of torch?”
Logan shakes his head. “No one smokes in the shop. The torches were off. It doesn’t make any fucking sense.”
“Buildings don’t just blow up, Logan. I don’t have to tell you that.”
“No shit. But I don’t have a clue how it happened.”
“It’s lucky you weren’t inside. How long ago did you leave?” the cop asks.
“I don’t know, maybe fifteen, twenty minutes ago?”
“It’s also pretty damn convenient that the car you just restored wasn’t inside.”
There’s something in Cody’s tone that I don’t like, and apparently Logan doesn’t either.
“What the fuck are you trying to say? That somehow I made this happen?” Logan’s voice drops to a rough whisper. “Because there’s no fucking way I had a goddamned thing to do with this. That shop is my business. My future.”
“I’m just doing my job, and my training says money is always the best motive. And in this case, your insurance money.”
“I didn’t fucking have anything to do with it. I had two customers’ cars inside, and shit I’ll never be able to replace.”
“But you know you’re gonna have money coming in from insurance to cover it all for you.”
Logan drops his arm from around my shoulders. “I can’t fucking believe you’d bring that up right now. I didn’t have a damned thing to do with this.”
The fire chief breaks away from the men fighting the fire and strides toward us.
“Jesus fucking Christ, man. They told me you were inside.”
Logan releases
me to hug the other man. “Fuck, Granger. I don’t know if today is my lucky day or the unluckiest day I’ve ever had.”
“You’re breathing and not a charred corpse, so there’s that. I gotta get back up there, but fuck, it’s good to see you.” Granger steps back and replaces his headgear, but before I can speak, Emmy chimes in.
“I’m so glad you’re okay. I think my heart about stopped when I thought . . . well, never mind that now. I’m gonna get back to the restaurant and try to calm people down again. Granger, if any of you need coffee or water, it’s on the house. I’ll start brewing some now.”
“Appreciate it, Emmy.” Granger walks backward. “We got all hands on deck to put this one out.”
“Me too,” Cody says before striding away. Over his shoulder, he adds, “Logan, I don’t need to tell you this, but don’t go anywhere anytime soon. We’re gonna have a bunch of questions for you.”
“Jesus, what a clusterfuck,” Julianne whispers.
“My fucking shop is gone.”
“I’m sorry, babe. So sorry. But I’m so glad you’re okay.” I sniffle and tears fall again. “Don’t you ever make me think you’re dead again. I will seriously kill you myself.”
Logan crushes me to his chest. “You scared the shit out of me too. I thought you could’ve been inside. Jesus. What a disaster.”
I look at the car standing a few feet away, still running. “It’s a miracle you weren’t.”
“Thank Rick’s forgetfulness.”
“You better believe I will. I’m going to give every woman he dates a vibrator. It’s the least I can do.”
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Julianne says. “I gotta go track down some plywood for my front window. Blast shattered it.”
Logan looks from me to her. “Call the lumberyard and tell them to put it on my account. Explain what happened, and that you need it delivered tonight so you can actually leave your shop.”
She nods and pulls out her phone before walking away to make the call.
I look up at Logan. “Cody said you can’t go anywhere, but you gotta get the car to Nashville tomorrow.”