{Kayla}

When the flames make it to my couch, I really start to panic. I have to call 911. Why hasn’t the fire alarm gone off? The super was just in my apartment to replace the batteries when we had to change our clocks for Daylight Savings Time.

“It’s this way,” Ciara says right before she runs into my apartment with an enormous shadow behind her.

Shit. I know that shadow and am now pissed. The burn of mortification mixes with the flames already heating me.

“Stand back,” Jake orders. We comply. He then sprays the fire with a gigantic extinguisher I didn’t see until now. After several blasts, he has the fire out. Thank God. Now everything is covered in a thick white powder. I cough as the smell of baking soda and chemicals kick up into my senses to mix with the singed carpet. And furniture. Oh, and let’s not forget the melted plastic light fixture.

“Thank you,” I say, relief hitting me so hard I collapse against him as the fear racing through me makes it to my knees, robbing them of strength. For the life of me, I can’t stand under my own power. I know from experience Jake has enough strength for the both of us.

“Is everyone okay?” he asks in a velvety voice that melts into my ears. I love me a deep, deep voice. I hate how fast I go from hating him to wanting him to love me forever. It makes no sense, and it shouldn’t. Damn him. I shouldn’t be lusting after the guy, period. I shouldn’t be ready to run away with him even though he didn’t ask. But I am.

No, Kayla. Down.

We both decided not to take it to the proverbial third tap. After three, things get weird in casual sex relationships. Besides, I’m just another notch in his belt, which is fine. He was my lonely booty call the first time and my rebound sex the second time. I don’t want to be part of that revolving door of women coming and going out of his place all the time.

The heat from his breath brushes along my neck, and my hairs stand on end. Just being near him has always sent my entire body into quivers that center between my legs. Too bad we’ve already tapped out.

I come to my senses and push him away. Thank God it’s dark and my friends can’t see how I practically jumped into his arms. I’d have to explain why. They’d see right through whatever stupid lie I attempt and find out about our second tap. “We’re fine.”

“Do you want to hit the lights?”

I already know the kitchen lights are scorched, so I flip on the lamp in my living room. Of course, it doesn’t work. The fire probably tripped a breaker. Great. The creepy super should be arriving any time.

And, as if this wonderful evening couldn’t possibly get worse, the distant cry of sirens fills the night. I race to my sliding glass door and push it open. It’s broken so I have to put all my weight on it just to get it to budge.

Sure enough, the steady red lights head right to my building. The sirens silence and in no time, my tiny apartment is filled with at least five firemen, all of them just as gorgeous as Jake. Is looking that good a prerequisite for working for the Bainbridge Island Fire Department? Or at least the station that serves Bainbridge University. My senses are in overload from seeing them all at once.

I snap out of my daze when I realize how much trouble I could be in because of this. It was just a little boyfriend burning. Why the hell would that be reason to call out the entire BIFD?

“Hey, Swanson. Thanks for the call.”

I whip around and glare at Jake. “You called the fire department?”

“It’s protocol. Any fire in a structure like this requires a call. Your fire alarm was supposed to go off and immediately alert dispatch.”

I glance at the now melted smoke detector. Someone sends a flashlight beam to it. The tallest of the firemen walks over, reaches up, and removes the cover. My jaw drops when I see the spot for the battery empty. In place of it, a little device with a blinking red light.

“What is that?” I ask. My friends all surround me and lean in to catch a glimpse of the device.

“That,” the fireman answers as he holds it up, “is a camera.” He moves it this way and that. “I’m sorry to say, miss. Someone has been spying on you.” He grabs a radio mic on his shoulder. “Dispatch, can we get some brass up here?”

Just then the super walks in. “What the fuck is going on?”

Jake rips the camera out of his colleague’s hand and charges the super. “Did you put this in her apartment?” When the super doesn’t answer, instead eyeballing the device in clear shock, Jake grabs the fat man’s dirty collar and gets in his face. “Answer me!”

“It’s called a security camera, idiot. I have every right to put them where I want.”

“The hell you do.” Jake shakes him. “You can’t install surveillance cameras inside a person’s dwelling without their consent, asshole.”

It takes two other firemen to pull him off the super. One of them pushes him even more. “Back off, Swanson.”

The four of us girls huddle together as chaos erupts around us. Something crashes inside Jake’s apartment. He glances at me and shakes his head before running out. After a few seconds, he yells, “Goddamn it! McElroy, bring that extinguisher!”

One of the firemen grabs the fire extinguisher and runs out of the apartment, two more men on his heels. The super watches them go and then spins around to nail me with a look that scrapes across my body and makes me want to take a shower. Just not in this apartment, not knowing where else he hid cameras to watch me. “What’d you do?”

“It was an accident.”

“I’ll see you’re arrested for this! I want to press charges.”

The tall fireman pushes me behind him. “Sir, I’m going to need you to calm down.”

“The fuck I will. She tried to burn down my building.”

“I’m going to kill him,” Jake growls from outside my apartment. He then comes storming in and heads right for the super. “You son of a bitch. You were spying on me, too?” He holds up the incriminating evidence. The super simply shrugs, like voyeurism is no big deal.

It sinks in. He’s seen me do things I’d never admit to anyone, not even my BFFs. I’ve danced around my apartment in nothing but a bra and panties, singing into my hairbrush. God only knows what he did as he watched me. Now I want to kill him as well and jump at him. I have my nails drawn and take a swipe just as Jake hooks an arm around my waist, saving the disgusting super from scratches worthy of Wolverine.

“He’s not worth it.” Jake holds me back. I push against him, but it’s futile. The guy is a head taller than me and has a hell of a lot of muscle. He doesn’t even have to try as he holds me back. I feel stupid as I finally stop struggling. I’m still pissed as hell and want to kill the super with my bare hands, but Jake is right. It’s not worth an assault charge. I’m probably already facing arson charges.

“Wiring is faulty, Captain.” The fireman who grabbed the extinguisher nods at the tall one. “The heat in here carried through the ceiling and shorted out one of Swanson’s lights, causing it to explode. It sent sparks down and caught some papers on his kitchen counter on fire. The resident across the hall came running into the hall. When we checked her apartment, two of her ceiling fixtures had melted and charred the paint. This place is one big fire hazard. We have to get these people out of here so we can tear into the ceiling before the whole place turns to ash.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” The captain shakes his head. “Okay, boys. It’s time to do a knock and talk. Get the people out. Bust into the ceiling. Contain whatever hazards you find before this place goes up. I’ll get more bodies to help evacuate the building.”

“What?” The super and I exclaim in unison. He continues. “You can’t do that. This is my building.”

“You have wires shorting out and sparking as we speak. We have to get these people out of here before someone is hurt. Swanson, get these ladies out of here.”

“Is there extra turnout gear on the truck? I could get suited up and—”

“You’re not on duty, cadet. Unless I up the alarms—and right now I see no reason to—you’re a civilian. Understood?”

Jake stiffens and squares his shoulders. “Yes, sir.”

The captain grabs the mic on his shoulder. “Dispatch, we need to evacuate this building. Get ahold of some of the hotels on the island and see which ones have rooms available. Better check the homeless shelters in Seattle for anyone who can’t afford a room. We’ll need to put these people up somewhere if they don’t have someone to stay with.” He drops the mic away from his mouth and addresses the rest of the firemen. “Move.”

The men scramble, leaving the captain, the super, Jake, and my friends in my apartment. My heart sinks to the bottom of my soul and twists. I can’t afford a hotel room for more than a few nights. Even that will drain my savings. Something tells me the building won’t be habitable for a long time, if ever again.

I turn to Shannon, the only other speaker of the group. Mel prefers to be seen and not heard. Ciara’s wild side has disappeared as she studies her shoes. But Shannon is silent and simply shakes her head. Shit. Ciara and Shannon barely have room for each other in their dorm. Mel lives with four other roommates in a two-bedroom house. I have nowhere to go.

“Come on, ladies.” Jake motions for the door. “Grab your stuff and let’s go.”

“But this is everything I have,” I whimper and reach for my grandmother’s necklace—the only thing that brings me comfort when I’m ready to stroke out.

“And we’ll do our best to save it.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“I’m not asking, now get your ass moving.”

“Swanson,” the captain growls. “You know I don’t approve of my guys talking like that in front of the ladies. It’s disrespectful.”

“Sorry, Cap.”

“I’m not the one you should be apologizing to, son.”

Jake nods. He then regards me and even forces a smile, but his jaw is white with how hard he’s clenching his teeth. “I’m sorry. Will you please evacuate the building?”

He can apologize all he wants. I’m not leaving without all my stuff. “Jake, you can’t—”

“Kayla!” When he yells, I suck in a breath and fall silent. “This is not up for discussion. I’m trying to help you. Would you please stop arguing with me long enough for me to get you to safety? You can bite my head off once we’re outside and you’re out of danger. Now move.”

My friends and the super do exactly as instructed and hurry out of the apartment. They clearly know better than to push him when he’s in fireman mode. I, however, don’t and race into my bedroom against his protests, grab the bag holding my laptop and schoolwork, and then stuff a few of my belongings inside. Anything that will fit. I have a sinking feeling whatever I leave will be ruined. Tears sting my eyes as I take a final look at what I can’t carry. My emotions are tight in my throat, making it hard to swallow.

A noise behind me catches my attention. Jake has my duffle bag open and is clearing out my dresser. He doesn’t say a word as he shoves as much as he can inside before zipping it closed. When he catches me watching him, he hesitates. He then reaches for me.

“Come on,” he says in a gentle voice, shocking me at his sudden change. He takes my hand to lead me out. “We’ll come back for the rest once they give the okay.”

“We?”

“I’ll come with you. I promise.” His gaze holds mine and warms me. It’s like a mental hug and is exactly what I need.

“What if they don’t give the okay?”

“You can always buy new stuff.”

“I can’t, Jake. I barely make enough to pay rent. I can’t afford to buy all new stuff. My renter’s insurance will take weeks, maybe months to pay out.”

“Nothing is worth your life. Trust me on that one. People run inside their burning house to save something, only to never come back out. I won’t let that happen to you. Not when I can do something about it.”

“But…” I glance around the apartment, at the singed carpet and back of my little loveseat, the charcoaled ceiling, the powdery stuff from the extinguisher now covering everything. “You put it out.”

“The danger isn’t the fire you can see,” he recites and tugs on my hand. “Please, Kayla. We’ll hit every thrift store and garage sale on the island if we have to. We’ll get you back on your feet.”

“Thank you, Jake. I don’t know why you’re being so nice and right now, I don’t care. I’m just glad you’re here.”

He offers a smile. “So am I.”

With a deep sigh, I leave my apartment and join my friends on the street. By now, not only have most of the tenants been evacuated, but the flashing lights of the fire trucks have attracted a hell of a lot of spectators. Of course, the rain hasn’t let up. That annoying, misty drizzle is constant as it soaks into everything.

I’m so embarrassed I could die. This is going to turn into how Kayla Riggs almost burned down an entire apartment building and forced its residents out. Film at 11.

The super rushes me, sending me stumbling back. “You little bitch! You’ve ruined me!”

Jake steps between us and pushes the super away. “Spying on your tenants? Faulty wiring? You want to add assault to that list of charges?”

“Fuck you, pretty boy.” He lunges, but Jake easily punches him in the stomach. The fat super doubles over and stumbles back.

Two policemen come running over. Jake nods at the super and they flank him. “This is the superintendent of the building. Not only did he illegally install cameras in several, if not all, of the apartments, he just tried to attack these ladies, as well. He’s also responsible for the fire in my apartment.”

“The fuck I am!” The super struggles against the cops as one of them cuffs him.

Jake steps up and narrows his eyes. “Oh, really? Are you saying you didn’t illegally plant those cameras to watch all the pretty girls without their knowledge instead of making sure all the smoke detectors worked? You upgraded the wiring to bring this building up to code? You installed fire extinguishers at the end of every hall? In every apartment? What about those rickety balconies that prohibit a safe escape? I’ve lived here less than a year and know for a fact you’ve never once done a goddamn thing to maintain this place. Good luck trying to pin this on anyone, dick. This is on you.”

Despite the chaos of the night, I’m oddly aroused at how passionate Jake is right now. As a player, he’s cool. Charming. The ultimate ladies’ man. But this Jake is using a tone I’ve never heard from him. It’s hard, demanding, and leaves nothing up for discussion. Gone is the guy using smooth lines to get the girl. This Jake is one hundred percent fireman, and I feel the heat.

The captain approaches and gives a quick nod to the two cops. “You have enough to detain him. Get him out of here. Once we cut into the ceiling, we’ll see how bad it is. This building is on our hot sheet. It was only a matter of time.”

The cops haul off a seriously pissed, cussing super. I can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction our little boyfriend burning led to the arrest of that sleaze ball. Karma, bitch.

“What’s a hot sheet?” I ask Jake in a whisper. Despite being so embarrassed I could still die, I’m also caught up in the moment of wide-eyed fascination like a kid seeing fireworks for the first time.

“A list of buildings at risk for fire. It also means if the building goes up, we do our best to contain the blaze, but we don’t enter unless there’re signs of life.”

I drop my jaw as my heart seizes. “Are you saying if this place catches fire, you guys just let it burn?”

He nods.

“And you live here knowing that?”

“It’s because of that I live here.” The determination in his tone cuts into the air. I don’t understand and shake my head in confusion. “I chose a building on the hot sheet in case it does go up. I could at least get the tenants to safety before it burned down.”

Oh, wow. That’s so…noble. Selfless. His expression is so hard, so filled with a passion for his job it burns into my body. It’s a side of Jake I’ve never seen, except when we’ve slept together. But that kind of passion pales in comparison to him wanting to protect an entire building of innocent residents. I’m so impressed I’m seriously rethinking my two-tap rule.