Her Bucking Bronc (10 page)

“I’ve got to get to work.”

She cupped his face and kissed him, soft and sweet. “Build my restaurant, Broadway.”

He found himself smiling. “Sure thing, Harry.”

She picked up her purse and left the trailer, leaving him to try to cool his blood. Dylan stood there for a few more minutes thinking of anything except Hannah. Roadkill, liver and onions, toenail fungus, rancid milk. It didn’t work quickly, but it did work.

He stepped outside and walked toward the waiting carpenter. Now he had a personal stake in the restaurant rebuild. There were few times in his life he’d had that kind of connection.

The build would be the best he’d ever done.

Chapter Seven

Each day for the next week Hannah came to the jobsite and fed the men with some delicious baked concoction. As they rated them, she stack ranked the pastries. The feedback from Amber at the Coffee House also figured into her business plan. She had usually made pastries for family, not for sale. But with the Devils’ Corner in the new restaurant, she could expand to raise her profits and feed the town.

Along with her deliveries, she got to see Dylan. They had stolen kisses in the trailer, but it never went past that. She didn’t know if he was holding back until they both lost control or if he was enjoying teasing them both into a frenzy. Either option worked for her.

The dance between them was one of the most erotic experiences of her life. She walked around aroused every day. Masturbating in her bed wasn’t easing her ache. When Friday rolled around again, she was near desperate for a release.

No matter what, she was getting Dylan into bed come hell or high water. She pulled into the jobsite and saw his truck was already there. They played a little game to see who would arrive first. They’d started arriving before the sun, which gave them a good half an hour to make out in the trailer.

Hannah’s heart was light and her soul happy. As she pulled into the parking space, she picked up the picnic basket and jumped out of the truck. As she walked toward the trailer with a smile, another vehicle pulled in behind her.

Well, shit.

She frowned and walked toward her brother’s truck. Why was he here? He hadn’t come by the jobsite for weeks.

“Dax.” She stood impatiently while he turned off the engine and jumped out.

“Mornin’, sis. You’ve been baking in the middle of the night lately. I had to follow you just to talk to you.” He waggled his brows. “Something keeping you distracted?”

“Shut up.” She couldn’t cross her arms while holding the picnic basket so she settled for a deep scowl. “Why are you here?”

“The bank called about the Jorgensens. Something about a thirty thousand dollar check?” His expression had turned serious. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Her cheeks heated. “I was going to. With Dylan’s help we got the appliances ordered.”

“And paid for them twice.” Dax frowned. “Thirty grand is a big loss when the restaurant hasn’t opened yet.”

“I’m sorry, Dax. I should’ve told you. I have all the paperwork and Naomi is helping me to recover it.” She toed the ground with one shoe. “You know me, I’ve got it covered.”

He took her arms. “No, you don’t. The bank has left you three messages this week and you haven’t called them back. Naomi even called me to find out what was going on with you.”

She’d been distracted by the game between her and Dylan. There were voicemails on her phone and she hadn’t listened to them. Guilt made her stomach cramp.

“I’m sorry, Dax. I dropped the ball on this one.”

“No, you didn’t. Apparently the bank was able to track the funds and worked with the Jorgensens’ bank to reverse it.”

Hannah threw her fist in the air. “Yes!”

“You provided them with the police report, the details, the canceled check and some other ridiculously detailed paperwork. They told me they wished all their clients were so organized.” Dax peered into the picnic basket. “And a hell of a baker too.”

She let him take one of the cinnamon rolls. “I’m building up the business for the restaurant when it opens.”

“Uh huh. Nothing to do with the general contractor then?” Dax’s eyes gleamed with that teasing glint that only brothers could perfect.

“Shut up.” She swatted at him again. “Don’t make me tell Sophie you were mean to me.”

“She will enjoy helping you seek revenge on me.” Dax laughed. “She loves to drive me crazy.”

“Well, she loves
you
.” Hannah took his free hand. “I haven’t said this, but I’m really glad you two got back together. You were always meant to be.”

His smile changed, became deeper. “I think so too.”

The sound of the siren from the firehouse split the morning air in two. As the captain of the volunteer fire department, Dax ran for the truck.

“Be careful!” Hannah hoped whatever the emergency was, it was a false alarm. Tanger had had numerous fires, including Cindy’s, from what was likely an arsonist. It made the town on edge when the siren sounded.

Dylan appeared in the doorway of the trailer, frowning, the tailless cat at his feet. “Was that your brother?”

“Yes, but the siren went off. I’m hoping it’s nothing.”

He pointed in the distance. “I see smoke.”

Hannah’s heart clenched. “Shit.”

“Do you want to go check to see if you can help?”

Dylan seemed to know her well enough to know what her reaction would be. Later she would examine that particular fact, but for now, she would need to follow Dax and find out what was going on.

She left the picnic basket on the half-built wall, knowing Mauricio would distribute the pastries to the men. He’d become adept at being fair with all of them.

Dylan stood beside his truck. “Let’s go.”

Hannah wanted to kiss him and tell him she was falling in love. The man might pretend he was a hard-ass, but he wasn’t. She jumped into his truck, followed by the cat. He grunted at the feline, but it seemed intent on going with them.

“Fuck it.” He put the car into gear and they raced toward the smoke.

Her dread grew with each passing block. When they rounded the corner, she gasped. “It’s the Coffee House.”

“Fuck.” He parked across the street in the empty lot.

There was a crowd of people around and the pumper truck was just hooking up to the hydrant. Her cousin Kyle carried a limp body out of the smoke and stumbled as he reached the curb. What the hell was her cousin doing running into a flaming building?

Leaving the cat in the cab of the truck, Dylan and Hannah ran toward him, and just as he stumbled again, Dylan grabbed the woman from his arms. Hannah steadied her cousin as he fell to his knees. Smears of soot coated his face. He coughed so hard, the veins stood out on his neck.

She pulled a bottle of water from her purse and opened it. He waved it away and pointed at the woman. Hannah realized with shock it was Amber. Her beautiful hair was singed and blackened, her face reddened with blisters and more soot.

“Where the hell is the ambulance?” Dylan took the water from Hannah and held it up to Amber’s mouth, but the liquid dribbled down her cheeks. “She’s unconscious.”

Kyle staggered to his feet. “I’ve got to contain the crowd. Stay with her, Hannah. Please.” Kyle wasn’t given to emotion ever, but there was agony in his voice. Perhaps there was more to why he ran into the flames.

“Of course.” She knelt down beside her friend and Dylan handed her a bandanna from his pocket. She soaked it in water and started wiping Amber’s face. The ambulance siren drew closer as she laid the cool cloth on the obviously painful skin on the other woman’s face. “What happened?”

Kyle’s agony was pushed aside by raw fury. “I don’t know, but I’m damn sure going to find out.” If her cousin was cussing, there was going to be a war. He coughed again.

Dylan got to his feet. “What can I do?”

“Keep those people back.” Kyle coughed again.

“You need to see the EMTs.” Dylan frowned at him.

“Later. I’ve got to do my job first.” Kyle straightened his shoulders and swiped at his eyes. “Damn smoke.” He turned to the looky-loos and started bellowing at them to get back.

Dylan met Hannah’s gaze. “He’s going to put himself in the hospital.”

“Nothing is more important to him than duty.” She glanced down at Amber. “Except perhaps now.”

“I’ll keep watch on him if you’ll be all right.” Dylan’s care and concern weren’t a surprise, but they definitely made her fall for him even more.

“I’ll be fine. Go help him.” Hannah got to her feet and kissed him hard.

He raised his brows, then kissed her just as hard. “Be safe.”

He jogged across the street and started bellowing louder than Kyle. Hannah’s eyes pricked with tears. She was definitely falling for Dylan. Hard.

The EMTs pulled up and she stepped back to allow them to render first aid. Hannah wished she could turn back time and spare Amber the pain.

Sometimes life wasn’t fair to those who least deserved it.

* * * * *

Hannah sat in the waiting room at the hospital while Amber was examined. It had been over an hour, but no one had come to speak to her. When Tessa Stevens appeared, Hannah jumped to her feet.

They’d been friends since elementary school. Tessa was one of the emergency room nurses and she was damn good at her job. Her petite form, along with short, curly blonde hair and green eyes, made most people treat her like a kewpie doll. However, the moment she opened her mouth and she ordered them around, they realized she was a force of nature.

“Hannah.” Tessa pulled her into a fierce hug. It was like being squeezed by a pixie. An incredibly strong pixie.

“How’s Amber?”

“She’s stable. The burns aren’t as bad as they could have been. She’ll be discharged soon, but she needs someone to help her for the next few days.”

“Oh, then she’s coming to the ranch with me. We’ve got plenty of room and Mama would welcome her with open arms.” Hannah glanced down at the curtained beds. “Can I see her?”

“Not yet. A few more minutes. We’re still treating her for the mild smoke inhalation. It’ll be another hour.” Tessa looked at her watch. “She’ll need clothes to wear. Do you think you could go to her apartment for her? She asked if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Of course not.”

“Good. Kyle has her purse, so swing by and get the keys from him.” Tessa swiveled around and marched back to her patients.

That’s when Hannah realized she didn’t have a car to do what she needed to do. She pulled out her phone and called Dylan.

He arrived fifteen minutes later, giving her time to call her mother and explain the situation. His expression was harried and annoyed.

“Your cousin said your restaurant was the first building to be burned by the same asshole. Why didn’t you tell me?”

She blinked at the verbal attack. “It didn’t occur to me. You’re rebuilding the restaurant. What difference does it make how the original one burned?”

He ground his teeth together. “If I have to tell you why then we’re done with this conversation. Let’s go.”

She didn’t know what had caused his sudden anger, but she didn’t like it. Not one damn bit. Her own temper bubbled up and she had to beat it back with effort. Right now she had to focus on Amber.

“Can you drive me to get my truck? I’ve got to find Kyle to get Amber’s purse. She’s coming back to the ranch with me to recuperate.” Hannah couldn’t keep the annoyance from her voice.

“Fine. I’ll help you get her settled.”

“No need.”

“Yes, there is a need.”

“You have a job to do, remember? I’m not paying you to boss me around.” She glared at him across the cab of the truck.

“No, you’re paying so you can boss
me
around.” He pulled out of the parking lot while the air between them crackled with something other than sexual energy.

Hannah wanted to punch something. The man brought out all kinds of emotions in her, powerful ones, and it turned her into a crazy woman. She closed her eyes and remembered all he’d done this morning, including helping with the fire and tending to Amber.

Today had been an overwhelming day for her. She needed to dial back her reactions.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you about the fire because the memory is a nightmare. I was there, upstairs in my apartment, when the fire started. I hadn’t really recovered from Phillip’s death.” She looked out the window at the passing buildings, the noon sun mocking the seriousness of the day, of the conversation. “I’m trying to live again, to find the joy in life again. Reliving the agony of the last two years is the last thing I wanted.”

The silence in the cab was thicker than molasses. The rest of the drive was the most uncomfortable ten minutes of her life. When they got back to the jobsite, she jumped out of the truck before he even put it in park.

She stalked to her truck only to be stopped by a strong arm around her waist. “Oof!” She flailed for control, but he flipped her around until they were nose to nose, and she dangled a good six inches in the air as he held her tight.