Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24135 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 80(@300wpm)
Keep your focus on the fire, I tell myself. She’s not going anywhere.
We put out the flames and turn off the water before we do any more damage to the structure. Half of it is fine, but the other half is a smoking, dripping wreck. The large brick chimney collapses and a cloud of dust and ash fills the air.
Now that the fire is out, I turn my attention back to the angel by my side.
She’s stunning. I can’t believe it. My lungs stop pumping air. My whole body is still as I stare at her in awe. I’m afraid to say anything for fear she’ll disappear.
Her slim shoulders are heaving up and down with quick breaths as she stares at the smoking building in horror. She’s drenched. Her brown hair is clinging to her face and there are little droplets of water on the lenses of her black-rimmed glasses. Her white sweater is open and her white shirt underneath is soaked through. I swallow hard when I see the outline of her bra over her perky breasts.
My heart pounds as I run my ravenous eyes down her long tight skirt, the dark wet material molded to her slim sensuous curves.
But it’s her gorgeous face that really captures and ensnares me. Those soft lips, her adorable little ears, her sexy chin that I just want to take in my hand to tilt her face up until she’s gazing into my eyes.
I’m falling for her hard and she barely knows I exist. She’s staring at the building with a stunned look on her face. I think she may be in shock.
My hands are shaking as I step up to her, and my hands never shake. I’ve ran into burning buildings and stepped into fighting cages with the biggest, meanest men you’d never want to meet, and my hands never shook. But standing in front of this angel, my whole body is trembling.
I don’t even know her name, but I know she’s the one for me.
“Are you okay?” I ask with a deep throatiness in my voice that usually isn’t there.
It pulls her out of the daze she’s in. She turns to me and it’s like someone is twisting my pounding heart when those beautiful hazel eyes meet mine.
All I can do is stare at her in awe. She’s… perfect.
She looks at me for a long moment, then turns back to the building and bursts into tears.
“Oh shit,” I whisper as I look around for help. The boys are heading inside.
I don’t know what to do here. Crying women always make me uncomfortable. I was raised with three brothers and the toughest mom in the world, so I’m not used to this.
“Umm,” I say as I reach out to touch her shoulder. I pull my hand back before I do. “It’s not so bad. Half of it didn’t burn.”
The ceiling caves in at the worst possible moment and she sobs even harder.
I want to go to her, I want to make everything okay, I want to wipe those tears from her shining hazel eyes and put a smile on her face, but I’m paralyzed as I stand here not knowing how to make any of that happen.
“It’s okay,” I whisper as I finally touch her shoulder.
She crumples into sobs.
Something in me snaps—some primal urge to take care of my girl—and I wrap my protective arms around her. She sinks into my chest and cries as I hold her tight, vowing to take care of this woman forever.
I let her cry for as long as she needs. I could hold her like this forever. I’m just enjoying having her in my arms.
She finally steps back and wipes her eyes under her glasses. She sniffs her adorable little nose and I hate that I have to take my hands off her.
“It’s going to be okay,” I whisper to her. “No one got hurt.”
“But all the books,” she says, her chin quivering as she looks at the smoking remains. “The beautiful building. Oh no! Charlotte’s Web!”
I know what she’s talking about. The library has a rare copy of the classic children’s book. Apparently, it’s a pretty big deal.
“It was behind glass,” I say in a soft soothing tone. “Maybe it’s fine.”
A tear slides down her cheek and my insides twist up as I watch it drip off her jaw. I hate that she’s sad. I want to see her beautiful face full of joy and happiness. Maybe seeing that the rare, signed copy of Charlotte’s Web is okay will make her tears stop.
“Doug!” I shout when I see him at the entrance. “What happened to the Charlotte’s Web?”
“I’ll go check,” he shouts back and then heads inside. He returns a minute later with the flawless book in his hand. He’s holding it over his head. “It didn’t get damaged.”