Page 130 of Sunkissed Colorado

Breaking free of Jake’s grip, I raced back toward the building. Someone else nearly tackled me, shoving me out of the way. “Don’t even think about it, O’Neal!”

“The storage room at the back of the building!” I shouted. “It looked like the fire was coming from there. Back door was forced too. There could be accelerants.”

Right now, every second counted. I just hoped that information would make a difference.

This had been no accident, and suspect number one was Ian. If he’d done this, I’d make him pay.

But first, Zandra had to be alright.

My hands shook as I dropped to my knees beside her. “Hey there, Sunflower.” I tried to keep my voice calm even though my heart was pounding so hard it could burst. “You’ll be okay. We’re going to get you to the hospital. Just hang in there.”

THIRTY-FOUR

Zandra

“Callum,”I whispered hoarsely. My throat felt like I’d swallowed razor blades, and my head throbbed. But the man looking down at me was the best thing I could’ve hoped to see. I reached out for him, and he caught my hand in his.

“Hey.” He kissed my forehead. “I’m here.”

We were in an ambulance, the world swaying as we moved through the night. My lungs were on fire. Every cough sent sharp spikes of pain through my chest. I was just relieved that Callum was with me.

I kept pushing at the oxygen mask, wanting to speak even though it hurt. “Callum,” I whispered again.

“Don’t try to talk,” an EMT said. He secured the mask back over my nose and mouth.

Callum leaned in again. “I know these guys, okay? They’re taking good care of you.”

“Shouldn’t have you back here at all,” the EMT muttered.

“But I’m too much trouble to contain me in the front seat.” He smiled down at me. “We’re on our way to Hart County General, and the firefighters are getting the fire at the brewery under control. There’s going to be some damage, but it looks likethey’ll save the building, okay? You don’t have to worry about that.”

Tears started streaming down my cheeks, and I reached out to hold onto him. The memories were coming back in fragments. One minute I was trying to subdue the flames with the fire extinguisher, and the next I couldn’t breathe.

Then Callum had appeared like something out of a dream.

He’d saved my life. That thought kept circling through my mind, leaving me completely overwhelmed.

The thought of Hearthstone burning to the ground had been terrifying, but when Callum had suddenly been there wrapping his arms around me, any relief at seeing him had been matched with terror at the thought of him being hurt.

I’m sorry, I tried to say silently with my eyes.I love you.

Callum kissed my hand and stroked my hair. “It’s going to be okay.”

I needed that to be true. But having Callum here did a lot to give me faith.

The hospital was a blur of bright lights and urgent voices. The oxygen mask switched to a tube beneath my nose as I went through examinations and tests. Somehow Callum charmed the nurses into letting him come along with me everywhere I went.

I was worried Callum was hurt and kept nodding at the nurses and pointing at him, wanting him to get checked out too. But he waved that away. “I’m fine, baby. Not a scratch on me. You’re the one I’m worried about.”

After I was rolled back to my room in a hospital bed, a doctor finally appeared to speak with me.

The doctor glanced at her chart. “Ms. Alvarez, you’ve suffered smoke inhalation from the fire. Your oxygen levels are stable now, and your airways didn’t suffer as much damage as they could have, but you have some inflammation in your lungs and throat. That’s why speaking is so difficult and painful right now. You’ll need to rest your voice for the next several days. We’ve started you on some medications to clear those airways, and we’ll monitor youovernight to make sure there are no complications. The good news is that with rest and proper care, you should make a full recovery.”

“That’s very good news,” Callum said, squeezing my hand. I nodded.

“The police are here as well, and I know they’d like to speak with you. If you’re feeling up for that, andonlyif that’s the case, I’m willing to let them come in.”

Callum started to protest. “I’ll go talk to them. But Zandra needs to rest, not deal with?—”