Chapter 23

Nolan

My lungs ached,and the room smelled like burnt toast. My dreams disintegrated into ash as I awoke to a thick, dense cloud of smoke blanketing me and the sound of alarms blared through my groggy consciousness.

But it took all of mere seconds for me to understand what was happening.

Fire.

Something had happened, and I was in danger, and my adrenaline immediately spiked. I didn't think twice about throwing my legs over the side of my bed, grabbing my glasses and phone from the bedside table, and dropping to the ground.

The heat from the fire ebbed like a pulse, but I didn't see any flames in my bedroom as I army crawled across the floor. Though the smoke made it hard as hell to see, and my lungs hurt to breathe, I knew I had to keep going if I wanted to make it out of there alive.

Every ounce of my being focused on finding my way to the door.

When I finally did, I fought to push it open, and made my way out into the hall, my vision still blurry from the smoke. But what I could see was tenants evacuating, firemen running into doors, and the sound of the blaring alarms made it hard to concentrate. I tried to stand, stumbling as I clutched the wall and tried to clear my vision.

Just a few more steps...

"Nolan!" a familiar voice cut through the confusion as I tried to focus my eyesight on where it was coming from. I coughed so hard my stomach twisted.

"Fuck, Nolan, it's okay, you're okay..." Steady, strong arms pulled me in, giving me the support I needed to stand. Through my smoke-clouded vision I could make out Dawson's perfect face, his copper eyes full of concern.

"Dawson... What..."

"Come on, champ, let's get you somewhere safe," he said, his voice stern and commanding.

I tried to move, but my legs felt like deadweight and I stumbled as I tried to follow his lead. "I can't... I..." My words were choked and labored, and I could barely process what had happened.

I felt my body being swept up off the ground like I was nothing more than a ragdoll. My head fell against a soft, damp shirt that smelled like cedar and spice, the fabric warm to my cheek, and like a confused, dazed idiot, I burrowed into it seeking its warmth and safety.

"It's okay, I got you. You're gonna be okay, I promise." Dawson's voice faltered only a moment, but it soothed me nonetheless.

Then darkness came, and took with it the smell of smoke, the heat of fire, and all the things I'd thought mattered, but in this moment knew they were miniscule.

I could feel my body being moved as I clutched my phone to my chest. The warmth and safety of Dawson's arms left me, and I hated it. I wanted to crawl into his hold and never leave.

"The paramedics need to check you out, okay? I'll be back, I promise," he said calmly, brushing my hair back from my face.

My eyelids fluttered as he came into my vision, the chill air kissing my skin. He was truly the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, soot all over his face, standing there in a damp, white shirt, against the glow of a fire and smoke.

My hero.

I reached for him, to tell him I was sorry. I was wrong. For what, I wasn't sure, but the need to apologize was overwhelming.

Dawson only took my hand for a moment, nodding at me. "Promise," he said before he let me go, and I watched my hero disappear into the smoke without a moment's hesitation.

My heart ached as I watched him boldly do what it was he did every day.

The paramedics put an oxygen mask on me, taking my pulse, checking me over. Someone mentioned something or other about my rapid heartbeat, about my vitals, but it was all white noise in comparison to the realization that I was alive, and I was okay, and that Dawson had saved my life.

And I prayed to whatever God would listen to me that he would come back to me, because in that moment, I'd never seen anything clearer.

I was falling in love with Dawson Richards, and the thought of losing him—to a fire, or even to my own selfish, self-sabotaging behavior—terrified me.

I watched in silent horror as the firemen evacuated the second floor, and the first, where apparently the fire had started, according to the chatter of the paramedics.

And when the fire had been cleansed, when the threat had been diminished, I waited for what felt like an eternity as my vision returned, my breathing evened out.

"Can I make a phone call?" I asked, once I was free of my oxygen mask, my breathing stable. The paramedic shrugged.

"Probably a good idea to call someone you can stay with for awhile until this mess is sorted."

His words settled on me, and I realized he was right. There was no way I was getting back in my apartment tonight, given there would need to be an official claim for the building, not to mention individual tenant's claims about the damages incurred... including my own.

But I didn't really know anyone in Jasper Springs, and Allie wasn't close by. Still, I felt I should call her and let her know what happened. Maybe I could take up residence in the Paradise Hotel for a little while.

I checked the time; it was around two in the morning. I hated to wake her but...

In my wandering, I'd accidentally hit the Facetime button instead of call, and barely had time to register what happened before she accepted the call.

"Nolan, are you okay?" she said immediately, knowing a two am call from me was probably the worst. For goodness' sake, I was in bed by ten thirty most nights.

"I..." My voice caught as the words fell out. "I am now. There was a fire in my building, and..."

"Oh my God!" Allie said as she sat up in bed.

"I made it out okay, and then Dawson..."

The sight of Dawson walking toward me, decked out in his yellow fire suit and hat made my heart stop and my voice die on the wind.

He looked so badass it would have been impossible not to fall in love with the man.

"Nolan... Nolan!" Allie yelled.

I turned the phone in his direction absentmindedly, and Allie gasped.

"Is that..."

"The man who saved my life, yeah," I said softly.

"Oh, Nolan..." Allie tutted.

"I'm… going to have to call you back, Allie," I said.

"Nolan..."

"I'm okay, I promise. I just... I'll call you with any updates, okay?" I said as Dawson came closer, just a few feet away now.

"Fine. But I'm holding you to that!" she blurted and I ended our call.

Dawson stopped just inches away from me, his golden gaze roving over me.

"You're okay..." he said, his voice filled with relief, and I felt it through every part of my being.

I nodded dumbly. "Yeah, because of you..." I said.

"This one's good to go, right?" Dawson asked the paramedic beside me.

"Minor smoke inhalation, maybe a little shock, but otherwise, yeah. Vitals are stable."

"Good. Because he's coming with me," Dawson proclaimed.

"I... I need to get over to the Paradise," I said, trying to remember how to speak.

Dawson only shook his head.

"Like hell you are. I ain't letting you out of my sight, champ. You're under my watch until—"

"You don't have to do that," I said as I rubbed my arms. The cold night air was getting to me.

Dawson instinctively pulled off his fireproof jacket, throwing it over my shoulders like the hero he truly was.

"I know, but I want to," he said as he adjusted the jacket, looking down at me. "Let me take care of you, Nolan."

Something about his words made my heart melt, decimated all the anger and the upset, and the unspoken words. Looking up at his amber eyes of fire, I couldn't' resist him.

How could I tell him no, when I never wanted to leave his arms or his golden presence?

"Okay," I agreed, my voice shaky as he ran his hand along my back, guiding me toward the building stairs.

"Fire was electrical. Caught in the cafe. Second floor only sustained smoke damage, which is good, and third floors and above are all untouched. Everyone has been evacuated, and arrangements are being made," he said as he coaxed me along, never removing his hand from my back.

"Oh, okay," I said, because I wasn't sure what else to say. I guessed the paramedic was right, I was in shock.

"You can stay with me as long as you need until things get back to normal, okay?" he said as I followed him up three flights of steps and down the hall. I nodded, tugging his jacket closer. It smelled of fire and spice, and I liked it. I liked it a lot, because it made me feel warm and safe.

It made me feel loved.

But that was crazy, and I knew that. I blamed it on the shock, because there was no way in hell Dawson was in love with me. The man barely tolerated me, and had downright rejected my advances.

He's just doing his job.

Dawson opened the door for me, and I stepped across the threshold into the darkness once more.