Ignite (Wildwood 1)

“She’s always said how much she hated it when her friends became interested in her brothers. Girls used her just to get closer to you and Lane and even Holden,” Harper explained.

He knew about it. Had dumped a couple of girls back in high school when they were dumb enough to tell him what they’d done to Wren. He would never let anyone treat his sister badly, especially a girl who was just trying to get with him. “So Wren knows about us, but she’s not happy about it?”

Harper shrugged. “She didn’t seem happy when I told her. Though for some reason she got even angrier at Delilah.” She winced. “I told her that Delilah had a thing for Lane too. Delilah got mad at me.”

“I doubt she’s mad anymore.” West looked over to where Lane still stood with Delilah. They were all wrapped up in each other t

oo. They even looked like a couple, though he’d bet money Lane would deny he had feelings for Delilah. He was stubborn. Hell, all the Gallaghers were. Even Wren.

“You’re not mad I told your sister, are you?” Harper’s face crumpled. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make such a mess of this. Now I’ve turned it into this big deal and it’s so not.”

“It’s fine.” He hugged her yet again, not able to stop himself from holding on to her, though her words still stung.

It wasn’t a big deal to her? Why did hearing her say those words hurt so much? Is that how she really felt? Or was she just saying that? Only moments ago he’d thought she’d been truly hurt or . . . worse. Just the idea of her in pain had devastated him.

He didn’t want to let her go. Fuck all that summer fling nonsense. He knew it was good between him and Harper. He wanted something real.

But did she?

“Listen, I know my timing is for shit, but I need to get back to work,” he told her, hating the disappointment that crossed her pretty face. “Gotta check on my crew. I’m still on duty. I just—I had to make sure you were okay.”

“I’m fine. Really.” She bent her head, plucked at the front of his shirt. “I promise. I’m just glad to see you.”

“I’m really fucking glad you’re alive.” He cupped her cheek, tilted her face up so her gaze met his. He skimmed his thumb across her skin, smudging the soot there. “You scared the shit out of me.”

She smiled tremulously. “I was scared too.”

He stroked her cheek again, wishing he could kiss her, but he didn’t. There were people everywhere and he was, as he told her, on duty. “Come with me to the parking lot. I’ll have someone check out your wound and bandage you up,” he said, taking her hand.

HARPER LET WEST lead her back up to the parking lot of the restaurant, Delilah and Lane just behind them. Harper’s nose wrinkled at the lingering smoke in the air. She was exhausted, her head hurt, and her eyes burned. But she was so incredibly glad her hand was in West’s. He kept looking back at her, as if to reassure himself that she was with him, and she offered him a shy smile, wondering what could be possibly going through that mysterious brain of his.

She knew what was going through hers. Finding herself alone among the chaos, her friends nowhere in sight, she’d firmly believed something horrible had happened to Wren and Delilah.

Thank God they were all right.

And she was still shaky, her fingers trembling as West tightened his grip on them. She released a shuddery breath when West introduced her to the two EMTs who sat her down on the back end of the ambulance and started checking out her head wound. She didn’t know when she got hurt, hadn’t realized the cut was even there until West had pointed out.

“Luckily, you won’t need stitches,” the EMT said as she probed at the skin around the cut. She’d told Harper her name was Laura. “We can clean the wound up, put a butterfly bandage on it and you’ll be good as new.”

“Will it scar?” She didn’t mean to sound vain, but she didn’t want a big jagged scar slashed across her forehead.

“Somewhat but nothing major. The butterfly bandage should bring the skin close enough together to ensure it won’t be a bad scar.” Laura smiled, her gaze warm. Kind. “You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt worse.”

“I don’t even know how it happened.” Harper winced when Laura started to dab ointment onto the wound. “Is everyone else okay? They found everyone, right?” She really hoped they did.

“Yes, everyone’s been accounted for.” Laura hesitated, studying Harper’s forehead. “I heard it was crazy in there when the fire first broke out. So many people.”

“Do they know how it happened?” When the EMT didn’t say anything, Harper went on. “The fire?”

“I haven’t heard anything mentioned yet about the cause. I’m sure they’re investigating it.”

“There you are.” Wren rushed up, her expression one of pure relief, though she was just as dirty as they rest of them, all from the soot and smoke. Harper felt that same relief wash over her, leaving her weak. She’d known Wren was safe, but it felt good to see her with her own two eyes. “Weston said they’d found you, but I had to see it for myself.”

“I’m okay,” Harper said as Wren reached out and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. “The bar doesn’t look so good, but I’m fine. And you? West mentioned that you were with Holden.”

“I’m okay too. It was scary though. Amazing how comforting my little brother can be when he’s in job mode.” Wren released her hand and stepped back as Laura continued to work on Harper. It was only when she was done and headed back into the ambulance to put away her supplies that Wren came and sat with Harper.

Harper took a deep, trembling breath, telling herself it was now or never. She needed to apologize and make things right again with her best friend. Despite the nearby EMTs and the people who were still milling about, she had to do it now.