Cream (Gimme Series 4)

“Yes. She was looking forward to meeting you. At least that was until her world has been just upended,” he sighs heavily as if he’s just as saddened for her. I sense the love he has for his sister, and it warms my heart.

He takes my hand and my bookbag before walking us back to the café. The fire’s out, and the crowd seems to have died down, but the sidewalk is still full of nosy people and the first responders. He looks for his sister and easily spots her talking to the police.

“Bee,” he calls out.

“Nicky.” Her face brightens up, rushing up to him. Holy shit, that’s so cute that she calls him Nicky. He blushes when I giggle.

“Are you okay?” he asks her, reaching up with a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

“Yes, but they say the fire appears deliberate.” I turn to check out the scene, and a group of firemen are coming out of the building.

“Deliberate? Who the fuck has a death wish?” He tenses, and I feel it in my hand. I pull out of his grip, so he doesn’t accidentally break my fingers. “I’m sorry, Lia.” He lifts my hand and kisses the backside.

“Lia? That’s pretty,” Brie says, giving me a partial smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. She looks back at her building, and tears roll down her face again.

“I’m sorry about this,” I whisper, feeling a bit unnerved. She nods, and Nick pulls her in with one arm, hugging her until she gets her tears under control.

“So what happened, Bee?” he asks.

“I don’t know. I was behind the register when a tiny explosion came from the back. Luckily, no one was back there.”

“An explosion?” Nick and I ask simultaneously.

“Yes.” Her voice is just above a whisper as she chokes back another round of painful emotions.

“Do Oscar or Beth know what happened?”

“No. Oscar was upfront with me, and Beth quit right after you left.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.” They both looked puzzled by that, but I don’t know who Beth is.

“Beth?”

“The girl at the register this morning.” A sinking feeling hits me dead in the gut.

“When did you leave?”

“About half an hour after I dropped you off. Why? You don’t think she and I were together or anything?” He clings to my side, gripping one hand around my waist.

“No. I just ran into her. Right before I walked to the crowd to look for you. She told me that you two were married, and I was just another one of the many affairs you had.”

“What? That bitch. I bet she had something to do with this,” he roars. “That’s all a lie. I swear it is. When I get a hold of her…” He stops himself from saying something I know that’s not going to be pretty when he looks to his sister and reads her pain.

The look of devastation on Brie’s innocent face makes me forget that I hardly know her, and I pull her into a hug. “It’s going to get better.”

A man approaches us. He’s wearing a type of officer’s attire. “Mr. Williams, you are part owner, correct?”

“Yes, I am.” He reaches for my hand, and I could laugh at the way he’s warning the man that I’m taken. And that I am. Every second that passes, I’m more infatuated with Nick.

“Hello, I’m Fire Chief Derek Feldman. I would like to speak to you in private if possible.”

“Can we take this to my office? It’s only down the street a couple of blocks.”

“Yes, that will work. We can’t enter the building until it’s deemed safe. I need about fifteen minutes to make sure everything here is under control.”

“Here’s my card. You can meet us here. I’ll take the girls there.” They shake hands before the chief walks away.

“Come on, Bee, Lia.” He takes my hand and hers, walking us toward a large office building.

“Bee, I’m sorry. I don’t know why or what caused that fire, and I’ll get it fixed so you can have your place up and running soon.”

She freezes, stopping our walk. “What about the new girl we hired? She doesn’t even know she doesn’t have a job right now. I have to call Phillip, but my phone was in the back.” Her sweetness is too adorably perfect and innocent.

“It’s okay. When we get inside, we’ll get in touch with his company.”

He opens the door and looks at his guard with a tough warning glare, but he softens it and says, “Thank you for rushing to get me to the fire. You know my sister. This beautiful woman right here is my wife. Don’t talk to her unless you have to and always address her as Mrs. Williams. Understood?”

“Yes, Mr. Williams.”

“Nicky,” Bee gasps as we move to the elevators. It’s funny how I’ve already accustomed myself to his crazy. “You’re not married yet. Don’t you think you should woo her first?” And I’m loving Brie.