“Shit, shit, shit. Okay, plan B. I’m going to get the ladder.”
I flew back into my shop for the large metal ladder Lars had gifted me for some unknown reason when I first opened. I’d exclusively used it as a clothing rack, but now was its time to shine. I tossed the outfits hanging from it onto the floor. By the time I dragged the bulky ladder out to the sidewalk, I was a dizzy, sweaty mess.
I leaned it against the tree trunk. “All right. I can do this. Easy peasy.” I squinted up at Felix. Had the tree grown taller in the past two minutes?
I wiggled the ladder to make sure it was sturdy. “Here goes noth—” The base slipped and the whole thing crashed to the ground, smacking my shin in the process.
“Fuck!” That was going to leave a bruise. I blinked away the tears. There was no time to spare for crying. “Plan C it is. I’ll be right back, Felix! Hang on!” I shouted the words over my shoulder as I took off for the firehouse.
Two things quickly became clear—first, I’d forgotten to put on real shoes and my slippers were not made for sprinting, and second, today was the opening day for the farmers market in the town square. At least that explained why Main Street was empty.
People waved and shouted at me as I squeezed through the crowded booths, not stopping until I burst into the fire station. I doubled over, gasping for air as black spots danced in my vision.
“Lucy?”
Wilder jogged across the lobby, brow furrowed.
“Felix. Stuck in a tree.” I squeezed the words out of my overworked lungs.
“Felix? The cat?”
“Please help. He’s crying. Can’t come down.”
Ezra poked his head into the entryway, and I had a vague memory of the two of us singing a rousing duet of “Barbie Girl” at karaoke. “What’s going on?”
Wilder growled and shifted closer to me. “Get the truck ready. We’ll need the ladder.” His hand was on my back as he guided me into the garage. “I’ll boost you up.”
“I get to ride in the fire truck? That’s so cool.”
A boyish smile flashed on his face, and it was so disarmingly charming, my brain ceased to function. Then his hands were on me—huge and strong as they grasped my hips and placed me into the passenger’s seat.
“Want me to drive, boss?” Ezra asked.
“I got it,” Wilder snapped. He rounded the truck and got in the driver’s seat while Ezra hopped in the back with a smirk.
The moment Wilder shut the door, his deep pine scent flooded the enclosed space, decadent and perfect.Oh no. I clenched my fists, trying to summon the intense panic I’d felt moments ago to stop myself from perfuming, but Wilder’s scent was too soothing.
“Where did you see Felix?”
I breathed through my mouth. “He’s stuck in a tree outside my shop.”
Ezra leaned forward. “Felix? Fuck. This is our most important mission yet.”
Wilder grunted and pulled onto the road. Even with my stress and exhaustion, I felt a thrill at being in an actual fire truck.
“Are you going to honk the horn?” I asked.
“The road’s empty.”
My shoulders slumped.
He gestured at the steering wheel. “There are two horns. The loudest one is by the pedals, but there’s another one here. Have at it.”
I squealed and leaned over, brushing against the alpha’s thick slab of a chest as I stretched to reach. The horn was loud and satisfying, and I laughed. “I feel so powerful.”
Wilder muttered something I didn’t catch, but before I could askwhat he’d said, we pulled up outside my shop. As I pushed the truck door open, Felix let out a loudmeowand started slipping. I shrieked and hopped out—the pavement sending a shock through my feet as I landed—and ran to the base of the tree.
“Be careful,” Wilder snapped. “You should have waited for me.”
