Page 46 of Hex Appeal

I stare at her.

She gestures toward the dead fire. “We were burning reminders of bad relationships.”

“You were burning trash?”

“Symbolically.”

“In the middle of town?”

“In our backyard.”

“There are dry leaves everywhere.”

“We cleared them.”

I look down. They did.

“And we had water.” She points. There's a bucket several feet away. “And a hose.”

Another point.

“And Valerie called the city about the rules before we did it.”

Of course she did.

“Then why did dispatch report a structure fire?”

“I don't know.”

From behind her, Pam clears her throat. “My neighbor might have called.”

Everyone looks at her. She shrugs. “She's nosy.”

For fuck’s sake.

Serena's mouth twitches.

I can't decide whether I want to kiss her or shake her.

So I kiss her. Hard.

Her startled sound disappears against my mouth. I wrap my arms around her and pull her against me.

I don't give a shit about the audience. I don't give a shit that I'm now on duty.

For several seconds, I don't give a shit about anything except the fact that Serena is warm and alive in my arms. And she’s soothing my soul.

She kisses me back. Then her hands slide over my shoulders.

“Welles,” she whispers when I finally pull away.

“I thought you were in danger.”

Her expression changes.

“I heard the address. They said structure fire. I called you, and you didn't answer.”

“My phone's inside.”