Spark: A Bad Boy's Second Chance Romance (Burns Brothers Book 3)

by Gillian Archer

  The door clicked shut. Mom still didn’t say anything—she just leaned against the closed door. I couldn’t see her face since the screen was between us, but I didn’t move either. There was so much to say, and I didn’t know how to start.

  After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke. “I, uh, heard from Austin that you quit over at the shop.”

  I closed my eyes with a muttered curse. I’d forgotten to mention to the guys that I hadn’t told Mom yet about my plans. Or that I couldn’t quit yet. “Yeah. I did. I uh…”

  When it was clear that I had nothing more to say Mom rushed in to fill the awkward silence. “I think it’s great. I always thought you should’ve gone into medicine. You’ve always been our little doctor in the family. And we all know how much you love animals. It just makes sense.”

  I shifted in my chair so I could see if Mom was serious. She stared back at me with a sincere expression. “Aren’t you mad? I’ll be essentially throwing my whole career away.”

  “No, honey, you’ll be starting a new one. And it’ll be a career you’ll love, I think. It sounds like a fantastic idea to me.” She looked away for a second like she had to gather her nerve or something then faced me again. “And I really hope you’ll let me know if there’s anything I can do. I want you to succeed at this, and I’ll do everything in my power to help you.”

  A fresh flood of tears poured down my cheeks for the umpteenth time that day as an overwhelming sense of love swamped me. I might not have Logan, but even after all we’d been through these past couple of weeks, my mom was still there for me. I tore across the room and threw myself into her arms.

  “I’m so sorry, Mom.” I babbled through my tears and sniffles. “I don’t—I can’t believe what a brat I’ve been, and you still—”

  “No, honey, no.” Mom held me away from her and looked into my eyes. “You had every right to be mad about what I did. If I had to do it all over again, I would tell him about you. I can’t get those years back for you, but I hope you know that I know how wrong I was. I should’ve shared you with him because even half of you is enough to fill my heart with a lifetime of happy memories.”

  “Mom.” I shook my head and grumbled about her flowery words, meanwhile a sense of peace settled in my heart. I hadn’t killed my mom’s love for me after all. I sighed. “Well if it helps any, you were kinda right about him. At the first sign of trouble with his real family, he ran home to hold their hands.”

  “Honey, no. Do you mean to tell me that that man left town and hasn’t been in touch with you since?”

  “Well, no, not exactly. He’s texted a few times and tried to call me once or twice, but I haven’t felt like talking.” Mostly because I was too busy crying over Logan, my family, and the fucked-up mess my life had become.

  “I don’t need you to feel like you need to choose sides. Your father and I have a rocky history, and maybe someday we’ll be able to get along enough to be in the same room together—hopefully by the time of your wedding. So don’t feel like you need to knock him down in front of me. Or vice versa. We’re all adults, and I’m well aware of my own faults. And his, too.”

  I might’ve snorted at her wedding comment then felt a pang in my heart. But still I heard what she’d said. “Okay.”

  “So now that we have that out of the way, when am I going to meet this guy of yours? You promised the last time I saw you that you’d bring him around and let me scare—I mean, meet him.”

  I groaned.

  And not for the reason she probably thought.

  Really? My brothers had no problem spilling the tea on my new vocational dreams but left me to do the heavy lifting on my break up with Logan.

  I sighed and seriously debated not telling her—despite all the come to Jesus reckoning work we’d done tonight. I just didn’t know if I had another emotional scene in me, but I knew I had to. Mom was the only one—aside from my newly discovered father—who didn’t know about my miscarriage.

  And that didn’t feel right.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Still Sabrina

  I sat my mom down—in her own office—and told her everything. My relationship with Logan then, his injury and hospitalization, my miscarriage, him coming back into my life, and the relationship we’d built since then. And the way he’d found out about my miscarriage and our ultimate breakup.

  I braced myself for her furor. I mean, I’d been so pissed at my mom for withholding my dad, and meanwhile, I’d hidden all this from her. There was no way she’d be okay with my deception.

  Mom reached over and pulled me in for a hug. “I am so sorry, honey.”

  She held me, and I waited with my breath stuck in my chest for the hammer to fall.

  But it didn’t.

  After a minute I relaxed into her hug, and suddenly I could breathe a little easier.

  Finally she gave me one last squeeze and pulled away. “What do you need from me? Is there anything I can do to help you through this?”

  “I…uh, I don’t know.” I shrugged helplessly. “I haven’t really thought about what’s next, so I don’t know. I kinda thought you’d take this a totally different way.”

  “What way is that?”

  “You know. Pissed that I didn’t tell you when it was happening? Angry that I went through so much without telling you.”

  “Oh honey.” Mom sighed and shook her head. “I knew you were going through something; I just didn’t know what. You don’t exactly have the best poker face. But you’re an adult. I knew you’d share whatever was going on when you were ready.”

  I didn’t know what to say to that. I’d never expected such a considerate reply from my mom. As far as I could remember she’d always been in the middle of the drama.

  Although now that I thought about it, it was always the drama with the guys. Hardly ever with me. And she’d only weighed in on my drama when one of my brothers narc-ed on me.

  Mom gave me a weary smile. “And you know, I’m aware of what you go through having essentially four older brothers. You have enough busybodies poking into your life.”

  “Now you tell me.” When I think of all the heartache those lunkheads caused me and Logan… “Couldn’t you have done something about it?”

  “I’ve tried, but you know how pigheaded those boys are. Plus, it was nice while you were in high school. I didn’t have to worry much about you. I knew you’d be fine with them looking after you.”

  They were annoying AF a lot of the time, but I knew all their interfering was done in love. Mostly.

  “But you know,” Mom drawled. “Not that you asked for my opinion or anything, but I think that things aren’t done with you and Logan.”

  “Mom, you didn’t see his face when Nathan dropped the bomb. Or how physically bruised he was.” I gave a fatalistic shrug. “And if we weren’t through, don’t you think he would’ve answered at least one of my texts or phone calls? That’s not the action of a guy who’s willing to forgive me.”

  “No, that’s the action of a guy who you’ve told me runs from everything. How did he handle his accident? Or when you recognized him during your first meeting at the shop? The man turtles. He hides and licks his wounds. I bet, once he’s had some time to think about it, he’ll call you.”

  “Yeah, but do I want him to? I mean I don’t know if I want to be with someone who literally can’t deal with anything.”

  “That’s not fair. Wasn’t your whole reasoning for not telling him about the miscarriage because he wasn’t ready, and you wanted to decide when he was? You didn’t have any problem with him not dealing when you were hiding the truth from him.”

  I shook my head, frustrated at my inability to get my point across. Before I could get my thoughts in order, my mom continued.

  “But it’s up for you to decide if you want to be with him or not.” She patted my arm. “I gotta go close up. Are you going to work longer? Or do you want me to walk you out?”

  I’d already been here a few hours and knew th
e restaurant was due to close soon. But I had a pile of paperwork to get through if I wanted to file Mom’s quarterly taxes in time. “Nah, I’m good. I parked near the back door, so I’ll just let myself out when I’m done.”

  “Okay, honey. Don’t stay too late.” Mom gave me another quick hug. “And maybe think about what I said. If you really love him, give him another chance. But only if he’s worth it. If you need some help deciding, maybe have him pick you up here. I can always scare the beejesus outta him. It’s a talent.”

  I rolled my eyes even as I laughed. “I’ll think about it, Mom. Love you.”

  “Love you too, honey.”

  The door clicked shut behind her as I sat behind the desk again. Soon I was lost in numbers and spreadsheets even as thoughts of Logan warred with the analytical side of my brain. I stayed working until there was no sound coming from the other side of the door. Until I knew everyone went home. Until I could hardly keep my eyes open.

  Until my head grew so heavy, I needed to rest it on the desk for just a minute.

  The next thing I knew, my ringtone was blaring my favorite song. I blinked my eyes open, but I couldn’t see anything. I tried to take a deep breath to try to clear my head but ended up coughing from all the smoke.

  Smoke.

  Fire!

  Shit, the restaurant was on fire.

  Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.

  What should I do? Where should I go?

  I had to get low. I remembered that much from grade school. Pushing away from the desk, I went to duck down when my ringtone started up again. I slapped at the desk until I found my vibrating cell. Grabbing it, I bolted for the floor, pushing the chair out with a crash. I landed with a jolting rattle of bones and caster wheels.

  “…you there? Hello?” Logan’s muffled voice came from my phone, thankfully still in my hand.

  “Logan!” I raised my phone to my ear with a sob. “Oh my god, Logan. The restaurant’s on fire! I’ve gotta call for help.”

  “No, you get the fuck out of there. I’ll text for help now. Stay on the line!” He barked.

  “Okay. Okay. Out. Gotta get out,” I mumbled to myself. My heart was racing, and I still couldn’t really see much—the desk next to me, the filthy carpet inches form my nose. But I knew the room. I’d spent almost as much time as my mom in this office. I could get out of here. “Okay.”

  “Stay low to the ground and try to keep calm.” Logan’s soothing voice came over the line.

  Despite my jittery heartbeat, a sense of calm came over me. I knew the door was only a few feet from the desk. I just had to crawl in the right direction. Keeping my phone in one hand, I slapped at the screen until I could put Logan on speaker phone, then I took a few trembling wriggles to where I thought the door was.

  “Talk to me, angel. I know you can get yourself out of there. You’re on the ground, right? You’re crawling?”

  “Yes.” My voice sounded shaky even to me, and I coughed to try to clear my throat. “I’m crawling. I’m almost to the door. I think.”

  “Okay. You’re doing great, Sabrina. Just a little further.”

  I crawled in the direction I thought the door was and when the dark shape loomed in front of me, I sobbed in relief.

  “But don’t open the door!” Logan barked.

  “Wait. What?” I slumped in confusion. The door was freedom. And I wanted to get the fuck outta here!

  “Test the knob first. The fire might be burning too hot and too close for you to get out that way. Is there something you can wrap your hand in? Your shirt or a rag or something?”

  “My sleeve.” I pulled my long sleeve down my arm until it covered my hand. Sitting up on my haunches, I reach for the knob but didn’t even have to touch it to know that it was hot. Heat radiated from the entire door.

  I was trapped.

  “Oh god! It’s hot, Logan. What do I do? That’s the only door. I’m not going to get out, am I? Oh god. I don’t want to die. I don’t want to die!”

  “You’re not going to die!” Logan shouted. “I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose another person I love to a fucking fire. Now listen to me! Is there a window there?”

  “A window?” I blinked away the tears and smoke and concentrated on Logan’s words. “Yeah, there’s a window, but—” I had to pause and hack out part of my lung. The smoke was getting so thick I could hardly breathe.

  “Sabrina? Sabrina!” Logan’s voice came from somewhere at my side. Apparently I’d dropped the phone to cough like a veteran smoker.

  I patted the floor around until I could grab my phone. I felt a little woozy, and I tried not to think about what that meant. I had to get the fuck outta here. “I’m here. I’m here.”

  “The window. You need to stay low and get to the window. Where’s the window?”

  “That’s what I was trying to tell you. The window is kinda small and way at the top of the wall. I don’t think I can reach it.” I hacked out another part of my lung. Or at least it felt like it.

  “Do you think you can fit through when you reach it?”

  “I think so.” I kinda had to, didn’t I? What was the alternative? My heart lurched. I didn’t think it was anything good.

  “Okay.” Logan huffed an unsteady breath. “Get over to the window. We’ll figure out how to get you out through there.”

  “Logan, if I don’t make it, I want you to kn—”

  “Fuck that! I don’t want to hear whatever dying declaration you have on your mind. Get your ass over to that window, so we can figure out how we’re getting you out of there. You can tell me whatever you’re thinking when you’re with me in the parking lot!”

  “You’re here?” My heart thudded painfully in my chest. I wanted to see Logan almost more than anything. Second only to fresh air.

  “Almost, angel. I’m about two minutes away. Maybe less. So you gotta get to that window for me, okay? Firefighters and me are on the way. You just gotta stay with me for a little longer. Can you do that?”

  “Yes,” I burbled. “I can do it.” Tears streamed down my cheeks, not that they obscured my vision. The smoke was so thick I was going by feel more than sight. Instinct.

  I had to get out of here. I wanted to see Logan again. I had to tell him I loved him. Tell my mom that I forgive her. Or had I already? Everything was so jumbled up in my head, I couldn’t really remember the conversation I’d had with her only a few hours ago. And Nathan. I couldn’t let him keep thinking I was mad at him. He might’ve been a highhanded asshole, but wasn’t that what I loved most about him?

  I had to live.

  But my head was getting foggier. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. And the room was getting so fucking hot.

  I pushed myself forward. Even when I had to stop again to cough like an emphysema patient. Even when I was sure I was lost inside the tiny office.

  Thud. My head hit the desk. I stopped and shook my head like that could somehow clear the fogginess.

  It didn’t.

  “Sabrina? You still there?”

  “Yeah. But I can’t find the window. I don’t know where it is.” I sobbed. This was it. I wasn’t getting out of here. I was going to die.

  Oh god.

  “I love you, Logan. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the miscarriage. I just thought…it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I love you. And I wanted our baby. I was so fucking lost when I couldn’t reach you. I don’t—”

  Crash.

  The window above me shattered and glass rained down. I screamed, covering my head with my hands.

  What the—

  “Anyone inside?” A masculine voice called out overhead.

  “Here! I’m in here!”

  “I’ve got her! Stay where you are.”

  There was a lot of shouts and clatter of ladders and equipment, but I just closed my eyes and sobbed. I was going to live. Logan saved me.

  Then I blinked and a stranger was wrapping me in a jacket and helping me up and through the window.

 
I finally took my first deep breath of clean, fresh air.

  Immediately followed by hacking coughs.

  Bright lights blared down on me.

  A cacophony of strange voices came at me from every side. Asking questions. None of which I could answer.

  Someone carried me to the back of an ambulance.

  An oxygen mask was shoved over my face.

  I tried to look around the people crowding around me for Logan. He said he was going to be here.

  That he was coming for me.

  “Logan?”

  My voice was muffled by the mask. The paramedics next to me couldn’t understand what I said.

  “…smoke inhalation. Carbon monoxide…take her to Mercy General.”

  “Logan!”

  “You’re going to be fine.” The guy on my left said as he patted my hand. He climbed into the ambulance beside me and the doors slammed shut. “We’re taking you to the hospital so they can check you over and make sure you’re okay.”

  It sounded like he was talking at the end of a long tube. Echo-y and distorted.

  Shit, that wasn’t normal.

  Or good.

  I rolled my head to the side, and it felt heavy. And not mine.

  I know he said more after that, but I couldn’t keep my eyelids open.

  Where was Logan?

  “Logan?”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Logan

  “Sabrina!” I shouted as I watched a firefighter pull her from the window.

  “You gotta stay behind the tape.” A young patrolman gestured with his flashlight to the yellow tape blocking off the parking lot.

  “But that’s my girlfriend!” I moved to duck under the tape when arms grabbed me from behind.

  I whirled to confront whoever had ahold of me and froze as Nathan’s features came into focus. I hesitated for a second and then punched him anyway.

  Nathan grunted, his hands immediately going up to cup his now bleeding nose.