by Calista Fox
“Come with me,” Ginger said as she took Liza’s hand.
They wove their way around display racks and tables until they reached the back of the store. Ginger crossed to the far corner and pulled on a cord hanging from the ceiling. Stairs unfolded and she ascended them, with Liza following close behind. They emerged in a small space with a tall ceiling. The attic. Surrounding them were antique dressers overflowing with lingerie.
Ginger sighed. “See my problem? I ordered all this stuff because sales were so good initially. Now I’ve got, like, thousands of items I can’t unload. Soon, they’ll be totally outdated.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Liza said as she skimmed a hand over a pile of garters. “Thigh-highs and garter belts never go out of style.”
“What am I going to do?”
“Exactly what we said,” Liza reminded her. “If you can’t sell it in your shop, you’ll sell it online.”
“There’s just so much!”
Liza’s gaze landed on the champagne nightgown she owned. The one she’d ruined with cinnamon-scented body oil when she’d rubbed it all over her breasts and had gotten Jack off.
“You have that one already,” Ginger commented.
“Yeah,” Liza said as she lifted it off the rack. “I really liked it.”
Ginger stared at her, her look curious. “Did I miss something?”
“No.” She returned the nightie to its rack.
Ginger said, “You seem a bit distracted.” She sank into a comfy-looking chair in the corner and asked, “Want to talk about it?”
Liza sighed. “It’s complicated.” She laughed at her words. Or rather, Jack’s words. Though he’d said there was nothing complicated about them. And he was right in a lot of respects. The sex certainly hadn’t been complicated. It’d been heavenly. The companionship hadn’t been complicated. It’d been exciting.
So she’d poked and prodded until he’d spilled his and Lydia’s life stories. He’d said they weren’t secrets. She could have asked anyone. But she’d wanted to hear about the past from him.
Then she’d avoided him last night, feeling a little awkward because she’d killed the mood the night before. He hadn’t come looking for her to make amends.
True, he’d been working, so it wasn’t as if he was free to come knocking on her door. Nor had she invited him to.
Had he been waiting for that?
“Damn it,” she mumbled.
To which Ginger replied in a soft voice, “Does this have something to do with Jack?”
Liza’s gaze lifted as she stared at her new friend. She shrugged a shoulder and said, “It has something to do with a lot of things.” She reached for the fold-up chair behind one of the dressers and set it in front of Ginger. “I have a dilemma on my hands.” Settling into the chair, she proceeded to tell Ginger about her life in New York. Something she’d never considered sharing with anyone, but Ginger had shared her vulnerability and Liza felt comfortable reciprocating.
When she reached the part about leaving Manhattan behind for a new life, one she intended to live on her own terms, she said, “I really don’t care what Lydia thinks about me,” because she realized that was true. “I do care what Jess and George and Ruby and you think about me. I care what Jack thinks about me. Five people who haven’t judged me,” she said, feeling the emotion well within her again. “And yet…” She looked away, feeling a little ashamed about what she was about to say. Tears stung her eyes as she turned back to Ginger and said, “I packed my car. Left the key to the cottage under the mat. Debated where to go from here.”
Ginger sat forward in her chair, looking stunned. And hurt. “You’re leaving town? Just like that?”
She nodded. “I was thinking of going to Austin.”
“Liza, no!” Ginger was out of her chair in a heartbeat. She paced the small space between them and asked, “Did something happen between you and Jack?”
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “But I do know that he and Lydia are incredibly close. I could never come between them. I wouldn’t want to!”
“Liza,” she said as she drew up short. “If you haven’t noticed, Jack Wade is a man who does and says whatever he wants. No one tells him how to live his life. Or who to date.”
“But I could complicate things for him. Especially now that he’s running for City Council. If he loses Lydia’s support…”
“He’s got plenty of other supporters, believe me!”
“Ginger, I don’t know anything about the people in this town or what their problems are.”
“Yes, you do!” Ginger knelt before her and clasped her hands. “You’ve been here less time than any of us and already you’re coming up with solutions to help the economy, help save our businesses. You should be running for City Council!”
Liza had to laugh at that one. “Wouldn’t that just put a burr in Lydia’s saddle?”
“Yes, it would. And she deserves it.” They stared at each other a few minutes, before Ginger said, “Please tell me you’re not leaving.”
The truth was, now that she was here with Ginger, talking about the town and her new friends and a life she really wanted to build, she didn’t want to leave. But then again, she—
Liza’s brows knitted together, her thoughts shifting gears. She disentangled herself from Ginger and stood.
She sniffed the air, then asked, “Do you smell something burning?”
* * * * *
Jack had shooed Lydia out of his saloon—literally—and had debated his course of action for a while before he’d locked the door to the bar, climbed into his truck and raced down the road, out of town. He figured he’d likely catch Liza at the cottage. When he pulled into the drive, though, he didn’t see her car. He parked down by her house anyway and took a peek through the window, because this was a serious situation. And he had the ill feeling she wasn’t just done with him, but possibly the town in general.
Sure enough, the few books and knickknacks she’d put out on the coffee and end tables in the living room were gone. Jack used his key to let himself in. Not something he’d ever do without her consent, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He stalked toward the bathroom and poked his head around the door. None of her personal effects were on the vanity. Moving onto her bedroom, he found the bed made and the closet empty.
“Fuck!”
She really thought she didn’t fit in here. She must think Lydia was trying to run her out of town—and she was right.
But what about what Jack had to say about it? What about Jess and George and Ginger? Ruby and Mike?
As the thought flitted through his head, he turned on his booted heels and rushed out of the cottage. Back in his truck, he headed into town. Chances were good she’d stop by the flower shop before she left town.
Feeling uneasy and guilty for letting her walk out of his saloon without him setting the record straight with her, his foot got a little heavier on the gas pedal. He’d call her on her cell, but he didn’t know the fucking number. There really hadn’t been much point in exchanging numbers, what with them living in such close proximity to each other. Now he deeply regretted not asking for it. He could seriously kick himself in the butt for being such a horse’s ass.
If he didn’t find her in town, how would he ever track her down? How would he ever explain that he was on her side, to hell with the Wilder rumor mill and the saints! To hell with Lydia Bain if she couldn’t accept the woman he wanted to be with.
It wasn’t any of her goddamn business, anyway. He’d protected Lydia the whole of her life and in turn, she’d…turned on him. She was taking a stand with the reverend and that told Jack plain and simple that their friendship didn’t mean squat to Lydia anymore. Except as a means to cajole him and try to keep him from running for City Council because it made the reverend “sick to his stomach”.
“Well, you’d better stock up on the Pepto,” Jack muttered. “‘Cause I ain’t backing down. Not now. Not ever.”
Coming into town, hi
s eyes scanned the streets for the flashy red sports car. He found it on the main drag. Jack pulled up in front of Jess’ shop, just as Jess was coming out with a flower arrangement in her hands.
As she headed toward the delivery van, Jack asked, “Is Liza inside?”
Jess looked taken aback. Likely by the hard set of Jack’s jaw and his intense gaze. He felt stiff from head to toe, the tension gripping him like never before. He had a bad feeling in his gut, like he’d just missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime. And wouldn’t get the chance to redeem himself.
“Why, no,” Jess said as she opened the back door to the van and set the bouquet inside. “Liza came in early so she could leave early and talk to you about her new idea, before you opened the saloon at noon.” She closed the door and eyed Jack for a moment. Then she asked, “Is everything okay?”
“No. It’s not.” He shook his head. “She came in when Lydia was in the bar—”
“Lydia was in the saloon?” Her eyes grew wide. She whistled before adding, “Well, I guess miracles really do happen.”
“Yeah, it surprised me too. Unfortunately, Liza came in. The look on her face was like…I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Like I was conspiring against her with Lydia.”
“Oh no, Jack.” She obviously saw the seriousness of the situation. But didn’t get to say anything further, because Lydia came racing down the street, as quickly as she could, given her low heels.
“Jack!” she cried out, waving her hands frantically in the air.
Jack’s teeth ground together. “Thought I made it perfectly clear I was through listening to her.”
Jess shot him a look of shock. “You two are on the outs?”
“Not my doing,” he said and felt he was justified in saying so.
“Jack!” Lydia yelled again. She reached them and grabbed Jess by the hands and said, “Call 911!” She turned to Jack and said on a hard rush of air, “Ginger’s store is on fire! I went in to speak with her and I saw this…completely inappropriate window display and I…I accidentally knocked over the candles on display! Jack, the whole window went up like a Roman candle! And then the store went up in flames, what with all that lace and the antique wooden displays!”
She was breathing heavily, barely getting the words out. Jack took her by the shoulders and demanded, “Where’s Ginger?”
“I don’t know! Not in the store. She wasn’t in there when I went in. There was no one in the shop. She must’ve gone for more fabric or to the deli to grab a sandwich for lunch.”
Jack breathed a sigh of relief. But he had to warn the other shop owners on the street.
Jess came back out and said in an anxious tone, “The fire department is on its way. The trucks are clear out at the Elks Lodge, though! Some sort of fire safety class they’re giving.”
“Alert the other business owners, starting with the ones closest to Ginger’s shop. I’ll try to find her.”
Just as the words left his mouth, a chair went sailing through the second-story window of Ginger’s store, the shattered glass pane raining down on the sidewalk. Thankfully, there was no one below. But that was the only good news. Liza stuck her head out of the window and yelled for help.
“Oh shit.” Jack’s heart constricted, like someone was squeezing it tight.
“That’s Liza!” Jess said in a frantic voice. “She’s been helping Ginger with a website. They must be trapped in the attic, Jack!”
He’d quickly deduced that and was already hoofing it down the street, Lydia and Jess trailing behind him. The glass door and the window on the first floor exploded and the smoke billowed out, along with flashes of tall flames. The shop owners on either side rushed out into the street, likely because of the heat and smell created by the fire. Jack spared a glance up at the window Liza and Ginger filled, leaning over the ledge as though gasping for fresh air. The attic must already be filling with smoke. He had to get them out of there!
Changing his direction, he dashed across the street to the opposite side, hearing Liza call out to him, as though she thought he was abandoning her. His gut pulled tight and his pulse raced. He threw open the door to Mason & Sons Hardware and yelled at Eddie Mason, behind the counter. “Fire across the street—I need your tallest ladder!”
One of Eddie’s sons, Chris, rounded the end of an aisle and said, “Got it!” He headed to the back of the store as his brother came out of the stock room. The two men grabbed the ladder and followed Jack and Eddie out. They raced toward Ginger’s shop and propped the metal ladder against the side of the building, raising it as Jack called up to Liza.
“Try to clear away all the glass, then cover that window ledge with something thick, if you can find it.”
The last thing he wanted was for the women to slice themselves open on jagged shards while he tried to rescue them. Liza disappeared, only to return a few seconds later. She used the base of an unplugged lamp to break away the remaining glass, clearing the sill. Then she helped Ginger heft a rug onto the ledge, tossing half of it over so they had something to protect their bodies when they climbed out the window.
Jack was already halfway up the ladder, Chris and his brother Carl holding the metal frame steady for him.
He eyed where the top step of the ladder ended, ridiculously shy of the window. He heard sirens coming down the street and breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the fire department would be able to reach the women better than he could. But one glance over his shoulder dashed his hopes. It was just the police.
“Jack, you’ll never reach them!” he heard Jess cry out. “Don’t you have a taller ladder?” This likely directed at Eddie.
Jack didn’t have time to change ladders. The smoke was filling the attic and seeping out the window where both women leaned out, trying to pull in clean air.
He stared up at Liza and said, “Don’t worry, darlin’. I’m gonna get you out of there.” He reached the last rung just below the top step and balanced himself by spreading his legs so his feet, ankles and calves were braced against the metal frame. He didn’t dare go any higher for fear the additional weight from one of the women would sway the ladder. Or he wouldn’t be able to keep his balance.
His gaze still locked with Liza’s, he said, “You’re gonna have to help Ginger. I’ll come back for you, sweetheart. I promise.”
“What?” Ginger squawked. “No! Absolutely not! Get Liza out of here first!”
Liza knew instinctively why he’d made the decision he had and he loved her for being so in-tune with him.
She turned to Ginger and said in a calmer voice than he’d thought she could muster given the urgency of the situation, “You’re a good five inches shorter than me, Ginger. He’ll never be able to reach you. You’re going to have to climb over the ledge and let me lower you down to him.”
“You can’t hold me!”
Liza nodded. “You’d be surprised at how strong I am. Isn’t that right, cowboy?”
“That’s right, darlin’. Now, Ginger, I need you to hurry, sweetheart.”
Ginger gave him a panicked look as she eyed the huge distance between her and him. But in the next second, she was climbing over the window sill as Liza gripped her wrists. Leaning out the window, Liza started to lower Ginger’s body, which dangled along the side of the building.
Jack reached up, stretching as far as he could go. Wrapping his hands around Ginger’s calves, he looked up at Liza. “Little more, darlin’.”
She groaned. “Little more and I’m coming with her.” But she stretched further, just enough for Jack to get a firmer grip on Ginger. “Let her go.”
“Oh shit!” Ginger said. “Jack Wade, you’d better not drop me!”
“Doing my best.”
Liza let go of her wrists and Ginger slid down the wall into his arms as his hands moved up her body. Her booted feet landed on the top step and he had just the right leverage to hold her steady as the ladder swayed.
“Hang on there, Ginger,” he said, needing her to stay still until the
metal frame steadied. Then he helped her down a rung, then another, until he could pull her against him and keep her stable.
When he spared a glance up at Liza, she was assessing the fire behind her. Her head whipped back to the window. Their gazes locked. She mouthed the word hurry.
“I’ll be right there, darlin’.”
Then he looked below him to the spectators gripped with the same fear he felt. “Someone help her,” he said of Ginger’s shaky descent.
“Ladder won’t hold much more weight,” Eddie warned.
“I can help her,” Lydia said as she stepped forward and started to climb the ladder. “I don’t weigh as much as you men.”
Chris helped her up with a hand on her elbow until she was out of his reach.
“You okay?” Jack asked Ginger.
She nodded. “Just can’t seem to get my trembling fingers to work.”
“Let Lydia help you down. Slowly.”
She stayed put, her arm wrapped around a rung, as Jack moved back up the ladder. In the distance, he finally heard the sound he’d been waiting for. But he couldn’t abandon Liza and hope the fire crew got to her in time. The attic would burst into flames at any moment now, he feared, and she was already coughing and hacking from the smoke inhalation.
He moved carefully up the ladder so as to not shake it while Lydia and Ginger climbed down. When he was positioned again, he looked up at Liza and said, “Take your shoes off. Those heels won’t help you. You’ll slip when you land.”
She was going to have to slide further down the outside of the building than Ginger had, hopefully making it safely to the top step. He’d have to catch her when she got there. Keep them both steady so they didn’t fall over. No easy feat. Not one he was even sure he could accomplish. But he wasn’t going to tell her that.
Liza discarded her shoes as he’d requested, then climbed over the window ledge. She held herself steady for a moment, her forearms resting on the covered sill as she gripped it tight.
“Slow,” he said. “Easy.”
