Chapter 27
Lucy
Horoscope Pisces
In your quest to find answers to life’s big questions, don’t forget that sometimes the simplest thing to do is cast your eyes up.
I cursed as my thread snapped again. I was working with a new fabric and couldn’t get the tension set correctly on my sewing machine.
I’d spent yesterday morning nursing my hangover, not starting on this order until the late afternoon.
I’d sewn until two in the morning and started back up again at seven.
“I’m never taking another rush order again,” I muttered to the empty room.
My hands shook as I brushed my hair out of my face.
It was midday and I hadn’t eaten since Leo’s surprise pizza delivery last night—a pizza I’d eaten between bouts of happy tears.
I couldn’t believe he’d done that for me, especially while he was busy working.
I stood with a groan. I needed sugar, but I’d eaten the last of my gummy bear stash yesterday and I didn’t have to stand in front of my open fridge with unseeing eyes to know there was nothing in there for me to eat.
I grabbed my sweater on my way out the door and headed toward the diner when a horrible sound stopped me in my tracks. I whirled around, looking for the source. There it was again—an anguished yowl.
“Felix!” I spotted his brown, orange, and white fur among the budding leaves in the tree above. “What are you doing up there?”
He continued his pitiful meows, his claws digging in to the tall branch to keep from falling. I looked around for help, but the street was empty. Where was everyone?
“Can you make it down if you go really slow? I’ll stand right here in case you fall.” I held out my arms, but his panicked noises intensified.
“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 ask what he’d said, we pulled up outside my shop.
As I pushed the truck door open, Felix let out a loud meow and 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.”
“He’s going to fall!”
Felix clung to a branch, his chunky body dangling precariously in the wind. I stood underneath him with my arms extended while Ezra and Wilder got their ladder out of the truck. Wilder arched an eyebrow as he moved my abandoned ladder to the side and set his up in its place.
“I know you weren’t fucking going to use that,” he said.
I smiled and batted my eyelids. “Of course not.”
His chest rumbled as he climbed up the ladder. I definitely was not distracted by the way his muscular arms and thighs strained against his uniform as he climbed.
When he was within reaching distance of Felix, he plucked him from the branch, tucked him unceremoniously under his arm, and climbed back down.
“I believe this belongs to you,” he said gruffly.
I hugged Felix to my chest. “That wasn’t a good idea, was it?
” I cooed. “Let’s not do that again.” He flopped back in my arms, purring and looking no worse for wear.
“Say thank you to the nice firefighters for the rescue.” But Felix wasn’t having it.
He pushed out of my arms, landed nimbly on the ground, and strutted away.
“Glad he’s not too traumatized,” Wilder said dryly.
I shook my head. He was likely more embarrassed than hurt, but I’d check him over and give him extra treats and cuddles later. “Well, I’ll say it. Thank you for the rescue. Again.”
“At least this one was less dramatic.”
My cheeks heated at the reminder of our first meeting. Being this close to him made it clear my massive crush hadn’t magically subsided. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair. Wrap myself around him. Scent-mark his neck and sit on his…
Ezra came over and rested his arm on Wilder’s shoulder. “Rescuing the mayor. All in a day’s work.”
I laughed and shook my head, but my smile turned strained as my body was hit by an intense wave of fatigue.
The world spun around me.
“What’s wrong?” Wilder moved in front of me, his hands resting on my shoulders. “Lucy?”
“I’m fine. Just need to sit down.” Blackness encroached on my vision.
“Fuck.” Hands urged me to the curb. “Head between your legs, sweetheart.” Wilder’s voice reached me like it was coming through water. He gently rubbed my back as I curled over my bent knees, breathing deeply.
“Drink this.” Ezra placed a bottle of water in my hand and I took small sips. My skin was clammy, but my vision was slowly coming back.
“Should we take her to the hospital?” Ezra asked.
A whine slipped through my lips. I cleared my throat. “No. I’m fine.”
“Get me the pulse ox and blood pressure monitor,” Wilder said.
I slowly lifted my head. “I don’t need the hospital.”
Wilder cupped the back of my neck, and his touch felt so good it made me want to purr. “I’m going to check your vitals. If I think you need to go, you’ll go.”
His stern tone made me equal parts irritated and aroused, and the flare of his nostrils told me he could tell. I shut my eyes again in humiliation. I kept perfuming around Wilder even after he made it clear he wasn’t interested. Why would he be, when he only ever saw me at my most helpless?
Ezra dropped to his knees beside me and placed the pulse ox on my finger. He went to put on the blood pressure cuff, but Wilder tore it out of his hand and slid it up my arm himself. He grunted once he got the reading.
“A bit low. When was the last time you ate?”
“Last night,” I mumbled.
Wilder made a noise in the back of his throat. “Right. You”—he gestured at Ezra—“get back to the station. I’m taking my lunch break.”
“You don’t have to stay here with me,” I said after Ezra drove away.
Please don’t leave.
No matter how hard I’d tried to be stronger and more independent, I still craved being spoiled and taken care of.
“Why haven’t you eaten since last night?”
Uh-oh. He sounded mad. I curled in on myself automatically. My omega hated disappointing him.
“I’ve been busy with work. I was on my way to get food when I saw Felix.”
“Not good enough.” He stood and held his hand out to me. “Do you need me to carry you?”
“Where?”
“The diner.”
I could already hear the gossip that would spread if Wilder carried me down Main Street. Carmen and Marisol might faint from excitement.
I took his hand and stood. “I’m okay.” My limbs were still weak, but the world had stopped spinning. Wilder grunted and kept my hand firmly in his as he led me down the street.