Page 35 of Blaze

Blaze cradles me in his arms like I’m the most precious being alive as he carries me downstairs.It’s midafternoon, but I hear voices.Lots of them.Women.

Soon, he steps into a huge room that takes my breath away.It has to be a library.Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the walls.The center has comfortable sitting areas.It’s the most inviting room I’ve ever been in.It’s also clearly filled with antiques—both the furniture and, I suspect, the books.

I recognize Claire and Arianna, the two women who have brought food to my room, but three other women are with them.A hush fills the room as they spot us before rushing over.Then I recognize another familiar face—Reagan.She was with Blaze when he rescued me.

Blaze growls.“You all are like vultures.Back up.Let me set Victoria on the sofa.”

My mind is spinning.It occurs to me that in four years of college, I never really had a posse.I had girls I roomed with.Sometimes we went out together or studied as a group, but I was always slightly removed from them, like I didn’t quite fit in.

I don’t know how to describe what I’m feeling now, but there’s a strange sense of belonging.I don’t even know these women.I’ve only met three of them briefly, and yet I sense the welcome in their expressions and demeanors.

Blaze gently settles me on one of the sofas, propping my leg up on a pillow.The pillow itself makes me cringe.It’s probably more than seventy years old.These people really do not value the museum they are living in.

He cups my chin before lifting his face, holding my gaze with his always intense one.“I need to make a few calls.Will you be okay?”

“I’ll be fine.”I reach up and stroke his cheek because I know he likes it when I touch him.It calms him.Just like it calms me when he touches me.

He rises and turns toward the women who are crowding around me.“Don’t make me regret this,” he barks.

I nearly giggle as they all roll their eyes.Somehow, I’m certain every one of them has a similarly intense relationship with their husbands.

Blaze looks back at me before leaving the room.

And then I’m surrounded by the swarm of women who pull a low table up close.Three of them sit on it, two drag armchairs closer.

“It’s so good to meet you.I’m Melody.”This comes from a cute woman with strawberry-blond hair.

“And I’m Emilia,” says a woman with near-black, pin-straight hair.

“Ah, you’re one of Blaze’s cousins.”

She nods.“Yep.My husband is Haden.Are you coming to dinner?You’ll meet all the men then.”

I nod.“I guess, I’m not sure.But it sounds nice.Depends on if…” My voice trails off.I’m not sure how to finish that statement.Whatever I was going to say sounds ridiculous in my head.

They all giggle.

Claire rolls her eyes.“Depends on if Blazeletsyou come to the dining room, right?”

I chuckle.“Yes.That’s what I was going to say.It sounded absurd in my mind.”

Arianna nods.“Trust me.We all get that.The men in this family are bossy as fuck.Overbearing.Controlling.Demanding.But total cinnamon rolls.”

I can’t keep from grinning.I fully agree with her assessment.I look around the room to give me a moment to pull my emotions together.“Sheesh, this library is impressive.These books are very old.”

Arianna groans.“It’s a masterpiece.We’re slowly cataloging everything.It hasn’t ever been done.Or, at least, we can’t find a record of it.”

Emilia lifts a finger.“Not to say it doesn’t exist.We could suddenly find such a thing five years from now, and that’s if we kept looking every day between now and then.”

“I can’t believe how large this place is.”I push to sit taller.I’d give anything to be set free to roam this mansion and investigate.

Claire nods.“And it’s filled with the most bizarre, eccentric knick-knacks.It’s hard to know for sure who purchased all the strange antiques.The only person who knows anything is Gretchen.She’s been here for fifty years.She says she believes a lot of this mansion was already in this state when she was hired.It’s possible Amos’s wife, Carolyn, had a passion for shopping before she died, but it’s also possible a lot of this stuff was already here from previous occupiers.”

I rub my hands together.“I’m kind of a dork about antiques.”

“Then you’re going to love it here,” Emilia declares.

I glance at the entrance to the room.I doubt Blaze can hear me unless he’s hovering outside the door.“I only met him yesterday.”