"Can't wait." He took the boxes from her and retreated through the outside door. "See you next time!"

"See you." Giving him a wave, she made herself wait until the outer door had closed completely before shutting the inside one. As she headed back for the kitchen, she turned one of her steps into a skip. It really was a good day.

"So, Tyler-" Her words stopped as he brushed by her, almost running toward the front door.

"Gotta get back to work." He didn't look at her as he yanked open the inside door.

"Okay. Bye," she called after him. The door closed with a thud, and she stared at it for a moment. "Weird kid."

With a shrug, she headed into the kitchen to see if she could find all of her groceries. Two and a half bags were on the counter, waiting to be put away.

"What was his hurry?" She unpacked the bags and stashed the food, a little relieved that she could put everything where it usually went with the care it deserved. Her poor eggs had almost gone the way of Humpty Dumpty in Tyler's hands. Daisy hoped he hadn't gotten a bad-news text that had made him fly out of her house like his jeans were on fire.

Once she'd unpacked, she headed to the study to sort the children's books she'd gotten from her dad. As she crouched by the box, she realized that she hadn't heard from Gabe in a while, so she sent him a cheerful text letting him know she'd sold both dolls. After a few minutes, her phone chirped with his return text consisting of one word-good. Shaking her head, she returned her phone to her sweatshirt pocket. At least she knew he was still alive.

The books only held her interest long enough to pull them out of the box and stack them on her desk. Buzzing with energy from the whole Chris thing, she decided she needed to do something more active. Since she'd already worked out very, very early that morning, exercising twice in one day would reveal her to be the training-obsessed person she was. Besides, it was officially supposed to be her rest day.

"Rest day, schmest day," she muttered, and then laughed at her immature pouting. The training group was coming as usual the next day for their Sat.u.r.day session, so Daisy figured she should probably clean the equipment in preparation for that. She walked into the gym, groping for the light switch next to the door. Ever since that strange night when she'd thought she'd heard someone in the house, the windowless training room had seemed almost menacing, especially when it was dark and she was alone.

She paused with her finger on the switch, feeling the usual p.r.i.c.kle of unease as she glanced around the heavily shadowed room. Although she told herself she was being silly, a part of her didn't want to stay in the gym.

"I'll just grab some water first," she said, knowing it was just a stall. Leaving the room in darkness, she headed for the kitchen. Once in the doorway, she stopped, her nose wrinkling. Something was wrong. There was a bad smell, one that made alarm bells go off in her brain.

It was gas.

Chapter 18.

Hurrying toward the stove, she checked all the burners, but they were solidly in the "off" position. The odor was stronger there. Daisy looked more closely at the stove, but everything appeared normal. Her appliance knowledge was pretty much limited to turning things on and calling a repair person if it stopped working, so she wasn't sure if she'd even recognize the problem if she saw it. She definitely wouldn't know how to fix it.

"Think, Daisy. Think." She tried, but all that came into her head was the exploding-house scene from a movie she'd seen with Chris the week before. "Okay. I need to stop the gas. There has to be a main valve that'll turn it off. Where would that be?"

As she searched inside the cabinets on either side of the oven, she continued her monologue. Talking kept her breathing without hyperventilating. When she couldn't find any gas valve around the stove, though, she felt her heart start beating double-time.

"Next step." It was harder to smell the gas, but she figured that was just her nose getting tired, rather than the leak stopping. "Okay. I need help."

Pulling out her phone, she retreated to the living room and then continued all the way up the stairs. She figured it would probably be best to get as far away from the gas leak as possible, since breathing the fumes couldn't be good. Neither could getting blown up, but she couldn't start thinking about that, or she'd be too scared to function.

Her fingers shook as she tapped at her phone, but she managed to call Chris on her first try.

"Hey." Instead of his usual casual friendliness, his tone was warmer, more intimate. If there hadn't been such a strong likelihood of her house exploding in the immediate future, she would've taken a moment to revel in it.

"Hi. How do I stop a gas leak?"

"Gas leak?" The boyfriendy tone changed to his cop voice. "From the stove?"

"I think so. It smells the strongest there."

"Can you hear it escaping?"

She thought back, but all she remembered hearing was the thunder of her heartbeat. "No. I can just smell it."

"Have you turned off the main supply valve?"

"I can't find it." Her voice shook, and she squeezed her eyes closed, trying to regain her calm-or at least the illusion of it. Hysterics were not going to help the situation.

He swore, making her jump. He hardly ever cursed in front of her, so he had to be freaked out. "It's probably outside. Okay, Dais. I'm going to relay this to Dispatch. Don't call anyone else. I don't want you using your cell."

Her hand tightened around the phone. She hadn't thought about her cell triggering an explosion. It suddenly felt like she had a stick of lit dynamite in her hand. Shoving the thought away, she forced herself to focus on what Chris was saying.

"Don't turn on any lights or start a fire or anything."

Despite the situation, she gave a strangled laugh. "I'm not going to start any fires, Chris."

Her sarcasm flew right over his head. "Good. I'm on my way, but I'm at least twenty minutes out. I had to serve papers at a place south of Liverton, and I just left. Open all your windows, and I'll call this in. Fire will be there in five minutes-less if Ian and Rory are home."

"I can't open the windows," she said quietly, but Chris was already gone. She stared at the phone for a moment, tempted to put it somewhere far away from her body, but she didn't want to lose her only line of communication with the outside world. Tucking it back in her pocket as gingerly as if it were a bomb, she turned to face her bedroom window.

None of the downstairs ones could open. When her dad had installed the metal grates, she'd asked him to permanently secure the windows as well. It had been just a short time after her mom had been killed, so Gabe had been in a haze of grief and guilt. He'd done what she'd asked.

Although Daisy hadn't opened a single upstairs window in those eight years since, she was pretty sure it could be done-physically, at least. All she had to do was break through the paralysis that was gluing her feet to the floor.

"Daisy," she said sharply, glad that no one was there to listen to her give herself a talking-to. "Get your b.u.t.t over there and do it. If you die before you get to have s.e.x with Chris, all because you were too chicken to open a stupid window, I'll never forgive you."

As silly as her self-directed lecture was, it allowed her to move her feet. By the time her knees b.u.mped the window seat, her entire body was shaking, but she was doing it. Her brain refused to focus as she stared at the angled gla.s.s that made up the right side of the window. The center portion didn't open, but both sides did. She just needed to figure out how to make her hands work.

Since talking out loud had helped before, she tried it again. "Okay, Dais. This isn't rocket science. First, unlock the window."

Ignoring the very large portion of her mind screaming at her that it was a bad, bad idea to open the window, she reached out a shaking hand and thumbed back the latch. Without allowing herself to pause, afraid that any hesitation would give her fears the chance to take over, she turned the crank that pushed out the vinyl-edged pane.

It resisted at first, before giving way with a harsh creak. Daisy focused on the end of the crank protruding from her clenched fist. If she didn't look at the gaping window, then she could pretend it wasn't opening. She kept turning until the crank resisted going any farther, and then she repeated the process on the second side of the window.

Breathing hard, she closed her eyes. Although her legs were going soft at the knees, and she wanted nothing more than to crumple to the floor, there were more windows to open. Plus, firefighters would be banging on her door soon, for the second time in twelve hours. Her laugh came out as a gasp. When had it become a common occurrence for firefighters to come to her house?

"Right." She opened her eyes, staring straight ahead at the center portion of the window-the one that didn't open. "Let's go." As she turned toward the door, she stifled another strangled laugh. If she survived, she'd probably end up with multiple personalities, judging by the way she was ordering herself around.

Once she was in the upstairs hallway and out of sight of the opened windows, moving was easier. She hurried to Gabe's bedroom, not letting herself slow, so momentum drove her to the first window. His were flat, latching at the top and sliding upward.

She bit the inside of her cheek and tasted blood as she used both hands to turn the two locks. Bracing the heels of her palms against the top edge, she shoved open the window.

There was nowhere to look but straight ahead, at the vulnerable screen. A breeze blew against her skin, and she was shocked into stillness. How could she have forgotten what the wind felt like? Her nerves were raw, and she'd raised the window expecting only terror. The air, cool but hinting of spring, felt wonderful. For a second, she forgot her fear and the gas filling the house below her. She closed her eyes and smiled.

The sirens jerked her back to reality. Rushing to the second window, she unlocked it and pushed it open on autopilot before darting out of the room. In the hallway, she stopped, trying to slow her rushing thoughts. The bathroom didn't have an operable window, and the third upstairs bedroom was used for storage. To reach the far wall, she'd have to dig her way through unused furniture and stacks of boxes.

Judging by the volume of the sirens, the fire trucks would be arriving very soon. She hesitated at the top of the stairs, not wanting to go back to the source of the gas leak. Daisy wondered if the fumes rose, like helium, or if they hung heavy, close to the floor. It was stupid of her not to have planned for something like that. She should have at least known where the main gas shut-off was.

The sirens were really loud now. If her windows hadn't been open, she would have run into her bedroom to watch the trucks' approach. Instead, feeling blinded, she forced her feet to descend the stairs.

The smell of the gas was stronger, or else her nose had had a chance to rest in the cleaner air upstairs. She waited by the front door, trying to keep her breathing shallow, although she had no idea if that would help keep the gas out of her lungs.

Even though she'd been expecting it, the urgent pounding made her jump. As she depressed the unlock b.u.t.ton, she had a moment of panic that it would create a spark and set off an explosion. If a light switch could do it, why wouldn't an electric lock? She sucked in a harsh breath, not releasing it until Ian had pushed open the inner door and took her arm. Two other firefighters headed for the kitchen.

"Outside, Daisy," Ian ordered.

The panic surged again. "No," she tried to say, but her lungs weren't working, so only her mouth moved.

"Yes." His expression behind his face shield and mask was sympathetic, but his hold on her arm was firm. "Med's on their way, and a paramedic can give you a sedative, but you have to get out of this house until we can clear out this gas."

She couldn't stop shaking her head. "I opened the windows." When he glanced through the arched doorway at the still-closed kitchen window and then back at her, she clarified, "Upstairs. The downstairs ones don't open."

Pressing his free hand on the top of his helmet, he groaned. "Jesus, Daisy. You've trapped yourself in this place. What if there'd been a fire?"

"I have extinguishers!" Her voice was getting too high-pitched, and she couldn't seem to breathe.

"Doesn't matter right now. I'm getting you out." His mouth tightened as he took a step closer, shifting into position to put her over his shoulder. Daisy knew she'd be helpless once he picked her up, helpless as he carried her through the doors, helpless as he took her outside. She couldn't let it get to that point or else she'd die of fear once he dragged her out of the house.

Pivoting into position, she raised her knee, connecting with the side of his thigh, right where the peroneal bundle of nerves was located. The heavy material of his pants absorbed some of the blow's force, but the hit was sufficient to loosen his grip enough for her to break free.

Daisy scrambled back, putting a few feet of s.p.a.ce between them. Her training told her to land a couple of kicks, to disable her opponent so she could escape, but it was Ian. Even in her frantic state, she knew he was trying to help her, to save her. He didn't realize that taking her outside would end her just as quickly as an explosion.

Instead of continuing to fight, she whirled and ran. She heard him behind her, too close behind her. Afraid that he would catch her if she took the stairs, she sprinted to the training room, slamming the door just before his bulk connected with a thud. Twisting the dead bolt, she thanked her paranoia that had made her add locks to every door, even the interior ones.

It wasn't enough, though. Ian was a firefighter, and they had ways of getting into locked rooms, she was sure. It was dark, but she knew the gym so well that she made her way to one of the weight racks without crashing into any of the other equipment. Once her hands closed on the rack, she knocked it over, letting the weights. .h.i.t the floor. Just the rack alone was too heavy for her to lift, but she managed to drag it in front of the door.

"Daisy!" Ian yelled. "You need to get out of here! It's not safe!"

She knew it wasn't safe. The house was filling with gas. The smallest spark could ignite an explosion that would destroy the entire neighborhood-and anyone in it. The thought was so frightening that her entire body shook. It was still not as terrifying as going outside.

Running to where she'd dumped the rack, her breath catching with every inhale, she got down on her hands and knees to feel for the abandoned weights. With sweating, trembling hands, she piled the ones she found onto a mat, using it as a sled to slide the weights over to the door. As she returned them to the rack, her tremors making them knock loudly against the metal, Ian continued yelling.

Soon, though, he went quiet. That was scarier than his shouts. Had he been overcome by the gas? Had he left her to be blown to bits, alone in death as she'd been so much of her life?

When she heard the m.u.f.fled sound of his voice, relief poured over her, quickly followed by guilt. He shouldn't be in here. He shouldn't have to die because of Daisy's mixed-up mind. His unclear words continued, and she a.s.sumed he was talking on the radio. When even that stopped, she drew in a shaky breath.

"Ian?" she called through the door, his name cracking in the middle. "I'm sorry for the knee strike."

"It's okay, Daisy." His voice was still loud enough to reach her, but he'd quit shouting. "You really need to leave."

"I can't." With all the weights she found back on the rack, she sat heavily on the mat. The air around her felt weighted, thick with antic.i.p.ation, ready to explode at any second. "I'm sorry."

"C'mon, Daisy," he coaxed. "I like you. Even Rory likes you, and she has a very limited number of people she can tolerate. We don't want you to be blown to bits."

His words reminded her that she wasn't the only one in danger, that she'd be responsible for this brave, beautiful man's death. Because she was a coward, Ian could die. That seemed so wrong. "Please go, Ian. I don't want you to be in bits, either."

"You'll just be outside for a little while," he said, ignoring her plea. "They've shut off the main line, and they're setting up the ventilator fan to exhaust the house. As soon as it's clear, you can come back inside."

Instead of answering, she drew her legs to her chest and rested her cheek on her knee. How could she explain the mind-erasing terror that took over when she thought about stepping outside? It wasn't rational, wasn't logical, but it was real, and it just might kill her and Ian.

"Jennings is worried about you. He wants you out of here, too."

Just the mention of Chris broke something inside her, and she started to cry. Daisy tried very hard to keep silent, grateful for the m.u.f.fling effects of the door between them. She'd been so proud of her baby steps, of the unlocked inner door and of staying conscious despite her glimpse of the outside. It had given her hope that she'd eventually get better.

Now, though, curled in a ball and sitting in a dark gym, a dead bolt and a rack of weights separating her from the fireman who was risking his life trying to save her, she didn't see how she'd ever be worthy of someone like Chris, a hero who ran toward danger. All she did was hide from imaginary bogeymen.

"Daisy? You still conscious in there?"

If she didn't talk, he'd think she was pa.s.sed out-or dead. "Yeah." It was impossible to hide the tears in her voice, and she flushed with that additional shame.

"Did you hear me before? About Jennings?"

"Yeah." She wiped her cheek on the knee of her pants. "He deserves better."

There was a pause, and then he groaned. "Are you serious? You're going to make me do this?"

"Do what?"

"Have this conversation."

"What conversation?"

"This conversation. The one where you make something simple complicated."

"What do you mean?" She scooted over next to the door so she could lean against the wall and hear Ian better. As much as she didn't want him to risk his life by staying with her, it was so comforting to have him there.

"If you want to be together, be together. Stop making it so complicated."

"Does Rory make things complicated?" Daisy knew she was changing the subject, but she didn't want to talk about Chris, not when she was on the verge of being blown up and never seeing him again. The thought made her want to bawl like a baby, and she'd just managed to control her tears.

"Nope." His tone was positively smug. "That's one of the reasons I'm marrying her."

"Marrying her?" she echoed. "You two are engaged? Congratulations!" It occurred to her that it was a strange conversation to be having in a gas-filled house while barricaded in her training room. The fear eased when she talked to him, though.

"Don't tell her yet," he warned as his radio chattered faintly in the background. "I want it to be a surprise."

"Surprise? You're not going to put the ring in her pulled pork at Levi's or something equally cheesy and public, are you? Because I think Rory would hate that. Plus, she might break a tooth or swallow it or something. I've never understood how burying a diamond in food is romantic." Granted, all of her experience with proposals had been from watching TV or movies or reading about them in books.

"No." By the heaping amount of defensiveness he managed to pack into that one-word denial, Daisy was pretty sure he'd been planning something close. "Nothing like that. I just want it to be a surprise."

"I won't tell."

"Thanks." There was a pause before he spoke again. "Do you seriously think that Jennings isn't full-out panting for you?"