Living In Flames. by Emily Zimmerman. (best free novels .TXT) 📕

What do you say we go get some coffee?"
I shrugged. "Sure."
He steered me out the door and we walked across the street, it was nice out today, so I left my hair down. The curls blew every which way in the wind.
We walked into the shop, and we sat down at one of the booths.
After ordering, we talked about random things that popped into each other's heads. It felt easy talking to Blake, he didn't ask me any nosy questions or push me to answer something I didn't want to, he only asked me things that both of us were comfortable with, and vice versa. That was until, he asked me about Daniel.
Daniel and I hadn't spoken since the incident at his house. I'd already forgiven him, I just couldn't bring myself to call him. This was the first real fight we had, and it was all my fault. I bumped in to him at the grocery store a few days ago, and I hardly even spoke. When he greeted me, I just nodded and averted my eyes. I felt immense guilt for not calling him, but I just couldn't bring myself to face him, to meet his beautiful eyes and know that I was wrong to leave him.
"Sky?" I snapped from my thoughts as I realized he was still waiting for my answer.
"I'm sorry. No, we haven't seen much of each other...lately." I muttered.
He sat back in his seat, his perceptive eyes studying my face. "He won't tell me what happened. All he told me was that he screwed up." He murmured.
I leaned my elbow on the table, putting my forehead in my palm. "That's just like him, to blame himself for something that wasn't his fault." I muttered.
"So...what happened?" He asked me.
I sighed. "We...had a fight...about Michaels. He came to visit me in the shop, telling me that I had to meet him, and that he'd call when it was time. Daniel got angry. He was probably about to call the U.S army to follow me around, and I wouldn't have it. The next thing you know we're yelling at each other, and I was trying to leave, but he wouldn't let me go...we were both out of hand." I put my hand down and looked at Blake.
His eyebrow was raised, and his arms were crossed over his chest. "Well, he's really beating himself up about it. The man's at the fire department more than he's at home. His boss actually had to make him go home. She's not very happy with the way he's acting. Although she's never happy about the way he acts toward her." Blake chuckled.
"Why, is he rude to her?" I asked curiously.
"No. On the contrary, he's completely polite. That's what she can't stand, she's pretty well known in Sabadell, mostly as the girl who's had every guy who isn't happily married in the town. He's the only one who hasn't "succumb" to her charms." Blake rolled his eyes.
I raised an eyebrow at him. "What about you?" I asked him.
His eyes twinkled and a slow grin spread across his face. I gasped and reached over to punch him in the arm. "You are disgusting!" I laughed.
"I'm teasing you, Sky! I've never even spoken to the little slut. I like my women hard to get." He said, his eyes settling into a heated gaze on my face that made me think he wasn't talking about just any woman.
"Yes, well, I'm not sure many women would play hard to get when you were around." I teased, a little uncomfortable with where the conversation was headed.
"Yeah? Well maybe I should test that." He said, giving me a wink.
I smiled. "And who would you be testing it on, might I ask?"
Just as he opened his mouth to answer, my phone vibrated. I looked at the ID to find my mother's number. "Hey mom. I'm just across the street with Blake." I said when I answered.
"That's fine. I'm just going down the street to get some table cloths from Mrs. Betsy. And then I'm going home. Do you need a lift?" She asked me.
"No, that's okay, my apartment is just down the street. I can walk." I said.
"Oh, and tell Blake that his mother said he's off the hook, whatever that means."
I giggled and looked at Blake. "I'll tell him."
Blake raised an eyebrow when I disconnected. "You're mother says you're off the hook."
He sighed in relief, running a hand through his hair. “Finally.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes. “Men.”
But as my eyes settled back on Blake, the door opening caught my attention. I looked over his shoulder, and my breath caught. He hadn’t seen us yet, but his eyes scanned the coffee shop, looking for a place to sit. I quickly looked back at Blake, who didn’t seem to notice my distraction, he was telling the waiter something.
After she left, he turned back to me. “So how is the bakery job coming along? I heard your Aunt was thinking about promoting you to cupcake maker.” He said easily, which was the complete opposite from what I felt at that moment.
I smiled a big fake smile and shrugged. “She was thinking about it. I learned a lot from my mom, so I’m good enough at baking to make cupcakes and donuts from scratch. I guess that’s enough experience for Aunt Mable.”
I could feel his eyes on me now. He’d realized we were here. I was tempted to look over, but my phone ringing was a thankful distraction.
“Sweetheart!” Aunt Mable said when I answered, “I’m in a pickle! Do you remember that gun your Uncle gave me after the robbery happened in the store beside us?” she asked.
I raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Don’t tell me-“
“It’s illegal! Apparently I have to have a license! Jess has a license, but I have to have a license as well! What is this world coming to? Hasn’t anyone ever heard of what’s mine is yours anymore?” I could tell she was frustrated, and I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.
“So what happened?” I asked.
“I’m in jail! I need you to come and pay the fine to get me out!” she told me.
“Where is Uncle Jesse?” I asked her.
“He’s out of town; he went to get more ingredients for the bakery.” She told me.
I sighed and groaned. “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
After disconnecting, I grabbed my purse and gave Blake a half dry, half apologetic look. “My Aunt Mable is in jail for carrying a gun without a license.” I said.
At this, Blake let out a laugh. “Mable? The sweetest women to walk these streets?”
“Yeah. Apparently she thought that Uncle Jesse having a license was enough. She was afraid because of that robbery that happened in the store beside her house. Anyway, Jesse is out of town, so I’m going down to pay the fine.” I said.
Blake threw a couple of twenties on the table and got up with me. “I’ll take you.”
I smiled in thanks and we started for the door. I met Dan’s eyes as we passed by, and he gave me a small smile, to which I gave a weak one back. We were talking it over in our own way. Blake noticed our exchange, but didn’t say anything. He drove me down to the station, leaving me to my brooding silence.
Part Five:

After getting Mable out of Jail, and setting her court date which would most likely get her a slap on the hand, I walked home, my mind on a matter I’d been avoiding since last week. It was six days until…until the meeting. I had no idea what he was going to do with me, but I did know one thing, I wasn’t going to like it. Dan was having me followed, and I could tell my phone calls were being monitored. Little did they know, no phone call would be needed. No matter how far apart Dan and I grew, I knew he’d always be watching over me. He was my knight in shining armor from the very first time I met him. I could feel a small smile curving my lips as I thought about it. He was so overprotective, and possessive! Every time he saw me talking with Blake, or any other men in town, he would make a show of subtly telling them that I was hands-off…or maybe, not so subtly. He would wrap an arm around my waist and kiss me on the cheek or the temple, greeting me with a, “Hey Babe.” Or a, “Hi sweetheart.” Even in the bakery, he’d stride in, and if I was talking with a customer that happened to be male, and he seemed a bit too friendly (to Dan) than he’d walk around the counter and give me a big kiss on the forehead, effectively ending all the alleged “flirting.”
I smiled and shook my head. Very possessive indeed. I walked into my apartment building and looked into my mailbox, finding nothing but bills and junk. I sighed and brought it all upstairs, opening the door to the stairwell, I was busy looking at my electric bill, so I didn’t notice the man standing beside my door until I was right beside him.
I let out a yelp and jumped back, before realizing that it was only Dan. “Oh.” I sighed in relief. “Hi, Dan.”
“Hey, Babe.” He said, his voice soft.
My neighbor, Mrs. Bernstein opened her door and peered out. “Can you keep quiet out there? I’ve got to work the night shift at the grocery store and I’m trying to rest!”
Mrs. Bernstein had the ears of a fox, but the eyes of a woman with cataracts. Her white, wiry hair was standing straight up, and her greying, blue eyes were half closed. “Sorry Mrs. Bernstein.” I said with an apologetic smile.
She pulled her two inch thick glasses from her shirt pocket and put them on, peering at me with squinted eyes, and they brightened. “Oh! I’m sorry dear. I didn’t know it was you. And you’ve got your gentlemen caller with you! Well isn’t he the one. I’ll just leave you two to talk.” She said, and she closed the door.
I rolled my eyes at Dan. Everyone in the town knew of our fight. I unlocked the door and left it open for him, strolling into my kitchen and throwing my purse and my mail on the counter. I looked in the fridge for something to eat, and settled on a piece of cold pizza I’d ordered the night before. He declined the pizza, sitting down at my small dining table with two chairs that sat in front of the window. I put my pizza on a plate and sat down across from him, looking up to meet his clear, earnest eyes. “I love you, Sky.” He murmured after a few seconds of silence.
Even after all the times he’d said it before, it still made my heart flutter in my chest and butterflies take flight in my stomach. “I know. You know how much I love you, Dan.” I murmured lamely.
He smiled, eyes crinkling at the corners, but as quickly as the smile came, it was