A Case of Love Read Online Free PDF Page A

grabbing it when it seemed cool enough not to burn her. She twisted it, pushing the door open.
    The woman rushed past her, her arms out, reaching for the tiny bundle squalling in the crib. “Thank God,” she croaked.
    "Come on. We've got to get out of here, now!” Mackenzie grabbed the woman, wrapping her securely in the drape. She pushed her through the doorway, helping her crawl, feeling dizzy from the smoke and the heat. “Go,” she managed to choke out. “Get to the window!"
    Her coughing became worse and she tried holding her breath, but it was impossible. The heat from the room made her vision waver and she blinked her eyes rapidly, tears leaking from them as they burned from the smoke. “Get to the window,” she urged the woman again, not seeing her climbing through and into the fresh air as her arms gave out.
    "Come on!” The voice was male and harsh, close to her ear as hands lifted her, cradling her in strong arms. “You're okay, Hunter. Hang on!"
    Kenzie squinted through the fog of tears that blurred her vision. “Hawkins?” she rasped hoarsely.
    "Yeah!” He managed to climb out the window, draping Mackenzie over his shoulder and across his back in a fireman carry. “You've got to hang on, Hunter!” he ordered, feeling her grab him weakly. Then he was rushing down the metal stairs, catching up with the other woman and her child just as two firemen reached them.
    "Smoke inhalation,” Hawk coughed. “All three of them."
    "You too,” the fireman yelled. “Hawk, is that you?"
    "Johnny?” He slapped the man on the shoulder, letting him take Mackenzie from his back. “She was almost out."
    "I'd ask what you were doing up there, but from the looks of this one, I'd say I already know,” Johnny teased. He took Mackenzie to where they'd set up three rescue units, laying her gently on one of the gurneys. Grabbing an oxygen mask, he placed it over her mouth and nose and turned it on.
    "You too,” Johnny said, pushing Hawk down on the other gurney.
    "What about the woman and her baby?"
    "Already taken care of.” He leaned over Mackenzie and took her pulse, seeing her eyes flutter open. “You're going to be okay."
    She struggled up, fighting the hands holding her down until she saw brown eyes full of concern and felt his hand take hers. “Settle down, girl. The lady and her baby are fine. You saved their lives and took about ten years off of mine at the same time."
    Coughing had made her weak and she wheezed into the oxygen mask. He sat down next to her, his hand on hers.
    "We're going to take her into the hospital and get her checked out,” Johnny said, coming up beside Hawk. “You can ride along with her if you'd like?"
    "Yeah, I think I'll do that.” He waited until they loaded her up, slipping her purse that he'd picked up onto the gurney with her. Climbing into the back of the ambulance, he took her hand again. “We've got to talk, Hunter,” he said seriously.
    "What about?” she asked, around a coughing fit.
    "Well, I think you need a reality check. See, this isn't Metropolis, you aren't Lois Lane and I sure as hell don't run around in tights with a big red S on my chest. One of these days I'm not going to be there to catch you when you go pulling stunts like this.” He leaned forward, pushing her short dark curls back from her forehead with gentle fingers. Her face was smudged, her eyes red and watering. She was still one of the prettiest women he'd seen in a long time.
    "Better watch it, Hawkins. You might wreck your reputation if that gets out."
    "I think I'm safe.” He squeezed her hand, smiling down at her.
    * * * *
    "I don't need to stay here overnight,” Mackenzie groused, only to start coughing again.
    "Yeah, I can see that,” he grinned, earning himself a look that promised retribution.
    She grabbed the cup of water that sat next to her bed, sipping it as she caught her breath. “Why are you still here? I thought you weren't going to fly in and save me anymore."
    "I didn't say