Unforeseen Danger by Michelle Perry Page B

waist and pulled her against him.   The warm, woodsy scent of his cologne enveloped her.   
    “I gave the first one to you on our wedding day.   I bought it the day before, on my way back home from a business trip to South Carolina .”   Jake’s hand covered hers, tilting the globe.   “First of all, I wish you could’ve met my old man.   He was a real tough guy, except when it came to Mom.   He melted around her and was always bringing her roses and little gifts.   He eventually built a greenhouse for her and somewhere down the line, I learned more about flowers than I guess any man should know.”  
    Nikki smiled and turned to face him.
    “A lavender rose means love at first sight.   My plane had been delayed, so I was wandering around the gift shop at the airport when I spotted it.   I gave it to you after we settled into our hotel room that night, along with a jade necklace that cost a small fortune.   You practically ignored the necklace and fawned over this little thing like I’d given you the Hope diamond or something.   You freaked me out.   It was the first time I’d ever seen you cry, and it was over some little trinket that hadn’t cost twenty bucks.   Since you liked it so much, I decided I’d get you one every year on our anniversary.”
    Nikki was touched by this romantic side of Jake.   “What does the red one mean?   And why do they all look different?”
    He glanced at the other globes and smiled.   “They’re real roses.   I thought, if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.   I found a guy in Lexington who makes these for me.   I can take him any rose and he dips it in wax to preserve it.   Red roses mean true love and desire.”   He pointed at the second one.   “But an Austrian red rose also means ‘You are all that is lovely’.”
    “Oh, Jake,” she said softly.   “That’s beautiful.”
    “You’re beautiful,” he replied, and handed the third one to her.   Its bright orange color reflected against the glass, creating the illusion of a ball of fire.   “This is a rare rose, a Marechal Niel .   See how many layers it has, like those toilet paper roses kids make at camp.   It means ‘I’m yours, heart and soul’.   The color means fascinated.   Captivated.   I’ve been both of those since the day I met you.”
    Jake inclined his head as if to kiss her, but the shrill ring of the telephone jolted them apart.
    He stroked her jaw.   “I’d better get that.   Maybe Matt’s found something.”
    She nodded and Jake disappeared into the other room.   His conversation was muffled, but as Nikki replaced the globe on the mantel, she heard Jake’s voice raised in anger.   Hesitantly, she stepped inside the doorway.
    “How many people are in there?” Jake demanded.   “Where’s Hank?”
    Her movement caught his attention and he turned to face her.   Nikki was startled by his sudden pallor.
    “I’m on my way.”   Jake slammed down the phone and wiped his face with his hand.   He was shaking.
    “Jake, are you alright?”
    He pushed past her and jerked open the hall closet.   Jake thrust a coat at her and said, “We have to go.”
    “What’s wrong?”   Nikki caught his arm and made him face her.
    The fear in his blue eyes paralyzed her.
    “One of my buildings is on fire.   A crew is trapped inside.”

Chapter 6
    An emergency services worker in a reflective vest stood off the side of the highway.   His truck was parked crookedly to block half the secondary road behind him.   The pulsing red light on its dash illuminated Jake’s grim face as they pulled beside him.
    He motioned for them to turn around and Jake rolled down the window.
    “You have to find an alternate route, sir.   We’ve got a fire right down the road, and this road is closed to everyone except rescue personnel.”
    “Those are my men trapped in that building.   You have to let us through,” Jake said.
    “I can’t do that.   Please give the