Chapter 54: Nikki

I jumped up and down, fanning the dish towel as close to the smoke detector as I could. What had started off as a sweet gesture had quickly morphed into a kitchen nightmare. At this point, I prayed the shrill beep stopped before the fire department arrived. I'd opened the door and continued to try to get the acrid-smoke smell to dissipate, but thus far, I hadn't been successful. A thick fog hovered in the air, and I coughed with every other breath I took. With no furniture to speak of, coupled with my height deficiency, it was difficult to get near the contraption on the ceiling to get it to shut up.

"Nikki!" Ryker's voice erupted into the frenzy just as the front door slammed shut behind him. "What the hell?" The anger on his face shattered the final shred of composure I'd held onto. His pinched brows and cerise cheeks spoke volumes that I didn't want to hear.

My shoulders slumped as tears dripped from my chin. "I can't-"