Safe From the Fire (6 page)

“Twenty
years,” he said, his voice shaking, “Twenty years, Mr. Daniels, and then that
pyromaniac burns my family’s restaurant to the ground!  I’d just had the kitchen
redone!”

“What
pyromaniac?” Colin asked, frowning.

“Just
like that!” the agitated little man continued with an enraged snap of his
fingers.

He
glared at Grace.

“I
saw him go into that club when I was closing up for the night.  That no-good
brother of yours. They should have sent out a public safety notice the moment
they let him out of prison.”

Grace
stood, outraged.

“It
was juvenile detention, and Adam had nothing to do with this!  He wasn’t
anywhere near here!”

“So
it’s just a big coincidence?” huffed Mr. Dmitros, skepticism dripping from his
voice.

“The
Sheriff’s Department is going to perform a thorough investigation, Mr.
Dmitros.” Evie’s cool voice sliced through the air as she approached, turning
her serious gray eyes on the distraught restaurant owner, “That includes
interviewing
all
relevant witnesses.  I assume you can provide an alibi
for when the fire started?”

Mr.
Dmitros sputtered.

“I
didn’t set fire to my own building!”

“I
think what Deputy Asher is trying to say,” interjected Colin smoothly, getting
to his feet, “is that it’s a little early in the morning to be hurling
accusations.  Why don’t you go home and let us sort this out?  I’m sure Sheriff
Arnetto will be in touch.”

With
a last venomous glare at Grace, Mr. Dmitros hurried away.

Colin
reached out an arm and yanked Evie up against him.  She scowled and pushed at
him.

“Hands
off when I’m on duty, hotshot.”

“You’re
not on duty for four more hours, and Tony will probably make you take a
half-shift anyway,” Colin pointed out before lowering his mouth to hers.

Wistfully,
Grace couldn’t help but notice how Evie softened as Colin held her captive for
a thorough, toe-curling kiss, her fingers clenching in his shirt.  He finally
let her go with a last nibble of her lower lip.

“You
taste good, Deputy,” he murmured.

“I
don’t know why I put up with you,” she muttered, but pinched his ass before
shoving him back to flounce away.

Grinning
like an idiot, Colin settled down on the bumper of the SUV again.

“I
think she likes me,” he said, “So, Miss Mallow.  What’s up with you and Matt
Harris? I heard you broke his heart at Mary’s this morning.”

Grace
glared at him.

“Seriously,
does no one in this town have anything better to talk about?  And I did
not
do anything of the sort.”

She
squirmed under his scrutiny.

“You
should give him a chance, Grace,” Colin said softly.

“We’d
be a bad fit,” she insisted.

“You
keep telling yourself that, but I think you’re just afraid that you’d be a perfect
fit.”

Grace
didn’t have an answer for that, and Colin nodded over her shoulder.

“Don’t
look now, but he’s coming your way.  Mayoral duty calls.  Be nice.”

With
a last meaningful glare, he sauntered away toward Chief Hammond, and Grace
turned to face Matt, who was pulling off his helmet, his face streaked with
soot and sweat.

“I
didn’t think you’d still be here,” he rumbled.

“I
wanted to make sure everything was okay,” she replied, “Thanks for the jacket –
”

She
started to unzip it, but Matt put his hand over hers.

“Keep
it,” he said, his eyes helplessly flickering down to the inches of skin she’d
casually bared for him.

Deliberately,
he zipped her up again, tucking the collar more closely around her throat, his
fingers brushing her jaw.  She swallowed and he tracked the movement, his eyes
filling with heat that was visible even in the weak morning light.

“Go
out with me, Grace,” he murmured, “Just one date.  Please?”

Nothing
good can come of this, Grace Mallow.

“Okay,”
she whispered.

“Yeah?”

His
face lit up, and she nodded.

“Great! 
That’s – really great.  Tonight?  You and me?”

Grace
was surprised to find herself blushing at his obvious pleasure.

“Sure.”

“Hey
Harris!” called Rafael, and Matt turned back.

“I’ll
pick you up at seven,” he said, grinning as she nodded again.

Oh
God
,
thought Grace,
Please don’t let this be a huge mistake.

The
sound of the front door opening jerked Grace awake from where she’d fallen
asleep on the living room couch, snuggled under Matt’s jacket.

“Grace?”

“Where
the hell have you been?”  Grace screeched, exhausted and furious.

Adam
had the grace to look guilty.

“It
got late, so I crashed on Russell’s couch.  I would have called but I don’t
have a cell phone.  I didn’t mean to worry you.”

Anger
warred with relief, and Grace slumped back into the cushions, absently
clutching Matt’s jacket as Adam took a seat in the recliner.

“There
was a fire last night,” she said, “The restaurant next to the club.”

Adam’s
eyes widened.

“You
don’t think I – ”

“No,
I don’t.  But there are people who do.  And I can’t defend you if I don’t have
any idea where you are.”

“We
played pool, had a few beers.  It was nothing.  I’m sorry.”

Grace
scrubbed her hands over her face.

God,
I need a shower.

“I
know you’re not a kid anymore, but I have to know I can trust you if you’re
going to live here, Adam.”

“You
can.  I swear!” Adam’s eyes were filled with anxious sincerity.

Grace
scanned her brother’s face, frowning, and finally nodded.

“Look,
you should probably lay low today. The whole town is going to be talking about
the fire and I’d rather they didn’t fixate on you.”

“I’m
not going to hide from them,” Adam’s chin went up.

“There’s
a difference between hiding and not looking for a fight.  Just give it a day or
two to die down.”

Still
holding Matt’s jacket, she started up the stairs.

“I’m
going to shower and crash for a few hours.”

Adam
nodded.

“Where’s
your toolkit?  The latch on the back door is broken and you’ve got a few loose
cabinet doors.”

“There
may be a hammer or something under the kitchen sink,” Grace yawned, “You sure
you know what you’re doing?”

“I
picked up a few things here and there.  You need a real toolkit, Grace,” Adam
tsked, examining the room with a critical eye.

“What
I need is a nap so that I don’t like a total hag for tonight.”

As
soon as the words were out, Grace wished for them back, but Adam pounced.

“What’s
tonight?”

“I
have a date,” Grace muttered.

“With
– ?” her brother prompted.

“With
Matt Harris,” she admitted grudgingly.

Adam
grinned.

“Not
a word,” advised Grace, and Adam held his hands up, the picture of innocence.

“I
didn’t say anything.”

Ten
minutes later, Grace was standing in the shower, half-asleep, letting the hot water
soothe away the anxiety over Adam and the nerves that came alive when she
thought of her impending date, and lull her into a steamy, dreamy state.

“It’s
just dinner,” she murmured to herself.

Matt
sat next to her in a secluded booth of the romantic little Italian bistro, his
big hand stroking her knee as they perused the menu together, the scent of him
curling around her senses.

“Do
you know what you want?” he rumbled, his fingers inching under her short skirt
to trace patterns on her sensitive inner thigh.

“I
need another minute,” she gasped as he found the soft flesh higher up, already
slick and aching for him, exploring it with deft strokes, his eyes dark with
heat.

“No
panties?”

“You
told me not to wear them.”

“And
you’ve been very obedient, Grace.”

And
then he moved, maneuvering his big body under the tablecloth, spreading her
legs wide to make a place for himself, nudging her skirt out of the way, his
hot breath gusting over her throbbing folds.

“So
obedient,” he murmured, treating her clit to slow little lick that had her
arching, uncaring that the waiters and other patrons were staring at her, “that
I think I’m going to have this hot pussy as an appetizer.”

She
moaned as he set his mouth to her, holding her wide for his tongue, lashing her
with pleasure so acute, she cried out.  He hummed approvingly as he traced her
folds with lips and tongue and a hint of teeth, gently sucking her clit until
she was panting, desperate, willing to do anything he wanted, begging for more.

“That’s
right, sweetheart, let them see how badly you want me,” he continued, his firm,
hot hands spreading her even further, his tongue teasing her entrance,
“Anything I want, Grace.  Now, come for me and I’ll fill you with hard cock for
dessert…”

The
fantasy dissolved as Grace came with a cry, her fingers strumming her clit as
the water streamed over her, leaving her trembling in the aftermath of
pleasure.  She wasn’t an exhibitionist, but the thought of Matt taking charge,
pleasuring her anywhere and any way he wanted to, uncaring of who was watching,
was enough to push even Grace’s boundaries.

Not
going to happen
,
she reminded herself, turning off the water.

She’d
have dinner with him, make small talk, try to ignore the stares of the
townspeople who spotted them together, and then leave him at the door with a
kiss on the cheek, assuring him that it had been fun.  Then Grace would curl up
in bed alone and try to forget all the wicked, sexy, delicious things they
might have done together if he were less perfect.

MATT
STRUGGLED TO STAY awake during the impromptu briefing in the rec room of the
fire station.  He was dead on his feet, and Colin, Tony, Zeke, and Chief
Hammond didn’t look much better, but Evie Asher insisted on going over every
detail before letting them go.

“Two
fires in two nights?” she repeated, her voice dripping with suspicion.

“It’s
a coincidence,” insisted Matt from his perch on the arm of the couch, “One
office building, one restaurant.  One’s an offshoot of an insurance company
from across the bay, one’s a family-owned business that has been in town for
decades.  Different starters, different methods.  There’s no connection.”

Evie
shook her head, ticking her fingers off.

“Two
fires within a mile of each other.  Two sprinkler systems that
malfunctioned
. 
Two times the fire department was alerted before anyone got hurt.  Two empty buildings,
and two “inconclusive” results.”

“We
don’t even know that a person set these fires, Evie.  They might have been
accidents,” offered Tony.

“I
don’t like it,” fumed Evie, pacing.

Matt
stifled a yawn as Zeke tentatively raised a hand.

“What
is it, Zeke?” asked Colin.

“I
don’t want to cast stones, but Adam Mallow’s back in town.”

There
was silence, and Matt felt his hackles rising as the others considered the
possibility.  Unaccountably, he found himself opening his mouth to defend the
boy.

“He
just got back, turned over a new leaf.”

“So
he says,” pointed out the Chief, “but he was at the club last night.”

“There
isn’t any proof,” insisted Matt.

Evie
stretched, and Colin took her hand.

“He’s
right, there isn’t any proof, and we’re going in circles.  We can’t do anything
else until we question everybody.  And I do mean
everybody.
  Thank you,
everyone,” said Tony.

Matt
dragged himself upright.  He felt gritty and dead on his feet, and he wanted to
be rested and alert for his date with Grace.  Just the thought had his stomach
clenching in excitement.  He heaved himself toward the door.

Chief
Hammond clapped him on the back.

“Great
work out there, Harris.  I want you to continue it.  Work with Sheriff
Arnetto’s people and make sure they get everything they need.”

“But,
sir – ”

“The
townspeople like you, Matt.  You’re young, personable, and to be frank, you
make us look good.  I’m counting on you to do us proud.”