by Melody Anne
“We wouldn’t mind if you had a special someone in your life,” Maverick told him.
“Copy that. Maybe it’s time we meddle in your love life like you’ve meddled in ours,” Nick said. There was a lot of chuckling through the headphones.
“Don’t be crude, boys,” Sherman said. Eden was fascinated to see a blush come over Sherman’s cheeks. She wanted to say something but didn’t know how to respond. “And I think I deserve some thanks, considering the lovely women you’ve married.”
There was only a slight pause. “You sure do,” Maverick said. “I’ve never been happier.”
“Ditto,” Nick said.
“Well, that’s better,” Sherman said, a grin taking at least ten years off his face.
“Okay, we’ll leave you be, then, and get back to beating this bitch,” Maverick said with another laugh. He sounded as if he was in his element and having the time of his life.
“Sorry about that. The boys lost their dad when they were barely out of their teens. I’ve tried teaching them manners, and their sweet mama has, too, but it wasn’t until recently when they finally settled down that some manners began sinking in. Of course, when they’re away from their wives playing with their airplanes, they once again forget,” Sherman said. But there was such fondness in his voice that she had no doubt he loved those boys very much.
“It must be nice to have a large family,” she told him.
“I thank God every morning I wake for another day with them,” Sherman said. She could picture him climbing from bed and dropping to his knees to do just that. She couldn’t help but like this man. She wished she had him for an uncle.
“Enjoy every moment,” Eden told him. She didn’t want to feel jealous, but she was, the slightest bit. And her heart hurt as the ache of missing her father tried to consume her once more.
“I’m sorry about your dad. I can’t imagine how much it hurts,” Sherman said. She knew in a small town there were no secrets, but she didn’t want to grieve right now. She wanted to work and to enjoy this time with a kind man.
“Thank you. I’m trying to move on. It hasn’t been easy.”
“Well, you have good people in your life. Don’t be afraid to lean on them. There are some things we can’t do alone,” Sherman said.
She was too choked up to respond, so she turned and looked at the ground below them. Thankfully, Sherman didn’t push her, allowed her to pull herself together. She appreciated him that much more for it.
They flew around for a while longer, and Eden attempted to get information out of him that she didn’t already know.
“How long have you known the Forbeses?” she asked, hoping to keep her voice casual.
“I’ve been friends with their daddy since before the kids were born. They’re a good family,” he answered with ease.
“I’ve known them a long time . . . ,” she said. “Especially Owen. Do you know him well?” She hated the slight pitch to her voice. She took a calming breath.
“Owen’s a good man. He’s always been a hero, just like my nephews. He doesn’t need credit for the lives he saves, and that makes him an even better man,” Sherman told her.
“I’ve heard some firefighters like to start blazes so they can then play the hero,” she said, trying to sound as if she was doing nothing more than making conversation.
Sherman paused for a moment, and she wondered if she was busted. Then he spoke.
“It’s truly sad when that happens, but we’re in a real good place here. I know none of our men or women would do anything of the sort.” His voice was just as casual as hers.
She sighed. “Have you noticed any odd behavior from any of the men or women fighting the blaze?” she asked, trying a new tactic.
Sherman thought about her question for a few moments before he shook his head. “It’s not one of our guys. I’d bet my life on it,” he told her.
That turned her suspicions back to Declan. If no one thought any of the firefighters capable of starting the fire, then it had to be someone else.
“What do you know about Declan?” she asked.
This time Sherman took his eyes off the sky and looked at her with a bit of confusion. He waited for her to elaborate. She knew she was busted now. The man had no doubt about the fact that she was interrogating him.
“He’s been working on this drug case a long time. Has he shared much about it?” she continued.
“Do you think Declan is capable of having anything to do with this?” he asked. It didn’t feel like a scolding, but his words made her look out again at the large plumes of dark smoke hanging over their town.
“I’m just asking questions,” she told him. “I can’t come up with any conclusions until people share with me what they know.”
Sherman gave her a look that she thought was respect. She certainly didn’t want to offend him, and it appeared as if she hadn’t.
“Declan has always kept to himself, from the time he was a little boy. He’s fiercely loyal and a good man. I would bet my life on the innocence of any of the Forbes men,” Sherman told her.
“You know that in a lot of cases where a serial killer has been caught, the family and friends have all expressed shock, saying they never would’ve suspected the person of such horrific acts,” she pointed out.
“I’ve read the same facts,” Sherman told her. “But trust me, I know people, and I would lay my life on the line for family and those I love just as much as family. Declan and Owen are family.”
Was she completely wrong in her assumptions? Or was Sherman blinded by love?
She asked a few more questions, but she knew she wasn’t going to find answers with Sherman. Either he’d protect the ones he loved to his dying breath, or he truly knew nothing. After more than an hour of flying, she found herself disappointed as they began making their descent back to the runway they’d taken off from. She felt her stomach jump a bit as they touched down, but she still wore a smile. Sherman taxied to the hangar, then turned off the plane, shifting in his seat to look at her.
“Did I put the bug in you?” he asked.
She hated to admit the truth. “You sort of did,” she said, not wanting to lie.
“And do you feel any better about Owen’s innocence now?” he asked. “Or Declan’s?”
She was shocked by the knowing look in his eyes. She felt a little guilty. She hadn’t fooled this man. Her cheeks heated the slightest bit, but she didn’t do him the discourtesy of looking away.
“I haven’t found anything to prove guilt or innocence,” she said.
“You’ll get it worked out,” Sherman assured her. “I promise.”
“I hope so. I don’t think I’ll be on this case much longer, and it’s become personal since someone burned down my home,” she told him.
He shook his head. “It takes a real heartless person to destroy someone’s home. That absolutely hurts my soul.” He reached out and grasped her hand. “You just let me know if there’s anything I can do for you.”
She knew those were just words people said to each other, words that didn’t really mean anything. But as she looked at Sherman, she realized they weren’t empty words to him. He meant them. She reached across the space between them and gave him a hug, the urge too overwhelming to ignore. He hugged her back.
“Thank you for today. It was just what I needed,” she said.
“Anytime, young lady,” he said. She knew he meant that as well.
She was sad to go a half hour later. She insisted on helping him get the plane back in the hangar and washing the windows with him. He’d given her a beautiful gift today, and if that was the only way to thank him, then she was more than happy to do it.
If she had to make her case right now, she’d be left with little choice but to admit her total incompetence. Maybe she was too close to this case. It was probably a good idea for them to bring in a new person to take over.
The thought of that took away some of the joy she’d found while high in the sky. One st
ep at a time, she told herself. She had to take things one step at a time. She exited the hangar and looked up, not at all surprised when she saw Owen leaning against his truck, a smile on his lips.
Chapter Nineteen
Owen was usually grateful to live in a small town where everyone shared information. Sometimes he wasn’t as grateful, like when there were family matters he didn’t want talked about, but right now he was glad because that’s how he knew Eden was currently taking a flight with Sherman Armstrong.
Owen smiled as he thought about what she’d be hearing right now. Since Owen had nothing to hide, he wasn’t worried about what she’d learn about him. He did, however, enjoy the fact that her ear was definitely getting talked off.
Eden had always been a private person. She wasn’t one of those people who threw their arms wide and invited the world in. There was a dignity and class about her that had originally made him fall in love with her. If it hadn’t been for his obligation to his best friend, he didn’t think he would have had the will to leave town, even if he had wanted to find himself.
Sure, he’d felt the need to see the world, but he’d always pictured doing it with her by his side. The two of them had been so young, though—too young to make permanent decisions. Maybe if they’d stayed together then, though it seemed pretty damn appealing right now, it would have ruined them. They wouldn’t have found who they were without one another. Sometimes you had to be set free to know there never had been chains holding you down in the first place.
He’d had another restless night of tossing and turning. Not only was he stressed not to be on that mountain putting out the worst fire to hit his hometown in too many years to count, but he was also worried about Eden. He’d felt a hell of a lot better knowing she was out of that crappy motel and staying with his brother. If she’d been at the motel one more night, he was planning on buying the damn thing and installing a twenty-four-seven security staff as his first executive decision.
He was grateful now he wasn’t the owner of the dive. Though maybe he should buy it anyway and fix it up—bring back some class to it. That was definitely food for thought.
For now, he was leaning against his truck as he waited for Sherman to fly back to the airport. He and Eden needed to spend more time together. For one thing, he couldn’t very well prove his innocence to her if they were never together. For another, it was simple. He missed her.
Owen stood there looking up at the sky, and he was relieved to finally see Sherman’s plane off in the distance. They were probably ten minutes out. Owen never had gotten the flying bug, but he’d gone up with friends every once in a while, and taking a private jet to some resort was a great way to travel. He’d just never felt the need to learn to pilot one of the planes.
Sherman always told him it was never too late to learn. That old man thought it was a sin for anyone not to know how to pilot. He’d tell them they’d all sink into the sea if a big one ever hit unless they could grab some wings and soar. Owen figured he’d take his chances with a tidal wave. Hell, he could captain a boat like no one else. He could ride the waves.
His peace and quiet were disturbed when he heard a car approaching. This was a private landing strip, so there weren’t too many people who’d be headed this way. He turned, then smiled.
A tall man emerged from a Porsche 911. He walked over, confidence in his gait as he approached Owen with a friendly smile. Chaz Rock was Owen’s age. They’d gone to school together and had gotten into more trouble than Owen cared to admit. They didn’t hang out nearly as much anymore since Owen had left town and returned. Chaz was always on the go with his real estate empire. But old friends had a way of coming back together.
“I thought you’d rather be caught dead than sitting at an airport watching planes come and go,” Chaz said.
“Not when a pretty girl is about to touch down,” Owen told him.
They both laughed. “Yeah, the things we put ourselves through to be noticed by women,” Chaz grumbled.
“I’ve been chasing this girl my entire life,” Owen admitted.
“Must be Eden,” Chaz said with a wink. “It’s my understanding you had her caught in your net when you released her,” he pointed out.
“That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,” Owen acknowledged. It wasn’t too often he confessed to his shortcomings.
Chaz nodded in agreement. “Are the rumors true?” he asked.
“Probably?” Owen said with a grimace. “Which ones are you referring to?”
Chaz laughed. “Have you been banned from fighting the fire?”
“Yep,” Owen said. “They think I might have started it.”
Chaz looked at him incredulously. “That’s insane. This is your town.”
“I can’t seem to convince the powers that be that I love it here, even if I did leave for a while.”
“How you holding up?” Chaz asked. He leaned on Owen’s truck as the two of them watched Sherman’s plane draw closer.
“I’m good. I’m trying to get this matter cleared so I can get back to work. We have a real arsonist who needs to be caught before this situation gets any worse.”
“Well, rumors spread faster than butter on a hot sidewalk in this town, but at least you can take comfort in knowing not a single person here thinks the rumors are true,” Chaz assured him.
“I’m sure there are some who might believe it,” Owen said. “But that goes with the territory. There are people who won’t like me because of my last name, and there are others who’ll do a jig for a juicy piece of gossip. But I’m confident that the people I care about know it’s not me. That’s good enough.”
“Sometimes we can’t outrun our pasts, though,” Chaz pointed out. “Those rumors might continue to spread.”
Owen was silent for a moment. “Then I’ll just have to be me and let fate decide what happens.”
Chaz shrugged as if it didn’t matter either way. “I’m taking my plane up,” he said. “Want to get your mind off things for a while and go for a ride?”
“Maybe another time,” Owen said as Sherman’s plane touched down. He let out a breath of relief that Eden was back on solid ground. He knew Sherman was an ace pilot, but Owen wanted to keep Eden safe, even if that meant he was somewhat illogical about what he deemed safe or not.
“Sounds good,” Chaz told him with a grin before giving Owen a wave and heading to his private hangar. Owen turned back to see Sherman’s plane taxiing toward him.
Owen didn’t think Sherman or Eden saw him when they pulled into the hangar. He was parked off to the side. He wouldn’t interrupt. He’d let them finish up and wait for Eden to come out. He was parked near her car, so there was no way she’d miss him.
He stood there long enough to watch Chaz pull his plane from the hangar and taxi to the runway, flying down it and lifting off into the air. Owen waved, not sure if his friend saw the gesture.
Finally, Eden came out of the hangar. Alone. She was grinning until she looked up and saw him. Then her smile wavered, and she seemed to take a fortifying breath. That hurt his gut a little. It wasn’t a good sign if she had to build up her courage to come around him. Owen wasn’t sure what he was going to do to change her opinion of him, to show her he wasn’t the same selfish teenage boy she’d once known.
“I guess an entire day is more than enough time to be apart?” Eden asked as she approached. She smiled, giving him a bit of hope. Maybe she wasn’t entirely disappointed to see him. Maybe they did have a chance.
“It was way too long,” Owen told her. “Want to go for a ride and chat?”
“About anything I want?” she asked.
“Sure,” he said, not at all worried about anything she would ask him. If he could help her solve this case, his town would be safer. Plus, when they didn’t have this hanging over their heads, they could focus on just the two of them.
She smiled. It was a smile of victory, as if she knew something he didn’t. He looked toward the hangar, but Sherman hadn’t yet e
merged. He went through his mind trying to think if there was anything in his past that Sherman knew about that he could have shared with her.
He honestly didn’t think so. Had she spoken to Declan again? He didn’t think that, either. Declan wouldn’t tell Owen’s secrets. They weren’t his to tell. His brother was too honorable to share them on purpose and too smart to slip.
Owen opened his truck door for Eden, glad when she hopped inside. They could pick up her car later. Right now he didn’t feel like following her. He wanted her by his side. He felt danger was growing closer, and that scared him far more than her finding out secrets he didn’t want her to know.
He’d die for this woman. Maybe it was time to fess up to the sins of his past. He knew they weren’t going to be able to move forward until he did exactly that.
Chapter Twenty
Eden was nervous as she waited for Owen to climb inside his cab. She had nothing on him, but she’d learned long ago that if you acted as if you knew something, then sometimes people would panic and try to get their side of the story straight, giving up valuable information.
She was playing a cat-and-mouse game with somebody, and whether Owen realized it or not, there might be knowledge buried inside him that he didn’t understand was valuable. That often happened with people who were close to a crime. Their town was in danger, and someone out there had the answers that would stop the blaze.
“Is there anything you want to share with me?” Eden asked in a knowing voice, as if she already had the information and simply wanted him to confirm it. He started the truck but just sat there, leaving the engine idling.
“That trick doesn’t work on me,” he told her with a shrewd grin that had her teeth grinding together. Of course it wouldn’t work on him.
“I guess we have nothing to talk about then,” she said. She reached for her seat belt to undo it when he stopped her.
“Give me a minute,” he said. There was resignation in his voice that stopped her from leaving the truck. It appeared as if he was going to talk. Not because she’d fooled him, but maybe because he didn’t like that she didn’t trust him. That made her heart do a funny little twitch.