Tri Me (Primrose, Minnesota, Book 4)

by Mia Dymond

  “I’m sorry. Wait, you only left with a towel?”

  “Well, no. I managed to grab my purse and briefcase on my way out.”

  Before he could question her about the necessity of saving her purse and briefcase from the fire, Team Alex arrived one by one and nudged him outside their protective circle. Although he was silently grateful Alex had such a strong support system, he also knew that support system would stall his fact-finding mission for the time being. Luckily, he towered every one of them.

  He caught Alex’s eye over Marnie’s head. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  The RSI team stood just outside the perimeter of the fire and Jackson knew from experience every one of them took mental notes.

  Mace glanced at the circle of women and then back at him. “How is she?”

  “Tough as nails.”

  “Good luck penetrating that armor,” Jake mumbled.

  “Thanks for the encouragement.” Jackson turned to Shane. “Any word on the structure?”

  “Unfortunately, it’s a total loss.”

  Ryker cleared his throat. “Accident?”

  “Fire’s too hot for me to investigate tonight.”

  “Any theories?”

  “Thousands.”

  Jackson took a stab at one particular theory he didn’t quite put much stock in. “Electrical?”

  Shane tossed a glance over his shoulder and then stepped closer to the pack. “I’ll have to come back in the morning to investigate. Pick me up at eight o’clock.”

  The four of them nodded almost in unison before Shane turned and walked back toward the fire engines.

  Ryker folded his arms across his chest. “Suppose she’ll agree to a safe house?”

  “Most likely not.” Jackson didn’t hesitate in his answer. “Not until we know for sure this was personal.”

  “Uh, Jackson.” Mace exhaled hard. “You know as well as we do, this was personal.”

  He knew his partner spoke the truth but Shane’s report would give them more ammo. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Determined to talk sense into Alex, he headed back for the ambulance and penetrated the circle.

  Liberty gave him a soft smile. “She’s had a long night.”

  “You can interrogate her tomorrow,” Bri added.

  He gave them both a sideways grin. “Where is she staying tonight?”

  “She wanted to stay at a hotel,” Dara drawled, obviously offended.

  “But I said absolutely not,” Marnie added. “I have an extra bedroom and I got used to Dara being there. It’s been kind of lonely without her so it’s best for both of us.”

  “I don’t want to impose …”

  “You’re not.” Marnie cut Alex off in mid-sentence. “You can borrow some of my clothes and we’ll go shopping tomorrow. You know how bored I get during summer break. It’ll be fun.”

  He waited for Alex’s argument, impressed that Marnie’s stern teacher’s voice kept her quiet. Interesting. Maybe Marnie could teach him something.

  “Do you need to go to the hospital?” Dara tugged the edge of the blanket up closer to Alex’s neck. “Reagan is there.”

  “No need. I’ll go on to Marnie’s.”

  He released a silent sigh of relief. “I’ll meet you there. I need facts.”

  Alex glanced at Bri and then back at him. “My shrink says you should question me tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow may be too late for me to do anything.”

  “Okay, but you know the penalty.”

  Yeah, he did. She wouldn’t hesitate to add that to the list. Damn thing just kept growing longer and longer. Reluctant to make it public, he simply nodded. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”

  True to his word, he arrived at Marnie’s apartment just as she and Marnie unlocked the door. And since she stood on the doorstep in nothing but her towel, he wasted no time in hustling her inside, past a wide-eyed, obviously shocked Marnie, and into the bathroom.

  “Drop the towel.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “You heard me.”

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  “I appreciate your concern, Jackson, but I can manage alone.”

  “Drop.”

  His fingers wrapped hers, loosening her hold.

  “The.”

  Very slowly he eased open the wrapper.

  “Towel.”

  In one swift tug, the terry cloth hit the floor.

  For several seconds she stood beautifully naked, her emerald gaze trained directly on him as if giving him one more chance to run before she lifted her knee and planted it in his balls, karate-style. Instead, those full, plump lips split into a half-smile and she struck a sex-kitten pose with one hand on her left hip.

  “Okay, so now what, Detective Too-Cool?”

  He swallowed hard and his brain taunted, yeah, so now what? His cock screamed in agony and strained so hard it nearly poked a hole through his fly. He moved his gaze from the top of her five foot frame to the bottom and back again. The tiny package of dynamite stood loaded, poised to blow him from here to Kingdom Come – and they hadn’t even lit the fuse.

  Unable to stop himself, he glanced back at her chest, her firm breasts teasing him to touch. His mouth watered and he balled his fists to keep from reaching out and stroking one pebbled nipple – or better yet, lowering his head and pulling it inside his mouth to tease it with his tongue. His mind flashed back to their previous kiss and he harbored an undeniable feeling of de´ja vu.

  With a hard sigh, he forced his gaze back into her eyes and a sudden flash of vulnerability caused him to pause. Damn nobility.

  “You’re getting in the shower.”

  “You sure about that?”

  Hell no. “Yes.” He squatted and balanced one elbow on the edge of the tub while he reached to turn on the faucets with his other hand.

  “Pity,” she taunted behind him.

  His elbow slid from the tub and he nearly fell over the edge. Damn, damn, damn, just … damn! He braced both hands against the slick porcelain then pushed himself to stand on jelly legs he hoped would hold his weight. Once upright, he practiced amazing self control to keep his gaze focused into her eyes and away from her delectable body. Her delectable naked body.

  “Test the water before you get in.”

  With another of her mischievous grins, she stepped past him, lifted one leg, and stuck one pink-polished toe into the running water. As she held his gaze with her own and extended her leg, her narrowed eyes and curvy body reminded him of a Siamese cat stretching in warm sunlight before lying to nap in the rays. Oh man, what he wouldn’t give to have her curled up in his lap, stroking her neck while she mewed in satisfaction. Oh for the love of God – he had to pull himself together.

  “Perfect.”

  He shook his head to clear the notion that he had just heard the purr in her voice. “I’ll wait in the living room. We’ll talk when you’re finished.”

  With every fiber of his being screaming bloody murder, Jackson turned and left the very attractive, very naked woman alone under the steaming hot water and headed toward the living room. The sight of Marnie sprawled on the sofa, coffee cup in hand, with one eyebrow arched and her head cocked to one side did little to ease his distress. Apparently, Alex wasn’t the only one in hot water.

  “Did you check the temperature of the water?”

  He very carefully folded himself into a chair opposite her and smirked. “You can’t crack me, Miss Carpenter.”

  “How long are you two going to play hide-and-seek?”

  “As long as she says.”

  “Smart man.” She lowered her feet to the floor. “Coffee?”

  “Thought you’d never ask.”

  He took the much-needed momentary reprieve from Marnie’s scrutiny to roll his shoulders in an unsuccessful attempt to release some of the tension. Although he felt ninety-eight percent positive Alex was in a whole helluva lot of trouble, convincing her to run from it would be a downri
ght miracle.

  “You’re prepared to beat your head against the wall, right?” Marnie handed him a steaming mug.

  “Thank you.” He lifted the cup and welcomed the warm, nutty taste as he sipped. “Alex is a smart woman.”

  “That’s an understatement.” Marnie snorted. “She’s absolutely brilliant.”

  He couldn’t argue her point but didn’t hesitate to make his own. “Sometimes her intelligence is a pain in my ass.”

  “She does tend to over-think.” She placed one hand over her mouth as she yawned. “Good luck with your interrogation. I’m headed to bed.”

  A tiny thread of panic wound around his nerve endings as Marnie left the room – there was something to be said about safety in numbers. Then again, sparring one-on-one with Alex provided a rush of stimulation he welcomed.

  He raised the cup, drained the remaining contents, and then set it on the end table beside him. Question marks speared his brain as he attempted to snap the pieces of this puzzle together. Was this fire coincidental? Instinct made that difficult to believe. It was just too entirely ironic that not forty-eight hours after the last harassing phone call, her house had caught fire.

  He rolled his head to one side, caught by surprise when he saw her braced on one hip inside the doorway.

  “How long have you been there?”

  “Long enough to hear the grind of the gears in your brain.”

  She pushed off one hip, walked to the sofa, and lowered her curves to the cushion. Even dressed in baggy sweats and a t-shirt, her body taunted him.

  “Feel better?”

  “Much.”

  “Any idea how the fire started?”

  “I’m pretty sure it was an electrical issue.”

  “What makes you believe that?”

  “My lights have flickered a few times during the past week.”

  “What else?”

  “The sockets in the bathroom have sparked and tripped the breakers, as well.”

  “Did you call an electrician?”

  “It’s on my list,” she mumbled.

  “Okay, so you have electrical issues. I’m still not convinced that’s the cause of the fire. Shane’s going in to investigate in the morning when things cool off.” He stood and offered a hand, relieved when she accepted and stepped into the circle of his arms. “Humor me and lay low until I figure out what the hell’s going on.”

  His heartbeat accelerated when she placed one cheek against his chest. “Okay.”

  He resisted the urge to snicker in total disbelief. Her agreement was too incredibly easy. “What’s the catch?”

  “No catch.” The warmth of her breath seeped through the cotton of shirt, tantalizing his already-heated skin. “The girls are coming tomorrow to plan a baby shower for Liberty.” She gave him one of her famous man-eater grins – the one she gave him when he and she both knew she held the upper hand. “Would you like to supervise?”

  “No.” He pressed his lips to the top of her head, desperate for more contact. “I’ll expect to find you here when I drop by with more information.”

  “I said I’d be here. Do I need to take an oath?”

  “No.”

  He gently eased her back from him and tipped her chin with his index finger, hesitating just a moment, careful not to invade her personal space without permission. As if granting her express permission, she leaned into his touch and raised her lips toward him in invitation. Without further encouragement, he placed his lips over hers and relished the complete and utter contentment of the electrical moment. Sheer territorial possession caused him to urge her mouth open and deepen the kiss until both of them needed oxygen.

  “Don’t let Dara talk you into another novel.”

  His blood warmed even further when she released a short giggle. “I’m sure she’s taking notes.”

  “No doubt,” he agreed as he released her and headed to the front door. “Just make sure you don’t become the heroine.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jackson mentally prepared himself for the worst as Ryker steered the sleek, black extended cab pickup truck into Alex’s driveway and parked at the bottom. He stole a glance around the silent interior, somewhat encouraged that all three men wore the same expression of determination. And if he were psychic, he’d bet that all three thought the same thing – arson.

  “We’ll follow your lead, Hartwell.” Ryker nodded at the fire inspector to exit the vehicle and then they fell in behind him.

  “There may still be some hot spots.” Shane gestured at the bed of the truck. “Grab a coat and helmet. Gloves are in the pockets.” He grinned at each of them. “And remember, you weren’t ever here.”

  Jackson’s stomach churned as he and the RSI team suited up in the heavy fire gear and then made the trek up the driveway until they stood in the center of what once was Alex’s garage. Incredible guilt gnawed his nerves as he watched Shane dig through the charred remains. Not twenty four hours ago, he promised Alex he’d protect her from this psychotic bitch and now her home lay in ruins. Fear accelerated his heartbeat. Although Alex managed to escape, the result could’ve been devastating. Sonuvabitch. His heart hurt. First things first, though, they had to prove the fire had been intentional.

  “Anything yet, Hartwell?”

  Shane snorted as he walked across the room, headed for the side door opening. “It’s gonna take a little longer than three minutes. I’ll let you know when I find something.”

  Mace slapped Jackson on the back. “This could take some time.”

  “Time we don’t have.” He exhaled hard. “Anyone want to take a stab at how this started?”

  “Hartwell hasn’t said as much, but I’m convinced this was deliberate.” Jake pushed his helmet back from his forehead as he walked around the garage. “I’m not much of a science nerd, but the char patterns along these walls lead me to believe this was a hot fire.”

  “No doubt in my mind,” Jackson agreed. “We really need a break in this case.”

  “Found the igniter.” Shane returned with a square, blackened can looped around the right index finger of his glove. “Does Alex keep gasoline on hand?”

  “I’ll call her and ask.” Jackson stabbed buttons on his phone.

  Jake chuckled. “Yeah, you need a reason to call her.”

  “Screw you, Rawlings.” He ignored both Jake’s and Ryker’s continued snickers as he waited for one certain silky, sultry voice to tickle his ear. “Hello, Detective. Need some help?”

  Professional help. “I have questions.”

  “And I have answers. Though, I don’t always share them.”

  “Straight, honest answers.”

  Her breathy sigh went straight to his groin. “Oh, alright. Shoot.”

  “Do you keep a gas can at your house?”

  “No. Why?”

  “For the lawn mower or weedeater?”

  Alex snorted. “I’m not exactly a yard work kinda girl. I hire a landscaper.”

  “Is there any reason to store gasoline in the garage?”

  “No. He comes every other Tuesday during the spring and summer like clockwork.”

  His stomach plummeted. Although he knew her response before she spoke, her confession made the danger even more real. As usual, she fired questions at him before he could explain.

  “I’m guessing you found a gas can?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where?”

  “Outside the garage door.”

  “In the driveway?”

  “No. The side door.”

  “Any prints on it?”

  “The evidence hasn’t been processed yet.”

  “I parked my car in the garage.”

  Jackson swallowed hard and glanced at the damaged metal that represented her Mercedes. “Yeah.”

  “Can you access my security cameras?”

  He paused briefly while he walked the short distance from where he stood to the side exit and glanced at a piece of melted metal resting near the foundation. “
Probably not.”

  “I turned on the exterior cameras as soon as you left. I’ll call the security company. They’ll have a duplicate video.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Of course. I always have a back-up plan, even for my back-up plan.”

  “Give them a call. I’ll grab the video and meet up with you later.”

  “You’re not going to tell me anything else, are you?”

  “Don’t know much yet.” Other than this is some serious shit. “We’ll talk later.”

  “I’ll look forward to it.”

  Jackson disconnected and returned to where the others were huddled. “Alex doesn’t own a gas can. She hires a landscaper.”

  Not one of them appeared surprised, Ryker just pressed for more detail. “Name?”

  “I’ll get it later.”

  Mace shifted his weight from one crutch to the other. “Was the crew anywhere near?”

  “No.”

  “The fire started outside the side garage door.” Shane removed one glove. “The U-shaped burn pattern on the structure tells me the accelerant, in this case gasoline, was poured and then ignited. Our perp set the fire on the cement outside the door and then it traveled upward, cracking the glass in the window of the door while it burnt. The rest is pretty well common sense.” He pulled a roll of yellow crime tape from his coat pocket. “What we have here, gentlemen, is arson.”

  “What about the interior?” Ryker asked.

  “”I’m guessing we’ll find more of the same char patterns. I remember seeing some heavy black smoke the night of the fire. I’ll have to call Primrose PD. The detectives will want to do a walk-through.”

  Jake slapped Shane on the back and then led the way out of the musty space. “Thanks for getting us in here. We’ll wait for your report.”

  “First thing.”

  Jackson exhaled hard as he followed Jake, Mace, and Ryker back to the truck. Arson. Someone was genuinely pissed off. Although he still didn’t have solid evidence as to who was responsible, the security cameras could possibly provide an identity – if the perpetrator was stupid enough not to look for them. The company had done an amazing job on Alex’s house; the camera over the side garage door had been pretty well hidden from view. Still, he had no idea what kind of an individual they were up against.