by Lily Rede
“Help!”
Evie raced up the stairs, which creaked ominously, the bannister on fire.
She found Deirdre trapped in her bedroom. A few blasts from the fire extinguisher doused enough flames for Evie to get the door open. In a skimpy robe and a pair of slippers, Deirdre was crouched in the corner of the girly room desperately trying to keep the flames away as she swatted ineffectually at them with a towel. She squealed as Evie crashed her way inside.
“Come on!”
Evie yanked off her wet hoodie and wrapped it around Deirdre, practically dragging her toward the stairs. Deirdre took one look at the flaming bannister, the staircase now smoldering, and panicked.
“I can’t!”
“You have to!”
Deirdre struggled as Evie tried to force her down the stairs. Dammit, the woman was stronger than she looked. Evie finally shook her, hard.
“Do you want to die in here?!?”
Terrified, Deirdre shook her head.
Evie coughed and started down first, keeping a tight grip on Deirdre’s arm.
“Just follow me and we’ll be okay.”
Suddenly, the house groaned, and the heat seemed to increase as something crashed above them, letting loose a shower of sparks.
Deirdre screamed.
“Move!”
Evie propelled Deirdre down the stairs as the house started to collapse, the heat and smoke intense. She couldn’t see the door. Something heavy and hot glanced off her wounded shoulder, setting off a blinding wave of agony. Deirdre clutched Evie, terrified, and Evie started to panic herself, because she still couldn’t see the door.
Suddenly, Evie ran headfirst into a wall. It had to be a wall, but then the wall moved, and strong arms gripped the two women, pulling them toward the light and air outside. Barely clear of the house, Deirdre dropped into a dramatic faint, leaving the firefighter to catch her. Gulping air, Evie stumbled forward a few steps, dropped to her hands and knees, and promptly threw up.
COLIN SLAMMED THE DOOR of his truck and grimly made his way toward the collection of ambulances and fire trucks in the clearing in front of Deirdre’s house. The fire was well contained, but a team of firefighters still worked to put it out completely. The air was acrid with smoke and burned wood. The call from Tom had prepared him, but he still felt uneasy and upset enough to tear someone’s head off, his composure shredded by the spike of adrenaline and fear.
He spotted Deirdre immediately and relaxed a fraction. Wrapped in a blanket, sitting on a gurney, she was busy making a huge fuss as an EMT bandaged a bloody gash on her shapely thigh. Colin scanned the area and was unprepared for the wave of relief that swamped him when he saw Evie, one hip propped against the back bumper of an ambulance as she held an oxygen mask over her face and nodded at whatever firefighter Matt Harris was saying. His stomach tight, Colin hurried over.
“Evie.”
“Hey, Colin.” Matt held out a hand, engulfing his own in a firm shake. The guy was a former All State linebacker, and a blond giant of a man, but with the gentlest of blue eyes. Colin was pretty sure Grace had a thing for him, the way she tightened up whenever their paths crossed, but she would rather die than admit it.
“So, seven o’clock tomorrow night, Evie?” Matt’s smile was warm as Evie nodded.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Colin pounced, crowding her against the ambulance door.
“You nearly get yourself killed and now you have a date?”
“He asked me out to dinner. What’s the big fucking deal?”
“The big fucking deal is that you ran into a burning house tonight, Evie! Do you know how stupid that was?”
“There wasn’t time to wait for the cavalry!” Evie jerked the oxygen mask away from her face to glare at him without impediment. She was chewing a piece of gum, close enough that he could smell the mint on her breath.
“You could have waited.” He was frustrated and unaware that he was holding her arms, his thumbs rubbing gentle circles into her soft skin.
“And your girlfriend could have burned to a crispy marshmallow by the time the firefighters arrived.”
“She’s not my girlfriend. Shit, that’s not the point.”
Their eyes were locked, and he saw her breath hitch as he raised one knuckle to trace the line of her jaw with the back of his fingers. So soft.
“I’m glad you’re okay.” He didn’t mean to say that out loud.
“Me too.” The words were whispered, and the slight tremble of her lush lower lip set off an answering tremor low in his gut. He leaned in. Just a quick taste.
Crash! The porch crumbled to the ground in a shower of sparks, and the pair leapt apart as Deirdre’s wail rang out loud and clear over the chaos.
“I think you’re being summoned,” Evie murmured, arch.
“Don’t drive home.” Colin wagged a finger at her, shaken by the brief moment of insanity. The last thing either of them needed was the sexual zing that seemed impossible to ignore. He’d have to work harder at keeping his distance.
“Matt’s going to give me a ride.”
Colin ignored the lick of annoyance and nodded, then turned to join Deirdre, whose histrionics were quickly reaching impressive proportions. It was going to be a long night.
CHAPTER FIVE
EVIE THOUGHT SLEEP WOULD be impossible, but for once, her body took over, exhaustion and injury combining with a crash of adrenaline, and she was out like a light the moment her head touched the pillow. She slept for nearly twelve hours and woke to find a host of new aches and bruises to accompany her healing wounds. A hot shower and some ibuprofen took care of most of the aches, and a cup of strong coffee dispelled the morning cobwebs. Thus fortified, Evie looked around the cabin – she should spend the day unpacking and cleaning, using these last days before she started work to really get settled and back up to full speed.
Ten minutes later she was in her car, making the short drive to Deirdre’s place, reasoning that she’d have plenty of time to play house later.
Pulling up in the driveway, Evie was unsurprised to see Tony, who was chatting with a young deputy with shocking red hair, his badge pinned proudly to his shirt. That must be Zeke, Evie supposed. He looked to be about twenty, pale and a little jumpy.
She took in the charred remains of the house as she stepped out of her car, and noted that a single fire truck remained, parked behind Tony’s jeep, emblazoned with a Bright’s Ferry Sheriff’s Department logo. Luckily, Deirdre’s red SUV was the only casualty from the night before, a victim of flaming debris, its roof crushed under a hefty chunk of burned wood.
Tony was impassive as he turned to face her.
“You’re not inspiring me with a lot of confidence, Asher. No brownie points for nearly getting yourself killed before your first day.”
“I assessed the situation and did what was necessary to protect a civilian life.”
Tony folded his arms, grim.
“But you’re right. I should have waited for backup,” Evie conceded.
“Yes, you should have. That being said, your quick thinking saved Ms. Small’s life. So why don’t we call this one a draw, and you promise to keep the heroics to a minimum? They always lead to me filling out mountains of paperwork.”
“I’ll try to restrain myself.” Evie grinned, and held out a hand to Zeke, who shook it vigorously.
“Nice to meet you, Miz Asher.”
“Call me Evie.”
“Zeke, why don’t you go follow up with Deirdre, see if she has anything to add to her statement.”
Zeke gulped.
“Yes, sir.”
As he scurried away, Evie shook her head.
“She’s going to eat him alive.”
“The kid’s got to toughen up. Besides, she’s over at Colin’s place. I’m sure he’s got her under control.”
The flare of irritation was unwelcome and disconcerting, and Evie turned to examine the soggy remains of the house.
“Did they figure out what started it?” she asked.
“Didn’t I tell you to take a few days off?”
“I am!” Evie protested, but it was weak.
“Look, things are gonna get really busy around here in a couple of weeks during the Harvest Festival, and I’ll need you at your fighting weight. You don’t have anything to prove.”
The words hung in the air between them. She did have something to prove. She had everything to prove – that she could start over in Bright’s Ferry, that she was a good cop, that she could make up for the mistakes of her past. The longing that flooded her was almost palpable in the morning chill, and Tony must have felt it, because he sighed in resignation.
Evie pressed her advantage.
“Was it the boiler? Bad wiring?”
“Sure, if someone poured gasoline over the fuse box and set the wires on fire.”
He led her around the side of the collapsed structure to indicate a couple of twisted metal gas cans. Evie crouched down to examine them.
“So it’s arson. Too damaged for prints.”
She wiped smudges of carbon on the back of her jeans.
“Does Deirdre have any enemies? Maybe there’s a jealous wife who doesn’t like her toying with her husband?”
Evie was proud of the fact that she managed to keep the snark out of her voice. Tony was shaking his head.
“Deirdre likes a good time, but she keeps her conquests single – married men aren’t her style.”
Shame filled Evie at the reminder that she was a living example of a homewrecker, albeit unintentionally. Don’t judge.
“She’s part-owner of a clothing shop on Main Street, pretty popular with the tourists, though my wife used to say the prices were insane.” Tony cleared his throat and continued, “Maybe a firebug. I’ll check in with the surrounding towns, see if they’ve had any similar incidents.”
Evie nodded, her mind whirling with possibilities.
“Why don’t you talk to her employees, see if they’ve noticed anything unusual, and then stop by the station. I’ll need to get your statement, too. For the record.”
He grinned, and the expression lit up his face – he really was eye-catching. Evie was relieved to feel nothing other than a basic appreciation for an attractive man. No more falling for the boss.
“We’ll have you done in plenty of time for your date.”
“Shit, does everyone know?” Evie groused.
“Like I said, word gets around.”
“It’s not even really a date date. He asked if I wanted to have dinner as a welcome to town sort of thing, and – ”
“Asher, relax. Matt’s a good guy. Go on, have fun.”
“I’ll try.”
DEIRDRE’S SHOP ON MAIN was lovely, Evie had to admit, chock full of pretty, feminine things that made her realize that she spent most of her life in jeans, and actually had nothing to wear for her date tonight.
Not that it was a date. At least, she didn’t think it was a date.
When Matt had asked her, his smile tentative and sweet, she had been inclined to say no, but he was nice and cute, and had just saved her life – one dinner couldn’t hurt. Besides, he was humble, hardworking, and low key – the kind of guy she should be dating. Evie ignored the flash of wicked hazel eyes that popped into her head. From now on, nothing but wholesome, upstanding, ordinary men.
In Deirdre’s shop, Evie questioned Jenny Bright and Susan Gunterson, a sweet long-time couple in their late sixties, and Deirdre’s business partners, who were beside themselves that anyone would try to hurt Deirdre, but couldn’t offer any new information. Yes, she was a bit spoiled, but the general consensus was that Deirdre was harmless.
Jenny was the great-great-granddaughter of Ellis Bright, the founding father, and the couple remembered Gram with great affection. Upon learning that Evie had saved Deirdre’s life, they insisted on helping with her clothing dilemma, waving off her protests about gifts.
“If it bothers you, I’m sure we can find something in your price range,” said Jenny, exchanging a look with Susan.
An hour later, Evie left the store with a short dress in shimmering blue, matching wisps of lingerie, and a pair of heels that all cost suspiciously less than Evie would have thought. She felt a little dazed. Once they got going, the two shop owners were forces of Nature, heaping dress after dress into her arms to try on in a whirlwind of fabric and helpful critique. Evie walked back to her car with advice about makeup and hair ringing in her ears.
By early afternoon, Evie was fading, and with no new findings, Tony sent her home with a strict admonishment to take a nap, already. For once, she had no desire to argue, and a few hours lounging on the couch in front of the fire did wonders.
After a quick shower, Evie took the time to blow her hair dry and apply a hint of makeup to cover the scrapes from last night’s escapade. The whole ritual felt slightly unfamiliar – she’d never really had time for a boyfriend, and her relationship with Jack had been secret out of necessity. He’d spent more time impatiently peeling her out of her uniform than asking her to dress up.
She stood in front of the mirror, anxiously examining herself in the lace-edged silky strapless bra and tiny matching panties. Not that anyone would ever see them, but she had to admit that they were the most beautiful things she’d ever owned, even if they did show off a shocking amount of bare skin. Evie pulled the dress on and adjusted the miniscule straps, carefully draping a shawl around her shoulders to cover her bandaged shoulder. She tugged on the hem down, doubting that she could improve her reputation by flashing her ass at some unsuspecting patron over dinner, and then hurried to answer the knock on the door.
“Wow,” Matt said, and the appreciation in his eyes went a long way toward soothing her nerves. He cleaned up nicely, but still gave off the impression of solid strength as he filled her doorway.
“Am I overdressed? I can change – ”
“You look fantastic. Ready?”
She nodded and let him escort her to his SUV, opening the door for her.
A perfect gentleman, she thought. Maybe the evening would be a success after all.
The optimism lasted until the salad course. The restaurant was lively and crowded, a popular seafood place on the water, and Evie steered the conversation toward Matt, learning about the injuries that ruined his football dream but set him on the path toward life as a firefighter, his woodworking hobby, the charities he supported, and the house he was building himself. No politics, no troublesome relationships – just a nice, good-hearted man who seemed solid as a rock.
If I were smart, I’d fall for him.
As if on cue, the door opened and Colin entered with Deirdre. Evie was unprepared for the shock of reaction that landed in her stomach like a lodestone. She sipped her wine and tried not to notice how Colin’s shoulders filled out his dark blazer, or the way Deirdre clutched his arm, her crimson nails matching the dress that was painted onto her voluptuous curves. Evie sipped her wine and wrenched her focus back to Matt, but he, too, was watching the couple move through the room like royalty. Colin smoothly stopped to shake hands with the locals while Deirdre enthusiastically accepted well-wishes after her near-tragedy.
“Poor Millie,” said Matt.
“Hmmm?”
Matt nodded at a mousy waitress, pretty but unremarkable. She was watching Deirdre with barely-concealed hatred.
“Millicent Grayson. Her husband Bobby died a few months back, and it’s no secret she’s been trying to get Colin to pay her some attention. She and Deirdre really don’t get along. Never have, not even back in high school.”
“Really?” Evie examined the tense young woman with cop eyes, mentally adding her to a sparse list of potential suspects. But Matt was still talking.
“She’s probably all bent out of shape because Deirdre’s staying at Colin’s until she finds another place.”
“I can see why that might irk a woman who wants to romance the mayor.” Evie squelched the uncomfortable prickle of jealousy that toyed with her insides.
<
br /> Matt laughed.
“That’s got to be most of the women in town. Half of them want to be First Lady of Bright’s Ferry, the other half want his money.”
“What money?”
“Didn’t you know? Colin’s rolling in it. He’s like, some computer genius, made a bundle off a patent for a chip of some sort.”
“Then what’s he doing here?” Evie was baffled.
Matt shrugged and attacked his salad.
“Guess he wanted to come home.”
Evie watched Colin help Deirdre into her chair, and saw her take the opportunity to trace a surreptitious finger up one muscled thigh as he moved away. Suddenly, she needed a little air.
“Do you mind? I’ll be right back.” She smiled at Matt, who stood as she did.
“Not at all. Take your time.”
As she stood, Colin looked up, and their eyes met across the room. Evie felt nothing but heat as his shocked gaze slid downward, taking in her dress and every inch of bared skin. Feeling naked, she hurried blindly toward the hallway.
COLIN HAD NO IDEA what Deidre had been saying for the last three minutes, since all the blood in his brain had surged to his cock at the first sight of Evie in a silky, blue excuse for a dress that zapped his ability to focus on anything else. Mile-long legs, fabric that cupped her breasts and whispered down over her hips, held up by tiny blue straps that would be no match for his teeth. The silky ribbons of her hair teased the creamy perfection of her skin.
She’d dressed up for Matt, he realized, the thought a surprising irritation. He tried to block it out, but as Deirdre chattered away, already focused on new plans for her damaged property, Colin was bombarded with upsetting images – the big firefighter escorting Evie to the doorway of her grandmother’s cabin, winding her glorious dark hair around his fist while he took her mouth, tracing the curves of her breasts as he pulled her dress down, and worst of all, Evie’s gray eyes darkening with lust as she pulled him inside, her nimble fingers eagerly working on his buttons. Fuck.
The room suddenly felt very hot.
“You don’t look so good, sweetie,” Deirdre suddenly noticed, arching one perfect eyebrow, “Want some water?”