Brink of Danger

by Christy Barritt

  “And?”

  His throat squeezed. “And I chose to send my guys in.”

  Ansley shifted beside him, looking up at him with wide eyes. “What happened?”

  “They were able to rescue twelve people.”

  “That’s fantastic.”

  “But two of my guys were seriously injured, and one of them eventually died.”

  Ansley squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry, Ryan. I know the sacrifice was great—as was the burden—but firefighters . . . you know that’s what you’re signing up for, right? I mean, Luke . . . he puts himself in danger on his job all the time. It probably doesn’t make it any easier but . . .”

  “These two . . . they wanted to go up one more floor and check for survivors. I should have told them no. I should have told them to get out right then. But I didn’t.” His voice cracked. “It’s something I’ll always regret.”

  “That’s why you moved here? And why you broke up with your girlfriend?”

  He nodded stiffly. “Every time I looked into the faces of my guys, I felt a surge of guilt and regret and grief. I knew I couldn’t stay there, not if I wanted to truly heal. I didn’t want all those emotions to compromise my decisions. I knew after that risks and thrills weren’t something to take lightly. I actually started reading thrillers to get my thrills.”

  “You’re a reader?”

  “I am. Hard to believe, huh? The guy who used to go mountain biking every chance he got now sits in his chair with a good book.”

  “I think that’s charming.” Her smile slipped. “Thank you for sharing.”

  “Thank you for listening.” Ryan hadn’t intended on sharing that. But he felt like a burden had been lifted. Now Ansley knew the truth, knew about the ugly parts of him.

  Would that change the way she looked at him? He didn’t know.

  For now, her head rested against his chest.

  He would enjoy the moment, he decided. Because sometimes broken people could come together and be made whole. Was that a risk he was willing to take? For the first time in a long time, he thought the answer might be yes.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Ansley’s thoughts twirled. There was more to Ryan Philips than she realized. So much more.

  If she’d been attracted to him before, now that desire felt burning hot.

  She shifted away from him, instantly missing his body heat. But Ansley wanted to see his eyes.

  His signals were mixed. She’d had enough experience with men to know when one was attracted to her. But Ryan remained somewhat of a mystery. He was guarded, like he was holding something back also. Yet she couldn’t deny the attraction that shone from his eyes.

  As their gazes met, Ansley felt the tension crackling between them.

  She was tired of beating around the bush or ignoring the elephant in the room.

  “You remember that time under the bleachers when I was in high school?” Ansley asked, her throat tightening at the memory.

  Ryan’s expression didn’t change. He didn’t laugh or pull away in revulsion. “I do.”

  “I’m sorry if I threw myself at you.” Ansley’s cheeks warmed. It wasn’t often that those words left her lips.

  “It’s . . . okay.”

  So he hadn’t forgotten about it. Ansley wasn’t sure if that comforted her or not. But it was time to get things out in the open.

  “Why did you reject me?” Her gaze latched onto his, desperate to see the truth. “You weren’t attracted to me?”

  He let out a rolling chuckle. Was it because he mocked her? Or because the idea was absurd? She wasn’t sure.

  “Oh, no.” Ryan shook his head. “I was definitely attracted to you.”

  A flush of delight filled her, but she still had more questions before she felt comfortable even exploring the idea of moving forward. “Then why?”

  Ryan softly ran a finger along the edge of her face, his gaze skimming her shoulder, her hair, her lips. “Because . . . you were too young. Too vulnerable. It wouldn’t have been right.”

  “Too vulnerable?” That was a first.

  “You’d obviously been drinking. I would have been taking advantage of that fact if I kissed you then. You weren’t in your right mind.”

  “I see.” He had honorable motivations. That trait was hard to find.

  Ryan leaned closer, his face only inches from hers. “If I kissed you, I wanted it to be when you were thinking clearly and when we’d both remember it.”

  Her throat went dry at his nearness, at his touch, at the low rumble of his voice.

  Was there anything about this man she didn’t like?

  Ansley licked her lips. “Is that right?”

  “Yes, but don’t think I haven’t thought about it since then. It was very, very tempting.”

  Ansley reached for Ryan. Skimmed her fingers across his neck. His jaw. The edge of his hair.

  He didn’t object.

  All she wanted was to explore more. To drink in more of Ryan’s scent. To feel more of the stubble that would no doubt be gone by tomorrow morning.

  He was one alluring package, and he always had been.

  Ryan’s hand reached behind her neck and pulled her closer. Their lips met. Not softly. Not hesitantly. No, Ryan’s kiss consumed her—physically, mentally, maybe even emotionally. Stirrings churned inside Ansley—stirrings she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  Before the kiss went too far, a noise cut through the air.

  It was another vehicle.

  Was it the killer? Had he come back?

  Or was help finally here?

  Ryan felt a mix of exceeding happiness and unending worry as his lips met Ansley’s.

  The combination was enough to make him feel off balance.

  But, as he listened to the tires on the gravel outside, everything but his tension faded.

  He stood, pulling Ansley up beside him. Moving quickly, they stood against the wall and out of sight.

  He glanced back. There was a fire poker behind him.

  If only he could reach it . . . but he couldn’t risk being seen right now.

  Ansley let out a gasp in front of him. He was pressed into her. Had he hurt her?

  He studied her gaze a moment. There wasn’t pain there. It was fear.

  He would continue to shield her for as long as he could.

  The tires stopped, and swirling red and blue lights floated in through the windows.

  Ryan’s shoulders softened. This wasn’t the killer. Law enforcement was here.

  “Stay here,” he murmured to Ansley, staring into her eyes again.

  Part of him wanted nothing more than to reach down and kiss her again. But this wasn’t the time.

  For once, she didn’t argue.

  Ryan stepped from his place against the wall and shoved the curtain aside. Luke stood at the door, gun in hand, with his other hand poised to knock.

  Ryan pulled the door open and watched as Luke’s expression tightened with confusion.

  “Ryan?” Luke looked beyond him. “Ansley?”

  “I guess you’re not here to rescue us,” Ansley said, her thumb pressed over her lips and a pensive expression on her face.

  “Rescue you?” Luke shook his head. “I’m here because someone reported seeing an explosion. What’s going on?”

  “My SUV . . .” Ryan said. “Someone tampered with the brakes.”

  Ansley sucked in a breath. Hearing it out loud was probably jarring. But it was the only explanation that made sense.

  “You mean . . .” Luke ran a hand over his face. “Are you saying that the same person responsible for all the other crimes in the area also tampered with your brakes?”

  “That’s my best guess.”

  Luke let out a long sigh and closed his eyes, as if in disbelief. “What’s going on here?”

  “I’d like to know the same thing.”

  “I need to get some guys out here to investigate the crash site. I want you both to tell me everything that happened.”


  Ryan nodded. He’d do more than tell him. This was personal now. He needed to figure out what was going on.

  One of Luke’s deputies had dropped Ryan and Ansley back at the fire station, where Ryan picked up another fire department SUV. Afterward, Ryan took Ansley home, reluctantly leaving her after checking out the apartment. They’d just spent the past three hours at the scene going over everything with Luke.

  Whoever was behind this hadn’t left any evidence. Their identity remained a mystery.

  He headed to the sheriff’s office, which was quiet and dark. But light still shone in Luke’s office. Ryan knocked at his door, needing to discuss one more thing with him.

  Luke glanced up from some paperwork. “Ryan, the man who never sleeps.”

  Ryan let out a tired laugh and ran a hand over his face. He felt like he hadn’t slept in a month. “I guess I could say the same for you.”

  “What a day, huh?” Luke leaned back in his chair, paperwork seemingly forgotten.

  “What a week.” Ryan leaned against the door frame. He wouldn’t stay long enough to sit, even if he wanted to. If he stayed still, he’d only grow more exhausted. “Did you hear about the forest fire?”

  Luke nodded, a frown pulling at the corners of his lips. “I did. It’s spreading.”

  “I heard from the county that there could be evacuation orders here in Fog Lake tomorrow if they don’t get it under control.”

  “I know. I’ve never seen anything like it in this area.” Luke observed Ryan a moment, his eyes narrowed in thought. “I’m actually glad you’re here. If you don’t mind me asking, what’s going on between you and my sister?”

  Ryan pulled himself up straight. This conversation didn’t come as a shock. In fact, he was surprised it hadn’t happened sooner.

  “I like Ansley,” Ryan said. “I didn’t want to. I didn’t have any intentions of falling for her. But I feel like life has thrown us together over the past few days, and we’ve both realized we’re good together.”

  “And your intentions?” Luke shifted. “I mean, I think you’re a stand-up guy. But Ansley has been through a lot. She’s made a lot of changes in her life recently. I don’t want to see her derailed.”

  “I have no intention of derailing her.”

  “Good. I’m glad to hear that. And I’ll hold you to it.”

  “I’d expect nothing less.”

  Luke straightened in his chair. “Now that that’s taken care of, I guess we should talk about everything that’s been happening in this town.”

  Ryan lowered himself in the seat across from Luke. “Yes, let’s. Have you looked into these wooden gnomes yet?”

  “I’ve asked around. No one recognizes them.”

  “What’s their tie to this case? Do you think someone sees them as a talisman or something? Does it go back to that mountain magic?”

  “It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen before. Whoever this guy is, he’s good. We really have no clear leads.”

  Ryan frowned. “That’s what makes it even scarier.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  That wasn’t supposed to happen.

  Ansley wasn’t supposed to be with Ryan. Why were they together?

  Things could have gone terribly wrong, and my whole plan could have been ruined.

  Kind of like when I carved my initials on my bed as a child. I’d been so proud.

  My dad had been mad.

  He’d pulled out the switch again. I still had marks on my back where no one could see them.

  How could trees bring so much life and so much pain?

  That’s how things worked sometimes.

  Ansley can’t die. She can’t be caught in the crossfire.

  I pace.

  Yes, I’d gone back to the scene. I wanted to see for myself that he was dead. I figured there was no way Ryan Philips would survive.

  I’d planned the brakes just perfect. Like everything else in my life, I took baby steps. It would be too obvious if I cut Ryan’s brake line all the way through. So I cut them enough that they would go out gradually. And, yes, I’d realized the SUV was dual circuit. I covered all my bases.

  Except . . .

  I’d had no idea Ansley would be with him. I thought she had dinner plans. Didn’t she usually eat at home?

  I pause on the sidewalk. No one sees me tonight. Well, they do. They walk past. Call out hello.

  I smile back but don’t engage. I have too much on my mind.

  Right now, I need to be myself. I need to work out any kinks in my plan.

  As I sniff, I’m reminded of the fire. It’s close. Closing in.

  And my lips curl.

  I have a new idea. A nearly foolproof plan. I’ll need to wait—just a little. See what the fire does. See if it works in my favor. I have a feeling it will.

  But I know about fires. I know a lot about everything.

  And I have a feeling things will get better before they get worse.

  I start planning.

  But I have one other person I need to take care of first. One more person to get out of the way.

  And I can’t wait to see how it goes.

  This is all for you, Ansley. All for you.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Ansley stepped outside the next morning, still smiling when she thought about her kiss with Ryan. It had been . . . one for the books. Her lips still tingled as she thought about it.

  Right or wrong, she’d kissed her fair share of guys—and none of them began to compare to kissing Ryan Philips.

  Maybe it was because she’d been dreaming about it for so long. Or maybe it was because Ryan was so incredibly handsome with the soul of a warrior and the heart of a good Samaritan.

  Her foot hit something on the stoop.

  She leaned down and picked up a . . . rock.

  A river rock. One with smooth edges where all the jagged ones used to be.

  A smile lit up her face.

  Ryan. He must have left this here.

  She turned it over and saw a message written in ink. “Just a reminder.”

  She smiled wider and rubbed the stone in her hands. It was perfect.

  As she heard a footstep around the corner, she stiffened, halfway expecting trouble.

  Instead, Luke appeared. Based on the grim look on his face, something was wrong.

  “Ansley, it’s Mom.”

  She froze. “What about her?”

  “There was a carbon monoxide leak in her house.”

  Her mind raced, but the only words that left her lips were, “Is she okay?”

  Luke shrugged so quickly it was nearly a twitch. “She’s alive . . . and in the hospital. I just left the scene.”

  “And Tommy?” Did she really care? No. But Ansley was processing. Gathering information. Trying to figure out how she felt.

  “He’s also being treated. I’m going to head there now to check on them.” Luke nodded toward his truck. “I thought you might want to come along.”

  Ansley didn’t have to think about it. “No, I’m fine.”

  “Ansley . . .” Disappointment stained his voice.

  She raised a hand. “She stopped being my mom when she left our family. Maybe that makes me the bad person here. I don’t know. But I don’t want anything to do with her, Luke.”

  Luke stared at her another moment, as if mentally trying to make her change her mind, before finally nodding. “I understand. It’s going to be a busy day, Ansley. You need to get a phone in case I need to be in touch. The fire is spreading.”

  “It is?”

  He nodded. “It doesn’t look good. Get that phone.”

  “I will.”

  He started to take a step away when Ansley called to him. Luke paused and glanced back at her.

  “It’s me.” Ansley’s voice cracked under an invisible weight. “Someone is targeting people who have something against me or who’ve hurt me in some way.”

  Luke pulled in a quick breath before pressing his lips together. “Including Mom.
”

  Ansley nodded, unwanted guilt pummeling her. “Yeah, including the woman who gave birth to me.”

  Ansley stared after Luke as he left, her mind racing. If something had happened to her mom would Ansley have regrets? She thought she knew the answer, but she wasn’t ready to confirm that yet. She wasn’t ready to let go of their history.

  But should she? What was the right answer?

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” someone said beside her.

  Ansley looked over and saw Kit standing on the sidewalk, holding a cup of coffee in her hand. Had she closed the store today?

  She was going to ask, but Kit’s expression made it clear her roommate was waiting for a response to her ghost comment.

  Ansley shrugged. “It’s . . . a long story.”

  Kit frowned and tugged at the orange knit hat she wore. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  Ansley sat down on the steps harder than she intended. “My mother is in the hospital.”

  Kit lowered herself beside her. “Oh, no. What happened?”

  Ansley repeated the information Luke had given her.

  “You really think someone is targeting anyone who’s close to you? Does that mean that I . . . that I could be in danger?” Kit’s skin looked a little paler.

  “Only if you upset me.” The words were tinged with something that sounded like amusement, though that wasn’t Ansley’s intention.

  “What do you mean?” Kit tilted her head.

  “I mean, everyone who’s been targeted has been someone I’ve had some kind of beef with at some point.”

  “So, someone is trying to watch out for you in a twisted kind of way?” Kit’s voice sounded airy with disbelief.

  Ansley shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “So maybe it’s someone who likes you?”

  “That makes the most sense, I suppose. But I don’t know who that would be. I haven’t dated in a year.”