Fire & Ice

by Jerri Drennen

  His confession floored Knox. Why would the guy do such a thing, especially when Melanie hadn’t been arrested for the fire? It didn’t make sense.

  “Why? Who are you?”

  The man looked to Melanie as if to ask permission to answer.

  She just nodded.

  Knox looked forward to hearing what the man had to say.

  “Melanie hired me to help her find the arsonist.”

  “Hired?”

  Knox eyes narrowed on Melanie.

  “I’m a P.I,” the man said.

  “Really? And how do you know Ms. Sharp?”

  He seemed to contemplate Knox’s question. At last he said, “Let’s just say, we both attended a wedding that didn’t come off with a hitch.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Melanie's heart skipped a beat when she saw Knox standing across from her in the backyard of the Grainger’s burned-out home.

  Talk about bad luck. Every time she came snooping around he showed up. She just hoped he wouldn't do what he’d threatened the last time, have them arrested. That was all she needed. Who'd come bail her out? Kay? Her friend would find out she’d called Paul and probably never speak to her again.

  She held her breath and watched the men size each other up, saw Knox's eyes become deep emerald. He was angry about something. If it was because they were trespassing, wouldn’t he have gotten angry sooner? What triggered this newfound ire?

  Melanie jumped when her cell phone began its usual Karen Carpenter tune. She reached inside her purse, retrieved her phone, and flipped it open. “Hello,” she said, her eyes glued to Knox’s. “Oh, hi, Kevin. What’s up?” What he said next made her heart stop. “When?” Melanie’s legs barely held her up.

  Another fire. Why was this happening to her? Was this the fire Knox was called away to fight? In the very warehouse that she kept her ice and sculpting tools. Did he think she started it as well?

  “I’m so sorry, Kevin. Were you insured?” Melanie released a strangled breath when he assured her he was covered. “Okay. Thanks for calling.”

  She snapped the phone closed, threw it into her bag and glanced warily at Knox. He still watched her—his gaze intense.

  “What happened?” Paul’s question drew Melanie’s attention away from Knox.

  “Kevin McNeil’s warehouse burned to the ground three night’s ago. All my ice and tools are gone.”

  “That is the warehouse where you do your sculptures?” Knox asked, his question and shocked expression revealing to Melanie that he hadn’t known of her connection to the place.

  She folded her arms across her chest, unable to keep accusation from her tone. “Yes. Are you going to link me to that fire, too?”

  Knox’s eyes softened. “Of course not. You were with me when the blaze started.”

  Melanie glanced at Paul, who grinned, his blue eyes gleaming. Did he assume she and Knox had been in a compromising situation when Knox was called away?

  “Look, Knox. I didn’t start any fire. I don’t know who did. Someone is trying to set me up.”

  “What about the fire you set when you were a minor?”

  Melanie was surprised, though not entirely shocked by his question. It was time to come clean about the facts, tell him how she’d taken the rap to protect a man who hadn’t even had the decency to come to his estranged wife’s funeral. Her mother had loved the man and he hadn’t cared enough to show up to say goodbye to her.

  “I didn’t set that fire. My mother begged me to say I did to protect the man she’d married. I did it for her.”

  “So is this guy still around? Does he hold a grudge against you?”

  She shook her head. “Not that I know of. Why would he? The statute of limitations on the crime was up years ago.”

  “How about someone else? Is there anyone who’d gain by sending you to jail?”

  “Maybe not gain. Dean Grainger is angry that I refused to see him anymore.”

  “Would he go this far?” Knox asked. “I mean…burning down his own house is pretty gutsy.”

  “I’m not sure, though he did tell me he was leaving his wife. He refused to understand why I didn’t want to see him even if he did.”

  “That’s why we’re here,” Paul interjected. “We were trying to find some kind of evidence. Anything to exonerate Mel from the fire.”

  “And what’s in it for you?” Knox asked, eyeing Paul.

  “Melanie’s a close friend. I don’t want to see her caught up in something she had nothing to do with.”

  Knox’s eyes narrowed and Melanie saw a storm brewing inside him. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was jealous of Paul. But why? It’s not like she meant anything to him—not when he had the voluptuous blonde to turn to. She knew better than to think he’d want her over someone so beautiful—so built. As far as Melanie could see, she didn’t have a snowball’s chance against the woman. So why the look of contempt? Why seem angry with a man who was only trying to help her? The whole thing made little sense. But what had since she’d met Knox Manning? He’d turned her life upside-down and sideways. Especially since their encounter in his truck. Her body still trembled from the experience.

  “I don’t know what could be found to help,” Knox said. “We’ve been over this place inch by inch. All we found was Melanie’s flier.”

  “Don’t you think that awful convenient?” Paul asked, rubbing at the square of his chin. “Everything else had been turned to ash. I think it’s strange that you were able to find this flier with her name still visible. I’d bet money the thing was planted there for you to find.”

  “I’ve thought of that, and with this new fire at the warehouse, it seems to fit your theory. Someone is trying to set Melanie up. Now we have to figure out why. Maybe then we’ll learn who.”

  “So what’s next?” Melanie asked, looking from Paul to Knox.

  “We wait. Hope we find some evidence at the warehouse,” Knox said. “In the mean time, stay the hell away from Grainger. If he's angry enough to try and frame you, he might be crazy enough to go further—maybe hurt you.”

  Melanie’s stomach clenched painfully. Would Dean really do something like that? Would he be that angry or obsessed as to do physical harm to her?

  “I’ll stay with you, Mel,” Paul insisted. “I don’t think you should be alone.”

  Knox flinched at Paul’s offer. Was he jealous? Did he have feelings for her?

  * * *

  His fists clenched. The idea of this guy staying with Melanie made his blood boil. Yet no way could he offer to stay with her—not now. Not with Sandra pregnant and expecting him to meet her in… He glanced at his watch. Ten minutes. “I have to run. I have a-ah… I have to go.”

  Melanie frowned. She knew something was up.

  “Don’t try and enter the house,” Knox said to Paul. “It’s too dangerous. I’ll be back tomorrow morning to get another sample of the accelerant used in the fire. You can look around some then. Though I can almost guarantee you won’t find anything.”

  Paul extended his hand to Knox. “Thanks, we appreciate that.”

  Knox shook it, studying the man closely. Was he interested in Melanie? Was Melanie interested in this guy? Just the thought had Knox on edge. He definitely had feelings for her. Hell if he could do anything about them. Not now. Maybe never. It looked like he might have to push his own emotions and needs aside and marry Sandra.

  A chill raced through him at the thought.

  He shook his head. How could he possibly do that when the idea of Sandra as his wife made his blood run cold? She was not the woman he wanted to marry. Melanie was.

  Shit. How did you let this happen? You finally fall for someone and you can’t have her.

  “I have to go. See you in the morning.”

  He turned and stalked to his truck. The last thing he wanted to do was spend the next few hours with Sandra Gallan, yet he had no choice. They had decisions to make, and the sooner they made them, the better. He was obligated for at le
ast half the responsibility of their child, something he found impossible to push aside.

  Once in his truck and on his way to Sandra’s apartment, his thoughts again drifted to Melanie and this PI she’d been so friendly with. Was there more to that relationship than they let on? Could he be just another man to warm her thighs when she felt the need?

  Now that he thought about it, she did have a list of men at her beck and call. There was Dean, the art gallery owner, now this private dick, and this was just in the short time he’d known her. Best to stay away. She clearly didn’t want to build a future with one man. Like Sandra, Melanie was not marriage material.

  For his own sanity he had to get his head out of his crotch and move on before she had him all tied up in knots—tangles that would get harder to work through the longer he stayed in her life.

  * * *

  Melanie raced for the ringing phone and plucked it off its cradle. “Hello,” she said breathlessly.

  “Mel, where have you been?” Kay’s voice vibrated with concern. “I’ve been trying to call you for hours.”

  “Melanie, where do you want the groceries?” Paul asked, placing two brown–paper bags down onto the island. “Oh, sorry. Didn’t know you were on the phone.”

  “Who was that? You won’t believe this, but it almost sounds like Paul.” Kay laughed and Melanie knew she was in trouble. Should she lie and say it was the cable guy or tell her best friend the truth?

  “Actually, you’re right, Kay. Paul's here. I’ve asked him to help me find some evidence to exonerate me from the fire. He agreed.”

  “Really?” Even if she wanted to, Melanie couldn’t mistake the strain in Kay’s voice. She was none too happy about this turn of events. “So when were you going to tell me this? Or were you?”

  “Of course. I just called him. All we’ve done is go out to the Graingers and look around.”

  “So why is he there now?” she asked. The undertone to Kay’s voice alerted Melanie to her anger more than the question. Kay didn’t like Paul being in her house. That was more clear-cut than a piece of fine crystal. Wait until she told her Paul would be staying the night. She was going to have a cow—or throw one at her. Melanie would expect no less.

  “Kevin’s warehouse burned down. I’m afraid Dean might have done it. I’m concerned he may try something. Paul offered to stay and make sure I was safe.” Please understand.

  “Is that right? So you and he are going to be alone? Is that what you’re saying?”

  This wasn’t good. Kay didn’t like the situation at all. But what did she want Melanie to do? Asking Kay to join them was out of the question. Paul wouldn’t have it. He was still too angry with her.

  The thought had Melanie glancing his way. He leaned against the counter, his expression guarded.

  God, what a mess. What was she going to do? Should she tell Paul to leave?

  If she did she wouldn’t get a wink of sleep.

  Better yet, she should tell Kay to get over herself and hang up. Either option had her paying in some way. As usual. Why was she always the one to compromise? Heck, Kay had broken up with Paul, not the other way around. Her friend had no right to be angry with Melanie because she’d asked for his help.

  “Look, Kay. I need to put some groceries away. I’ll call you later.”

  “Fine,” Kay said. The phone went dead. My, that went well. Melanie would be lucky if the woman ever spoke to her again.

  “I take it she wasn’t happy to hear I was staying,” Paul said, a muscle twitching in his jaw. From the simple action, Melanie could tell he was still in love with Kay. So maybe there was hope. Maybe there was a way to get them back together. She just had to think how to do that without making them both angry with her.

  Melanie smiled at Paul. “No, she wasn’t. You know Kay.”

  “Yeah, unfortunately,” Paul shot back.

  Ouch. Now that didn’t sound like love. Of course, what had she expected him to say? The man had a wounded heart. It’d take some convincing for him to come around about Kay.

  Time to change the subject. “As I recall I promised you a steak. I’ll go start the grill.” Melanie headed for the door.

  “I’ll do it, Mel. I need to check the outside of the house anyway. I want to make sure all the windows are secure.”

  “You don’t think Dean would actually try something, do you?”

  “We can’t take anything for granted. Never try to guess what a crazy person will do. Don’t worry though. I’ll be here if he does try anything.”

  Paul exited through the back and Melanie sank into a chair. Could Dean have set the warehouse fire? He had known where it was and he had been angry with her the night he’d met her there. But was he capable of something so calculated? Definitely the ten million dollar question. If he was, could it lead to him coming after her? Tremors of dread raced down her spine at the thought.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Knox sat in his truck outside Melanie's house and watched the shadowed figures through the window. Would his actions be considered peeping? In a way, probably. Though he wasn't trying to get a flash of Melanie naked. He just wanted to make sure Paul Nadar wasn't.

  After he’d left Melanie at the Graingers, he’d met with Sandra. Their meeting at her apartment hadn’t garnered anything but tears from her. She wanted him to make a commitment. Put a ring on her finger. Knox needed more time to think. Jumping into marriage wasn't necessarily the only alterative to their dilemma. Not if turmoil ensued. What would that do to a child? He knew that wasn’t healthy, had seen how it affected his nephew, causing the boy to be withdrawn. Knox was grateful his sister got out before Cody became aggressive like his father.

  A movement outside one of Melanie’s side windows drew Knox’s attention and had his heart pounding.

  He watched intently, trying to make out the form. It was too dark to see anything clearly, yet he made out the outline of a person moving toward the back.

  Knox popped open his door and stole up the driveway to where the figure had disappeared. With calm reserve, he made his way to the rear of the home, running names and faces through his mind as to who the prowler could be.

  Once he’d reached the back, he stopped to listen.

  Slowly, he stuck his head around the corner and skimmed the yard for the shadow. He spotted the darkened figure next to a window. Was this an intruder? Was someone waiting for the lights to go out in order to break in?

  Adrenaline surged through his body as he edged his way around the building, inching closer to the outline. One step. And another, and another until he was directly beside the figure. The guy was at least a foot shorter than Knox, which helped build up his courage to lunge.

  With the element of surprise on his side, he tackled the prowler to the ground. A piercing scream broke through the dead silence.

  Beneath him, a soft, pliant body bucked, trying to break free. Seconds later an eye blinding light came on from somewhere above and lit the backyard. A door opened and closed. Knox tightened his grip on the prowler and looked up.

  “Freeze,” an angry, male voice said from the shadows of the house. The click of a weapon being primed to fire had the hairs on Knox’s neck standing erect. He was caught dead to rights. If he moved, he’d get his ass shot off.

  “Is it Dean?” Melanie asked, coming up behind Paul, who had moved close enough for Knox to make him out.

  “I don’t know. Roll over and show yourself.”

  When Knox didn’t move, he kicked Knox’s side and repeated the order. “Now,” Paul added.

  Knox was trapped. His good intentions of protecting Melanie now looked as if he were spying on her instead. Shit! What would she think of him?

  The body beneath him squirmed and he knew at that moment it was a woman. Her soft breasts were undeniable.

  Taking in a breath, Knox wheeled himself off the female and sat up.

  Melanie gasped when she recognized him. She took another smaller intake of breath when she saw the body that had be
en underneath him.

  Knox glanced at the woman, shocked to see it was Kay.

  “What the hell,” Paul said, his eyes on Melanie’s friend. “What are you two doing?”

  Knox thought it best to stay quiet. Let Kay make her confessions first. His explanation was not going to come easy. After all, what could he say about why he was here? I was driving by and saw a suspicious character prowling around. Yeah, like anyone would believe such a tale. Only a fool would believe that.

  In a shaky voice, Kay said, “I—ah. I wanted to see what was going on. I came around the back and was attacked by him.” She pointed an accusing finger at Knox and scowled.

  “I thought you were a prowler,” Knox shot back in his defense, returning her glare.

  “Why were you here to begin with?” Paul asked Knox, a glint of accusation in his eyes.

  “I came by to check on Melanie.” Hopefully Melanie would believe him—after all, it was the truth. Well, sort of. He’d wanted to see her, make sure Paul wasn’t doing any under-the-covers work. Not that Knox had a right to dictate who she slept with, though he sure as hell wouldn’t let it happen under his nose. Melanie was a passionate woman. He’d witnessed that firsthand and knew she wouldn’t deny herself if she wanted the guy.

  “Why?” Melanie asked, her blue gaze narrowing. “Why would you care if I’m okay or not? It’s not like you don’t have another woman to go to.”

  Knox was taken aback by her statement. What did she mean?

  Her light-blue eyes deepened to midnight. “Don’t deny it. I saw the blonde—and the kiss you gave her at the firehouse.”

  Knox searched his memory. Sandra. Melanie had been there. Had seen him with her. No wonder she didn’t call. She thought she was just another conquest. He wanted to kick himself when he saw the hurt in her eyes. If he told her about the baby—about the possibility of his getting married because of it, she’d be lost to him forever. He couldn’t confess to that right now, especially with an audience.

  “Well,” Melanie reminded. “Aren’t you at least going to try and deny it? Isn’t that what all men do when they’re caught with their pants down?”