by Vanessa Vale
I looked to him, the seriousness in his eyes, the way he looked at me, as if I mattered. As if I was his. He belonged on the cover of a firefighter calendar. And that five o’clock shadow that was way past five o’clock. He was that handsome. He didn’t even know it. Or care. “No, because when you’re done with me, I’ll be worse off than I am now. My mom—”
“You’re not your mom. Whatever fucked up shit your mom’s done to your head, you aren’t reliant on me. Beholden.”
“You’re rich. I don’t want your money, Sawyer. I wish you didn’t have it because then I wouldn’t have to worry that if things fall apart, I won’t be able to stand on my own two feet.”
“When I’m done with you? When things fall apart? I don’t like that you’re planning the end of our relationship.”
“Relationship? I’ve known you less than two days.”
“Yes, relationship,” he repeated. “This is it for me. You’re it for me. If it takes telling you every day for a long, long time to prove it, I will. Maybe I can fuck you into believing me because the only time you’re not fighting me is when my dick’s in you.”
I sniffed then smiled because it was actually true. “I… I think you’re right.”
The corner of his mouth turned up, and I felt his muscles relax. “About which part?”
He lowered his head, so he was blurry, but his lips hovered right above mine.
“Definitely about your dick being in me, but maybe… all of it?”
After I admitted that, he kissed me. Not gently. Fierce, as if he had to get all his feelings out all at once. His hands went to my hips to turn me, so I straddled his waist. He broke the kiss long enough to tug the t-shirt over my head. “You wear a guy’s shirt, you wear mine. No police t-shirts for my woman,” he said, staring at my nipples which were hard and very visible through my tank top.
Huck cleared his throat, and I startled, whipping my head toward him standing outside the cell. I pulled the crumpled t-shirt in front of my chest although he and half the town had had more than an eyeful at the fire.
“You two can have make up sex later and preferably not in my jail cell. The fire damage was mostly to the front of the building. Graham and Irene got your things and brought your car over.”
I hadn’t even thought of that, which meant Irene must have told him I’d been staying there. “Thank you.”
Huck gave a small nod then looked to Sawyer. “It’s my turn to talk with her.”
“Now?” Sawyer asked, his fingers tightening on my hips in what felt like a possessive gesture.
“You were there when the guy started the fire.” His face was serious as he set his hands on his hips as his pale gaze was focused squarely on me. He had the same intensity as Sawyer, the same HeMan save-the-world vibe.
“Yes.”
“Did you see the guy start it?”
“Yes,” I repeated. “He tossed something through the front window. It woke me up. The main room was on fire. I peeked out the front, saw him with a can and pouring the contents on the building. Gas, I guess. He tossed a match, and it caught right away, then he took off. Drove away.”
“Fuck,” Sawyer breathed, and he ran a hand down my spine.
“I went out the back then called 9-1-1.”
Sawyer sucked in a breath, took hold of my chin, so I had to look him in the eye. “You saw him clearly?”
Gone was the sweet and sexy guy. In his place was the protective, bossy replacement.
I shrugged. “I saw him, but never saw his face. Dark pants, hoodie. I can’t identify him.”
“What about the car?” Huck asked.
I replied right away with what I remembered. “White or silver. Older model. Four door. The back quarter panel was a different color as if it had been replaced.”
“She’s staying with me,” Sawyer said. He lifted me off his lap then stood. “This is a small town. Word’s going to spread this was arson. Everyone will know before their first cup of coffee.”
This time, when he tugged me down the hall, I didn’t protest.
10
SAWYER
After our little come-to-Jesus chat, I’d followed her back to the ranch. She hadn’t argued, maybe because it was after two in the morning by the time we’d showered off the fire and settled in my bed. I hadn’t done more than pull her into my arms before she fell asleep. I’d kissed her head and reveled in the feel of her in my house, in my bed before I passed out too.
Huck had woken us early. Too fucking early. Told us to come to the station. That they’d found the guy who’d set the fire. I’d wanted to spend the morning with Kelsey. In my bed. Naked. But I wanted this fire mess behind us. I wanted to ensure Kelsey wasn’t in any danger.
She’d grabbed clean clothes from the trunk of her car, and I’d driven us into town.
As she wrote out her statement about the fire, I grabbed coffees at the cafe down the block. What she’d shared the night before still stuck with me. She had serious hang-ups about relationships and men. I’d told her she was mine, and I’d get her to come around. Words didn’t seem to work with her. Action would. Patience, too. It had truly been two days. I needed to let things just happen. Enjoy the ride. But a fucking fire made for a bumpy road. And the fact that she’d been living in the preschool with only Irene in the know.
“Can you think of anything else at all?” Huck asked as I came in, setting her paper on top of a small pile he had going.
I set the cardboard carrier on Huck’s desk and passed the cups around. Dropped into the empty seat.
Kelsey shook her head. While she looked beautiful to me, she looked exhausted. A few hours of sleep wasn’t enough since she had dark circles under her eyes.
She’d been in a fire. Fuck me, that made my blood chill because I’d seen what happened to people who didn’t get out in time. It made me want to pull her onto my lap and never let her up.
She took a tentative sip of her coffee.
Huck leaned back in his chair, sighed. I had no idea if he’d even gone back to the ranch for a few hours of shuteye. He interlaced his fingers behind his neck, elbows sticking out. “You haven’t seen anyone around the preschool during the past week? Checking it out?”
We sat in the two utilitarian chairs across from him. His office was vintage eighties, the fake leather the color of pumpkins. The carpet matched although worn.
“No. We’re careful about that because of the kids.”
“Off hours?” he asked, dropping his arms and leaning forward. He took the lid off his to-go cup and tossed it in the trash. He meant when she’d been staying there.
She shrugged. “No although I haven’t paid attention.”
Huck wiped his hand down his face.
“You said you found the guy,” I said, eyeing my brother.
He nodded. “We had a call around four. Rollover out on the county road. White four-door sedan. Back quarter panel had been replaced, just like you said.”
The fire department would have been called out, but I hadn’t been on duty. I was sure there was a report at the station, and I could get a rundown from those who responded.
Kelsey sat upright. “Is the driver okay?”
A nerve ticked in Huck’s jaw. “He was ejected. No seatbelt. DOA. Alcohol was involved. Besides stinking of liquor, the dead guy reeked of gasoline. Plus there was a gas can inside.”
“You think it was the arsonist?” I asked although the answer was pretty obvious.
Huck glanced my way. “Based on Kelsey’s eyewitness account of the car, the fact that there was a gas can… it’s looking that way.”
“ID?”
“Alan Dunsmore. Idaho driver’s license.” He looked to Kelsey. “Name ring a bell?”
She shook her head.
“We’ll be looking into him, and the case stays open.”
A quick knock, and Graham stuck his head in the door. “Chief. Bunky’s here.”
Huck nodded, then the deputy disappeared.
“What the h
ell is Bunky doing here?” I asked.
Huck stood, adjusted his utility belt. Sighed loudly. Glanced longingly at his ditched coffee. “He owns the preschool building. Needs the police report to file an insurance claim.”
“Think he knows the guy? Enemy?” I asked.
Huck shrugged, letting his shoulders droop in obvious weariness over having to deal with the guy. I didn’t blame him. “It’s possible, but this doesn’t seem like Bunky. If he wanted the insurance money, blatant arson’s not the way to go. I doubt they’ll pay out. Now he’s got a fire damaged building not bringing in any rent. Plus, he’s got to rebuild. That shit’s expensive and all out of his pocket.”
Going around the desk, Huck left us in his office.
“Bunky?” Kelsey asked, setting her drink beside Huck’s.
“A guy we grew up with,” I said, taking a big swig of my drink. I liked my coffee black and this time I got a double shot added. Even that wasn’t going to fortify me if I had to deal with Tom Bunker. “He was in my class at school but was held back in sixth grade, so he ended up being between me and Huck. I don’t have all that much good to say about the guy. His parents owned a bunch of properties in town. When they died, he inherited it all. I didn’t know the preschool was one of his places though.” I sighed, glad Huck had to deal with him and not me. “I’m hungry. Want to grab some lunch?”
“Sure.”
We left Huck’s office and headed toward the entrance. Kelsey stopped short, and I almost bumped into her, setting a hand on her shoulder.
“Sugar?”
Over her shoulder, I could see her staring wide-eyed at Bunky and Huck, who were talking in the lobby’s small waiting area. Bunky looked like he’d just stepped off a golf course in his pressed khakis and pale blue golf shirt. His dark hair was receding, and he kept it long on the top to hide that fact. He was a decent looking guy, but in a rich asshole sort of way.
Color drained from her face, and I gave her a squeeze. She blinked, but didn’t offer any other response.
Oh shit.
“What’s the matter? He’s not the guy you saw, is it?” Maybe my question to Huck had been dead right. It made sense. A sloppy arson. A guy burning down his own place. I had no idea why Bunky would be hurting for cash. Besides the land he’d inherited, his mother had been some kind of oil heiress, and the money trickled down to him in some kind of trust. He wouldn’t know hard work if it hit him in the face. Thus, his repeat of sixth grade. But if he wanted the insurance money, Huck was right. Insurance didn’t cover crimes like that, and now he was stuck with a useless piece of land.
She shook her head, which meant Bunky wasn’t an arsonist as well as an asshole.
It took only another two seconds for Huck to look our way, which distracted Bunky, and he turned as well. He stopped talking mid-sentence. His dark eyes widened, which meant he was just as surprised to see Kelsey as she was on him.
“Kelsey?” Bunky asked. “It’s… good to see you.”
The words came out faker than his tan.
“Yeah, Bunky.”
By Kelsey’s tone, she didn’t like the guy. She had good taste.
He gave a smile. “Old nickname. I go way back with the Mannings.”
“Tom Bunker,” Kelsey said, as if it finally made sense. Whatever it was.
“You two know each other?” Huck asked, looking between the two as if in a tennis match.
“We know each other,” Bunky said, setting his hand on his hips. “She tried to break up my marriage last year.”
What. The. Fuck?
Kelsey stiffened then took a deep breath, tipped her chin up. “You mean when you wanted to spend the rest of our lives together? When you said I should move here to be with you?”
Bunky was Kelsey’s Tom? The ex who’d turned out to be married? Tom Bunker?
Bunky shook his head as if silently scolding a child. “You showed up at my house.”
“You said you loved me!” Kelsey was practically vibrating with anger beneath my palms.
Thankfully, the only other person in the lobby to witness this was Graham, and he was at his desk, watching all of it but remaining silent.
Bunky’s gaze shifted to my hand on Kelsey’s shoulder. Narrowed. Then a grin that could only be classified as twisted spread across his face. “Oh, it’s like that?”
“Like what?” I asked, not in the mood for him or his shit.
“Let me give you a piece of advice,” he began then tipped his chin up to indicate Kelsey. “This one’s a clinger. A gold digger.” He laughed then pointed at me. “Oh shit, this is a riot. You sure know how to pick ‘em. First Tina, now Kelsey. Women who want you for your money. That’s what this one did with me. I’d watch your wallet with this one.”
“This one?” Kelsey all but shouted.
When she moved toward him, I didn’t stop her. My mind had shorted out or something. Bunky’s words about Tina hit a raw wound that obviously hadn’t healed. The anger that lingered from her using me was like a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn’t have feelings for Tina other than extreme dislike. But Bunky used her like a weapon to fuck with me.
Except Kelsey wasn’t like Tina. Nothing like her. I knew it. Sure, this was happening fast, whatever this was between us. My feelings for Kelsey had gotten serious quick. The same way I’d been with Tina. But if Kelsey had wanted my money, she’d have hopped in my bed instead of doing everything possible to avoid it.
I wasn’t angry because I believed Bunky. I didn’t believe a thing out of his mouth. I was angry because of the way he smirked when Huck had to grab Kelsey to keep her off him, like he was the civilized one and her rash behavior only validated his comments. I had no doubt she’d have kneed Bunky in the balls for what he’d said if Huck wasn’t pinning her to his side.
“Bunky’s why you keep pushing me away?” I asked her.
Huck turned and because Kelsey was caught in his hold, she moved with him.
“What?” she whispered. Her cheeks were flushed, and her green eyes wild. She looked to Bunky and narrowed her eyes, then at me.
“Tom Bunker’s your ex. The one you compared me to,” I said, putting it all together.
Bunky laughed, and I glared. The look didn’t stop him like it might have in high school.
“No, I—” she sputtered.
“I can’t rely on a guy, you said. I can’t tell when one’s telling the truth. Those were your words, right?” I spit it out as if my comments tasted bad. “It makes so much more sense now.”
“What does?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the fool. “No wonder you’re all fucked up about men. Bunky’s a world class user. A rich one.”
“Hey!” he said, but I ignored him like always. I glared at Kelsey who wasn’t denying it.
I’d hated him since he was a kid. Still did. But to be lumped in with him? Fuck no. I couldn’t think of anything worse. I’d tried all my life to be a good guy, a decent guy. To help people. Bunky wouldn’t give a life jacket to a child if he needed it to save himself instead.
She blinked.
Her lack of response was more telling than anything she could say.
I took off my Stetson, slapped it against my thigh. Sighed. “You were right. We shouldn’t do this. I can’t be with a woman who doesn’t want me. Tina wanted my money.”
She fought against Huck’s hold, but he wouldn’t let her go. “I don’t want your money,” she cried.
“Oh, I know. You turned down any offer of help. If it were that, it would be so much simpler. But I’m supposedly just like Bunky. Tom fucking Bunker.” I pointed at the loser.
“Hey!” he shouted again.
“If you think I’m just like that asshole, even after what we’ve done together, then I was wrong about you.”
“Sawyer,” she said, tears filling her eyes.
I held up my hand. “Save it. If you can’t tell the difference between a guy who wants what’s best for you and a guy who will fuck around on his wife and
family and lie, then… I’m done. Good thing, too, before I gave a shit.”
The last thing I saw was her mouth fall open. A tear slipped down her cheek.
Bunky laughed.
I stalked over to him, punched him in the nose.
“What the—” he bellowed, his hand going to his face. He followed that by a string of obscenities. Blood dripped down between his fingers.
“That’s for what you did to Kelsey,” I snarled. “You so much as talk shit about her to anyone, I’ll bury you in the back forty where no one will ever find your sorry ass.”
His eyes flared wide then whipped to Huck. “Did you hear that? He threatened me. You’re the police chief. Arrest him!”
My knuckles hurt, my heart was pounding, and I was pissed.
“I didn’t hear a thing,” Huck said, slowly shaking his head.
“He broke my nose!”
Huck shrugged, not giving a shit. “Gotta watch out for the doors in this place. It needs some updates around here. I’ll be sure to let the city council know what happened. Maybe we’ll get some funds allocated for a remodel.”
Bunky’s narrow gaze shifted to Graham. “You were a witness.”
Graham held up his hands. “Didn’t see a thing. You might want to get that looked at.”
“Careful with the blood on the carpet,” Huck warned. “That’s a bitch to get out.”
I didn’t linger to listen to any more of Bunky’s whining. I gave Kelsey one last look then left. I wasn’t sure if it was the sadness on her face or the fact that I’d thought we’d had something that made me feel like total shit. It didn’t matter. I’d known Kelsey two days. I’d be able to forget about her just as fast.
Right?
11
KELSEY
“I’m not sure why I’m here,” I said, stirring my tomato soup Alice had put in front of me. It looked homemade with bits of herbs and probably cream. I should be more eager for it since I’d survived lately mostly on cheap microwave entrees, but I only felt sad and hurt. I wanted to leave, and my car was parked in front of Sawyer’s house, but I had a feeling she’d drag me back by my ear or something.