Blazing Hotter (Love Under Fire Book 2)

by Chantel Rhondeau

  Not knowing what else to do as Frankie chatted with his mother, she returned to the bathroom and slipped into the lavender-scented water.

  She needed to calm down. The more she worried over something she had no control over, the more insane she would be. Rogers had everything under control. It was Cassie’s job to relax and enjoy her time on the island with her best friends.

  She drifted into a trance-like state as the warm water soothed her, finally settling down, so it was a shock when the bathroom door flung open and Frankie came wheeling through.

  Startled, she sat upright, gasping for breath.

  “Now that’s something I like to see,” Frankie teased. “Flushed from the heat of your bath and breathing heavy. Not to mention you’re all wet.”

  As her heart rate slowed, Cassie wrinkled her nose. “I’m sure you aren’t ready to do anything else to get me hot and heavy or wet, so you’ll have to be content just looking.”

  “Looking works for me.”

  “You seem happy,” Cassie noted, opening the drain in the tub before standing up and reaching for a dry towel. “How’s your mom?”

  “She’s good. I thought the conversation would be awkward, but she’s happy about my job interview and thinks I’m on the right track. I actually think she’s even glad my dad didn’t agree to get back together when she asked. She wants to come up sometime soon so I can meet her boyfriend.”

  Cassie finished drying off and rubbed lotion into her skin. “How do you feel about that?”

  “I think I’m okay with it,” he said. “Especially since she’s also excited to meet my girlfriend. Feel like having dinner with my mom in a couple weeks?”

  His girlfriend? Why did Frankie persist in saying that he loved her? Why did he keep pushing the issue of wanting to be a couple? Part of her had figured spending a few days apart from each other might change his mind about her. She couldn’t say she was sorry to find him every bit as passionate as he’d been last week while trying to protect her from a killer, but that only made guilt eat away at her more.

  There was still a chance she was pregnant, and he didn’t even know it was a possibility. She’d totally sabotaged this relationship before it started, all because she’d assumed it could never be anything real.

  “We’ll see what happens,” she finally answered, not wanting to commit to anything just yet. “I’m surprised you were able to get into your chair to come in here. I thought you’d be too exhausted to move tonight, let alone do things on your own.”

  Frankie laughed, not seeming put off by her noncommittal nature to dinner with his mom. “Thayne’s not nearly as good as you are at helping me. If I wanted to make it to the bathroom while I stayed with him, I learned real quick that I’d damn well better make it there on my own. I’ve even been able to take a couple steps the past few days, and I’ve been working on the stretches you told me to do.”

  Cassie couldn’t help but be impressed. For months, his progress had taken a backward slide, but now Frankie was zooming forward more quickly than she had ever guessed he could. “I’m not sure you should live at the rehab even for a few weeks once you recover from surgery,” she said. “We could get a therapist to come to the house and help you there. Even though I can’t be your therapist anymore, I could work with you in the evenings when I’m not at work.”

  “Oh, yeah? Does this mean you’re saying yes to me moving in with you?” Frankie winked. “Because that sounds like a great plan.”

  Crap. That had been what she was saying, but she couldn’t decide that until she knew whether or not she was pregnant. If only it wasn’t too early for a damn test, she could get all this indecision done with and the only thing she’d have to worry about would be whether Frankie changed his mind in the future. However, judging by what his parents were going through, she knew she couldn’t obsess about that. They might be together for days, they might be together for years, or they might be together forever. Nothing was certain.

  What couldn’t happen was for her to go into a relationship and letting it build upon a lie. She needed to tell him what she had done and see how he reacted.

  “I do want to live with you, Frank,” she admitted. “But I’m not the great person you seem to think I am.”

  He snorted and rolled his eyes. “Cassie, I know you. I know you better than you know yourself. You are a good person.”

  She held up a hand to silence him. “Just let me get this out. I’ve lied to you, and I can’t let it go on.”

  Frankie folded his arms together, and Cassie couldn’t read his mood from his impassive face. “Okay, tell me,” he said.

  Her breath caught in her throat, and it seemed impossible to get the words to form. “I-I-I...” She paused, taking a deep breath and trying again. “I said, I said...” Tears pricked the back of her eyes. She’d never wanted a man for longer than a few dates before. So why was this so hard? What made Frankie so different to where she actually cared if he decided to leave her?

  Shaking her head, she pushed her way past his chair and into the bedroom, grabbing the first set of clothes she could find. “I have to clear my head.”

  Despite Frankie’s protests, she bolted from the bungalow and ran down to the nearly deserted beach, breathing hard and letting the tears come.

  For the first time in her life, she had found the same thing Tess, Blake, and more recently Laura had found. She finally knew what love was. She was completely in love with Frankie.

  The thought of losing him was almost enough to make her wish her heart would stop.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Frankie wished he could still walk like a normal person so he could pace the room. Cassie had left an hour and a half earlier and had not returned. He couldn’t believe she’d taken off like that, marching down through the deepest part of the sandy beach and off toward the shopping center. He’d had half an idea to follow her, but had realized she needed time to collect herself. Not to mention the deep sand was too hard on his wheelchair and he’d have probably ended up stuck in no time.

  Cassie had agreed to live with him, and apparently the idea had freaked her shit. He hadn’t meant to push her more but seeing Thayne and Laura get hitched just helped him realize how much he wanted this relationship with Cassie to be permanent. One day, he wanted to take her to an island like this and make her Cassie Hernandez.

  If only she would stop running.

  And what the hell did she lie about? Not that Frankie figured it would be a big deal once she told him, but it certainly had her twisting herself up in knots. She obviously expected him to dump her when she told him, so it must be something major. Not that there was anything Frankie could imagine would make him love her less. Even if he found out she was the killer and had sent those flowers to herself, he had a feeling he’d still want her.

  Of course, it was easy to think that, since he knew without a doubt she wasn’t the killer, considering she’d been in bed with him during two of the killings. Still, there wasn’t anything she could say to change the way he felt.

  Worrying was getting him nowhere. He hated to bother Laura and Thayne, but Cassie had been gone a long time. Maybe she went to them. Laura was her best friend and probably already knew whatever the lie was. Despite it being her wedding night, Laura was the only person Cassie could turn to.

  While he sat contemplating the wisdom of bothering the happy couple, the phone made the decision for him by ringing.

  Thank God! That had to be Cassie now.

  “Where are you?” he demanded instead of saying hello.

  “Still in Sayle,” a familiar voice answered. “Where did you expect me to be?”

  “Detective Rogers?” Frankie shook his head as though that could clear his confusion, struggling to figure out the time difference and why Rogers was calling so late. “Did you catch the killer?”

  “No,” Rogers said, dashing hope before Frankie could properly build it up. “But that’s why I called. Is Cassie there?”

  “No. She to
ok off on a walk. We fought...” He shrugged even though Rogers couldn’t see him. “Or rather, she fought with herself and took off. What’s going on?”

  “Get her back right now. She shouldn’t be alone.” Although Rogers’s voice had a mild pitch to it, the words made Frankie’s shoulders bunch with tension.

  “Why?”

  “I couldn’t find Sandy anywhere this afternoon when I went to question her further. According to a credit card report we pulled twenty minutes ago, she caught a flight to Hawaii last night.”

  ***

  She knew she should turn around and talk to Frankie. He would understand. He had to. He’d wanted to make love as much as she had, and the man hadn’t put up much of a fight or taken an extra second to question her when she said it was okay to do it without a condom.

  He told her repeatedly that he loved her, and he’d mentioned wanting kids. If their first time ended up with a bundle of joy, Frankie was going to accept that without a problem.

  Cassie finally figured out where the problem was. It wasn’t really with Frankie. It was her. She was scared. She’d never allowed herself to fall for anyone, always dating around and just having a good time. The deep and true feelings she’d been trying to fight off for the last couple months had erupted into a blazing fire of emotion now that Frankie was no longer a patient and off limits.

  As frightening as the blaze looked, it was also tantalizing. She wanted to touch those flames and see if she could keep from getting burned more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life. That didn’t mean she would set herself up for defeat or loss, something she’d always figured falling in love meant since so many marriages ended in divorce. Rather, it meant she’d found a man whose love was worth fighting for. No matter what it took, she and Frankie could work through things as long as they stuck together.

  Peace settled over her as she realized this, and Cassie turned around to head back the way she came, only now seeing just how far she’d walked. When the beach had given way to rocks and sparse vegetation, Cassie had realized why the resort was set up where it was. However, she’d traveled far from the nice beaches and shops of paradise.

  Although moonlight shone down on the waves of the ocean, darkness was the only thing Cassie could see when looking to where the resort should be. She must have walked far enough to curve around the side of the island and now needed to stumble through the darkness to return. As long as she followed the edge of the ocean, even the rocks couldn’t stop her from getting back to Frankie. Stubbed toes and tired legs were a small price to pay for finally figuring out her feelings.

  Passing by a group of old, dark beach huts, Cassie wondered if someone used to stay out here. Maybe before the founding family turned this island into a resort they had tried to vacation on this side.

  Over the sounds of the crashing waves, an odd noise disturbed the otherwise calm night. Cassie froze, straining her ears. She remembered the island’s pamphlet saying there were no predatory animals on the island. She sure hoped they were right. Straining to hear anything out of the ordinary, the waves against the shoreline were the only thing she could hear.

  Deciding her ears had played tricks on her, Cassie picked up her pace.

  A dark shadow separated itself from the other dark shadows in front of her. Something darted out and grabbed her arm as the shadow revealed itself into a person.

  Cassie let out a soft scream and tried to jerk away from the surprisingly tough grip.

  “So trusting and stupid, Cassie,” a voice hissed on the night air. “That’s a fatal mistake.”

  Before she knew what was happening, the dark form lunged for her, plunging something into her neck.

  ***

  Cassie rubbed sleep from her eyes, wondering why the resort bed was so lumpy. Her eyes were bleary when she finally pried them open, and the dark room disoriented her. “Frankie?”

  “He can’t save you now.”

  Cassie blinked rapidly, focusing on the spot the voice had come from. “Who’s there?”

  A kerosene lantern flamed to life, momentarily blinding Cassie anew. When her vision cleared, a woman stood in the corner, tapping her right hand with the flat part of a knife blade. She wore a light brown wig, but it only took Cassie a few seconds to figure it out. It was a nurse from the rehab center, but not the one she expected. “Rose? Why are you wearing that wig?”

  Rose chuckled, tapping the knife a bit slower.

  Suddenly the attack on the beach came back to her. Rose accosted her with a needle. She must have drugged her and then dragged her into one of the huts.

  “Why are you here?” Cassie demanded, struggling to sit before realizing her hands and feet were tied at each corner of the moldy bed she laid on. “Let me go.”

  Rose laughed, and it was unlike anything Cassie had heard the older nurse utter before. “Let you go? I’m sorry, dear, but that isn’t going to happen. You’ve hurt the man I love, and now you have to pay.”

  “The man you love?” An image of that first note warning her to stop being a whore flashed into Cassie’s mind. “I don’t know what you think I’ve done, but I don’t even know who your man is, let alone having done anything to him.”

  Rose stepped forward, brandishing the knife. “You stupid bitch. Someone should have taken you out a long time ago. You want to sit there and pretend you haven’t done anything? He told me all about it. After what you did to him, you come to this island like you have a right to be happy. You make me sick.”

  Maybe the drugs were still affecting her, but Cassie couldn’t understand what was going on. “You’re mad because I’m friends with Frankie?”

  “Friends? Friends shacked up together having sex, I guess.” Rose snorted, brandishing the knife in front of her as though ready to use it. “I had a feeling you were lying when you called and said you were leaving town the other day. You’re toxic to men. One day, poor Frankie will be glad he dodged a bullet of being stuck with you. You hurt every man you’ve been with. I can’t let that happen to one of my patients.”

  It didn’t really matter what Rose thought Cassie had done. She looked ready and willing to use that knife. Cold fear shot throughout Cassie and panic was too near the surface. She couldn’t fall apart now. There seemed to be a reason Rose held back. If Cassie could exploit that, maybe she could find a way to escape.

  “I thought Sandy was the person after me.” Cassie’s voice trembled no matter how much she fought to control it, and Rose’s grin grew larger.

  “That’s what you were supposed to think, bitch.”

  Talking was keeping her from using the knife. Cassie needed to keep that going.

  “Is that why you’re wearing a wig, to trick people? Everyone believed it. After all, it’d make sense for Sandy to come after me. She has a huge crush on Frankie.”

  Rose’s upper lip twisted. “She shouldn’t be a nurse. Another little whore, just like you. She wanted Frankie to date her, did he tell you that?”

  Frankie hadn’t said anything about it. Cassie simply shrugged, allowing herself to relax slightly since Rose hadn’t attacked yet. “I’m not surprised. She really isn’t a great nurse. Not like you.”

  “You got that right. Sandy deserves to be the one who goes to prison for these murders because I can give a lot to the community. Besides, the cops are too stupid to realize she actually had nothing to do with it.” Rose’s chuckle attested to how clever she thought she’d been in framing poor Sandy.

  “About the murders, I don’t understand what has you so upset.” Cassie had to keep the woman talking. “If you’re angry with me, why kill those other four women? They didn’t do anything to you.”

  “It’s not your concern, bitch.”

  Shit! Reminding her she was mad at Cassie was the wrong move.

  “I’m sorry, Rose. I didn’t mean to—”

  “There are reasons for everything. Not that you’ll live to learn them.” Rose darted forward, slashing downward against Cassie’s leg.

  Hissin
g in pain, the rope made it impossible for Cassie to draw her foot away as the blade slid into her skin.

  “You disgust me.” Rose backed up, thankfully not taking another swipe with her knife. “I wish I could end things right now.”

  The door to the small hut swung inward and Cassie had a few heartbeats to pray she’d been saved. She didn’t know how Frankie found her, but he must have been worried when she didn’t return to the bungalow.

  Unfortunately, her relief was short lived.

  Dr. Kenneth Morgan tamed his salt and pepper wind-tossed hair and smiled down at her. “I trust you ladies have been getting along while you waited for me?” His eyes went to her leg and the dark blood spreading from the fresh cut. “Or maybe not so much.”

  “Sorry, honey.” Rose grinned, not looking particularly sorry. “I know you don’t like when I go crazy with the knife, but the bitch deserves it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “You guys have to chill out,” Laura said for what felt like the millionth time.

  She had a vacant, unconcerned quality to her gaze, and Frankie could only wonder if Thayne fed her one of the anxiety pills she’d worked so hard to get off.

  “She’s just on a walk,” he muttered, trying to convince himself of that. “Even if Sandy got to this island, she wouldn’t know how to find Cassie.”

  Thayne shook his head. “Unless she watched our wedding and then followed you guys back to your bungalow.”

  “You aren’t helping, Thayne,” Laura pointed out.

  “No,” Frankie agreed, “but he’s probably right. What I would like to know is how she knew to come to this island.”

  Laura buried her head in her hands. “Everyone at my work and down at the fire station knew where we were headed. If someone figured Cassie was with us, it wouldn’t have been too hard to put two and two together.”

  Thayne slammed a fist against his thigh. “Damn it. I thought she’d be safe here if we paid for the tickets. What does this woman have against Cassie anyway?”

  Frankie shrugged. “I think it’s me, or at least, that’s what she acted like when I saw her a couple days ago in the rehab center. She mentioned wanting to date me, and the notes against Cassie kept calling her a whore.”