by Lily Rede
“I didn’t know you were here,” he said, almost apologetic.
“I thought it would be fun to celebrate Adam’s first night back in town.”
Matt’s eyes sharpened, but he only said, mildly, “Adam’s here?”
“No, he left before the fire started.”
Grace nodded at the blaze.
“I can’t believe you do this all the time.”
“I know it looks bad, but we’ve actually got it pretty well contained. Luckily there was no one inside. Why don’t you go home? There isn’t anything you can do here.”
He was right, but there was no way she could just go home and sleep, wondering if the fire was out, wondering if he were safe.
She shook her head.
“I’ll wait.”
A muscle in Matt’s jaw twitched, but he nodded, his eyes lingering on her bare shoulders.
“Don’t move.”
The soft order had Grace biting her lip as her body responded eagerly.
He didn’t mean it like that, she reminded herself, squelching her libido.
She pulled herself together as Matt jogged back to the engine cab and returned a moment later with a blue Bright’s Ferry Fire Department jacket.
“I don’t want you to freeze,” he said softly, his voice low and rough, stroking every nerve ending.
Grace shivered again, but not from the cold, and she knew that he caught it as his fingers clenched on the soft material. She turned around, letting him help her into the jacket, which bagged almost down to her knees.
“Thanks,” she murmured, rolling up the sleeves.
He nodded, smiling briefly.
“I’ve got to get back,” he said, and left her standing behind the rope line.
The moment his back was turned, Grace burrowed into the warm fabric, grateful for the protection from the cold night air, but almost dizzy as she took a deep breath. It smelled like him, like pine shavings from his workshop, the spicy ocean scent of his aftershave, and Matt. She knew she was being an idiot, but everything inside her went soft and gooey and even her knees felt a little weak. Wrapped in his jacket, watching him be all brave and selfless and capable and hot, Grace was having a hard time remembering why she needed to push him away.
“SMOOTH MOVE BACK THERE, buddy,” Rafael said, grinning as he helped Matt adjust one of the hoses to combat a particularly stubborn blaze by the front entrance.
“What do you mean?” Matt frowned.
“Going all Sir Galahad, giving her your jacket…shit, man, she was eating it up.”
“She was not. It’s cold out here.”
And if he had to see her standing back there in that outfit, he was going to have to fight this fire with a raging hard-on.
He knew Grace loved to dance, and that she had this thing for small clubs and smaller bands, but he’d never seen her dressed to party before. It was probably a good thing, because Matt’s heart couldn’t stand the strain, not to mention the rest of his body.
Her skin was so pale and smooth, and that wicked little corset pushed up those sweet tits, making his mouth water for a long, thorough taste. Her hair tumbled around her in wild ribbons of red and purple, and when she’d turned around to accept his help with the jacket, he’d nearly swallowed his tongue. The criss-crossed laces of the corset bared more than they concealed, and below the delicate curve of her spine, her legs and sweet heaven that ass were poured into tight black denim, accentuated by boots that boosted her up to perfect kissing height.
Matt wanted to peel her out of those jeans and explore every inch with his mouth. He nearly dropped the hose at the thought of Grace in nothing but the corset, arching in pleasure as he held her creamy thighs open and licked her up like candy.
He shook his head, trying to focus. Rafael was still speaking.
“…and if you took your head out of your ass, you’d realize that she’s over there right now, snuggled into that jacket like you’re the quarterback and you just asked her to go steady.”
Matt didn’t dare look, but his heart skipped a beat.
“Little busy right now, man. And she made it pretty clear she’s not interested.”
“I’m just saying. Maybe you should ask her out one more time. Just in case.”
Matt couldn’t help it. He looked back.
Grace was talking to Evie, her hair whipping around her, clutching his jacket close to her body, burying her nose in the collar whenever the wind kicked up.
Dammit.
DAWN WAS STARTING TO creep over the horizon by the time the Fire Department declared the fire completely out, and the structure had been reduced to a soggy, charred wreck. The crowd had dispersed until only a handful of onlookers remained. Colin Daniels had shown up with a vat of coffee and done his mayoral duty, getting up to speed and thanking the responders.
Now he sat with Grace on the bumper of Tony’s SUV, and Grace was grateful that he didn’t comment on her presence there or the jacket she still wore. She assumed Adam had gotten the message she left on the answering machine and had just had the good sense to stay away once he got home. Grace probably should have gone home herself, but she still couldn’t bring herself to do it, for reasons she really didn’t want to think about.
Mr. Dmitros spotted together and marched over, fury and grief etched on his face.
“Twenty years,” he said, his voice shaking, “Twenty years, Mr. Daniels, and then that pyromaniac burns my family’s restaurant to the ground! I’d just had the kitchen redone!”
“What pyromaniac?” Colin asked, frowning.
“Just like that!” the agitated little man continued with an enraged snap of his fingers.
He glared at Grace.
“I saw him go into that club when I was closing up for the night. That no-good brother of yours. They should have sent out a public safety notice the moment they let him out of prison.”
Grace stood, outraged.
“It was juvenile detention, and Adam had nothing to do with this! He wasn’t anywhere near here!”
“So it’s just a big coincidence?” huffed Mr. Dmitros, skepticism dripping from his voice.
“The Sheriff’s Department is going to perform a thorough investigation, Mr. Dmitros.” Evie’s cool voice sliced through the air as she approached, turning her serious gray eyes on the distraught restaurant owner, “That includes interviewing all relevant witnesses. I assume you can provide an alibi for when the fire started?”
Mr. Dmitros sputtered.
“I didn’t set fire to my own building!”
“I think what Deputy Asher is trying to say,” interjected Colin smoothly, getting to his feet, “is that it’s a little early in the morning to be hurling accusations. Why don’t you go home and let us sort this out? I’m sure Sheriff Arnetto will be in touch.”
With a last venomous glare at Grace, Mr. Dmitros hurried away.
Colin reached out an arm and yanked Evie up against him. She scowled and pushed at him.
“Hands off when I’m on duty, hotshot.”
“You’re not on duty for four more hours, and Tony will probably make you take a half-shift anyway,” Colin pointed out before lowering his mouth to hers.
Wistfully, Grace couldn’t help but notice how Evie softened as Colin held her captive for a thorough, toe-curling kiss, her fingers clenching in his shirt. He finally let her go with a last nibble of her lower lip.
“You taste good, Deputy,” he murmured.
“I don’t know why I put up with you,” she muttered, but pinched his ass before shoving him back to flounce away.
Grinning like an idiot, Colin settled down on the bumper of the SUV again.
“I think she likes me,” he said, “So, Miss Mallow. What’s up with you and Matt Harris? I heard you broke his heart at Mary’s this morning.”
Grace glared at him.
“Seriously, does no one in this town have anything better to talk about? And I did not do anything of the sort.”
She squirmed under his scruti
ny.
“You should give him a chance, Grace,” Colin said softly.
“We’d be a bad fit,” she insisted.
“You keep telling yourself that, but I think you’re just afraid that you’d be a perfect fit.”
Grace didn’t have an answer for that, and Colin nodded over her shoulder.
“Don’t look now, but he’s coming your way. Mayoral duty calls. Be nice.”
With a last meaningful glare, he sauntered away toward Chief Hammond, and Grace turned to face Matt, who was pulling off his helmet, his face streaked with soot and sweat.
“I didn’t think you’d still be here,” he rumbled.
“I wanted to make sure everything was okay,” she replied, “Thanks for the jacket – ”
She started to unzip it, but Matt put his hand over hers.
“Keep it,” he said, his eyes helplessly flickering down to the inches of skin she’d casually bared for him.
Deliberately, he zipped her up again, tucking the collar more closely around her throat, his fingers brushing her jaw. She swallowed and he tracked the movement, his eyes filling with heat that was visible even in the weak morning light.
“Go out with me, Grace,” he murmured, “Just one date. Please?”
Nothing good can come of this, Grace Mallow.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Yeah?”
His face lit up, and she nodded.
“Great! That’s – really great. Tonight? You and me?”
Grace was surprised to find herself blushing at his obvious pleasure.
“Sure.”
“Hey Harris!” called Rafael, and Matt turned back.
“I’ll pick you up at seven,” he said, grinning as she nodded again.
Oh God, thought Grace, Please don’t let this be a huge mistake.
CHAPTER FOUR
The sound of the front door opening jerked Grace awake from where she’d fallen asleep on the living room couch, snuggled under Matt’s jacket.
“Grace?”
“Where the hell have you been?” Grace screeched, exhausted and furious.
Adam had the grace to look guilty.
“It got late, so I crashed on Russell’s couch. I would have called but I don’t have a cell phone. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
Anger warred with relief, and Grace slumped back into the cushions, absently clutching Matt’s jacket as Adam took a seat in the recliner.
“There was a fire last night,” she said, “The restaurant next to the club.”
Adam’s eyes widened.
“You don’t think I – ”
“No, I don’t. But there are people who do. And I can’t defend you if I don’t have any idea where you are.”
“We played pool, had a few beers. It was nothing. I’m sorry.”
Grace scrubbed her hands over her face.
God, I need a shower.
“I know you’re not a kid anymore, but I have to know I can trust you if you’re going to live here, Adam.”
“You can. I swear!” Adam’s eyes were filled with anxious sincerity.
Grace scanned her brother’s face, frowning, and finally nodded.
“Look, you should probably lay low today. The whole town is going to be talking about the fire and I’d rather they didn’t fixate on you.”
“I’m not going to hide from them,” Adam’s chin went up.
“There’s a difference between hiding and not looking for a fight. Just give it a day or two to die down.”
Still holding Matt’s jacket, she started up the stairs.
“I’m going to shower and crash for a few hours.”
Adam nodded.
“Where’s your toolkit? The latch on the back door is broken and you’ve got a few loose cabinet doors.”
“There may be a hammer or something under the kitchen sink,” Grace yawned, “You sure you know what you’re doing?”
“I picked up a few things here and there. You need a real toolkit, Grace,” Adam tsked, examining the room with a critical eye.
“What I need is a nap so that I don’t like a total hag for tonight.”
As soon as the words were out, Grace wished for them back, but Adam pounced.
“What’s tonight?”
“I have a date,” Grace muttered.
“With – ?” her brother prompted.
“With Matt Harris,” she admitted grudgingly.
Adam grinned.
“Not a word,” advised Grace, and Adam held his hands up, the picture of innocence.
“I didn’t say anything.”
Ten minutes later, Grace was standing in the shower, half-asleep, letting the hot water soothe away the anxiety over Adam and the nerves that came alive when she thought of her impending date, and lull her into a steamy, dreamy state.
“It’s just dinner,” she murmured to herself.
Matt sat next to her in a secluded booth of the romantic little Italian bistro, his big hand stroking her knee as they perused the menu together, the scent of him curling around her senses.
“Do you know what you want?” he rumbled, his fingers inching under her short skirt to trace patterns on her sensitive inner thigh.
“I need another minute,” she gasped as he found the soft flesh higher up, already slick and aching for him, exploring it with deft strokes, his eyes dark with heat.
“No panties?”
“You told me not to wear them.”
“And you’ve been very obedient, Grace.”
And then he moved, maneuvering his big body under the tablecloth, spreading her legs wide to make a place for himself, nudging her skirt out of the way, his hot breath gusting over her throbbing folds.
“So obedient,” he murmured, treating her clit to slow little lick that had her arching, uncaring that the waiters and other patrons were staring at her, “that I think I’m going to have this hot pussy as an appetizer.”
She moaned as he set his mouth to her, holding her wide for his tongue, lashing her with pleasure so acute, she cried out. He hummed approvingly as he traced her folds with lips and tongue and a hint of teeth, gently sucking her clit until she was panting, desperate, willing to do anything he wanted, begging for more.
“That’s right, sweetheart, let them see how badly you want me,” he continued, his firm, hot hands spreading her even further, his tongue teasing her entrance, “Anything I want, Grace. Now, come for me and I’ll fill you with hard cock for dessert…”
The fantasy dissolved as Grace came with a cry, her fingers strumming her clit as the water streamed over her, leaving her trembling in the aftermath of pleasure. She wasn’t an exhibitionist, but the thought of Matt taking charge, pleasuring her anywhere and any way he wanted to, uncaring of who was watching, was enough to push even Grace’s boundaries.
Not going to happen, she reminded herself, turning off the water.
She’d have dinner with him, make small talk, try to ignore the stares of the townspeople who spotted them together, and then leave him at the door with a kiss on the cheek, assuring him that it had been fun. Then Grace would curl up in bed alone and try to forget all the wicked, sexy, delicious things they might have done together if he were less perfect.
MATT STRUGGLED TO STAY awake during the impromptu briefing in the rec room of the fire station. He was dead on his feet, and Colin, Tony, Zeke, and Chief Hammond didn’t look much better, but Evie Asher insisted on going over every detail before letting them go.
“Two fires in two nights?” she repeated, her voice dripping with suspicion.
“It’s a coincidence,” insisted Matt from his perch on the arm of the couch, “One office building, one restaurant. One’s an offshoot of an insurance company from across the bay, one’s a family-owned business that has been in town for decades. Different starters, different methods. There’s no connection.”
Evie shook her head, ticking her fingers off.
“Two fires within a mile of each other. Two sprinkler systems that malfunc
tioned. Two times the fire department was alerted before anyone got hurt. Two empty buildings, and two “inconclusive” results.”
“We don’t even know that a person set these fires, Evie. They might have been accidents,” offered Tony.
“I don’t like it,” fumed Evie, pacing.
Matt stifled a yawn as Zeke tentatively raised a hand.
“What is it, Zeke?” asked Colin.
“I don’t want to cast stones, but Adam Mallow’s back in town.”
There was silence, and Matt felt his hackles rising as the others considered the possibility. Unaccountably, he found himself opening his mouth to defend the boy.
“He just got back, turned over a new leaf.”
“So he says,” pointed out the Chief, “but he was at the club last night.”
“There isn’t any proof,” insisted Matt.
Evie stretched, and Colin took her hand.
“He’s right, there isn’t any proof, and we’re going in circles. We can’t do anything else until we question everybody. And I do mean everybody. Thank you, everyone,” said Tony.
Matt dragged himself upright. He felt gritty and dead on his feet, and he wanted to be rested and alert for his date with Grace. Just the thought had his stomach clenching in excitement. He heaved himself toward the door.
Chief Hammond clapped him on the back.
“Great work out there, Harris. I want you to continue it. Work with Sheriff Arnetto’s people and make sure they get everything they need.”
“But, sir – ”
“The townspeople like you, Matt. You’re young, personable, and to be frank, you make us look good. I’m counting on you to do us proud.”
“You’ve got it, Chief,” said Matt.
He didn’t need the added pressure, but he’d never had any intention of doing anything but his very best. The fires were probably accidental, but if they weren’t… Matt frowned, feeling anger wash over him that anyone would deliberately set a fire here. Not in his town. Not if he could help it.
FEELING REFRESHED AFTER A long nap, Grace opened the door to Fiona, who thrust an enormous garment bag into her arms.
