Safe From the Fire

by Lily Rede

“Adam! What are you doing here?”

  “I was – do you think we could talk?”

  “Sure.”

  The kid was about to collapse, so Matt gave him a hand over to the couch and got him a bottle of water and a couple of painkillers from the medical kit, waving away his protests.

  “It’s just ibuprofen. Didn’t Dr. Griggs give you some of the good stuff to take home?”

  “They make me foggy,” admitted Adam, but accepted the pills, chasing them with half a bottle of water.

  “Should I call Grace?”

  But Adam shook his head.

  “Just give me a minute.”

  Matt waited patiently while Adam downed the rest of the water and after a few minutes, the lines of pain in his face eased up a fraction.

  “I think Russell Lansky had something to do with the fires,” Adam blurted out in a rush.

  Matt’s eyebrows went up, but he kept his voice even.

  “What makes you think that?”

  “Russell’s been acting strange.”

  Adam told him about his visits to the burn sites, along with his escalating fight with his brother.

  “And Cal mentioned that some of the buildings that burned had just been renovated by Lansky Construction. The Banks house was right in the middle of it.”

  “So you think Russell set the fires?”

  “Or he knows who did. They’ve got a ton of employees. Maybe someone’s not happy?”

  Matt sat back, his mind whirring. It was a good deduction, and he realized the guts it had taken Adam to step into the fire station and express his concerns. But –

  “Cal told me that you borrowed his toolkit. The one we found at the Murphy house.”

  Adam had the grace to blush, looking down.

  “Yeah, I just wanted to fix a few things at home and I didn’t think Cal would mind. I was going to bring it right back. Then you found it and – ”

  “And you figured that we’d assume you set the fire.”

  Adam nodded, miserable.

  Matt considered him for a long moment and realized that he couldn’t have it both ways – either Adam was a suspect, or he was being framed. It wasn’t the first time Matt had been convinced that Adam was being set up – his misspent youth was a perfect way to distract the cops from the truth.

  “Adam, look me in the eye and tell me you had nothing to do with any of these fires.”

  Without hesitation, Adam held his gaze.

  “It wasn’t me, I swear to God.”

  With a little mental click, Matt realized that he believed him, unequivocally.

  Okay, then. Guess you’re on his side come hell or high water.

  Matt nodded and pulled out his cell phone, dialing.

  “Hey, Evie. Think you can get a list of Lansky Construction’s employees?”

  He explained the situation to Evie and then hung up the phone.

  “Now what?”

  “Now you go home, take something that will knock you out, and rest. The best thing you can do is stay out of the way and don’t give anyone an excuse to blame you for anything. Understand?”

  Adam nodded.

  “Thanks. Oh, and about Grace – ”

  “Yeah?”

  “She wants everyone to think she’s all wild and edgy sticks-and-stones attitude. But I think she just doesn’t want anyone to see that she can get hurt. I know, because I hurt her, but I’m trying to make up for it.”

  He held out a hand, and Matt shook it, solemn, and watched him walk out.

  Matt didn’t need Adam to tell him about Grace’s softer side – he’d experienced it for himself. What he did need was a way to make her see just how far he’d go to make her realize that he would never ever deliberately hurt her. He sighed – somewhere out in the world there were probably women who didn’t come with all of this baggage. Maybe. But he didn’t want other women.

  I want Grace.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  GRACE SAT IN HER car, looking up at Matt’s house in the darkness. She wanted to cry. Again. She’d been frantic when she got home to find Adam gone, and read him the riot act when he stepped inside.

  God, I sounded just like Mom there for a minute.

  But Adam had explained what he’d done, and it was such a grownup move, so brave and so the right thing to do that Grace had burst into tears again, forcing Adam to go into comfort mode, which he was never very good at.

  His arm was clearly painful, so she had pulled herself together, made him some soup, and sent him to bed, and for once, he didn’t argue with her, letting himself be coddled and mothered by his crazy big sister.

  And now she was sitting out in front of Matt’s house, trying to work up the courage to knock. She wouldn’t apologize for defending her brother, but for flying off the handle – well, that deserved a “sorry” or two. He was just doing his job, but that didn’t mean that she should take her frustrations out on him.

  Stomach churning, she hopped out of the car and up to the porch, where she took a deep breath, and knocked. He opened the door, surprised to see her. At least he was dressed this time.

  “I’m a horrible person,” she whispered.

  Matt shook his head.

  “You love your brother.”

  “I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that. You’re just doing your job.”

  Matt reached out to wrap a purple lock around one finger.

  “So, are you planning to make it up to me?”

  The tiny quirk of his lips send an answering skitter of interest along her spine. Matt stepped back to let her in. As soon as the door was closed, he kissed her, soft and sweet. She tried to turn it into something harder, but he pulled away, tsking.

  “We did kinky last time,” he said, and Grace chuckled.

  “Baby, we barely scratched the surface.”

  She slid a hand down to cup him through his jeans and his breath whooshed out.

  “We’ll get back to kinky,” he promised, “but not tonight.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Taking her hand, he led her up to the bedroom.

  “I can have anything I want, right?” he asked softly.

  “Anything,” she agreed, licking her lips.

  “Good. Then you’re going to let me make love to you, slow and sweet, and then we’re going to order in and watch bad movies like a normal couple.”

  “But – ”

  “Don’t you want me inside you?” he murmured, cupping her breast and gently strumming the nipple, which obediently tightened for him and letting her feel the heavy bulge between his thighs against her stomach.

  And Grace fumed, because she really, really did, but it was so unfair of him to use her obvious craving for him against her. He undressed her slowly, caressing each inch of flesh he uncovered until she was dizzy. Then he yanked off his own clothes without ceremony and scooped her up to carry her to the bed. It was sweet and romantic and made her so nervous her fists clenched tight.

  Matt seemed to understand, because he kissed each hand as he settled her on the sheets before sliding low, his wide shoulders spreading her thighs. He pressed a tender kiss to the top of her cleft, and another to her abdomen, and her heart turned over.

  “Matt – ” she murmured, aching.

  “Shh. Just relax and let me have you.”

  Matt nuzzled her pussy, inhaling deeply, and she shuddered as he petted her with gentle fingers before parting her for the stroke of his tongue. He’d gone down on her before, with wicked abandon, but this was different – tender licks and soft swirls of his tongue in her folds, a hint of gentle teeth as he drew her clit forward for the lightest of suckles, and fingers easing into her sheath for slow, deliberate thrusts designed to drive her mad.

  Through it Grace rolled her hips against his mouth, one hand threaded through his hair, the other playing with her nipples. When release shuddered through her, it was sharp and bright, and then endless and wonderful.

  Just as gently, Matt kissed his way up her body, takin
g his time before settling over her, face-to-face. Unlike the last time, he let her take his weight, and she groaned. He was so big, so heavy over her, and every inch of her shimmered in delight at the press of his body pinning her to the mattress.

  “Wrap your legs around me,” he requested softly, and she did, opening herself further as he positioned the broad cock head at her core, hot and slick.

  Matt didn’t thrust, but pressed forward steadily, and Grace moaned as his hard male flesh filled her, one determined inch at a time. Then, because he knew what she liked, he ran his hands down to gently circle her wrists and lift them to the pillow by her head.

  Pinned.

  Grace had never felt so vulnerable or so safe before, and drowned in his eyes as he started to rock, his size holding her where he wanted her for the stroke of his cock. She knew this was more than just sex, and that love shone in his eyes as he worshiped her body, but she couldn’t handle that, so she kissed him, hard, and then squeezed her internal muscles around him until he groaned.

  “That’s right, sweetheart. Milk me just like that. All tight and so wet, like your sweet pussy was made just for my cock.”

  He slid his hands further to lace their fingers together, and his strokes were harder now, deeper as she undulated beneath him. He shifted slightly, changing the angle so that the base of his cock rubbed her clit with every pass, and she cried out as she exploded around him. Matt waited until she relaxed under him in boneless satiation, and then buried himself to the hilt, filling her up with a long, low groan, his face at her throat.

  DESPITE THE STRESS THAT swirled around Bright’s Ferry, causing residents to look at each other with suspicion, keeping tempers short, Matt couldn’t help whistling as he headed for Mary’s diner. The sun was shining, Halloween was just around the corner, and this morning he’d woken up with Grace Mallow draped over him like a blanket, dressed in his shirt. He’d kissed her awake, made delightfully slippery love to her in the shower, and then bundled her off to work amid grumbles over his lack of real food and coffee in the house. Promising to rectify the situation immediately, he’d kissed her in full view of half a dozen library patrons and grinned at her flustered state.

  “Be right back, sweetheart.”

  Last night had been everything Matt could have wanted from Grace, except for one thing, and that little black cloud threatened to derail his perfect morning – he couldn’t tell her how he felt. Matt was sure she could see it in his face, and he caught glimpses of emotion from her, but anytime he couched their relationship in terms other than sex, she tensed up. She didn’t like being seen as “together” in public, still sure she was going to ruin him somehow. She had some pretty serious hangups, but Matt was fairly certain he was falling in love with her.

  They were going to have to talk.

  That wouldn’t go well, Matt was certain, but he couldn’t put it off forever. Until then, however, he would just sneak in hearts and flowers and tenderness where he could, and do his best to satisfy her more extreme side.

  Poor me.

  He grinned to himself as he pushed the door of the diner open. That side of Grace was becoming easier for him to handle every time they tried it. With each naughty interlude, he felt more confident in himself that he could be what she needed without hurting her.

  As long as it doesn’t go too far, he amended, and ordered a couple of breakfast sandwiches and two coffees to go.

  While he waited, he noticed Darryl Lansky sitting in the corner of the diner, watching him from over his newspaper.

  “Hi Darryl,” he said, approaching the table.

  “Mr. Harris,” responded Darryl in frigid tones, “I heard you were working with the Sheriff on this fire thing. I suppose that means you’re the reason Deputy Asher called me yesterday demanding a list of my employees?”

  “Four of the buildings that burned had either been built or renovated by Lansky Construction. We’re just being thorough.”

  Darryl snorted and folded his paper.

  “There’s only ever been one firebrand in this town, and that’s Adam Mallow.”

  Matt could feel the anger rising, and put a lid on it.

  “We’re investigating every angle, Darryl,” he said smoothly, “And along those lines, would you like to tell me why your brother visited all the crime scenes yesterday?”

  Darryl stiffened.

  “I don’t like what you’re implying.”

  “I’m not implying anything. I’m asking.”

  “Russell had nothing to do with this. The Mallows have been a blight on this community for years, Mr. Harris, and the sooner you realize that, the sooner the good people of Bright’s Ferry can sleep soundly again.”

  He stomped away, which was lucky for him, because Matt was seething, angry and frustrated and if he had to look at Darryl’s cold-fish face for one more minute, he would have put a fist through his teeth.

  Matt took a few deep breaths and counted, pulling himself together. He managed a smile for Mary as he accepted the bag and the coffees and headed out into Main Square.

  Halfway toward the library, he heard the wail of a toddler and a frustrated female, “Shit,” drifting up from the opposite side of a silver minivan. Peering around, he saw Millicent Grayson struggling to juggle her son Lloyd and the instructions for changing a tire. The front tire was flat as a pancake. Lloyd was clearly not happy with the situation, but Millie looked ready to cry herself.

  Matt set the bag and coffees on the curb and came around the side.

  “Need a hand?”

  “Oh God, yes. Thank you, Matt. I was about to call Pete, but my cell phone died.”

  Pete Jackson ran the local garage, but there was no point in calling him out here for just a flat tire.

  “Don’t sweat it. I can change a tire.”

  He tickled Lloyd under the chin and after a moment where the little boy sized up the newcomer, was rewarded with a watery smile.

  “He likes you,” said Millie.

  “He’s a cute little guy,” Matt responded, feeling a pang for Millie, who had lost her husband in a fishing accident and had just gotten over a nearly disastrous crush on Colin Daniels.

  As he pulled out the spare tire, Matt wondered if Grace wanted children. She was certainly good with them, and their outpouring of affection for the librarian probably went a long way to soothe the sting of their parents’ irrational dislike.

  The tire was swiftly dealt with, and Millicent’s thanks was effusive.

  “Are you sure I can’t pay you?”

  “Please, don’t. I’m happy to help.”

  She bounced Lloyd on her hip, and the movement caused her purse to slip, scattering lipstick and wallet.

  “Oh crap. Would you mind holding him for a minute?”

  She thrust the squirming little body at him, and Matt was amazed at the life contained in this plump little form, feeling his heart quake as the boy curled trustingly into him, grabbing a fistful of his shirt.

  Millie retrieved her things and then impulsively stood on tiptoe to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth.

  “You’re a lifesaver, thanks.”

  GRACE TRIED TO TELL herself that she wasn’t the kind of shrewish bitch that freaked out any time another woman stepped close to her man, but what she was feeling vaguely resembled jealous rage. It wasn’t that Matt had stopped to help her with the tire, or that Millie had kissed him. It was the look on his face as he held Lloyd and accepted the easy affection from the mousy waitress that sent Grace off the deep end.

  At his core, this is what he wants, she thought.

  Family, a normal life, a nice young woman who drives a silver minivan.

  It all clicked into place for her. No one in town would blink if Matt escorted Millie Grayson to dinner, if he dated her, if he married her. They wouldn’t worry that he was being corrupted or wonder why he didn’t arrest his girlfriend’s brother for arson. Someone like Millie would probably never make him look bad or ask to be dominated or push him for anal sex
. If she really wanted him to be happy, she’d let him have that life.

  “Hey, I was just coming over. Sorry, breakfast might be a little cold.”

  “That’s okay, I’m not hungry,” replied Grace, swallowing the lump in her throat as Matt handed Lloyd back to Millie.

  She turned around to walk away and had only gone half a block before Matt caught her arm.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Grace pulled her arm away. There were people in the square.

  “Nothing.”

  Push him away.

  “Millie’s a sweetheart. Now that she’s not hung up on Colin anymore, maybe you should ask her out.”

  Matt looked uncertain, and not at all pleased.

  “Why would I ask her out?”

  “She seems to want all the same things you want,” Grace shrugged, her tone deliberately light.

  “She doesn’t know a damn thing about what I want, and I’m beginning to think you don’t either,” growled Matt.

  “Keep your voice down,” Grace urged, looking around, “Look, I don’t want to fight. I’m just saying that you have options. And I do, too.”

  “Thanks for letting me know,” said Matt, clearly pissed.

  “I have to get back to work.”

  She knew there were tears swimming in her eyes, but she’d let herself get lured in this far – it was only going to be harder and harder to leave if she let it continue. Grace pushed back memories of the night and morning they’d shared – terrifying in terms of intimacy, but impossible to forget.

  Grace looked around the square. A handful of people had turned their way, pretending not to watch, not to eavesdrop. Suddenly, she was sick of it. And if she had to watch Matt move on to another woman, her heart was going to crumble into dust. Maybe it was time to leave after all.

  “We need to talk. I’ll come by later,” said Matt.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea. What do we really have, right? A few nights of good sex. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  “Grace – ” The horror in his voice nearly had her crumbling, and she hurriedly continued, “I’m – I think it may be time for Adam and I to leave Bright’s Ferry. We don’t belong here anymore.”

  And with that little bomb, she turned and fled back toward the library, ignoring the warring inner voices ripping her apart as she left Matt standing in shock on the corner of Main Square.