“You can cut the cord anytime.”
****
Connor drove along the expressway, following the instructions of the annoying voice on the GPS. When the lady in the box announced to take the next exit, he signaled and got off the interstate. Making his way down quiet city streets, he promptly hit a traffic jam.
“Good Lord, this is some messed up shit.” He wondered if it was normal to hit traffic so late at night. He spotted an officer heading down the line of cars in front of him, stopping at each one for a moment to speak to the driver. When he approached, Connor hit the switch to lower his window.
“Evening, officer.”
The man nodded his head. “Evening, where you headed?”
“Station 58, I have some business there.”
“Bad accident up the road and it’s gonna take them a bit to clear it out. You can turn left up here at the next street.” He pointed. “Go a couple of blocks to the light then take a right. You’ll see the station from there.”
Connor noted the vehicles in front of him were pulling into the other lane and traveling up to the next intersection. “I’ll do that. Thanks, I hope there were no casualties.” The officer had already moved on to the car behind him, so he pulled out and followed the traffic.
Once he’d gotten onto Fisk Ave, the annoying woman started blurting out directions. Finally, he took a right at the light, and there he could actually see the fire station. He pulled into the lot, shoved the truck in park, and jumped out. Sweat immediately trickled down the back of his neck, and he swore before he spun, making a complete circle. Something familiar touched him. Was it possible Jenna had been here? Why did he feel her all around him? It was as if she were both in the station and down the street.
He scrubbed his face. He really was losing it.
Connor strode across the pavement and through the open overhead door, stopping in front of the first person he spotted.
“Names Connor, I’m looking for Detective Collins.”
A young man jerked his head to the right. “He’s in the kitchen having coffee.”
“Thanks.” He headed in the direction the kid indicated. When he stepped through the door, he overheard a conversation about what he guessed was the accident. A semi versus a car. Something about a pregnant woman who died, but the baby was saved by a shifter? He’d have to remember to inquire later about this shifter. Could it be Jenna? He shouldn’t get his hopes up.
Finally, all conversation stopped and eyes turned to him. A guy in a pair of jeans and a button-down navy blue shirt jumped to his feet and rounded the table.
“Hi, you must be Connor, I’m Ethan Collins.” He held out his hand; Connor accepted and gave a firm shake. “Would you like some coffee?”
“Sure, I’d love a cup. Cream, please.” He pulled out a chair and took a seat across from two other firefighters. Ethan set the coffee down in front of him and took the seat to his left.
“So I hear you’re one of the best around,” the blond across from him stated.
Connor lifted the cup of coffee. “I am, and I’m curious. You mentioned having a shifter on your crew. What’s their name?”
“That would be Jenna Dunne. I sure hope you can help us catch this person,” Ethan said.
Connor’s chest tightened, and he had to set his cup back on the table before he splashed coffee everywhere.
An alarm went off and an announcement requesting backup. The two guys on the other side of the table jumped to their feet and ran from the room. Ethan shook his head. “Every time I hear that damn thing, I cringe.”
“Worried it might be him again?” Connor managed to regain his composure.
“Always. Do you think we’re looking for a male suspect?” Ethan ran his thumb over the rim of his coffee cup.
“Usually is. Women aren’t much into starting fires. So, tell me. How long has this Jenna been employed here?”
Ethan seemed to contemplate his remark before replying. “About a year, maybe. You know her?”
“Possibly.” He wasn’t ready to admit he knew exactly who she was.
A cell phone rang. “Excuse me.” Ethan pulled the phone from his back pocket. “Yeah.”
Connor was in tune to the man’s body language. A slight stiffening of the jaw indicated the news on the other end wasn’t pleasant. When the detective finally hung up, Connor had already surmised what the conversation was about.
“Let me guess, our man has struck again?”
Ethan jumped to his feet. “I don’t know if this is our guy, but the house was fully engulfed when our crew arrived. The neighbors say a young woman lives in the house alone, and they last saw her when she came home from work around five. She would have been asleep by now, and no one can find her.”
Connor wasted no time getting to his feet. “You drive.” He was heading out the door before the other man could even reply.
Chapter Four
Jenna tore off her mask and looked at herself in the mirror. “Damn, I look like shit.”
“You did a great job.” Jenna was so run down, she hadn’t even noticed when one of the nurses slid in beside her at the sink. “The baby’s father is with her now.” She shook her brown curls. “Tears of sadness and happiness all in one.”
“How is the little one?”
“Everything checked out great. She’s one lucky little girl.” The nurse flashed a smile. “She’s in the nursery if you want to take a peek.”
Jenna looked back at her reflection. “I might slip up there before I go.” She felt a light touch on her shoulder.
“Make sure you get some rest soon.” The nurse turned and left the room.
Jenna splashed cold water on her face, grabbed a towel, and dried off. She stepped from the room and headed to the bank of elevators. When the doors finally opened, she was relieved to discover it empty, so she stepped in and jabbed the button for the third-floor. It was then she realized she didn’t have any shoes on, only the little booties the nurses had given her. The doors slid open and she walked out, turned to the right, and headed toward the nursery. Thankfully, it was late, and there were not a lot of people around because she wasn’t in the mood to be social.
As she stepped to the window, she spotted a man sitting in a rocking chair, holding a tiny bundle. Instantly, she knew it was the little girl. A nurse walked by on the other side of the glass and tapped the gentleman on the shoulder. When he looked up at her, the woman pointed toward the window. Jenna couldn’t make out what they were saying, but she had a feeling it was about her. When he looked her way, his eyes lit up. He rose from the chair and walked toward her. Stopping at the glass in front of her, he pulled the blanket aside so she could get a better look at the baby.
He smiled at her, and mouthed the words “thank you.”
She pressed both palms against the glass. “You’re welcome.”
He moved and pointed to a bassinet that held a little sign that said, “My name is Hope.” Tears stung her eyes, but she held them back. “That’s a beautiful name.” She waved her fingers. “Have to go now.” Before he could respond, she sped away from the window and back down the hall toward the elevator. The door opened as soon as she hit the button, and she practically leapt inside. She pressed herself against the back wall, closed her eyes, and lost her battle with the tears that streaked down her cheeks.
Her thoughts quickly moved to Connor and the life she desperately wanted for them to have together. Her heart broke all over again at the thought of the one man she tried so hard not to give her heart to. Jenna wanted to be brave. She wanted to believe she could be the perfect mate for him. However, being a halfling meant she stood a good chance of never carrying a dragon child. According to elder law, Connor would be within his rights, and strongly encouraged, to break their bond and find another mate.
She wasn’t willing to risk Connor’s rejection, so she had fled Minnesota. Left everyone she knew and loved behind to start a new life here in Dallas. All of her emotions, her feelings for Connor,
had been buried deep and covered up with her new existence. However, seeing that baby ripped the lid off her well-hidden emotions.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. Jenna quickly scooted out and headed for the lobby, wiping her tear-stained face.
“Damn it.” It dawned on her that she had no ride home. She looked at a clock as she walked past. Midnight. She supposed she could call Kate but hated to interrupt her evening. There was always a cab.
Her stomach growled, breaking her train of thought. The night had taken a lot out of her, and she was starving. Her body begged for sustenance. She crossed the lobby, head down, searching through her phone for a local taxi.
“Jenna.”
Startled, she stopped and looked toward the voice. Derrick stood there with a cup of coffee in one hand, and the pair of shoes she handed off to him earlier in the other. She had no idea what to say.
He strode toward her. “I knew you’d need a ride.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “And I thought you might need some coffee.”
Maybe it was because she was exhausted and starving. Or perhaps it was his simple act of kindness, but she burst into tears again.
“Damn. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not you. It’s been a tough night, and the fact that you even thought of me... Well, I don’t know what to say but thank you.” She accepted the shoes and moved to a nearby chair. Pulling off the booties, she slipped on her heels and stood, trying not to wince at the pain in her feet. She then accepted the coffee and took a sip, savoring her favorite flavor of butter pecan.
“How did you know this was my favorite?” Connor had known all of her favorites too. Damn it, I need to stop thinking about him and move on.
There was that sexy grin again. “I pay attention.” He tilted his head. “Are you hungry?”
“I am famished.”
“Come on then, let me buy you something to eat. I’ll not take no for an answer.”
She’d planned to go home and just make a sandwich then fall into bed, but a hot meal did sound a lot better. “I’d like that.”
****
The second Ethan pulled up to the scene, Connor jumped out of the car and stepped next to the chief on command. “Holy hell.” The fire had been beaten back, but there was a lot of damage to the front of the house. Fortunately, the homes on either side had been protected and sustained minor to no damage.
“Do we know if anyone was home?” He prayed the answer would be no because there was no way anyone survived this.
“They’re still searching, though the neighbors say they saw the woman who lives here come home. Her car is still parked in the garage.”
Connor’s gaze went to where the garage should have been, and in its place were the skeletal remains of a vehicle. Things weren’t looking good. One of the firefighters approached.
“Captain, they found a body.”
“Where?” Connor blurted out before the captain could pose the question himself.
The man shuffled his feet, and his gaze darted between Connor and his captain. “We found her in the closet. Gagged and bound.”
The captain pulled off his hat and wiped his arm across his brow. “Thanks, Dan.” He looked toward Connor. “I’d say we now have a murder.”
Connor scratched his chin as he focused on what remained of the structure. “Agreed. People just don’t end up that way.”
Most of the fire was out and only embers glowed in the darkness. His vision, better than any human, zeroed in on the back of the house. He moved across the property and around to the back, where he could get a close up view of the bedroom.
Ethan followed him.
“The fire didn’t start back here,” Connor stated. “There’s less damage to this part of the house.” He peered through a broken window and spotted the victim. The fire hadn’t touched her. It was likely if she wasn’t already dead, then the smoke had killed her. Connor inhaled sharply. Scents he recognized as those already on the scene filtered through his sensitive nose. The smell of gasoline also assured him it was likely their suspect.
“I don’t like the feeling I’m getting here,” Ethan stated, standing next to him.
“Neither do I,” Connor replied. “Every instinct I possess tells me she knew her assailant.”
“Why’s that?” The detective coughed as pungent smoke still billowed from the burning embers inside.
He shook his head. “Can’t explain it. I also can’t detect a scent from anyone not already here.” He faced Ethan. “So everyone is now a suspect. I want on this site first thing in the morning.” He started to walk away. “Also, can you get me some background information on the woman that lived here?”
Ethan nodded. “I’m on it right now.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and started punching the pad as he followed Connor. More police arrived and began marking off the scene. He stopped for a moment and again searched the smells but it was useless. Maybe morning would bring more answers.
Connor turned back and headed toward the car, where he caught up with the detective. “Soon as you’re ready, I could use a ride back to my truck. I’ll head over to my hotel, but the minute you have any information, don’t hesitate to give me a call.”
“You got it.”
Chapter Five
Jenna waited while Derrick rounded the truck then opened her door and helped her out. Taking her arm, he led her across the sidewalk and into the little diner named Mel’s Place.
“How about a booth in the back?” he asked.
“Perfect.” Too tired to care where they sat, she just wanted something to eat and the comfort of her bed.
They headed for the back corner, even though the place was fairly empty and they had their choice of places to sit. She slid across the red vinyl and settled in. Grabbing a menu from a chrome holder, she flipped it open and scanned the items. “Hmm, breakfast, lunch, or dinner?” She glanced at the clock on the wall; it was now closing in on one in the morning. It didn't really matter what she ate as long as it was something.
“You have whatever you want and as much as you need.” Derrick looked up from his menu.
The waitress sauntered over, pad in hand, and pulled a pencil from behind her ear. “You guys want coffee?”
“None for me, thanks,” Jenna replied.
“Me neither.” Derrick looked back at his menu. “You go first.”
“I’ll have some iced tea, a cheeseburger with everything except onions, and an order of fries.” She closed her menu and stuck it back in the holder.
“And you, sir?”
“I’ll have the same.”
The waitress scratched on her pad then smiled. “Coming right up.” She headed off to the counter to place their order.
“It's been a tough evening for you, hasn’t it?” Derrick asked as he reached across the table and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. Her first instinct was to pull away. She’d not let another man touch her since Connor, but she was too tired to move. Plus, the contact felt nice.
“Yes it has. I think this was one of the toughest calls I've ever taken.” She finally pulled her hand free and settled both of them in her lap as she stared across the diner. A strange feeling came over her. A feeling of...déjà vu? Not as if she'd been here before, but something was definitely familiar.
She suddenly felt uncomfortable. Like a schoolgirl on a first date, even though this wasn’t a date. Or was it? It couldn’t be. Derrick was a coworker who was being considerate. They’d been friends since she showed up at the station on her first day. Yes, he was handsome and kind, but could they be more than friends? He’d hinted on several occasions maybe they could. Perhaps it was time she thought about dating again. Maybe that was exactly what she needed to finally get Connor out of her system and move on with her life.
“You look deep in thought.”
She gave a slight shrug of her shoulder. “I suppose I drifted away for a moment. That was rude, I’m sorry.”
The waitress
placed two glasses of ice tea in front of them. “Your food will be up shortly.”
“Thanks,” Derrick replied with a smile before he focused on Jenna again. “Don’t worry about it. Can I ask where you went to?”
“Nowhere, really. Just tired I guess.” She brushed a lock of hair from her face. “Thanks for everything. You’re a good friend.”
“I’d like to be more than your friend, Jenna.”
She chewed her bottom lip and contemplated how to respond. Luckily, the waitress showed up with their food. Jenna inhaled deeply and reached for the ketchup. “God that smells good.” Squirting a big puddle on her plate, she ran a fry through it then popped it in her mouth. “It tastes even better.”
Derrick chuckled. “If that’s not enough for you, you can have some of mine too.”
She picked up her burger and grease ran down her wrist. “I think I’ll be good with this.” Then she shoved the sandwich into her mouth.
****
Connor jumped into his truck with a promise from the detective he would dig up any information about the woman he could find. Immediately, his thoughts turned to Jenna. She was here, he was sure of it.
As he drove from the fire station lot, his stomach growled, and he realized he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “Siri, find me the closest place to eat.” His phone gave him directions to one that wasn’t far from his hotel. He made a right at the light and headed down the quiet street until he saw the sign for Mel’s Place. Perfect. Looked like the kind of greasy spoon his gut needed. He found a parking space a few slots down and pulled in. When he exited the truck, something caught his attention. His muscles bunched at the familiar scent. It was like a slice of heaven, so he followed it. A low rumble echoed off the side of the building, and he realized it came from him.
He’d been growling.
He glanced around. The sidewalk was empty, as it should be this time of the night, so he stalked forward. When he was in front of the glass door, he stopped and inhaled again.
“It can’t be.” Had he finally found her? One thing was for sure, he wasn’t going to stand outside on the sidewalk and debate with himself. He grabbed the handle, took another deep breath, and pulled open the door. As he stepped inside, he knew for certain he was in the right place. Her scent was so strong, his cock twitched with desire. He did a quick scan of the room. A young couple, likely college-age, sat in a booth close to the door. A middle-aged man sipped coffee at the counter. Connor narrowed his gaze on the booth back in the corner. There was no mistaking Jenna, and she was with another man. Jealousy raged through him.
Dallas Fire & RescueHis Burning Desire Page 3
