“Everything okay, Chief?”
“Do I look okay?” I stand up, yawning again.
“Will you demote me if I’m honest? You look tired.”
“Iamtired. Not enough sleep.”
“Hot girl keeping you up all night?” He raises an eyebrow.
“Something like that. Can you take over? I’m due to finish in half an hour, but I have some errands to run.”
“Sure. Dead as a doornail here anyway, man. You won’t miss much.”
As I drive back home, last night’s events play on my mind. That big wooden crate had no damn business blocking the door of the cabin like that. I’m used to paying attention to my instincts, and my gut told me that there was something wrong about her getting trapped in that old cabin. Now, with what Rhys has told me, the puzzle is starting to get clearer.
Anyone who tries to mess with my little comet is going to have to come through me first. My fists clench again as I get out of my car. I don’t like the idea of Hailey on her own in the house with some predatory fucker roaming around. I feed Ember and walk next door, scoping the outside of the house. It all looks peaceful, but I’m on high alert. I text my brother when I’m on the porch.
Atlas: I want you to do me a favor. I’m concerned Hailey Ryder is being targeted by a stalker, she lives next door to me.
Rion: Already on it. Hailey is Daisy Barton’s newest employee. Daisy informed me that she had a stalker. Guy sounds cracked. I’m doing some digging.
I knock on the door and Hailey answers quickly. She’s wearing a rose pink dress, her hair wavy around her face. My breath hitches, my cock hardening at the sight of those gorgeous curves.
Attempting to stop gawking at her, I glance over her shoulder to the kitchen. “I’m here about a dryer, Ma’am.”
She laughs. “I’m honored that Snowflake Falls’ resident hero is also my very own handyman. Come this way.”
The sway of her hips as she walks down the hallway is mesmerizing.
I clear my throat. “Y’know, little comet, this whole big hero thing…it’s just a bunch of hot air.”
She stops in front of the small utility room. “That’s not what I heard.”
I shrug. “Being a firefighter is a joint effort. You’re only as good as the guys you’ve got on your team. I trust them with my life.”
“Did you always want to be a firefighter?” Hailey moves a wicker basket of laundry off the top of the dryer.
“Well, I joined the military as soon as I could, so I guess not. Honorable discharge and my Aunt getting sick, I needed work ASAP in Snowflake. Sorta worked my way up to Chief. It’s a great job, but I’m handing over the reins soon.”
“You are?”
“Yep. I’m gonna be working with Rhys at his company. I’ll still pick up some volunteer shifts, though. How about you?”
She’s still clutching the basket, so I take it from her and set it down on the hallway floor so I can walk past her. She smells so good that I have to stop myself burying my face in her neck as I move past.
Hailey’s smile drops. “Um, I had a job in the city. A great place. I had to leave. But now I’m going to be working at Blossom Beauty in town.”
“No more dog walking?”
She shakes her head. “I’ll still volunteer at the shelter. And I’ll be happy not to have to do any more ironing or data entry jobs. Speaking of the shelter, I was wondering if you could do me a favor?”
I peer into the inside of the dryer. “Does it involve anything illegal?”
She grins. “Nope.”
“Okay, go ahead.” I reach into the dryer, running my fingers over the metal surface. A larger piece of metal is wedged inside and I wiggle it, trying to get it loose.
“We have a big shelter event tomorrow to raise money. We were meant to have an influencer coming to adopt one of the dogs. She was also going to offer an afternoon having lunch with her as one of the prizes. But she’s let us down. I was thinking…”
