It was too much to hope that Ryder would take his side on this. “Ever find out that amount?” Chase asked, watching Granger poking his nose around the spot where the garage once stood. He wished he could wrap up his report if for no other reason than to get the adjuster out of town.
“No.”
Chase swallowed his frustration, biting back words because too many people still loitered around them. “I’d really like to have that figure by Monday.”
“Me, too.” Ryder scrubbed a hand over his hair and down his neck, fighting a yawn. “Been trying to call the insurance company since you asked. Granger’s based out of the Anchorage office, but no one wants to answer the phone or return my calls. Before you ask, yes, I’ve tried to reach the main office, but they just give me the runaround and tell me I need to talk to the Anchorage office.”
“You don’t think that’s strange?”
“No, not really.” With another yawn, Ryder eyed his truck. “Ever been on the phone with an insurance company? It’s a pain in the you-know-what to get information out of them.” As the last fire department vehicle departed the scene, Ryder added, “C’mon, it’s late. I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Thanks. Zeus is probably pacing circles at the front window, tearing up one of my favorite socks.” Nights like tonight, it really stunk that Laurel wasn’t at home waiting for him. He wanted his wife in his life permanently, and he was running out of time to make it happen. Sure, they could work things out down the road even with the divorce final, but a gut feeling told him that was doubtful.
“I’m canceling my fishing trip,” Ryder grumbled. “Kinley thinks I should stick around this weekend in case you need my help.Andto keep you out of trouble. Starting with no more unsolicited questions. I don’t know if you could tell, but Henry’s truly rattled by all this. The last thing he needs is you cooking up conspiracy theories you can’t back up with evidence. You’ll have the whole town pitted against him if you’re not careful.”
Ryder was only doing his job, as Chase was, so he didn’t argue.
“I’ll help put all this to bed if you want,” Ryder added. “But you owe me. When this is all over, you’re taking the boat out with me, wife or no wife. We’re getting those kings before they leave.”
“Deal.”
When Ryder pulled into Chase’s driveway, he was surprised to see the glow of a living room lamp. That Laurel had left a light on for Zeus made him swear he was falling more deeply in love with her every day. The thought made him wonder what she’d been about to tell him in the kitchen before the call came in.
Whatever it was, it was one of her biggest secrets.
“Chase?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t make me arrest you, okay?” With those ominous words, Ryder backed up and drove away.
Chase unlocked the front door, surprised when Zeus didn’t immediately bombard him at the door. Even groggy, he was always excited for Chase to come home on a late night. He’d barely hung up his jacket when he spotted the dog on the couch, curled up next to a blanket-covered heap.
Laurel.
His chest warmed at the sight of her sleeping, Zeus curled protectively against her. He didn’t dare wake her. As he crept from the front door toward the master bedroom, the pup lifted his head. His tail thumped a few times as if to say hello, then settled.
Chase nodded, not a bit disappointed that Zeus chose Laurel over him tonight.
After a long hot shower, he snuck into the kitchen and ate a cold burger. Part of him hoped Laurel would wake up. He craved her company, her reassuring words that he wasn’t losing his marbles over these fires. But because he didn’t want her to leave, he settled simply for having her here, in the house she belonged in.
He pulled the blanket over her shoulders, scratched a sleepy Zeus behind the ears, and went to bed.
Chapter Eleven
Laurel
Sunlight beamed Laurel in the face until she forced her eyes open. The room was much too bright to be her basement bedroom pointed toward the west. The aroma of bacon tickled her senses.Odd.Stretching her legs, one fell off the edge of the bed and the other bumped into—I’m on a couch?
The events of last night returned to Laurel in a rush. Standing with Chase in the dim kitchen, about to confess her biggest secret. The fire call coming in. Eating enough leftover birthday cake to lull her into a sugar coma. Her decision to stay with Zeus after Ava and Kinley called it a night. The dog curling up beside her on the couch. She expected to wake up when Chase got home and leave. That’s what she’d texted Haylee.
She dared to sit up, searching for her phone, and was greeted seconds later by an excitable wet nose from the pup who’d kept her company all night. “Hey, buddy.”
“Making bacon, eggs over easy, and toast,” Chase announced from the kitchen. “It’ll be ready in about two minutes.”
Laurel definitely shouldn’t stay for breakfast, but her stomach growled in objection at the thought of leaving. “I didn’t hear you come in last night,” she called back, lifting the blanket and throw pillows to find her phone. “How late were you at the fire?”
“Almost one.”
