“Fire investigation is handled by specialists,” Austin said.“I’m just a firefighter.”
“Right.Well, thanks for checking on Margaret.It was thoughtful of you.”
The elevator reached the ground floor, and they walked toward the main entrance together.Outside, the evening air was cool and clean, and it felt good after being in the hospital for an hour.
“Can I ask you something?”Austin said as they paused near the parking garage entrance.
Caleb looked at him expectantly.
“Are you okay?After this afternoon, I mean.Panic attacks can be draining.”
Something changed in Caleb’s expression.“I’m fine.Thank you for asking.And for earlier.You didn’t have to help.”
“Yes, I did,” Austin said simply.“It’s what I do.”
But he couldn’t deny that there was something special about Caleb.Austin would’ve helped anyone having a panic attack, but it had been important because of who Caleb was—to West, to Jonathan, and maybe, to Austin himself.
* * * *
CALEB’S MIND RACED.Austin had asked Margaret all the right questions.He’d been gentle and had seemed genuinely concerned for her.
But he’d also been looking for specific information while being careful not to reveal what he suspected to her.Caleb was sure of that.But could Caleb trust him?He didn’t think that Austin was involved in the fires—that would be ridiculous—but that didn’t mean he wasn’t dangerous.Caleb didn’t want him to be, and part of him believed that West and Jonathan were right to trust Austin, but another part was screaming at him to be careful.
“Well, thank you anyway,” Caleb said.
They looked at each other for a moment, and Caleb felt that same pull he’d felt when Austin had helped him breathe earlier.There was something about this man that made Caleb want to trust him, which was exactly why Caleb was wary.It would be too easy.
“I should get going,” he said, fighting the urge to ask Austin what he really thought about the fires and what he was planning to do with the information he’d gathered.
“Before you go, I was thinking that maybe we could work together?”
Austin sounded hopeful, and Caleb wanted to say yes.It would make sense.Austin was a firefighter and knew more about fires than Caleb could ever research.He might get inside information Caleb would never get access to.If he was serious about helping, he might be the key to finding the arsonist.
But Caleb didn’t trust him, not yet, and maybe not ever.He’d need to get to know him better first, and this didn’t feel like the right setting to do that.
“We could get coffee,” Austin continued.“And maybe you could give me your number.”
Caleb wanted to say yes, but instead, he shook his head.“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Austin frowned.“Why not?We can swap info and maybe find the person behind this together.”
“I think it’s better if we work on this alone.”
Austin was silent for a moment.Caleb had to resist the urge to run to his car.
“You don’t trust me,” Austin finally said.
“It has nothing to do with you.”
“Sure it does.”
“It’s just...you’re a dragon shifter, and I’ve only ever had bad experiences with dragon shifters.”
“Even West?”
“Well, not him, but he’s different.”
“Have you thought that maybe I’m different, too?”
