Nodding my head, I turn my eyes to the trail of the accelerant. Pulling out my phone, I take some pictures, zooming in on the trails and the burn patterns.
I swear that it all seems familiar. Same starting points. Same accelerant. Same patterns for where the fire burned hottest.
But I can’t figure out where from and that’s going to take running through my records. After I take a look at the other two sites.
“Can you run me to the other sites?”
“Yeah. And then I’ll drop you off at our place.”
“I’m parked at the mayor’s office.”
“Then we’ll stop there and get your car and you can follow me home.”
“I don’t want to put you out…”
He stomps up to me and those calloused, strong hands touch my cheek lightly. A flush heats up my cheeks and warmth curls through my veins.
I have to fight to keep from panting because this man seems to steal every bit of my intelligence and I narrow down to the simplest traits.
In other words, I want to fuck him and it’s a base instinct that’s getting harder and harder to fight.
But fight it I must.
“It’s no hardship for me, wildfire. I’d take you any damn place you want to go.”
My whole body melts into a puddle of need. Dammit! He’s really getting under my skin.
“The mayor’s office is fine. Thank you.”
And I back away slowly. I don’t want to put space between us. I want to move closer. My whole body is humming with the desire that this very strange man brings to life.
But I need to keep my wits about me and get this job done and get the hell out of here before what remains of my will falls by the wayside.
Quietly, I follow him to his car and the rest of the afternoon, I focus on taking my pictures, doing my notes and trying to ignore the looming slab of warm-blooded male that follows me wherever I go.
CHAPTER 5
Reed
I’m going crazy. She’s only been here one day and my whole body is attuned to every breath she takes. Every move she makes vibrates through all the way to my soul. She haunts me.
She smiles and my breath stutters, my heart racing in my chest. She laughs at something my mom says and it’s like I want to wallow in it. Want to soak it up and roll around in it.
She’s addictive.
And I have to leave. My teeth clench and I growl under my breath, pissed that I’m acting like a damn clinging vine.
“She’s just a woman. Buck the fuck up. You’ve lived without a woman your whole damn life.”
And maybe that’s part of the problem. I’ve never felt like this before. Everything about her intrigues me, sends me into flights of fancy.
I’m an idiot. A pussy-whipped idiot.
“Did you say something?” My mother grins at me knowingly. Yeah. She knows what’s up.
She’s been bugging me for years to find a woman and settle down. She seems to think that I’m punishing myself for losing Roger.
Hell…maybe I am. In some ways.
