Page 90 of Burning For You

“Brenna, leave your sister alone,” her mother said. “I found it very sweet that we caught Skye in a moment. And a soft one at that.”

Her lips twisted, her nose scrunching up, which only resulted in more laughter around the room. “It’s the only one you’re going to get,” she said.

“Don’t be that way,” Brenna said. “We are only picking on you.”

“Have a seat, Ash,” her father said.

She lifted her eyebrow at the tone of voice.

Ash looked around and saw the loveseat was open. Two people could fit there and it was like the hot seat for them that she’d feared.

She grabbed his hand and yanked him closer, the rest of the room laughing again, her hands going up in the air. It didn’t matter what move she made, she was being judged.

“I want to enjoy this meal and now I’m questioning coming back at all because you’re all going to make me and Ash feel uncomfortable.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Ash said, opening his tea and taking a drink. He was much more relaxed than her, which didn’t make sense that he worried he’d have to be on the defensive.

Unless he was right, and that little “soft” move of reaching for his hand when she thought no one was looking all but put him in the clear.

She turned to look at him. “What does that mean?”

“I can handle myself and rarely feel uncomfortable. So I’ll start. You all know how I’ve felt about Skye for years, right?”

She looked around the room and saw several heads nod. “We know,” her mother said, elbowing her father.

“I’m not going to hurt her. You should be more worried she’ll hurt me. So if that is what you’re concerned about, don’t be. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

When her brothers were nodding, even her father, she couldn’t contain her shock. “That’s it? He can say that little bit and it’s over? Then why did you all have to come today?”

Not one lick of this made sense.

But it seemed nothing in her life the past few months had. What was one more thing?

“Because there is more shit we want to know about,” Keegan said, staring her down. Yep, this brother always made her step falter. Not that he’d hurt her, but she didn’t know who he’d hurt for her. “Tate has caught me up. The county is caught up also and on the lookout and asking questions. I should have known earlier.”

She turned to Ash. “Did you know this?”

“Yes, I talked to Ford a few days ago.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because there wasn’t much to say. I was talking to him about us. Not the fire shit, but us. You know I told my family too.”

“Do you think this person will just stop? It’s been a few days,” she said. “Maybe they will know everyone is watching.”

“That most likely increases the appetite for it,” Tate said. “Right, Keegan? That’s what the talk at PD is. How about the Sheriff’s Department?”

“This shit doesn’t go away on its own and it’s ridiculous for you to think otherwise, Skye.”

Nothing like putting it out there and scaring her.

“I hate to think they are only getting started,” Tate said, “but it looks that way. They are smart enough to use burners. Turning them on, sending an email, then turning them off. Who knows, maybe disposing of them after.”

“So no hits since the last email a few days ago?”

“Not that I’ve heard. You haven’t gotten any other emails either, right?” Tate asked.

“You’d know if I did,” she said sarcastically.