Page 97 of Burning For You

Was that why she couldn’t start the book until now?

Did she really need to be in the action to almost feel it again in order to even start?

“I don’t know anything about that,” he said. “But I do know she wished she didn’t get caught up in it. If that were the case, I’d think she’d be going to every fire and she’s not. Not even car accidents or anything else crime related.”

“That’s right,” Rory said. “Gale, sometimes you put your lawyer hat on more than you need to. Remember, I went through some of what she did. Fighting for Rene helped me write. I thought it was my therapy, but it’s just what I was meant to do. But coming back here, it’s been some of my best work. I couldn’t do that until I was free of the past. It might not be any more than that. And sometimes to be free of something, you’ve got to return and tackle it.”

He let out a sigh. “Can you say that to her if it comes up? It’d mean a lot to her and me.”

“Oh man, Ash is in looooooveeee,” Gale said, moving over to give him a big hug. “I know it. That said it all. I’ll be good. I promise.”

His mother laughed. “You’re never good, but you’ll try, Gale, and that is more than you’ve done before with your brothers when it came to situations like this.”

25

PROTECT THOSE THEY LOVED

Skye’s feet halted when she walked into the living room and saw Gale on the couch with her fiancé.

“What’s wrong?” Ash asked her from behind. Almost whispering in her ear. Even a touch of humor with it.

“Nothing,” she said, moving in. Though the guy on the couch looked like someone she’d met before.

“Hi, Skye. I’m not sure if you remember me.”

She moved toward Ash’s sister who was only two years older than her. The same age as Sean. “I do, Gale. It’s nice to see you again.”

“This is my fiancé, Rory Connors.”

She shook Rory’s hand. She’d heard about him.

How could this area not?

She was a young teen herself when Rory’s sister had been killed and the murderer never caught.

Until months ago when Rory came to town and, between him and Gale investigating, another person in the area ended up being the killer.

Someone in construction.

People her brothers and father had talked to, worked with, even saw out all the time.

She was as stunned as everyone else to find out who had done it and how easily he confessed once he was caught.

Just like she knew the story behind everyone else in this room.

Ford saving his wife, Reenie. Clay the same with his wife, Meredith, who was Gale’s best friend in school.

Then more recently, a few months ago, an attempt made on Blaze’s girlfriend right at work.

He’d saved her too.

It was like these Ridgeway siblings sure knew how to protect those they loved.

Just like her adopted siblings were trying to do to her too.

Though there was no reason for everyone to get worked up.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said to Rory. “I’m so sorry about your sister. I know it’s coming years later, but it seems like yesterday thinking of it now.”