Falling Star (Combustible Book 2) (6 page)

Trent’s eyes sparkled as he watched her leave.

Blaze ran up to her and hugged her legs. “Good to meet you, Ella.”

She ruffled his hair with a smile. “You too, Blaze. You know, your name is fitting. You light everyone up with that smile of yours.”

Blushing, he backed up. “Remember what I told you.” He tipped his head toward Cherish. Ella had to laugh.

“I remember.” She walked to the gate and Trent rushed past her to open it. “Thanks,” she murmured, wondering if he was only being polite or if he had other motives.

“Good night, Ella.” He stared into her eyes, keeping his hands to himself. “I’m looking forward to getting to know you.”

And she felt like shit again. There were too many things she felt the need to hide. “Thanks. Good night, Trent.” She slipped past him and smiled over her shoulder.

He brought his eyes up from her ass with a wicked smirk. “Can’t help myself, but I’m just looking.”

She giggled. “I don’t mind.” She hurried across her yard and stepped inside. After resetting the alarm, Ella climbed the stairs to take a nice hot bath. Maybe she could relax and forget about her concerns. It had been far too long since she’d had a restful night’s sleep.

Chapter 7

Trent turned back to the group once Ella was safely inside. He couldn’t help wanting to go over there and make sure her house was secured. Unsure what had come over him, he shook his head.
I’m not a damned cop.

Ella was a strange combination of sassy, confident, and altogether too nervous. She had a bright, bubbly personality until anyone got too close to her personal life. Then she clammed up tight, hardly saying a word, not bothering to meet anyone’s gaze. Mila stuck right next to her, playing safety.

Trent wandered back to the table while his thoughts were still entangled in the mystery of who exactly Ella Cross was.

Mila had watched him cautiously, studying his every move the whole night. Now she looked torn. “Please don’t push Ella. She’s been through hell no one should have to. Let her come to you if she decides she’s interested. Okay?”

Trent nodded, trying to squelch his curiosity. “Yes, ma’am. Though I was only looking, not touching, and hardly flirting. I could have been so much worse.”

Her brow arched. “Oh, I’ve seen you chase mercilessly, then lose interest after a few weeks. I don’t want to see her hurt.”

“Can you name one woman I hurt when I broke things off?” he asked honestly.

“You pissed off Rene.”

Trent sighed heavily and slid his hands into his pockets. “She doesn’t count. I flat out turned her down.”

She sighed and shook her head. “First time I met you, she was in your lap, hanging all over you.”

He held his hands up in surrender with an amused laugh. “I didn’t sleep with her. Kyle told me about that whole mess at an earlier barbecue, so I thought letting her hang on me was better than her starting a scene.”

Her brow arched, clearly not believing him.

Gavin nodded. “I got to hear all about how Trent denied her. My sister would have turned the whole night into a dramafest if Trent had turned her completely down
before
leaving.”

Mila frowned. “All right. Just wait until Ella is ready at least.”

The kids ran over, joining the adults at the table.

Cherish bubbled up, “Mommy, Daddy, can I go to Jenny’s tonight?”

Mila looked to Kyle, and he nodded. Then she looked to Cadence.

Cadence grinned. “Sure, punkin, if your parents say it’s okay.”

“Please, please, please,” Jenny and Cherish begged.

“Yeah, that’s okay, sweetheart,” Mila answered. “Go pack.”

Blaze smiled at Jenny. “Good night, Jenny.” Then he turned to Cherish and his face brightened even more. “Good night, Cherish.”

“Night, Blaze,” Cherish answered in her sweetest voice.

Trent shook his head with a laugh. “Well, I better get you home, Blaze.” He patted his nephew on the back. “Nana and Pop are picking you up in the morning.”

Blaze turned to Mila and Kyle. “Thank you for having me over.”

Kyle melted. “Anytime, Blaze. You’re always welcome here.”

He took Trent’s hand and pulled him around the house.

Trent waved over his shoulder with a laugh. “See ya later.”

On the street, Trent turned to Blaze and gave him a crooked smile. “You’re lucky Kyle likes you.”

Blaze blushed. “I did like Ella said. I’m Cherish’s
friend
.”

Trent nodded. “Remember that.”

The boy’s gaze wandered to Ella’s house. His followed. He could see the light on upstairs in the bedroom, and scooped Blaze up into his arms before Trent gave into temptation to attempt a peek at Ella.

Squealing with excitement, Blaze squeaked out, “Can we watch the newest
Midnight Daughter
movie?”

Trent grinned. It didn’t matter what Raven Star was in, he wanted to see it. The woman could act, and she was hot, and man, he loved to watch her. He could admit to a slight obsession with the movie star, but it wasn’t as if she’d ever go for a fireman in a small town.

“Promise not to tell Nana and Pop?” Trent asked with a grin.

“I swear!”

“Then it’s movie night.” He scooped Blaze over his shoulder and checked the street before running across and up the steps. At the door, he set Blaze down.

“You get the movie going, and I’ll get everything else.”

Blaze nodded in typical seven-year-old enthusiasm.

Once inside, Trent pointed at the closet. “Grab a couple blankets and pillows. I have a feeling we’re camping out on the couch.”

“Yay,” Blaze kicked off his shoes and charged upstairs, no doubt to change into comfy clothes.

Laughing, Trent made root beer floats and popcorn that he placed on the coffee table before joining Blaze upstairs. The boy was already in pajamas, brushing his teeth.

Around the toothbrush, he mumbled, “I av it eady.”

Trent laughed. “Good man. Let me change, and I’ll be down in a minute.”

He pulled on a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt before heading downstairs and stretching his legs out on the long side of the couch.

Blaze hit play and grabbed the floats, handing Trent one. “Thank you. You’re the best.”

He grinned over at Blaze. “Anything for my best bud.”

Ten minutes into the movie, Blaze bounced off the couch, hitting the pause button for a close-up of Raven Star. “Look who it is!” He pointed at the screen.

Trent was looking, all right. A gorgeous brunette super-spy. “You got a crush too?”

“Huh? No.” Blaze shook his head and pointed again. “Look at her.”

“Okay.” He stared extra hard at the TV. “I’m looking.”

“That’s Ella, from across the street.”

Trent laughed out loud. He couldn’t imagine the skittish woman being a world-famous actress.

“Those are Ella’s,” Blaze pointed at her stunning eyes, brought out by shadowy makeup.

“Um, kid, we may need to have your vision checked. She may look a little like Ella, but that woman has black hair, no glasses in sight, and she’s probably working on her next movie.”

Blaze shook his head, pointing again. “It’s her.”

“Why would a big famous actress want to come hang out with us in this little town?”

“Mila grew up with her.”

He snorted. “Her name is Ella. Not Raven.”

Blaze trudged back to the couch and flopped down. “That’s her face. Exactly.”

“Like Ella said, we all have doppelgangers, kiddo. Look, Ella is a bit on the pale side with freckles splashed across her cheeks. Raven is a bit darker. It’s not her.”

“If you say so. I still think she’s Raven Star.”

Trent laughed. “You want to watch the movie now?”

“Yeah.” Blaze pouted

Trent sat back, and pressed play, reaching over to ruffle Blaze’s hair. “It’s not her.”

“It is,” Blaze answered.

Rolling his eyes, Trent dragged the popcorn between them and stretched out to enjoy the movie.

Chapter 8

Trent waved as his parents drove away with Blaze. That boy meant the world to him. He couldn’t understand how his sister could be so selfish and put herself first every damned time. Almost four months since Tina went to rehab, and she was still there while her boy suffered.

Thinking about Tina never got Trent anywhere. He needed a distraction and he’d noticed the perfect one walking out her door when his parents came to pick up Blaze. Dressed in workout gear, she must have been headed out for a run.

Trent hurried to catch up with the mysterious beauty. At least, he knew why she looked familiar. He’d spent plenty of time watching Raven Star in the movies. She did have some resemblance… and those same unusual blue-green eyes.

Ella had already set a brisk pace. It took considerable effort to catch her. Trent couldn’t help wondering if she was trying to avoid him, or running from something in her past. Sometimes pushing himself to physical exhaustion was the only way to clear his mind.

Damn, he was curious about her motivation. Instead of asking, he planned to play by Mila’s rules and take Ella’s hint about being friends.

She tensed as he neared, then picked up her pace before he could catch up.

“Hey, Ella. It’s me, Trent,” he called out, hoping she wasn’t wearing earbuds.

She slowed and glanced back. “Sorry. Paranoid, I guess.”

“Didn’t mean to scare you.” Finally, he caught up and offered her a warm smile. “Mind if I join you?”

A smirk pulled one side of her lips. “Can you keep up?”

“That a challenge?”

Nodding, Ella kicked it up a gear. He managed to match her speed, but he wasn’t sure how long he’d be able to keep up the pace.

“What, are you a marathon runner?” he teased.

Ella glanced over with a smirk. “I’ve placed in a few.”

His mouth dropped open, but he pushed himself harder to keep up. “Impressive. And here I was kidding.”

“You know your way around, right?” Her tone had taken on a flirty tone.

He nodded, curious where she was going.

“Then show me around.”

“You got it.”

For an hour, he toured her through town. She never slowed, faltered, or stumbled. Shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but running had never been a favorite pastime. With her, he honestly enjoyed the exertion. He led her back to their street and slowed the last few blocks.

Ella stayed with him. She smiled over at him. “Hungry?”

“Famished.”

“Tell me where, and I’ll take you to breakfast. Then maybe you can show me where the gym is.
If
you aren’t busy this morning.”

“Let me take you to breakfast, and it’s a deal.”

Her brow arched. “Deal. I need a quick shower first.”

“Shower?” he teased. “How long we talking? I said I was starving.” Admittedly, he worried she’d take forever like most women he knew.

Laughing, she backed toward the door. “Ten minutes. Better be outside or I’ll grab Mila and go without you.”

He held back a snort. Ten minutes to be showered and out the door? Only time he managed that was at the firehouse when the bell went off mid-shower. “Oh, I’m sure I’ll be out first.”

Laughing, she shook her head. “We’ll see about that.” Then she disappeared.

He wasted no time rushing inside and stripping as he ran up the stairs and into the shower. Just in case, she was really ready in ten, he didn’t want to look like an ass for doubting her.

With a couple minutes to spare, he shut off the water and toweled off in time for his phone to ring.

He hit speaker and headed into the bedroom to grab the first clothes he could find. “What’s up?”

“Be careful with Ella,” Mila said softly.

Trent couldn’t help laughing. “I ran with her. We’re going to breakfast. Then she wants me to take her to the gym. All things I would do with the guys. I’m not hitting on her.”

“You want to, though.”

He sucked in a breath and let it out. “Fine, yes. You have my word. Unless she invites it, I’m not going there. But how the hell do you know we went running?”

“I was outside with Cherish,” she answered sheepishly.

“For the record, I’m getting to know her without asking questions she’s not ready to answer. I already learned she runs marathons.”

Now she sounded amused, “Yeah, she has. And won.”

His brows shot up. “She said she placed, not won.”

“She won at least three of them.”

“Holy shit. No wonder I nearly killed myself trying to find her limits.”

Mila laughed this time. “Sorry, I’m just worried about how she’s adjusting to a new place. Kyle said you’re worried about her. Which gains you a few points.”

He sighed. “What the hell did I do to make you doubt me this damned much?”

She sighed. “You haven’t. Which is why I’m lifting my
leave Ella alone
policy. As long as you take things at her pace.”

“Please, Mila, stop worrying so much. I’m not an asshole, I just want to get to know her. Okay?”

“Sorry.”

Shaking his head, he asked, “Can I get dressed now? She challenged me to a ten-minute shower and I don’t want to look like an ass when I don’t meet her outside.”

Mila’s tone lightened. “For the record, I think you’ll be good for her… when she’s ready.”

“I’m not taking anything anywhere right now. Believe it or not, I want to be her friend first. Especially since I know something happened in her past to make her skittish. I want to ease that fear, not make it worse.”

“Go on then. She won’t take ten minutes. Not to go for breakfast.”

* * * *

Showered and dressed, Ella headed across the street with two minutes to spare. She settled against the rail and waited patiently. Ringing the bell was tempting, but she was early.

A moment later, Trent came through the door and smiled. “I wasn’t sure you’d be that fast. Most women—”

She held up a finger, shaking her head with a smirk. “Don’t start that most-women-bullshit with me. I’m just me, and I needed to rinse off so I didn’t stink.”