From Winter's Ashes: Girl Next Door Crime Romance Series - Book Two (7 page)

Streaky beams of winter white sunshine escaped through the clouds, and the silky breeze exhaled the last breath of autumn’s warmth for the year. The rare elemental beauty of the day stripped away the anxious feeling in his chest until all that remained was Finn, his bike, and the open road. He didn’t normally take the motorcycle out during the colder months, but since the temperature was mild-ish, it would likely be his last chance to ride until spring.

The wind took on a bite as he zipped around the back roads while making tracks toward Sadie’s place. She’d prepared some sort of baked-ziti thing and invited the whole family over for lunch. Joselyn too. She’d also mentioned Joss would be meeting with the investigators and the insurance adjusters tomorrow. He knew the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit had already conducted their investigation with the fire dogs, but if they needed to speak directly with Joselyn at the scene something wasn’t adding up. That information, coupled with the way she’d gone rogue today, set his nerves back on high alert.

They knew nothing about the crime—and the same about whoever tried to kill her. If someone truly had. Granted, it’d only been two days, but when time passed uneventfully, bit by bit they’d start to let their guards down, leaving the killer to his own devices to strike again.

Finn couldn’t fail at this.

Not again.

The ride to Sadie’s was too short. He still felt all pent up and off-kilter, but another twenty-minute ride wouldn’t be nearly long enough to get his crap sorted. And while he wasn’t willing to face Sadie’s wrath by bailing on lunch, when he’d pulled up and saw Joselyn’s fancy white Range Rover, he was sorely tempted to gun it right back out of the lot.

His crew must have done a darn good job containing the blaze if her detached garage survived the fire. He didn’t know how she’d retrieved her pretentious rig, but spoiled, rich kids had ways of getting what they wanted. Or buying their way out of trouble. His best friend, Cody, was the same way.

The thought of Cody and Joselyn in the short jumble of his mind brought back memories he’d rather forget. Bitterness soured his stomach, and his contempt for Joselyn revved anew in sync with the final rev of his Honda Nighthawk’s engine.

Well, his confidence might be slipping where Joselyn was concerned, but his anger would work just fine.

Chapter 9

Joselyn Whyte

“Excuse me. Where do you think you’re going?” A portly woman with a snarling expression rushed out from behind the nurses’ desk, prepped to tackle Joselyn to the ground should she venture any further.

“Oh. Sorry, are you new here?”

Before the woman could answer Rosie rounded the corner. “Joselyn! We missed you the past few days. Where’ve you been?”

Snarly’s mouth pinched into a hard line, but she resumed her post as the new warden of McKnight Grove.

“Long story. How is she?”

“It’s not a real good day. But I’m sure she’ll still be happy to see you. She asked about you yesterday, though. You know the drill by now.” The crow’s feet around the spunky, blonde nurse’s eyes lent the impression that she was always smiling. But though they all did their part, this was not often a happy place.

Heart heavy, Joselyn reached out and squeezed Rosie’s slim strong hand. “Thanks for taking care of her while I was away. You’re her favorite, you know.”

“The feeling is mutual. Now scoot. And don’t worry about Brenda. She’ll catch on soon enough.” Rosie nudged Joselyn past the desk and the blistering glare of its new fire-breathing dragon. Joss shook off the singe of the stranger’s hatred and strode her usual route through the halls before letting herself into the last suite.

Distant violet-blue eyes, so much like her own, locked in on her and softened a fraction. Joselyn’s spirits buoyed back to the surface. Maybe it wasn’t a bad day after all.

“Good Morning, Yia-Yia. I’ve missed you.” Leaning in Joselyn pressed a kiss to the papery wrinkles of her cheek, inhaled the combined fragrance of Trésor perfume and Aqua Net that had always been Yia-Yia’s signature.

Confusion clouded her eyes, a teasing reprimand poured from her neatly penciled red lips. “Charisma, why are you calling me that?” She batted her hand at the foolishness.

“Yia-Yia, it’s not Charisma, it’s Joselyn.” She tried a smile that wouldn’t quite form. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it the past few days. How’s the show coming along?”

“Joselyn?” Anxious confusion twisted the rare beauty of her aging face. “I don’t know any Joselyn. You—You’re Charisma, my daughter.”

Her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s had progressed slowly. After years of flirting with forgetfulness she’d finally disappeared into a deep darkness about six months ago. The few good days with glimpses of memory were a gift Joselyn tried never to miss. The bad days were now the norm, sometimes graced with playful ignorance, other times with rage, yet always heartbreaking. Joselyn fought the inevitable despair of the bad days winning each daily battle, still foolishly clinging to hope she’d begun to realize was as naive as believing she wasn’t completely alone in the world simply because she had relatives who were technically living.

“So, how’s the show shaping up? I’ve got some new choreography for the dock scene. I think you’re gonna love it.” Joselyn infused as much enthusiasm into her voice as she could rally.

“I think the nurse said something about that this morning, Cassie. I’m not sure I feel up to doing much singing and dancing.”

“That’s okay. You can watch instead. But it’s a lot of fun, and your friends Opal and Greta might try ousting you from the lead role. They’ve been pretty jealous about you being the star at all the practices. You’re a natural.”

Her eyebrows softened from their furrow, and she shrugged her petite shoulders. “I guess I could try it.”

“That’s my girl. So, we have about three weeks until showtime. I’ve been making up some fun costumes at my store from a few vintage pieces I found. You’ll love them.”

“Ooo, well,
‘Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.’
” When she smiled, ten years melted off of her seventy-eight years. She was still a stunning woman, her beauty timeless, like a Greek spin on a classic like Doris Day. The silky drape of her silver hair still held more than a few threads of its original black.

The memory of her dark hair pulled Joselyn back in time. Playing dress up in the attic of the old house; long strands of pearls, lace gloves, and elaborate hats adorned with broaches. Clanking clumsily down the wooden stairs in her grandmother’s retro pumps—they’d been the stars of their very own red carpet every Saturday night. The clothes had been both an escape and an adventure. In a way, they still were.

“What show are we doing?” Yia-Yia’s question shattered Joselyn’s happy memory. They’d been practicing for months. Every day. And nearly every day the same inquiry.

“We’re doing
Mamma Mia!
for the Christmas musical this year, Yia-Yia. Remember?”

The response from her grandmother followed the now predictable script. “Oh! That’s my favorite. You grew up in Greece, you know. So it’s a bit like the story of us.” Her hands fluttered with excitement. Today, Joselyn noticed, her fingernails were perfectly manicured fire-engine red.

Had to go there, didn’t you.
The association leapt from fire engine to firefighter in the flash of an idiotic synaptic misfire. And then of course she was thinking about Finn.

That stupid, cocky grin, those sneaky dimples, and that long, sun-bronzed surfer hair. He somehow managed to look effortless and yet seamlessly put together like a painstakingly vetted ensemble. His image droned on like a miserable first date. Her defenses must have taken a leave of absence because when she tried to rip the loose threads from her mind she found instead that she was sewn into the memory of his deep sea eyes and the inexplicably safe feeling of being in his strong arms … against his very warm, very solid ches—
Stop it!

“Somebody’s got a crush.” Yia-Yia’s eyes lit with mischief, the old wry smile showing a teasing glimpse of lucidity.

“Nooo! Uh-uh!” Joselyn protested.

“I know that look, Charisma,” she giggled. “Oh, to be young and in love—”

“Whoa, Yia-Yia! I’m sorry to burst you’re bubble but—”

She patted Joselyn’s hand and winked. “It’s all right, sugar, your secret’s safe with me.”

In her current state, the last thing Joselyn wanted to do was spend the afternoon with the perfect Carson clan. Their easy family dynamic rubbed salt in her dysfunctional, daddy-issued wounds. But after her unchaperoned field trip, she knew better than to push her luck.

At least she had her car back. It was a small consolation but she’d discovered her favorite pair of Old Gringo cowboy boots in the trunk, in addition to some extra clothes she’d packed to keep at work, and the crowning jewel—her mother’s vintage pavé diamond locket. The clasp had broken the day before the fire at the nursing home during a vigorous rehearsal with the handsy male lead. Joselyn had stowed it in the center console of her car so she could drop it at the jeweler to be repaired. It meant more to her than anything she owned. Anything she could ever buy. And now, with every photograph and memento from her house destroyed, it was the only piece of her mother she had left.

Her nose tingled, and one warm tear escaped down her cheek—her daily allowance of mourning all she’d lost. So much more than just her mother.

Pulling into Sadie’s lot, she was relieved to see that no one preceded her arrival. At least she’d have a few moments to herself before the verbal sparring with Finn ensued. A tension headache formed at her temples in anticipation of the long day ahead as she trudged the salt-sprinkled walkway to the condo and surrendered to the haven of heat behind Sadie’s door.

Untangling her scarf and sliding from Sadie’s borrowed green peacoat, she went to freshen up and changed from the formless long-sleeved tunic she’d thrown over her leggings into a lavender off-the-shoulder cashmere sweater to pass the time. The thin, luxuriant fabric skimmed over her hips to her upper thighs, the color a subtle contrast against her complexion yet made her pale skin look creamy and her eyes look nearly lavender to match. The clothes were her shield, and she needed all the confidence she could find to deflect the silent judgments about to lob her way.

When tinkering noises trickled down the hall and Sadie announced their arrival, Joselyn forced a deep breath and one last appraising glance before braving the Carsons. One in particular.

Lunch went by with minimal interaction. Finn’s usual glare and scowl resumed possession of his face, giving her a break from his playful flirting from last night. If that’s really what it was. It could’ve been crueler than that. Malicious, even. Joselyn knew from experience that he had it in him.

The clinking of a glass rescued Joselyn from slipping back into torturous high school memories.
Thank you, Archer.

“Can I have your attention?” He glanced down at Sadie, his face glowing, and his smile so pure and uncontained the man was as radiant as sunshine.

Would anyone ever look at her that way?

“I have an announcement to make.”

Sadie rose to stand with him, sharing a look before they blurted in unison, “We’re getting married!”

Joselyn’s couldn’t help but squeal when Sadie extricated a stunning diamond ring from her pocket and waggled it proudly on her finger. Congratulations were passed around, although no one seemed surprised.

“You guys all knew already, didn’t you?” Sadie chided. Titters of affirmation passed around as effortlessly as the salad bowl. “Even you, Finn?”

“Sis, you got yourself one smart man. Not only did he ask Dad’s permission, he asked for mine too. You’re welcome.” Finn flashed a dimple-popping grin as his sister folded into his exuberant hug.

“Well, I didn’t know.” Joselyn stood and went to embrace her beautiful best friend before scoping out the rock. “Hot dang! Guess it’s a good thing I didn’t let you cancel last night, huh?”

Sadie sniffled back happy tears and nodded. “But I am sorry I had to leave you with Finn your first night here. I knew those boys were up to something when Archer and I left. I hope he behaved himself at least.” Sadie shot Finn a teasing smirk before she made her way back into her fiancé’s waiting arms.

Joselyn only meant to glance, but her eyes were swallowed up in Finn’s intense gaze. Finn didn’t look playful or amused. He looked … mad.
What now?
The man’s strange bipolar temper kept her constantly guessing. Well, maybe not constantly. He did tend to default to the least pleasant option in her presence.

Luckily for Joselyn, the frivolity of the newsworthy moment distracted everyone’s attention elsewhere while Finn’s unabashed contempt aired in high-definition. Her skin prickled her unease, and since she was feeling like an outsider invading on a family moment, she thanked Sadie for lunch and then excused herself to her room under the guise of exhaustion. And that was no lie.

The man was exhausting.