Heating Up (23 page)

“The vacation in Napa? I'm not much of a wine drinker, and that's about all there is to do there. She liked it, though. The working-class thing? No . . . yes . . . I don't know. We were different. But different can be good . . . exciting . . . sexy. My folks loved her.” He scrubbed his hands through his hair. “I don't know why I just told you that. Let's practice for a while. Hopefully the scoring will come back to me.”

She didn't know why he'd told her that either. It would've crushed her if not for the fact that Aidan remained completely attentive. He laughed when her ball bounced down the lane and headed straight for the gutter. Lifted her into the air and kissed her when she got a strike. And danced with her when he got one. They'd become quite a spectacle, and although she didn't like being the center of everyone's attention, she liked being the center of his.

They played two frames before they realized the scoring was automatic, which was pretty stupid because it flashed up on an overhead screen. Dana supposed they'd been too distracted by each other to notice.

The McCreedy boys stopped at their lane on their way to the snack bar and talked to Aidan some more. They wanted to know about being a firefighter. Were the fire engines hard to drive? Were there really poles to slide down at the firehouse? And had Aidan ever saved anyone?

He answered all their questions and asked them what grades they were in, and asked Justin about Junior Rodeo.

“How do you rope a steer?”

“I can show you,” Justin said. “Just come over to the ranch.”

“I'd enjoy that.” They came up with a date and the boys ran off.

“Kids love you, don't they?” Dana pulled a ball out of the return machine. “At first I thought you just bribed them with Otter Pops. But they genuinely like you.”

“Of course they do. Everyone likes me.” He said it teasingly, but it was true.

She wondered why a popular guy like him would like a wallflower like her. “I don't think kids like me that much.”

“All you have to do is make an effort and they'll like you. Kids are pretty easy that way.”

She flung the ball down the lane, watching it bounce, swerve right, and take down two pins. “Why do you like me?”

Aidan sat next to her on the bench. “Isn't it obvious?”

“No. I'm not generally insecure.” On second thought, maybe she was when it came to relationships. But as far as her professional life, she was damned proud of her accomplishments. She was smart, enterprising, and self-sufficient. A lot of women—and men—couldn't say the same. “You're just so outgoing and I'm a loner.”

“I don't think you're a loner,” he said. “I think you're shy. You're also clever, interesting, beautiful, sexy, and a tremendous businesswoman. All part of the reasons I like you, but not the biggest reason.”

“What's the biggest reason?”

“You make me feel like I light you up from the inside out.”

She sat there for a while, taking that in. That's how he made her feel, like she was perfect the way she was, regardless of their differences. Not second but first.

He nuzzled her ear. “Let's go home.”

They changed back into their real shoes, brought the pitcher back to the snack bar, and walked to Aidan's truck, holding hands in the balmy night air.

“If I had a pool, we could go for a swim.” She tossed him a salacious grin. That night at her parents' had been the most erotic of her life.

“We could sneak into the pool at Sierra Heights. Naked.” Aidan sounded serious.

“I didn't realize you were an exhibitionist. Sorry, bucko, I like privacy.”

“Do you now? Then we'll go straight home.” He kissed her, letting his hands wander over her body before she climbed into his Expedition. Inside the cab, he continued his exploration over her clothes, making her nipples pebble against the soft cotton of her blouse. “I don't know if I'll make it.”

“You'll make it.” She laughed.

He took her hand and guided it over the giant bulge in his pants. “I don't think so.”

“What are you suggesting?” She let her hand linger on his crotch.

“That we do it right here. It's dark; no one will see us.”

“You're crazy.” But his eagerness turned her on. No one had ever made her feel this hot or this sexual. She reached over and started to undo his belt, hearing him suck in a breath. Then she got down on her knees on the floor in front of the seat.

And his phone rang.

T
alk about bad timing. Aidan looked at the caller ID and muttered a curse.

“McBride here.”

“Dangburnit! We've got another one,” Captain Johnson said, and Aidan pivoted his head so he could take in the whole square. No flames, no smoke.

“Where is it?”

Johnson told him, and Aidan looked over at Dana. “Shit.”

“How quick can you get here?”

“I just have to drop my date home. No more than ten minutes.”

“Bust a move, then.”

He put his phone away and Dana asked, “Another fire?”

“Yep.” He got on the road, headed for home. “Don't freak out, but this one's at your real estate office.”

“Oh God.” She fumbled inside her purse for her phone. “I've got to call Carol. Wait, where are you going?”

“To drop you off so I can go.”

“Take me with you.”

“Honey, it's a fire, quite possibly a crime scene. There's no way in hell I'm letting you get near that.”

“Fine, as soon as you drop me home, I'll get in my car and drive there myself.”

“Jesus, Dana, not now. At least wait until they have the fire contained.”

“It's my office, Aidan . . . my papers, records, computer . . . do you really expect me to sit home? I can assure you that as soon as I call Carol, she'll jump in her car.”

He huffed out a breath. “You promise to stay back, not get underfoot, and for God's sake not do anything that'll put you in danger? I'm not fooling around here, Dana.”

“I promise. How bad is it?”

“I don't know.” But when they drove up, it looked bad.

The back half of the building was enveloped in flames. Aidan saw Kurtis and Hutch take their hoses to the throat of the dragon. A lot of guys working this one. In Chicago they called it an all-hands fire. Aidan didn't have his turn outs, but he figured Johnson had called him in to investigate.

Dana covered her mouth. “Oh boy.”

“Stay here.” Aidan started to get out of the truck as Dana grabbed for his arm.

“Be careful. And, um, Aidan, close your pants.”

Shit, he'd forgotten about that. “Don't get out of the truck, you hear me?”

She nodded and he left, joining the captain and Rhys, who were huddled next to one of the engines.

“It's a worker,” Johnson called.

“I can see that.”

“They'll get it knocked down fairly quickly.” Johnson got distracted and swiveled toward a couple of the guys. “Duke, what the hell are you doing?”

Aidan watched as Duke fussed with his hose nozzle, clearly oblivious that he had his back to the flames.

“Jesus Christ, the guy's junk. He's gotta have a high-up relative in Cal Fire somewhere.”

Aidan wanted to sniff around the perimeter before the fire was extinguished. He borrowed gear from one of the engines and hurriedly dressed, sticking a helmet over his head. Staying out of the way, he made his way around the building, smelling and trying to discover the fire's origin, not an easy job in the chaos. But timing was everything. When he could get closer, he'd use a portable hydrocarbon sniffer, a handheld device that would help him determine if and where ignitable liquid residues could be found.

“Anything?” Rhys came up behind him.

“I smell gasoline.” He pointed to an area near the building's back door. “I think the fire started outside, right about there. See how the bottom of the door has the most charring?”

“It's hard to see anything with everyone running around.” Firefighters were now cutting into an exterior wall with their axes. They'd already opened the roof for ventilation. “I guess you've got a trained eye.”

Aidan let out a breath. “Too soon to say for sure, but this doesn't look like an accident.” From shreds of burned debris on the ground, it looked like someone had used a pile of garbage to ignite the building.

“Why suddenly on this side of town?”

Aidan hitched his shoulders. “Dunno.”

It concerned him that it was Dana's place of business. If this was a vengeance thing directed at him by Rigsby, it would make sense that he'd go for something personal. It was no secret that he and Dana lived together. He didn't know how the sporting goods store and the Bun Boy fit in, unless they were just for practice.

“It seems to be escalating,” Aidan said. “The first one was nothing. The second a little bigger. This one . . .”

“It's pissing me off,” Rhys said. “What the hell is in it for this guy?”

Aidan couldn't rule out money, which was the usual motive for arson. “Who owns this building?”

“Carol Spartan, not Thurston. There goes your theory on Trevor.”

“He could be trying to throw us off.” But it seemed far-fetched. “You get anything back on Rigsby's shirt?”

“Not yet. The sheriff's department promises it'll be this week.”

A car pulled into the lot, the driver ignoring the yellow tape. Dana jumped out of Aidan's truck and he gritted his teeth. Why couldn't she do what he'd asked her to and stay put?

“Carol,” Rhys said, obviously recognizing the car.

A few minutes later, both Dana and Carol approached. “When can I get inside?” Carol asked.

For the most part the flames had been extinguished. Aidan watched Hutch and Kurtis check for hot spots.

“Not for a couple of hours,” he said, wanting time to comb the site for clues and take samples near the origin that would later be analyzed by a chemist for the presence of an accelerant. “It looks like it was mostly the back of the building.” From what Aidan remembered of the office, the back housed the bathroom, a small kitchen area, and a conference room.

“I'm worried about files,” Carol said. “Not everything was on the computer.”

“Where did you keep 'em?”

“Toward the back, behind my desk.”

“I'll be going in soon,” he said. “I'll try to text Dana with a damage update, but I have to focus on my investigation.”

“I understand,” Carol said, her face ashen. “Whatever you could tell us we'd appreciate.” Dana nodded.

“I'll do my best.” Most of his focus, however, would be on the outside of the building. From what he'd seen so far, the arsonist hadn't broken in, just set the fire at the back door. “How did you get word of the fire?”

“Dana called me,” Carol answered, and Dana gave him an odd look, as if to say,
You know I called her
.

“Where were you when you got the call?”

Carol pulled back, clearly offended by the question. “You think I set my own building on fire?”

“I have to ask,” he said. “I know where Dana was.”

“If you must know, I was at Sierra Heights. The couple who made an offer on a home there yesterday is still in town and wanted to take some measurements. Griffin can vouch for me, and of course I could put you in touch with the couple.”

Aidan held up his hands. “Not necessary.” There was no reason to suspect Carol. No one burned down their office when business was booming. “I just have to be thorough.”

With that, she appeared to lose some of her pique. “You must think the fire was intentional.”

Oh yeah, he thought. “Jury is still out.”

Dana caught his eye and held his gaze, dubious. He hadn't fooled her.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” He hooked his arm in hers and walked her to his truck. “I thought I asked you to wait in the Expedition.”

“The fire is out,” she huffed.

“The only reason you've been allowed to stay inside the yellow tape is because you came with me. I don't want you in harm's way, you understand?”

“Carol gets to stay.”

“Carol owns the property. I can't focus on my job and worry about you at the same time. In fact, why don't you take the truck and go home? I'll text you when it's safe to come back.”

“I thought you said you'd let us know how bad it is when you go inside.”

“Will you promise to go home?”

She took some time to consider and finally nodded. He swiped the helmet off his head and kissed her.

“I'll let you know,” he said. “I left the keys in the ignition.”

“Okay. You'll be careful, right?”

“I'll be careful.”

As soon as she drove away he called his sister, who he knew was off duty. “You hear about the fire at Nugget Realty?”

“Yep. I volunteered to come in, but Rhys said he had it under control. Is this related to the other two?”

“I think so, but I'm not sure yet. Do me a giant solid, would you? Dana just went home. I don't want her there alone.”

“Sure. But why?” Sloane asked. “Are you being abundantly cautious because it was her office?”

“Yes. I don't have time to go into it now. I'll talk to you later.” He clicked off before she could pelt him with a million questions. More than likely he was overreacting, but when it came to Dana he wasn't taking any chances.

“Hey,” Rhys called to him from the back door of the realty office. “Take a look at this.”

Aidan trotted over. On the ground was a melted blob of bright orange plastic, possibly a lighter. Next to it was a large boot print similar to the one he'd seen at the sporting goods store. He hunkered down to examine both. There were words on the plastic—Aidan suspected a company name and address—which, for the most part, had been obliterated by heat. The font, still decipherable, rang a bell, though. He scrutinized them until his eyes went blurry.

“I know where this came from,” he said.

* * *

Dana and Carol spent much of the next day cleaning up the mess. Although they hadn't lost their files—they'd remained protected in metal cabinets that had turned out to be fireproof—their kitchen, bathroom, and conference room had been destroyed. And they now had a sunroof where the firefighters had opened up the ceiling for ventilation.

Carol glanced up. “I hope it doesn't rain.”

“Pat's sending a crew over to at least cover the roof.” First her house, now this, Dana thought to herself. At least they could salvage much of the front of the office, which had suffered significant water damage and was covered in ash and filth. “We'll have to replace the carpet and some of the furniture up here.”

“I always wanted to do hardwood anyway,” Carol said. “Vance is on his way to Reno to buy the new computers. Thank God we backed everything up. What the heck is taking the cleaning team so long?”

A representative from the insurance company had met them first thing in the morning and cut them a check for the repairs. Unlike with Dana's house, they needed to get the place up and running ASAP. Carol and Dana didn't want any disruptions to their business. In the Sierra Nevada, spring and summer were their best seasons for selling real estate. Typically, in winter, when snow covered the pass, sales slumped to nothing.

“These desks are probably savable,” Dana said. “Let's carry them outside so they can dry and air out.”

They each lifted a side and started to carry out the first desk when a pair of strong hands took the bulk of the load.

“What are you doing here?” Dana asked Aidan, pleasantly surprised. When she'd left the house that morning, he'd said he was going to spend the day working the case.

“I have some time on my hands.” He bussed her lips right in front of Carol. “Where do you want this?”

She beamed at him, her insides contracting like they always did when he was around. “Outside in the sun.”

He carried the desk himself and came back for the other one. Finishing the chore, he took time to look around, walking to the back and assessing the damage. In the light of day, it looked even worse than it had the previous night. “Jeez. You'll have to rebuild most of this.”

“It shouldn't be too time intensive,” Carol said. “The plumbing is still there. It needed updating anyway.”

Dana marveled at what a good attitude her partner had. Frankly, the construction would be a colossal inconvenience. Workers constantly underfoot, noise, and dirt. Then they'd have to pick out appliances, fixtures, and a new conference table and chairs. The one true silver lining was that no one got hurt. Real estate agents, slaves to the convenience of their clients, worked odd hours. It was a miracle that neither one of them had been in the office at the time of the fire. It made her wonder if the person who set it had been scoping out the place to make sure the building was empty. At least there was that.

“You have any leads on who might've done this?” Carol asked.

“We've got a few things working,” Aidan responded, keeping it vague. But Dana had gotten the sense last night that Aidan and the police were on to something.

Of course she was dying to know, yet she wanted to give Aidan space to do his job. She found the intricacies of his investigations fascinating and was so impressed with what he did. No doubt firefighters were heroes, but to her, he was doubly so. Then again, she was probably a wee bit biased.

Out the window, Dana saw a couple of trucks pull up. “Looks like the construction crew is here for the roof.” A van drove up behind them. “The cleaning team is bringing up the rear.”

Perfect timing, Dana thought; the cleaners could work around the roofers.

“You ladies interested in lunch? Seems like now might be a good time to take a break. Let these folks do their jobs.”

“I've got to dash home to check on the kids,” Carol said. “You two go.”