Home Fires (30 page)

“No problem.”

“Here’s the bill for today’s work.” Tommy handed Rose a wrinkled invoice. “See ya, Cecil. See ya, Mike.” He clomped down the porch steps with a backward wave.

Relief flooded through her as she glanced back at Mike. Relief that he’d come to the house, followed by sudden guilt. She should have made the first move.

“I’m sorry—”

“I’m sorry—”

Their apologies collided mid-sentence. Rose started to speak again, but Mike held up a hand, cutting her off. “If you don’t mind, I want to say something about the other night. I was wrong. That’s one of the things I came over to tell you.”

Hearing his apology left her humbled and ashamed. Even after everything he had discovered about the Judge, Mike was still strong enough—and man enough—to admit when he was wrong.

But she’d been wrong as well, and she should have told him so. She should have done it days ago. Only her foolish pride and Midwestern stubbornness had stopped her. But did it matter? Mike was back, right here in front of her. No matter what, they would work things out.

“Turns out you were right after all,” he continued. “There was a double order in that sack I grabbed.”

“Excuse me?”

A small grin tugged at a corner of his mouth. “At the restaurant, remember? You accused me of taking your fish.”

Rose felt her heart clutch as she realized Mike wasn’t offering an apology about the Judge. They were talking about fish. Stupid greasy fish.

“That’s why you came over? To tell me you’re sorry about the fish?”

“Not exactly. I’ve got something else to say, too.”

She caught her breath as Mike reached out and drew her into his arms. She felt his heart pound through his soft cotton shirt, matching the wild racing of her own. His strong, tanned arms wrapped around her, enfolding her in that heady masculine scent. Her mind cried out in warning, but her heart overruled it. She closed her eyes and leaned into him, anticipating the soft brush of his lips against her own.

“Open your eyes,” he said. “Open your eyes and look at me.”

His voice was a gentle command, and Rose willingly obeyed.

“I love you,” he said softly. “That’s the other thing I came over to tell you today. I love you, Rosie.”

The unexpected admission snatched her breath away. Rose buried her head against his shoulder. What was the matter with her? He loved her! She should be shouting from the porch steps or leaping cartwheels in the driveway like she’d done when she was eight years old. Instead, his words left her numb, with a strange sudden urge to cry. She blinked back the beginning of tears.

Mike’s arms cradled her close. “I’ve been thinking about you ever since the other night when you left me standing alone on the sidewalk. That’s not what I want, Rosie. I don’t want to be some guy alone on a sidewalk.” His breath was warm and soft against her ear. “I want you walking right along beside me, holding my hand.”

Gently he lifted her hand to his lips and softly brushed each finger with the whisper of a kiss. “I know it sounds crazy. We barely know each other. Probably both of us could come up with a dozen good reasons this will never work out. Lord knows I’ve come up with plenty of them myself these past couple days. But I’ve lived enough of my life to know what I want. And what I want is
you
, Rosie. We have got to work through this. We have to fix what went wrong between us. Life is too short not to go after the things that matter.”

Mike was no stranger to tragedy. He knew how short and sweet life could be, how fleeting the moments could pass. Both of them had their share of bittersweet memories. Thoughts of her father—another Michael John Gallagher—beckoned for an instant, followed by a swift wild longing for Jeff, of all that had been lost to her and all that might have been.

Rose couldn’t fight back the tears any longer.

“Don’t cry, Rosie,” he whispered. “Please don’t cry. I didn’t come here and say all this just to make you cry.”

He smelled of sunshine and aftershave, and she had no desire to resist as Mike’s lips sought her own. She surrendered to the heady touch of being in his arms, of the warmth of his skin next to hers, of the hot sudden rush of molten desire. Her lips felt bruised when he finally released her, but she gladly would have suffered the pain and kept on kissing him. Mike cradled her close, their bodies warm, blending together as one. Nestled in his arms, she was exactly where she wanted to be, and she intended to never let go. Mike was right. They had to work through this.

“You’re not the only one who’s been thinking,” she murmured. “I’m sorry about everything, too. So much of this is my fault.”

Mike pulled back and gazed at her with searching eyes. “I’m not looking for any quick answer. You decide what you want, Rosie. I’ll be right here waiting.”

She closed her eyes and prayed for courage to make the right decision. Being in his arms felt right and good. But staying in his arms meant staying home—something she’d turned her back on years ago.

Mike had unlocked a door inside her heart, one she’d believed had shut forever. If she left town again, certainly the door would close for good. What was she going to do? If she couldn’t make it right with him, she could kiss away any hope she had for a life filled with love.

“Why do things have to be so complicated?” Her words caught, muffled against the thin fabric of his shirt.

“It’s not complicated for me. I’ve got what I want, right here in my arms.” His hold on her tightened. “I’m a selfish man, Rosie. I want things to stay like this. Can you blame me?”

Far too late for any hope of an easier, softer way through. Mike was in love with her.

And she was in love with him.

“I meant what I said. You’re the one with the timeline, not me. Love counts for something, but in the end you’ve got to do what matters most in your heart. Trust what it tells you. It will never steer you wrong.”

She could no longer bear to meet his gaze. His eyes held a glowing love light, illuminated by the radiance of honesty and truth. Meanwhile, her own heart felt heavy and burdened with guilt. How could she bear to say good-bye? Mike had told her once that he had no intention of leaving James Bay. She wouldn’t use tears to hold him hostage. She had too much respect for both of them to stoop to that sort of tactic. Better that she was honest with him now than to give Mike some false hope that would lead to future disappointment. If the two of them hoped for any future together, there were serious issues that needed to be addressed.

The first and foremost of which involved her dear old friend the Judge.

“What you said a moment ago,” she started slowly, “about your heart and how it never steers you wrong. Did you really mean that?”

“Every word.”

Rose took a deep breath. She had never been a gambler, but there’s a first time for everything. Gazing into his eyes, she took a chance and rolled the dice. “Give up your investigation of the Judge.”

A frown wrinkled his forehead. “What do you mean?”

“I know you think he set all the fires. I saw your file the other night at the fire station.”

“You went snooping through my papers?” Mike let go of her and took a step backward against the porch rail. His face flushed a dark shade of red. “You had no business looking at those files.”

“It was an accident.” Her voice lifted in self-defense. “You and Tommy were in a big rush to get to the fire, and everything ended up on the floor, remember? I stayed behind to clean up. That’s when I saw the file.”

“A confidential file,” he pointed out in a tight voice.

“It’s not like I went searching for it,” she said. “And if you don’t want people reading things they shouldn’t, the report should have been under lock and key.”

“I was in the fire station, remember? I didn’t see any reason to keep things locked up tight.” His voice rang with a cold edge of fury. “You had no right doing what you did. What’s inside that file is none of your business.”

“Who are you to talk about rights?” She tried to stop herself from screeching. “What gives you the right to scrutinize the Judge?”

“It’s my job.” Mike’s jaw clenched. “How much of that file did you see?”

“Enough to know he’s considered your number one suspect. But you’re wrong, Mike. He didn’t set those fires.”

His jaw clenched. “I told you before that this is a working investigation. It’s not open for discussion.”

“You know how I feel about the Judge.” Rose knew she was treading on dangerous ground. Her professors had warned against this in law school. Emotions had no place in legal theory or argument. But when it came to Mike, she had to take it personally. And if he was serious about their relationship, he’d take it personally, too. “I am not asking you to drop the investigation,” she said. “Only your part in it. Let someone else be in charge.”

“How do you suggest I do that? I’m the arson investigator for this community. I can’t hand the job to somebody else.”

“Why not?”

His face clouded with annoyance. “There is no one else.”

“What about the chief? Let him take over.”

He shook his head impatiently. “He can’t handle this.”

“I thought the chief was the head of the fire department.” She felt her impatience rising, right along with her temper. Why was Mike stalling? This conversation wasn’t getting them anywhere except deeper into an unwelcome quarrel.

“It’s out of the question.”

“What about a conflict of interest?”

“Sounds like you’re the one with the conflict of interest.” His gaze softened slightly. “Come on, Rose, think about it. What if the story were reversed? Would you drop your defense of a client because the plaintiff and I happened to be best friends?”

“You’re twisting my words.” Her grip on the porch railing tightened. “I don’t understand why you’re being so stubborn about this. You know how I feel about the Judge. I can’t put my feelings for him aside… just like I can’t put my feelings for you aside, either. So if the two of us are going to be involved, I think you should step away from the investigation. Ethically, it’s the right thing to do.”

“You’re lecturing me about ethics? I’m sworn to uphold the law, plus keep things confidential. You being an attorney, I would have thought that was part of your job description, too.”

She stomped her foot in frustration. “I’ve seen the file, remember? I know about the hits the Judge took with his real estate ventures. I’ve seen the reports detailing his trips to Las Vegas. I know about his gambling debts. But you’re wrong, Mike. No matter what kind of money problems the Judge has, I’m telling you he is
not
to blame for the arson fires.”

He didn’t believe her. She could read it on his face, a smooth blank surface. His eyes glazed over in stony disbelief. Rose fought down an urge to pound her fists against his chest and beat the truth into him. “How close are the police to making an arrest?”

Mike shrugged. “I’m the investigating officer, not the judge or jury.”

“You’re accusing a good man without any wherewithal. That rates pretty low in my book.”

“You snooping around in private papers rates pretty low in my book,” he shot back. “You’re an attorney. You ought to know better.”

“I ought to know better all right.” The words were out of her mouth before she could think. “I should have trusted my instincts. I should have known better than to get involved with you.”

His eyes narrowed. “Careful, Rose. Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“You think I don’t mean it?” She heard her voice shake and fear prickle at her neck as she spit out the words. What was she doing? If she didn’t stop, everything between them would be dead.

“Look, I know you’re upset.” His voice was low and urgent. “You’re hurt, and now you’re trying to hurt me. But I don’t want to hurt you, Rosie. You know how I feel about you. I thought you felt the same.”

She forced her gaze away. How could she have thought that she actually loved this man? She barely knew him. She felt as if she was being ripped in two. Did Mike believe she would stand by in silence while he collected evidence that led to an arrest? How could she visit the Judge in prison, all the while knowing Mike was the one responsible for putting her friend behind bars?

She couldn’t. And she wouldn’t.

“I meant every word,” she coolly replied. “I’m sorry I ever met you.”

She saw the angry hurt flash across his face. Instantly she regretted every word that had passed between them.

Take it back, Rose. Take it back quick, before it’s too late.

Mike’s eyes narrowed. “Ditto.”

Too late.

Stupid, a stupid woman, that’s what she was. She never should have allowed herself to become emotionally involved with this man. For the first time in her life, she understood how it felt to want to slap someone across the face. It would give her such pleasure to hurt him the way he’d hurt her. For a few minutes, for days, for weeks, she had believed she’d fallen in love with him.

Mike blew out a heavy sigh. “Obviously there’s nothing more left for us to say.”

Rose watched in silence as he turned and took the steps two by two. Her fists clenched in tight little balls as he backed his truck out the driveway. Her heart hardened as he took off down the street without a backward glance.

It took another five minutes grappling with the truth for acceptance and reality to kick in. The door to her heart had slammed shut. All that was left was to throw away the key. There was no reason to watch any further. Mike was gone and he wasn’t coming back.

Rose steeled her shoulders and turned to the house. Mike would survive and so would she. She didn’t need a man in her life. She was smart. Smart enough to earn a law degree. Certainly she could figure things out on her own. Shame on her for being so foolish to have once thought things would work out differently. It was time she took charge of her life. That fireman had proved a smoldering pile of emotional trouble from the very start. It was much better to halt things now than to go on pining for something that would never be.

The kitchen screen caught behind her and echoed through the house with a resounding bang.