Playing with Fire (14 page)

Her short black skirt represented business as
usual, except that each time she moved, the skirt climbed her
thighs to expose her very tempting, creamy flesh. Then, while his
eyes negotiated the curves of her body, he noticed that the fourth
button of her baby pink sleeveless blouse had worked itself loose
to showcase a valley of enticing cleavage. He licked his lips in
absolute appreciation while his cock jumped.

“Did you come to paint or stare at Dr.
Prescott?”

Shane glanced down to see who addressed him
before his response barreled over his tongue. The kid standing
there probably couldn’t have been over the age of eight and
definitely did not need to hear the answer he intended to give.

Liberty stepped closer and spoke for him.
“This is Captain Hartwell, Ben. He’s new to our class today.”

“Captain?” The child gave him a curious
stare.

“Yes,” she answered. “Captain Hartwell is a
fireman.”

“Cool!” Ben bobbed his head in admiration,
his chocolate brown eyes shining with respect. “Our house burnt
down last month and a fireman carried me out on his back. I can
paint awesome flames!”

Shane squatted in front of Ben, immediately
identifying his attempt to disguise fear in his innocent eyes. This
child fought demons right along beside him.

“Ben, man, I’m gonna need your help.” Shane
laid a hand on his shoulder. “My flames suck.”

Liberty’s voice lightened the mood. “Why
don’t you show Captain Hartwell the easel next to yours? You can
help him today.”

Ben gave a confident nod. “C’mon,
Captain.”

Shane followed Ben to an easel near the back
of the room and swallowed a hard knot in his throat when he glanced
at the canvas. Bright orange and dark red flames covered the page.
Top to bottom, side to side, they devoured the surface of the
paper. Hell, he could feel the heat.

“Is that what you see when you close your
eyes?”

Ben nodded. “Yep.”

“Me too.”

“Want me to show you how to draw them?”

Shane picked up a pencil from the easel and
handed it to him. “Sure.”

Scrunching his lips together, the eager
artist placed the pencil against Shane’s empty canvas then looked
back at him. “Big ones?”

He sighed. “Monster size.”

Shane spent the next two hours overwhelmed by
Liberty’s magic. The method behind her madness revealed itself when
she passed out paintbrushes and soon flames covered the whole
classroom. All the children in her class had been affected in some
way by fire, and she’d nominated him Resident Hero for the day.

As he answered their questions, one by one,
the dense fog lifted from his brain and the pain oozed from his
body. Mostly, thanks to Ben. The more they talked, an invisible
bond formed between them. Two kindred spirits who suffered from the
same ball-squeezing fear and anxiety.

Liberty nudged him with an elbow when the
last child shuffled from the classroom. “We have class again next
Saturday.” She walked to the first row and gathered supplies.

“I remember Ben’s fire.” Shane followed
behind her and collected paintbrushes. “Ethan carried him out.”

“So you two have something in common.”

He smirked, appreciating the sway of her
hips. “You already knew that.”

“I did.”

“I’ve been so focused on my own problems, Ben
gave me something else to think about.” He snickered under his
breath. “Well, other than waxing my fire truck.”

“He says he sleeps better after he paints.”
She took the brushes from him and then tossed them in a nearby box.
“Are you ready to try?”

His lips twitched with amusement. “Do you
think Dr. Brady will make me paint?” She only raised an eyebrow in
response. “Besides, I already have something to distract me after a
nightmare.”

“Fred and Dino?”

“No.” His cock lengthened as he pulled her
close and moved his hands under her skirt to skim her hips and
thighs. “Something way better.”

Her skin warmed at his touch, igniting the
smoldering fire between them.

“We’re in a public place,” she murmured,
closed her eyes as he dipped his fingertips under the silky edge of
her panties.

“I know,” he said, “but you’re busy
tonight.”

He moved his lips to nuzzle her neck.

“Did you drive?” she whispered.

He planted small kisses along the side of her
neck as he raised his head. “Yes.”

“I’m not busy now.”

He placed a small peck on her lips and
smoothed her skirt over her hips. Weaving their fingers together,
he led her down the hallway and out the front door.

“Hang on, my keys are here somewhere.” Her
grip loosened a bit, he assumed to dig in her purse for keys.

Once outside and a few steps toward the
parking lot, Shane stopped in mid-step. Liberty’s chin bounced off
his shoulder.

“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I was concentrating on
keys.”

“Liberty, call Jake.”

“Why?” She stepped next to him. “Oh. My.
God!”

There in the peaceful afternoon, under the
cover of a clear blue never-ending Minnesota sky, her black
Mercedes sat glued to the pavement on four flat tires. The driver’s
side door stood wide open.

Shane steered her to a bench under a nearby
tree where she dialed her cell phone, spoke to Jake, then snapped
her phone closed and tossed it in her purse.

“Anybody mad at you?” Shane muttered.

“Not that I’m aware of.”

“What about the guy who attacked you?”

She shook her head. “Dead. He had a heart
attack in prison.”

He extended a hand and led her to the car
when Jake pulled into the next parking space.

“Have you looked inside?” Jake asked
them.

Shane shook his head. “No. We waited for
you.”

“CSI is on the way to dust.” Jake squatted to
inspect a tire. “Nasty slash. Anything missing?”

Liberty stepped around the car door and
looked inside. “My scarf and one earring.” She frowned. “And it
looks like my credit card.”

Shane cocked an eyebrow. “You only kept one
earring in there?”

“Yeah, I haven’t been able to find the other
one.”

“What kind of credit card?” Jake asked.

“Gas. Just in case I’m too far away from
Pete’s.” She wiped a hand across her forehead. “Why my scarf and
earring?”

“Who knows?” Jake shrugged. “Criminals aren’t
easy to figure out.”

Shane’s blood boiled. Jake was exactly right.
There was no rhyme or reason when it came to crime, and it was
always the victim who ended up trying to solve the puzzle.

He grasped Liberty’s hand and braided their
fingers. “I’m taking her home, Jake.”

The detective nodded. “We’ll tow the car to
the lab so forensics can go over it in more detail. Be sure to
cancel the credit card and come by the station tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Jake,” she mumbled.

As soon as she was safely tucked away behind
the tinted windows of Shane’s truck, familiar feelings of fear and
defeat began to resurface. Her temper flared. She would not allow
this to happen. She would not become a victim again.

She stole a glance at Shane as they drove
through town. If his body language was any indication, he was just
as angry. A muscle ticked at the base of his jaw and his fingers
threatened to squeeze the steering wheel in two.

She reached across the seat and unclamped one
hand, folding it into hers. “I’m sorry this changed our plans.”

His gaze softened. “We’ll make up for it
tomorrow.”

Inside the house, he pulled her into his arms
and kissed away the ugliness of the afternoon.. Surrounded by his
strong arms, her anxiety faded. She was safe here. Protected.

“Anything I can do for you before I leave?”
he asked.

“No, thank you.” She smiled at his tenderness
before reluctantly stepping out of his embrace. “Maddie will give
me a ride to the hospital later for rounds.”

“Lock this behind me,” he insisted before
opening the door.

“I will.” She leaned forward and placed a
soft kiss on his lips. “Sweet dreams, Shane.”

She waited until his truck disappeared around
the corner before locking the door. She sighed in relief. After
today’s excitement, she was thankful for her planned distraction.
She glanced at her watch. Thirty minutes until dark.

Quickly gathering an overnight bag, she
slipped through the front door and began a short walk. As she
scurried around the second corner, Maddie met her halfway.

“Where have you been?” she scolded, hustling
her into the house. “I was worried.”

“I had a small setback.” Liberty relaxed when
Maddie closed and locked the door behind them.

Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Shane?”

She snorted. “I wish, but no. Someone broke
into my car at the community center.”

“Oh, Liberty!” Maddie gasped. “I’m so
sorry.”

“It’s okay. All they took was my favorite
scarf, my gas card, and one gold earring.” She followed Maddie into
the kitchen and accepted a bowl of popcorn.

“Was your car damaged?”

“The door of course, and all four tires.”

Maddie led the way back into the living room.
“Your alarm probably scared away the thief.”

She wrinkled her forehead. “I don’t remember
hearing my alarm.” Normally the piercing squelch could wake the
dead. Then again, Shane had her preoccupied.

“You’re awfully pale,” she told Maddie,
changing the subject, “are you still feeling badly?”

“A little better.” Maddie sighed. “It helps
that you’re here.”

“Have you told Dylan?” Liberty curled up on
the sofa with a blanket.

“That I’m not feeling well?”

“You know what I mean.”

Maddie glanced briefly her direction and then
sat down in a recliner across from the sofa with her own blanket
and bowl.

“No need to answer, Mad. I know the answer by
your guilty look.”

“I’m going to tell him, I just haven’t found
the right time.” Maddie’s hand shook around her bowl.

“Are you afraid?”

“No!” Maddie snorted. “I just don’t want him
to worry.”

“What do you think he’ll say when he finds
out?”

“He’ll probably be relieved you stay with me
when he’s on call.” Maddie threw a pillow at her. “Is this a
therapy session or a sleepover?”

“Women our age don’t have sleepovers.”

“We do.”

Liberty took a big handful of popcorn. “Yes,
but only because we’re scared of the dark.”

Maddie shrugged. “So, how’s it going with
Shane?”

“Normally, I couldn’t discuss it with you,”
she hedged, “but since he fired me, I guess I can.”

“He fired you?” Maddie shrieked.

She nodded and released a hidden grin. “For a
very good reason.”

Maddie’s eyes widened. “Did you ... ?”

She felt a familiar heat return to her
cheeks.

“I knew it!” Maddie screeched. “I knew there
was something different about you, I just couldn’t figure it out.
It’s Shane! You’ve been blushing ever since I sent you to his
house.”

She took a long drink of her iced tea. “I
think I’m having hot flashes.”

“You’re too young for hot flashes.” Maddie’s
eyes sparkled. “Boxers or briefs?”

A secretive smile creased her lips. “Boxers.”
Silky, sexy and black as midnight. “Maddie, maybe you should get a
dog.”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Yes, I am. The Primrose Police Department
sponsors a program where you can adopt a retired police dog.”

“I don’t know, Lib, a dog’s a big
commitment.”

The jingle of Liberty’s cell phone
interrupted, freeing her from Maddie’s interrogation.

“Saved by the bell,” Maddie drawled.

“It’s the hospital,” she moaned as she read
the caller ID. After speaking to a nurse for a few minutes, she
flipped her cell phone closed. “I may be awhile.”

Maddie jumped out of the chair. “I’ll hang
out in the doctors’ lounge.”

Liberty sighed, relieved by Maddie’s offer.
Two grown women imprisoned by the cover of darkness. What a
pair.

He pulled his cap down around his ears and
shoved his gloved hands into the pockets of his jeans. Damn the
heat. He reached between his legs and rubbed himself to relieve the
pressure against his zipper. He’d barely gotten out when he heard
the sirens. The fire was burning beautifully when the hoses came
out and the firemen destroyed his handiwork.

He’d have to step it up. He wanted her to
know it was personal; this was his special gift to her. This was
the perfect target and he had been pleasantly surprised to find it
stocked with the supplies he needed.

Liberty stood in the doorway of the lounge
and watched Maddie flip channels on the television until she paused
on Cartoon Network. Fred Flintstone’s boisterous voice barked at
Wilma and Dino.

She took a seat next to Maddie on a sofa.
“Not much choice at three thirty a.m., huh?”

Her friend giggled. “It’s either this or
infomercials.”

Screaming sirens and red lights interrupted
the stillness of the normally serene atmosphere. Liberty glanced
out the window to see a speeding fire engine round the corner on
its way to save another life.

Maddie sighed. “At least Dylan doesn’t go in
anymore.”

Liberty silently agreed. She, too, was
thankful. Not only that Dylan pulled enough rank but that Shane
stayed outside as well. If only there was a different reason.

She paused, noting the still silence.
Spinning red lights reflected off the sterile hospital walls and
bounced back and forth in the courtyard. “The fire must be
close.”

She stood and stepped to the window. And then
she smelled smoke. Terror climbed at thirty three vertebrae of her
spine. There was only one building on that side of the
hospital.

Liberty grabbed Maddie’s hand and pulled her
out of the lounge. “My office is on fire!”