Page 45

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

The apartment door swings open. Gunnar stands there, filling the frame, staring at me.

“I know you’ve seen a man cooking before, so what gives?”

He shakes his head. “Cinnamon rolls?”

I toss him an oven mitt. “Your sister’s favorite, by the way. Grab that casserole out of the oven. Then get the tray of fruit from the fridge.”

He gives me a quick hateful stare, then pulls the oven open. “Damn, this smells good.”

“Thank your sister for that one.”

He lifts the heavy casserole dish and places it on a hot pad on the counter. “She used to cook for me all the time.”

Behind me, Avery says, “Because I knew you didn’t take care of yourself.”

Shoulders tightening, he frowns. “Not like I had a lot of time for that.”

Avery ambles across the kitchen and hugs him. It’s hard not to watch her. She’s wearing the jeans I love and a soft gray t-shirt that hugs her curves in all the right places. “How was your visit with Cash? Did you boys stay up all night talking?”

Gunnar hugs his sister hard for a few seconds, then ruffles her hair. “He’s good. Bastard kept me up ‘till four, sharing his crazy war stories. He’s loving the SEALs. Said to tell you hello. It was damned good to reconnect.”

“I’m so glad. Awe, I miss him. He was so much fun to annoy. Next time he’s on leave, you’ll have to invite him up for dinner.”

I pass Gunnar a knife and wink at Avery knowing he’s going to bitch. “Cut that into casserole squares.”

“Listen to that. Your man thinks he’s the boss here.”

A knock on the door interrupts me telling Gunnar if he wants to eat, he should keep his trap shut.

Linc bursts in, followed by Belle, and her mom, Rose. “Oh my god, I’m so hungry,” Linc says.

“I thought Mick’s parents were taking you boys out for breakfast.”

He groans dramatically like the teen boy he is. “They did, but I’m hungry already.” When I size him up, I can tell he’s grown another inch or more in the last month.

My inspection makes him grin.

“I’m catching up to you, Dad.”

That makes me grimace .

Another knock and the kitchen gets busier. Detective Martin shoulders inside. Followed by Reeves.

“Why don’t you guys head to the living room? I’ll set everything up and call you when the buffet is open.” Everyone leaves but Gunnar who seems resigned to the fact that he’s stuck helping me.

Whap! Whap! Whap!

When I glance at the door, I have to lock down a face-splitting grin. “Elena. What brings you up?”

Like lasers, her eyes lock on Gunnar. Oh boy. Here it comes.

With a snarl, staring right at him, she says, “The stampede over my head. First, all the screaming this morning, now this! How am I supposed to?—”

Gunnar’s eyes spark. “Want some breakfast, firecracker?”

Her mouth drops open and her fists clench into tiny balls. “Firecracker!?!”

I know the expression on his angular face. Lust. Hunger. Challenge.

She’s wearing a tight black T-shirt and black leggings beneath her pink florist apron. He lets out a rumble. “Suit yourself, but I’m about to eat because that looks fucking amazing.”

I grin and turn my back. Oh shit.

He’s playing with fire. That’s the kind of innuendo that either gets you smacked or gets you laid.

The air in the kitchen crackles until Elena lets out a little pfft sound. “If I hadn't skipped eating all day, I’d tell you off. But it does smell good.”

I grab a plate. “Here, let me help you, then.”

She grumbles about someone being a smartass as I load her up. “Feel free to stay. ”

“I’ve got to go. The shop is so busy. I don’t have good help and I can hardly keep up with all the demand. If you don’t scare it all away!” She storms out the door with one last glare at Gunnar.

When she’s finished stomping her way down the stairs, we share a laugh.

“Aye, aye, aye,” he groans as he fills his own plate. “That woman. I’d like to spank her curvy ass. Of course, she’d try to tear my head off.”

“Sounds like the future is bright. I’ll make sure to keep Avery at my house a lot so you have some privacy.”

As he hefts a plate and loads it with food, he says, “Just be sure to check for my dead body. I’ll probably have claw marks everywhere and flowers shoved down my throat.”

Knowing Elena, I suspect he might be right. She’s loved by everyone, but they also know not to cross her.

After everyone gets their plates and settles around the expansive living room, I open the conversation. “I thought it would be easier if we all got together to debrief over this thing. The papers are making a mess out of the facts, and this way, we can clear it all up. Figured we might as well do it over food.”

Reeves smiles around a big mouthful. He gives me a thumbs up.

After everyone’s had time to enjoy their food and share some relaxing laughs, I get to the point. “So, Belle, if you’d like, you can tell us how you and the arsonist came to a point of conflict.”

Sitting between Linc and her mom, she places her plate on the coffee table, and grips Linc’s hand. Her breathing is steady as she gathers her thoughts. If I thought this was too much for her, I’d never have set it up. But now that I’ve spent some time with her, I know how strong she is .

I wasn’t ready for Linc to have a girlfriend, but I think he made a damned good choice.

Belle’s voice is soft and shows her youthfulness. “Well… like, I first met Thomas Penn when I transferred to school here. He was popular. But I didn’t like his attitude. Not to sound mean, but he was always saying cruel things about other people. It didn’t take long for me to see that he was just mean.”

She gives herself a little shake. “So, when he started paying attention to me, I tried to be nice but distant. Then he asked me to the Spring dance. I said that I had plans that night, that I wouldn’t be in town.”

Her mom rests her hand on Belle’s knee. Rose’s eyes are shining with pain. Belle told Avery they didn’t have the money to buy her a dress, but that’s not important. And if I can do something about it, I’m going to make sure she has stable work through some of the business contacts I have.

Belle clasps her mom’s fingers in hers. “So, he decided to make my life hell. And Mom’s too. That’s when things got really bad.”

Rose dabs at the tears in her eyes with the heel of her hand. Her voice is shaky. “I had no idea the fire at the warehouse was because of me. Then when the restaurant fire happened, I thought it was just horrible luck.” She sighs deeply, her shoulders sagging. “I’ve had my fair share of that, so it wasn’t that far of a stretch.”

Linc says, “This is about the same time that Thomas was really getting aggressive at school. Dad, that’s when I got suspended the first time.”

Avery says, “Then the fire at the bookstore, where Belle volunteered, happened. But Reeves and Detective Martin didn't have strong enough clues to tie the fires to anyone. Once I started digging around and asking more questions, Thomas got nervous.”

I say, “That’s when his behavior got even more aggressive at school.”

Linc nods. “Yep, that’s when he and one of his buddies jumped me in the hallway. That was the second suspension.”

My brow rises as I eye him. “Followed by the arrest.”

Gunnar speaks up, he’s been getting up to speed on bits and pieces but this is probably the first time he’s heard it all. “How was the antique shop a part of all of this?”

“It was my favorite place to spend time. Besides the bookstore. I love all of the old things there.” Her eyes drift to the floor. “I loved them, past tense that is, since it burned. All of those antique things have stories and they just fascinated me.”

Martin leans forward and grips his coffee cup tighter in his hands. “The kid really lost it when he realized that Avery was tied to Brock and Lincoln. That day at the warehouse when you thought you were being watched, it was him. He told me that he saw the two of you leave. That’s when he started to stalk you. We all know how that ended—with him setting the garage on fire to lure Avery in.”

There’s a pressure valve inside of my head that’s dangerously close to popping. My jaw hurts from clenching it so hard. Avery must feel the air around me heating up. She’s sitting on the floor near my chair and moves over to lean against my knee, “Easy there, no need to go all grizzly bear on us.”

Drawing in a tight breath, I put my hand on her shoulder. She’s okay. “I’m just thankful as hell all of this is behind us.”

“Me too,” echo a few voices .

Martin shifts and relaxes back in his seat. “Thomas is at the regional mental health lock-up. He was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, but the school didn’t know. By the way, I wouldn’t be telling you this if his father hadn’t revealed that in an interview with the news.”

Avery shivers. “It’s a shame the family didn’t make sure he got the care he needed. But thankfully, no one was injured and he’s getting that help now. It will take some time to rebuild the businesses, but I think Lynn’s Cove is resilient.

Rose smiles softly as she dries more tears. “I love it here. So does Belle, I just hope I can find more work.”

Martin pulls a business card from his wallet and passes it to her. “We have an opening at the police station in dispatch. It’s a good stable job, and I’ll be happy to put in a good word for you.”

Linc grins and wraps his arm around Belle’s shoulder. “See, I told you it would all work out.”

Avery hops to her feet. “More coffee or food, anyone?” She collects a few mugs and plates and smiles at me. “Did you guys know that Brock made the Cinnamon rolls by hand? I’m not sure if he’s shared that little secret before.”

She gives me a wink. I raise a brow. Little devil. Oh, she’s so getting a spanking for that one. But I’ll wait until we’re home at my house. Which if I have my way, won’t be all that long from now.

Gunnar slaps me on the shoulder. “I have an idea. Since you’re not with the department, anymore, you could open a bakery.”

“Since you’re looking for work, I’ll be sure to hire you for something you hate.

Gunnar’s smile broadens. He looks happier than I’ve ever seen him. “I’ve got some things lined up. ”

Avery sticks her head out of the kitchen door. Her radar catching his comment.

Gunnar says, “Reeves there got me an interview with the county legal team. Sounds like they might have an option for me to work as a firefighter on a contract basis. Kind of a trial run. They have a process for giving me an exemption for my record if everything works out.”

Avery sprints out of the kitchen and jumps in her brother’s arms. Over her shoulder, she catches my eye as she whispers, “I’m so happy.” And I know that part of that happiness is because of me.

Inside, I’m a changed man.

Funny what love can do.