Page 6

CHAPTER FIVE

After recovering from her shock at my suggestion, Avery turns serious. She’s on high alert by the time we arrive at the first of three arson scenes. The burned out hull of the local bookstore sits behind a flapping line of plastic Crime Scene tape.

She slides from the truck and walks toward the charred remains with determination in her step.

I follow in silence, letting her inspect the scene from one angle, then the next. Her cogs are turning fast and the line of her mouth is pressed tight as she walks the perimeter of the building’s remains.

“It started here,” I say, standing near the north corner .

She nods. “I read the file.”

“Any questions?”

“No. I’m good.”

Then she begins to recite word for word the contents of the file. Damn. When she’s done, I’m stunned. “So, you’ve got a photographic memory?”

Shrugging a shoulder, she replies, “Yes. But I’d never claim it to be perfect.”

She kneels down by a large structural beam that was once part of the roof. After slipping on the disposable gloves I gave her, she begins to inspect some markings on the wood. “This fire was hotter than the report said it was.”

I drop to my haunches next to her. “You see something that Reeves didn’t?”

She nods. “These markings. I’ll need to do some more research on accelerants.”

When she glances at me, she catches me staring at her profile. My admiration shows in my voice. “You’re a natural at this.”

“I like this. It uses my mind.”

“Is this why you became a firefighter?”

She pushes at some debris next to her boots with her gloved fingers. “Yes. The science is what grabbed me. My brother was a firefighter and he’d leave his books from the academy laying around when I was a teenager. There wasn’t a lot to read at our apartment, so me being me, I read them all.”

“You never mentioned that your brother’s a firefighter. Is he stationed in San Diego?”

The calmness in her eyes vanishes, replaced, for a few seconds, by a look of tortured sadness. Then it’s gone. Covered over. Replaced by a blank facade. Like a steel curtain dropping down over her emotions. In a detached voice, she replies, “He was. He’s not any longer.”

It doesn’t take a Mensa genius to know that this conversation has veered into territory that is off-limits.

She moves around some debris, silently inspecting it, until I say, “Ready? We can hit another scene before we get some lunch. But I have to warn you, I’m running on a short timer, I’m hungry as a bear.”

Snapping off her blue nitrile gloves, she folds them inside out and walks toward the truck. Her mood is distant.

When I back the truck out of the lot and start down the street, I let my curiosity drive the conversation. “I know you haven’t had much time to explore, but what do you think about Lynn’s Cove so far?”

Stiffly sitting in the passenger seat, she replies in a clipped voice, “It’s nice.”

“You know… I didn’t mean to open up some kind of old wound when I asked about your brother.”

She shakes her head. “It’s not your fault. There’s just a lot of… water under the bridge. He’s part of the reason I took the job here. I am hoping maybe he'll move here as well when he can. It would be a good fresh start for both of us.”

She rolls down her window and lets her hand float on the wind outside. After a few miles, she says, “The other reason I wanted to move is because I wanted to get away from the limelight.”

“From the arson cases?”

She nods.

“I rather not be the face of the department.”

“I don’t exactly take you as shy.”

She half-snorts. “You just think I’m not shy?”

My brows draw together. So, maybe this is why Avery has a hard time being close with me. “You consider yourself shy?”

She starts to speak, then stops. “Actually, shy is the wrong word. I prefer not to be the object of attention. That’s different. My comfort zone is in the shadows. I can be bold when I need to be, but it’s definitely not my preferred mode.”

“You were getting too much attention in San Diego after you solved those cases?”

“Yes. From all kinds of angles.”

“What happens if you solve a case here and the media picks up on it?”

I can feel her looking at me as I drive.

“Actually, Chief, that’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I wanted to see if you can protect me.”

Sounds like this is getting into serious conversation territory. I pull over and park in the hamburger place’s parking lot.

It’s nearly lunchtime. The lot’s starting to fill up with the usual crowd. Shifting the truck in park, I turn and rest my arm on the back of the center seat so I can face her. “Alright. I’m all ears.”

“If I do solve any cases, I want you to take the credit. Of course, it’s a hypothetical that I can solve this case. There are many factors that will affect that outcome. I assure you that I’ll apply my skills at maximal effort based on my limited expertise, because I’m not really an arson specialist after all. I just happened to solve two cases. But as you know, outside variables can’t be controlled. For example, we’re limited by the samples that were collected at the scenes, and the capabilities of forensics laboratories.”

“Take a breath, Avery. It’s okay.” I offer a grin. “That big brain of yours is cooking.”

She pinches at her eyebrow, something I’ve seen her do before. “Sorry. I kind of went down a rabbit hole. I’ve been told I should keep it short and simple. Frankly, I am not very good at that. But sometimes, I get a clue when people’s eyes glass over.”

“You don’t have to keep it short with me. I like hearing you talk. I just want you to know you don’t have to stress about this. I’ve got your back.”

Chewing on her lip, her eyes locked on mine, she asks, “You’ll keep me out of the spotlight?”

That protective feeling she stirs in me rears up. It makes my voice grow rough. “Of course, that’s my job.”

For a few seconds, she just looks at me with those big, luminous eyes of hers. That look stirs things deep inside of me. A longing. Loneliness. Wrapped up in a need to take care of her.

The way she searches my own face, I know she’s looking for sincerity.

How many broken promises has this woman been dealt?

The look she has in her eyes comes from one thing. Disappointment by the ones you trust.

“When you come to work for me, you’re my responsibility. I take your well-being seriously.”

Finally, she softens. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. I’m…” She glances away. “Having attention on me always ends in bad things.”

Inside of me, there’s a steady tightening as my dislike for her past grows. “Did something bad happen to you in San Diego after you solved the cases?”

Her lips tighten for a second. “It was nothing.”

“I think it was something if it made you feel this way.”

“I just didn’t like it. It reminded me of a life I’d like to forget. ”

“This is going to sound like I’m prying, but is there something I need to know about?”

Sighing softly, she says as she looks away, “Just old scars.”

It’s wrong, but I reach for her, brush the back of my knuckles over her forearm. Grazing the soft, pale skin over her delicate bones. The thought of someone being mean to her makes me want to chew glass and break shit.

“I’m sorry. Want me to bash anyone’s kneecaps for you?”

She huffs out a disbelieving laugh. “No, but if you’d have asked me that ten years ago, I’d have sold my soul for that.”

“But not now?”

“My father is dead now.”

The silence that follows is loaded. That tightness in my chest grows to an unbearable level. Inside me, something’s about to snap. “Did he abuse you?”

Her lashes flicker closed for a second before she settles her focus on something in the distance. After gathering herself, she says, “It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.”

Not only is my chest tight now, my gut is in a vice. “Where was your fucking brother?”

She brushes her hand quickly across her eyes. “He did everything he could. When he was old enough, he moved us out, he even worked two jobs to keep me fed while I finished high school.”

“Fuck, Avery. I’m so damned sorry.”

Breath hitching, she stares out the window. “It’s not important now. Really. I just… you know, I prefer not to be in the spotlight. It makes me uncomfortable. But it doesn’t define me.”

“No, it doesn’t. But this helps me understand what’s going on…” I reach down and grip her hand. “I’m sorry that I scared you by coming on too hot.”

She shakes her head. “You didn’t scare me.”

I tug her hand toward me. “Look at me.”

She slowly turns and raises uncertain eyes to me.

“I didn’t scare the Avery that’s up here.” I gently tap her forehead. “I scared the Avery that’s in here.” I touch my finger to her sternum, just above her heart. “Trust and safety live there.”

Blinking, she tucks her lips in tight. We stare at each other for a long time. Finally, she exhales.

I say, “Trust is subconscious. Even if you think you’re safe in the physical sense, there’s a piece in there that doesn’t trust men.”

Her brows knit together. “You think this is about men?”

I nod my head. “It’s common in female abuse survivors.”

Truly puzzled, she asks, “Then why am I in a male dominated profession?”

“Because the logical Avery is trying to overcome the subconscious messages she’s been getting. Sometimes, our brain pushes us to face something and we don’t even realize what it is.”

Her lashes dip closed and she shakes her head once. “Maybe I should talk to you instead of finding a therapist. How did you learn this stuff?”

“My mother had an abusive father. I watched her overcome her past when she met a good man, my stepfather. Plus, I’ve got good intuition. I’ve always been able to understand how people tick…” I grumble, “Except my fifteen-year-old. That’s a different story.”

Her brows shoot up as her expression grows lighter. “Well, teenagers are not really people in the whole sense of the word. ”

Oh, how right she is. I chuckle. “Now look who’s the wise one. You hit that nail on the head. He’s running on hormones for sure.”

She squeezes my hand. “It will get better. Soon, he’ll be at least ten percent logic. But be warned, I don’t know that it gets better than that.”

She’s right. I’m far more hormone than logic. A grin pulls at the corner of my mouth. “I guess I proved that fact in my office yesterday. But realization doesn’t make me feel a lot better about Linc. I guess I can have hope that he’s a better man than me.”

She smiles softly. “Is he like you?”

God help me. That grin I had on my face turns to a grimace. “Far too much.”

Her eyes rove over me as a smirk curls her lips. “You’ve got your hands full, I’m guessing.”

“You have no idea. Raising him alone is way fucking harder than I ever thought it would be. Come on, I can’t sit here any longer and smell those burgers.”

“You are hungry like a bear.”

My good humor vanishes, replaced by the lust that’s been simmering in my veins for hours. “I’m far more of an animal than you’ll ever know.”

She’s wearing a smile that is dangerously vixen-like as she climbs out from the truck. “I like animals.”

“Careful, woman. Not what I need to hear right now.”

Avery makes me think about things I shouldn’t think about. I wish Avery hated me. Things would be a hell of a lot easier.

Falling in step beside me as we cross the parking lot, Avery touches my elbow with her own. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure. Fire away. ”

“What happened between you and your wife?”

Oof. I didn’t expect that. It takes me a second to get my head together.

Holding the restaurant door open, I try to smooth all of the bitterness out of my voice. “Tamara decided that she would have a better life with a guy that was more fun.”

“I’m sorry. That’s brutal. Do you share custody of your son?”

“When Lincoln was old enough to express his preference, he asked not to spend time with her anymore. She didn’t protest. I think it was a relief for her. Partying was really her only concern. Making up for lost time, I guess.”

The hostess asks how many people are dining and I hold up two fingers. As we follow the woman through the diner, Avery says softly, “Ouch. That’s a tough story.”

I take the menus and motion for Avery to slide into the booth. I take the side opposite and pass her the laminated trifold. “Linc has been through some hard times.”

“I know he’ll be okay because you’re the one who’s looking out for him. I think you do a good job of taking care of people.”

“That’s my job.”

Looking at me over her menu, she says, “Thanks, Brock. For talking with me. It feels good knowing you’ll look out for me.”

“You’re welcome, Avery. Now get busy looking at that menu because I’ll order for you if you don’t decide in sixty seconds. I’m ready to tear into something juicy.”

Her eyes flare, but she refuses to look at me as her color turns to ruby red.

Heat throbs between us. She tries to ignore it, but the pulse in her neck is a dead giveaway .

Fuck me. How I want to kiss that blush, bite my way down her neck, and bury my face in all her sweetest places.

A growl tries to rumble in my chest, but I clamp down tight on it. “What’s it going to be?” I half grumble.

With a quirked eyebrow, she tosses the menu on the table. “Okay. Let’s do that. I’m going to work on this trust thing. I trust you to pick out something I’ll love.”

I grin at her across the old battered table. “This should be easy.”

Her voice rises as she crosses her arms. “Oh really?”

“Yep.”

Sounding doubtful, she stares at me. “Why is that?”

“Because I remember what you ordered on our one and only date.”

“We had appetizers.”

I shrug. “Doesn’t matter. I still know what you like and don’t like.”

“Okay, big shot. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Avery’s not prepared to see what I’ve got…

A cock that’s rock hard and a hunger for her that obliterates all reason.