Page 7

SEVEN

P enny followed the familiar red truck in front of her through town. They passed her favorite coffee shop, a new bookstore, and the Backdraft Bar & Grill, where she’d spent many an evening in one of their booths or the bar top. A nostalgic pang rolled through her. She and Bryce had spent some time cuddled up in that truck bed, in the cab driving around, and…doing other things she shouldn’t be recalling. Not that she’d ever let it go too far physically. It was the emotional entanglements that worried her more.

Oh, this was such a bad idea for her to come with him. Her phone rang, jarring her from the memories. She stared at the name flashing on her dashboard caller ID.

Great. And now this. If she didn’t answer, Libby would keep calling.

Better get it over with.

Penny hit the answer icon. “Hey. I don’t have a lot of time right now. Did you need something, sis?”

“Did you take your meds?”

“That’s why you’re calling?” Penny had pretty much lived on a steady diet of over-the-counter pain killers and caffeine since leaving the hospital. She couldn’t afford to take anything stronger. She cranked the wheel to make the left-hand turn.

“I wanted to see how you were doing. Is that so bad?”

“No…” But it was strange for them. Did all oldest siblings feel the need to keep tabs on younger sisters? And why was it springing up now?

“So, what are you doing?” Libby’s voice sounded a little breathy.

“Driving.”

“Are you sure you should be?—”

“Lib, I’m in the middle of an investigation. I promise you, I’m fine. Besides, I’m following Bryce, so not like I’m all alone.”

“Bryce Crawford? You’re working with your ex?”

“Yeah. Not a big deal. We’re both adults.” And she knew better than to get involved with someone from work.

But she only had the ten-minute drive to the warehouse to figure out what to say to Bryce and get ahold of herself.

Funny how after just seconds in his presence, all the feels had rushed back, as if they’d grown in her absence instead of diminishing. How was that possible? Especially after what he’d done.

“So, what happened to you two anyway? You never said.”

“How we got together? Or how it…ended?”

“Both.”

“I dunno. From the first moment we met when I came here to work the Sosa case, there was something there.” It’d been more than just his handsome face that’d drawn her. That charisma. That intensity that was all Bryce. “He was easy to be with. Fun.”

He enjoyed life, but beneath that party exterior was a man who would do anything for his family. Someone you didn’t want to mess with, either. Many people probably didn’t look past the extrovert persona, but she couldn’t help but see the protective side of him too. Sure, he was impulsive and didn’t mind pushing the line. But she liked that. She’d never wanted to be with a guy that would fall apart at the first sign of danger. Bryce had guts. He’d jump in and ask questions later.

“So why did you break up with him?”

“How did you know I was the one who did the breaking up?”

“Just a hunch. Thanks for confirming it though. So spill. Why’d you run this time?”

“He cheated on me.”

“Really? Did he try justifying it? I hate when guys do that.”

“Uh, no. He didn’t.” Because she’d never given him the chance. The second she’d seen Ashlee in his arms, it was over. She’d packed up and was gone within the hour. “I ended it and left.”

So why couldn’t she get over Bryce just as quickly? Because she needed to get over him. She was here strictly for the job. She couldn’t afford to let things get personal. Especially now that they were working together.

But he still had some kind of pull on her. She would put up her nonchalant mask, flirt a little just to show everyone there was nothing there. But it was already getting harder and harder to wear.

And she couldn’t deny there was a part of her that wondered. What if what she’d seen hadn’t been the whole picture?

She’d never let him explain. And he had begged her—with numerous voicemail and text messages—to let him explain.

But it didn’t matter. She should thank Ashlee for bringing her back to her senses. Because Penny never should’ve let him get that close in the first place. She’d known better.

“Is he the reason you won’t come visit us here? Why you always want us to come to you?”

“Maybe.”

Libby paused. “I see.”

“Look, I’m sorry, Lib, but I need to go. We’ll talk later, ’kay?” Because time had just run out. Penny followed Bryce as he turned onto the street lined with industrial buildings and abandoned stores.

“Sure. Be careful out there, Penny.”

“You know I will.”

Penny parked at the curb by the warehouse. The blackened shell of a building was almost unrecognizable. She stood on the sidewalk, taking it all in. Through the gaping hole in the cinderblock structure, the inside looked like a giant game of steel-beam pickup sticks. Smoke still curled up from the piles of debris. The air smelled of burnt plastic and chemicals.

“It’s still too hot to get in there, but what do you see?” Bryce asked her as he walked up to her from his truck. The sun glinted off his dark-blond hair, scruff lining his squared jaw. She couldn’t see his eyes behind his aviator sunglasses, but she knew they were zeroed in on her. Intense as always.

She needed to get to work, focus on the job, but the opening to the building was blocked with a mountain of debris and ash. “I can’t see much. Let’s take a look from that side alley.”

“Ladies first.” He gestured for her to go ahead of him. But she slowed and waited until he caught up with her. They walked side by side around the corner of the building, their hands brushing against each other as they squeezed into the narrow alley. The contact immediately sent a jolt through her.

“Trying to hold my hand again?” Bryce winked.

She laughed, releasing the pent-up energy that swirled at his touch. Leave it to him to make a joke of it. “Old habits die hard.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder. See? She could totally handle this. Keep it light. Keep it simple.

“So that’s all I am, huh? A bad habit?” His grin was playful, teasing.

She tried to match it. “I didn’t say it was bad.” She gave him a pointed, hopefully flirty look, something that told him this was no big deal.

“So why did you leave?” He kept the playful smirk, but there was something behind it she didn’t like. Something that looked a lot like she’d inflicted pain.

“You know why. Besides, I can never stay in one place long. And I told you from the beginning I wasn’t looking for anything serious. I thought you agre?—”

“Wait.” He cupped her elbow and tugged her to a stop before she could step into a mysterious pile of goo. He led her around, not letting go of her arm until they passed it. When he dropped his hand, the loss of contact was noticeable.

Ok. Fine. She’d missed this. That rare sense of chivalry, like someone was looking out for her. It had been a long time since she’d experienced that.

And maybe she had taken the coward’s way out by leaving town and ghosting him. Acid pooled in her stomach.

She could’ve talked to him before she’d left. But even if there was a perfectly good explanation, it was for the best that she’d left. It was never supposed to be serious.

Thankfully, it didn’t look like she’d caused permanent damage. But she did owe him an apology, at least.

“Hey, Bry—whoa.” They stopped at what had been the door she’d gone through last night.

The doorway had caved in, but the huge hole in the wall showed them the inside damage. A steel beam leaned precariously on the outer wall. A mountain of blocks and ash stood where she’d been thrown into that closet. She’d almost been buried in it.

If it hadn’t been for Bryce rescuing her.

She swallowed hard.

“You okay?” Bryce looked at her, concerned.

“Of course.”

He nodded, seemingly satisfied for the moment. “So, you’re the explosives expert. What do you see?”

“Oh, uh, over there, in that upper office, look at that smoke pattern. I think that was where one of the explosions originated from.” She pointed at the far wall.

“Makes sense. And they used an accelerant. The place smelled like gasoline last night. I’m guessing they started the original fire in that front part of the building, gave themselves time to escape.”

She should’ve been more aware of what was going on. “They had to know first responders and firefighters would be on the scene, though, when that secondary explosion hit.” Bryce and his team had walked right into their trap. And she’d been helpless to do anything about it.

“Then they wanted more than a damaged building. I think someone is trying to get our attention. And they didn’t mind leaving you to die either.” Bryce’s brow furrowed. “We need to get to the bottom of this.”

“Is there anyone who has a beef with the crew?” Penny turned away from the rubble and watched Bryce.

“Dunno. But I’m gonna find out.”

And with that pure determination etched in every line and angle of his face, she had no doubt he would. He was never one to back down from a fight.

They took pictures where they could without stepping into the building. Wavy heat lines still rose from the smoldering remains. “Once it’s cooled off, I need to get in there and investigate more.”

“Your boots will melt or catch on fire if you step in there now.”

He was right, but she hated having to wait. They turned and headed back to the street. A car engine somewhere revved. They shooed a pigeon out of the alley as they walked back to the sidewalk where they’d parked their vehicles.

“Do you want?—”

“Hey, could I—” They spoke at the exact same time.

Penny chuckled. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

“Like I said before, ladies first.” That twinkle in his eye was so irresistible. He smirked, leaning against the hood of his truck.

She cleared her throat and stared down at her boots. It was too distracting to trace the outline of his jaw or try to read his eyes. She could lose herself so easily.

Hold it together, Pen. He’s just another handsome face. And he cheated on you. Didn’t want you.

A loud noise sounded. Bryce popped up and spun to face a low-riding black car as it sped toward them. She caught the glint of metal sticking out of the windows before Bryce knocked her to the ground.

Gunshots rang.

The engine of the car roared. Sharp sounds of metal hitting metal filled her ears. Her breath stopped as Bryce held her, cradling her head off the cold sidewalk. He sheltered her body as shards of cement, cinderblock, and dust rained down. Within a matter of seconds, it was over. The gunshots stopped. The sound of the car engine faded as it sped away.

Penny searched the brown eyes hovering over her.

“Are you okay?” His voice caught.

She took quick stock of herself. No more pain than she’d had when she’d woken up earlier. She couldn’t find her voice, so she nodded.

The relief in his gaze was palpable. He dropped a light kiss on her forehead. “Thank God.” His breath shuddered near her ear. “I thought I’d lost you again.”

To be there in his arms, held, cherished, safe for just a moment, quieted the ringing in her head. He was protecting her even now.

“I’m sorry.” Even to her own ears she sounded a little broken.

“Sorry? For what?”

“I’m sorry I left without saying anything.”