“You’re trying to act like it never happened.” His voice stopped her. “It happened, Lora. I’m not gonna play nice and act like I never told you—”
Her breath caught. “Kent…”
“That I love you.”
Her knees did a fast tremble.
Kenton rolled from the bed and pushed to his feet. Then he stalked toward her. Naked, tall, strong. “Maybe you don’t want to hear it, but too damn bad.”
Lora wanted to retreat, but she didn’t move. Not an inch.
He brushed against her. “I didn’t plan this. I planned for sex. Hot. Wild. And so good we’d both go crazy. Because I knew it would be like that the first time I kissed you.”
She turned fully toward him and didn’t know what to say. But, yeah, she’d planned for that. She’d wanted that hard rush of release that she knew would banish her ghosts and the pleasure that would force her out of the past and show her the present.
“One time. Just once and I was hooked.”
Wait, was that good? Or bad? Sounded bad.
But she understood the feeling. She’d been the same way. Hooked. On his touch. His kiss.
“Then I started to fall for you,” he said. “Or, hell, maybe I started that first night.” His lips curved, again, and her gut tightened at the sight of his dimples. “That first night—when you knocked me on my ass.”
“Y-you wouldn’t get out.” Her voice softened a bit. “I didn’t want to—”
“Doesn’t really matter when, though.” His eyes narrowed at the corners. “Just know that now, when I breathe, I taste you.”
She gulped.
“When I wake up, the first thought I have is of you.”
Even when he wasn’t in her bed, he was her first thought, too.
“I’m not the jealous type, Lora.” A shake of his head. “But I almost punched that cop because he’d had you.”
Ah, Pete? He was talking about Pete now?
“I don’t want to think of you with anyone else, before or after me. Sure as hell not after, because I don’t want us to end when this case is over.”
Neither did she. Her feelings—yeah, they scared her. Because when you cared so much, you opened yourself up to a world of hurt. She didn’t want to hurt again.
No, she hadn’t planned for him.
Wild sex was what she’d wanted.
But she’d found much more.
Enough to risk her heart again? “Kent…”
He kissed her. He brushed his mouth over hers. Not in a hard, demanding kiss. Instead…
Caressing.
He lifted his head while she still wanted his mouth. “We’ll finish this case. You’ll get your justice for Carter.”
But it wasn’t just about that anymore. So many others—
“But I want you. I want you to give us time to see where the hell this is going because, sweetheart, I’ve never felt this way about a woman before, and I damn well don’t want to lose you.”
Her breath came too fast. He was offering her a chance at love again. Kent. A smart woman would grab hold with both hands.
Her hands locked around him. “You’re not losing me.” Being afraid of taking a chance—that wasn’t her either.
She hadn’t been afraid of life or of loving until Carter. Until she’d lost him.
Then she’d tried to lock herself away.
That plan hadn’t worked. Kenton had broken right through those locks.
Too soon? Too fast? Maybe. But screw it. Life was fast, and if she’d learned anything, it was that life could be over far, far too soon.
Take a chance. She nodded. For him, she’d take it.
She’d take the thrill and the fire and the passion. She’d take everything, and in the end, if ashes came, she wouldn’t regret being with him.
Not for a moment.
A knock rapped at the door. She wanted to ignore it and just stay right there in his arms.
“Guess that’s Garrison,” Kenton said.
Early? Probably. The man always did show up half an hour early for every party.
But Kenton didn’t release her. His forehead pressed against hers. “We’re not done.”
“Not even close,” she whispered back. Because fate had been kind to her. Too kind. Not just one man to love in her life.
Two.
A second chance.
Another knock. Then, “Lake, come on, open the door. I know you’re in there! Step away from the chick and open up!” A woman’s voice, sharp, a bit annoyed.
It was a voice that Lora hadn’t heard before.
He raised his head. “Kim?”
Who?
But he pulled away and fumbled for his clothes. “Hyde must have sent her down. Guess he thought we needed more backup.”
Lora pulled on a robe, an old, slightly frayed hotel robe that had been tossed over the back of a chair.
Kenton hurried for the door. He checked through the peephole, then pulled it open. “Donalds, when did you get into town?”
A small woman with coal-black hair brushed by him. “Fifty minutes ago. I brought the boss with me.”
Hyde? Hyde was back in town?
“They want you at the station.” She glanced at Lora, and the agent’s gaze raked over her. “You the firefighter?”
Lora raised a brow. “One of them.”
A nod. No change of expression crossed her face. The woman didn’t seem to care that the bed was wrecked, that Lora was in a robe, or that Kenton’s shirt was missing all of its buttons.
“I’m your chaperone for the day.” Her smile flashed in a wicked grin. “I got protective duty.” She slanted a glance at Kenton. “That’s why I didn’t bother calling first. Figured we’d just switch out… though I don’t think I’ll be offering quite the same services you just did.”
“Screw off, Kim.” His tone was light, at odds with the words.
She laughed. A quick, rich sound.
Lora frowned. “What’s going on? Why do they need Kenton at the station?”
“Monica has a lead. While Sam’s working it, Hyde’s chewing up the PD. I think he said he’d start with the captain.” She shrugged. “Kenton’s point man, so he needs to be there when the case breaks open.”
Lora’s stomach knotted as her gaze flew to his. “You’ll be careful?”
Another laugh rolled from Kim. “The man has a gun.” Her green, almond-shaped eyes gleamed. “He’ll be fine. You’re the civilian. If anyone’s a target, it’s—”
“Kim.” Not sounding so friendly anymore. Kenton’s voice was definitely entering the land of the pissed.
But the woman hadn’t said anything that Lora hadn’t already figured out. “So you’re my bodyguard?” Seriously, she could probably blow this woman over with a hard breath. Lora had at least seven inches on her, probably forty pounds and—
A lazy smile lifted Kim’s lips. “It’s your lucky day.”
He watched them leave. Garrison came for Lora. The old guy looked nervous as he glanced to the left, then the right. Lora walked out with her shoulders back and her chin up. No fear there. Stupid bitch. She’d learn.
Then another woman appeared. She was small—all hair and eyes, but she carried a gun. His eyes narrowed when he caught a glimpse of the holster beneath her left arm. Another f**king agent trailing after Lora.
Like an agent was supposed to stop him. He didn’t care how many guards she had. He knew just how to get to Lora.
Too simple, really.
But then, it had always been simple.
Time was running out. He knew it. He’d checked with his source again just minutes before. The agents were running their search. They’d turn up his name.
They’d track him.
But he wouldn’t go down easy.
No, not easy.
He’d go down in flames because that was his way.
His way, and Lora’s.
CHAPTER Nineteen
Kenton’s phone rang just as he stepped out of the hotel room. “Lake.” He shoved the keys into his pocket, adjusted his jacket, and felt the brush of his holster.
“Has Donalds got the woman?” Hyde demanded.
“Yeah, she’s detailing her.” He’d walked them out moments before and headed back into the room just to grab some files. Although he knew Kim would keep a careful watch on Lora, he couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy. He wanted Lora with him so he could watch her himself and make absolutely certain she was safe.
“Pick up Davenport and get your asses down here. Sam’s got a list of names—”
Names? “Who?”
“She’s been looking for firefighters, men who’ve been burned.”
That fit. They’d thought it was a firefighter in the beginning, until they’d seen the link with Malone. A link that was still there. “What about Malone? What happened to—”
“Alibied by one of Lora’s neighbors.”
“Okay.” He digested that. “But Malone is still tied to the cases. It’s no coincidence that he had a history with all the victims.” A link. Malone was the link, perhaps unknowingly, but he could lead them back to the killer.
“We’ve done some more digging, and we found four men who fit Davenport’s profile. I want you both here because we’re bringing ’em in, and we will get the killer to break.”
That sounded like one f**king fine plan. “Be there in twenty.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and quickened his step. Monica’s room was on the other side of the hotel. Deliberate, that, after his last unfortunate encounter overhearing her and Luke in a hotel with thin walls.
Four names. Excitement had his heart thundering.
“Agent Lake!”
Kenton spun at the call, tensing. “What are you doing here?” His hand rose, going close for his gun, just in case. Not a firefighter, but…
“I wanted to talk to you and Lora.” Seth came closer, the limp slowing him a bit. “I checked at the station, but you weren’t there.” He shook his head. “I’ve found something.”
Cars buzzed by on the interstate, and their engines roared.
“What?”
“I think—I think I know who started the fires.” Seth’s voice lowered. “I don’t want to believe it, but…”
Kenton lowered his arm and stepped forward. The traffic was getting louder and making it harder to hear.
“I think it’s…” A broad smile covered his face as Seth’s hand came up. “Me.” A spark of electricity shot from the taser in his hand.
“Fuck!” Kenton jumped back.
Too late. The metal probes slammed right under his rib cage, and his body convulsed. Kenton fell, the files scattered, and his head hit the concrete.
The burn unit. Lora’s spine stiffened as she stared up at the sign in Memorial Infirmary. She’d been here so many times. First, she’d come as a kid for her own painful treatment. Ryan’s wounds had been worse than hers, so she’d come back during all of his long visits. Over the years, she’d also gone in with her teammates when they were injured and checked up on survivors.
Wade wasn’t talking yet. He couldn’t with that tube still down his throat. But she’d paid her respects to him. The chief was still talking to Sherri, and tears trickled down the woman’s cheeks.
The road ahead wouldn’t be easy for Wade and Sherri, but at least they’d be together.
The scent of fresh flowers filled the air. She’d brought roses, though Wade would have cussed her out if he knew that. The man had always said they were too girly.
“Lora.” She blinked and found Sherri in front of her. “Lora…” More tears fell as the other woman’s arms lifted and wrapped around her. “Thank you.” A whisper.
Lora held her tight. Sherri. Sweet Sherri. She’d always come to the station, smiling and flirting with Wade.
“Everything’s gonna be okay,” Lora told her, aware that her own voice was getting choked up. It was just that this place stirred up so many memories.
A lot of people had survived because of this place.
And some—some just hadn’t been strong enough.
“Wade’s a fighter. He’s gonna make it.” He would. She pulled back and stared into Sherri’s tear-filled eyes. “You keep telling him that, okay?” Because it mattered. You had to hear the words over and over. The pain—you had to know that you’d get past it.
“I will,” Sherri promised.
Because sometimes just surviving wasn’t enough. He’d made it through the flames, but now Wade had to want to live.
The shrill cry of her phone stopped Monica just as she was leaving her hotel room. She yanked the phone up even as her heart raced. “Davenport.” Maybe Sam had found—
“What the hell is taking so long?” Hyde barked.
Hyde.
“You and Lake were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. I want these interrogations started ASAP. Let’s get this—”
“Kenton?” She turned and met Luke’s puzzled stare. “Wait—what do you mean we were supposed to be there?” She’d crashed hard once she and Luke had gotten back to the hotel, but she hadn’t missed a call from Kenton.
Silence hummed on the line. “You haven’t seen Lake?”
Goosebumps rose on her arms. Beside her, Luke tensed.
“I talked to him fifty minutes ago,” Hyde told her flatly. “He was supposed to pick you up and bring you to the station.”
Her heart kicked into a double-time rhythm. “I haven’t seen him.” That’s not like Kenton.
Her breath caught. “Kent…”
“That I love you.”
Her knees did a fast tremble.
Kenton rolled from the bed and pushed to his feet. Then he stalked toward her. Naked, tall, strong. “Maybe you don’t want to hear it, but too damn bad.”
Lora wanted to retreat, but she didn’t move. Not an inch.
He brushed against her. “I didn’t plan this. I planned for sex. Hot. Wild. And so good we’d both go crazy. Because I knew it would be like that the first time I kissed you.”
She turned fully toward him and didn’t know what to say. But, yeah, she’d planned for that. She’d wanted that hard rush of release that she knew would banish her ghosts and the pleasure that would force her out of the past and show her the present.
“One time. Just once and I was hooked.”
Wait, was that good? Or bad? Sounded bad.
But she understood the feeling. She’d been the same way. Hooked. On his touch. His kiss.
“Then I started to fall for you,” he said. “Or, hell, maybe I started that first night.” His lips curved, again, and her gut tightened at the sight of his dimples. “That first night—when you knocked me on my ass.”
“Y-you wouldn’t get out.” Her voice softened a bit. “I didn’t want to—”
“Doesn’t really matter when, though.” His eyes narrowed at the corners. “Just know that now, when I breathe, I taste you.”
She gulped.
“When I wake up, the first thought I have is of you.”
Even when he wasn’t in her bed, he was her first thought, too.
“I’m not the jealous type, Lora.” A shake of his head. “But I almost punched that cop because he’d had you.”
Ah, Pete? He was talking about Pete now?
“I don’t want to think of you with anyone else, before or after me. Sure as hell not after, because I don’t want us to end when this case is over.”
Neither did she. Her feelings—yeah, they scared her. Because when you cared so much, you opened yourself up to a world of hurt. She didn’t want to hurt again.
No, she hadn’t planned for him.
Wild sex was what she’d wanted.
But she’d found much more.
Enough to risk her heart again? “Kent…”
He kissed her. He brushed his mouth over hers. Not in a hard, demanding kiss. Instead…
Caressing.
He lifted his head while she still wanted his mouth. “We’ll finish this case. You’ll get your justice for Carter.”
But it wasn’t just about that anymore. So many others—
“But I want you. I want you to give us time to see where the hell this is going because, sweetheart, I’ve never felt this way about a woman before, and I damn well don’t want to lose you.”
Her breath came too fast. He was offering her a chance at love again. Kent. A smart woman would grab hold with both hands.
Her hands locked around him. “You’re not losing me.” Being afraid of taking a chance—that wasn’t her either.
She hadn’t been afraid of life or of loving until Carter. Until she’d lost him.
Then she’d tried to lock herself away.
That plan hadn’t worked. Kenton had broken right through those locks.
Too soon? Too fast? Maybe. But screw it. Life was fast, and if she’d learned anything, it was that life could be over far, far too soon.
Take a chance. She nodded. For him, she’d take it.
She’d take the thrill and the fire and the passion. She’d take everything, and in the end, if ashes came, she wouldn’t regret being with him.
Not for a moment.
A knock rapped at the door. She wanted to ignore it and just stay right there in his arms.
“Guess that’s Garrison,” Kenton said.
Early? Probably. The man always did show up half an hour early for every party.
But Kenton didn’t release her. His forehead pressed against hers. “We’re not done.”
“Not even close,” she whispered back. Because fate had been kind to her. Too kind. Not just one man to love in her life.
Two.
A second chance.
Another knock. Then, “Lake, come on, open the door. I know you’re in there! Step away from the chick and open up!” A woman’s voice, sharp, a bit annoyed.
It was a voice that Lora hadn’t heard before.
He raised his head. “Kim?”
Who?
But he pulled away and fumbled for his clothes. “Hyde must have sent her down. Guess he thought we needed more backup.”
Lora pulled on a robe, an old, slightly frayed hotel robe that had been tossed over the back of a chair.
Kenton hurried for the door. He checked through the peephole, then pulled it open. “Donalds, when did you get into town?”
A small woman with coal-black hair brushed by him. “Fifty minutes ago. I brought the boss with me.”
Hyde? Hyde was back in town?
“They want you at the station.” She glanced at Lora, and the agent’s gaze raked over her. “You the firefighter?”
Lora raised a brow. “One of them.”
A nod. No change of expression crossed her face. The woman didn’t seem to care that the bed was wrecked, that Lora was in a robe, or that Kenton’s shirt was missing all of its buttons.
“I’m your chaperone for the day.” Her smile flashed in a wicked grin. “I got protective duty.” She slanted a glance at Kenton. “That’s why I didn’t bother calling first. Figured we’d just switch out… though I don’t think I’ll be offering quite the same services you just did.”
“Screw off, Kim.” His tone was light, at odds with the words.
She laughed. A quick, rich sound.
Lora frowned. “What’s going on? Why do they need Kenton at the station?”
“Monica has a lead. While Sam’s working it, Hyde’s chewing up the PD. I think he said he’d start with the captain.” She shrugged. “Kenton’s point man, so he needs to be there when the case breaks open.”
Lora’s stomach knotted as her gaze flew to his. “You’ll be careful?”
Another laugh rolled from Kim. “The man has a gun.” Her green, almond-shaped eyes gleamed. “He’ll be fine. You’re the civilian. If anyone’s a target, it’s—”
“Kim.” Not sounding so friendly anymore. Kenton’s voice was definitely entering the land of the pissed.
But the woman hadn’t said anything that Lora hadn’t already figured out. “So you’re my bodyguard?” Seriously, she could probably blow this woman over with a hard breath. Lora had at least seven inches on her, probably forty pounds and—
A lazy smile lifted Kim’s lips. “It’s your lucky day.”
He watched them leave. Garrison came for Lora. The old guy looked nervous as he glanced to the left, then the right. Lora walked out with her shoulders back and her chin up. No fear there. Stupid bitch. She’d learn.
Then another woman appeared. She was small—all hair and eyes, but she carried a gun. His eyes narrowed when he caught a glimpse of the holster beneath her left arm. Another f**king agent trailing after Lora.
Like an agent was supposed to stop him. He didn’t care how many guards she had. He knew just how to get to Lora.
Too simple, really.
But then, it had always been simple.
Time was running out. He knew it. He’d checked with his source again just minutes before. The agents were running their search. They’d turn up his name.
They’d track him.
But he wouldn’t go down easy.
No, not easy.
He’d go down in flames because that was his way.
His way, and Lora’s.
CHAPTER Nineteen
Kenton’s phone rang just as he stepped out of the hotel room. “Lake.” He shoved the keys into his pocket, adjusted his jacket, and felt the brush of his holster.
“Has Donalds got the woman?” Hyde demanded.
“Yeah, she’s detailing her.” He’d walked them out moments before and headed back into the room just to grab some files. Although he knew Kim would keep a careful watch on Lora, he couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy. He wanted Lora with him so he could watch her himself and make absolutely certain she was safe.
“Pick up Davenport and get your asses down here. Sam’s got a list of names—”
Names? “Who?”
“She’s been looking for firefighters, men who’ve been burned.”
That fit. They’d thought it was a firefighter in the beginning, until they’d seen the link with Malone. A link that was still there. “What about Malone? What happened to—”
“Alibied by one of Lora’s neighbors.”
“Okay.” He digested that. “But Malone is still tied to the cases. It’s no coincidence that he had a history with all the victims.” A link. Malone was the link, perhaps unknowingly, but he could lead them back to the killer.
“We’ve done some more digging, and we found four men who fit Davenport’s profile. I want you both here because we’re bringing ’em in, and we will get the killer to break.”
That sounded like one f**king fine plan. “Be there in twenty.” He shoved the phone back into his pocket and quickened his step. Monica’s room was on the other side of the hotel. Deliberate, that, after his last unfortunate encounter overhearing her and Luke in a hotel with thin walls.
Four names. Excitement had his heart thundering.
“Agent Lake!”
Kenton spun at the call, tensing. “What are you doing here?” His hand rose, going close for his gun, just in case. Not a firefighter, but…
“I wanted to talk to you and Lora.” Seth came closer, the limp slowing him a bit. “I checked at the station, but you weren’t there.” He shook his head. “I’ve found something.”
Cars buzzed by on the interstate, and their engines roared.
“What?”
“I think—I think I know who started the fires.” Seth’s voice lowered. “I don’t want to believe it, but…”
Kenton lowered his arm and stepped forward. The traffic was getting louder and making it harder to hear.
“I think it’s…” A broad smile covered his face as Seth’s hand came up. “Me.” A spark of electricity shot from the taser in his hand.
“Fuck!” Kenton jumped back.
Too late. The metal probes slammed right under his rib cage, and his body convulsed. Kenton fell, the files scattered, and his head hit the concrete.
The burn unit. Lora’s spine stiffened as she stared up at the sign in Memorial Infirmary. She’d been here so many times. First, she’d come as a kid for her own painful treatment. Ryan’s wounds had been worse than hers, so she’d come back during all of his long visits. Over the years, she’d also gone in with her teammates when they were injured and checked up on survivors.
Wade wasn’t talking yet. He couldn’t with that tube still down his throat. But she’d paid her respects to him. The chief was still talking to Sherri, and tears trickled down the woman’s cheeks.
The road ahead wouldn’t be easy for Wade and Sherri, but at least they’d be together.
The scent of fresh flowers filled the air. She’d brought roses, though Wade would have cussed her out if he knew that. The man had always said they were too girly.
“Lora.” She blinked and found Sherri in front of her. “Lora…” More tears fell as the other woman’s arms lifted and wrapped around her. “Thank you.” A whisper.
Lora held her tight. Sherri. Sweet Sherri. She’d always come to the station, smiling and flirting with Wade.
“Everything’s gonna be okay,” Lora told her, aware that her own voice was getting choked up. It was just that this place stirred up so many memories.
A lot of people had survived because of this place.
And some—some just hadn’t been strong enough.
“Wade’s a fighter. He’s gonna make it.” He would. She pulled back and stared into Sherri’s tear-filled eyes. “You keep telling him that, okay?” Because it mattered. You had to hear the words over and over. The pain—you had to know that you’d get past it.
“I will,” Sherri promised.
Because sometimes just surviving wasn’t enough. He’d made it through the flames, but now Wade had to want to live.
The shrill cry of her phone stopped Monica just as she was leaving her hotel room. She yanked the phone up even as her heart raced. “Davenport.” Maybe Sam had found—
“What the hell is taking so long?” Hyde barked.
Hyde.
“You and Lake were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. I want these interrogations started ASAP. Let’s get this—”
“Kenton?” She turned and met Luke’s puzzled stare. “Wait—what do you mean we were supposed to be there?” She’d crashed hard once she and Luke had gotten back to the hotel, but she hadn’t missed a call from Kenton.
Silence hummed on the line. “You haven’t seen Lake?”
Goosebumps rose on her arms. Beside her, Luke tensed.
“I talked to him fifty minutes ago,” Hyde told her flatly. “He was supposed to pick you up and bring you to the station.”
Her heart kicked into a double-time rhythm. “I haven’t seen him.” That’s not like Kenton.
