Backfire (10 page)

His cell rang and David dug it out of his pocket. It was the fire chief. They’d heard from the fire marshal. He’d determined the origin and cause of the fire. That had gone much quicker than David had expected.

“I’m on my way.” David headed over to the burned-out hull of a grocery store. He’d already made up his mind—based on Tracy’s reaction and what she’d told him—that this had been arson, though he hadn’t wanted to admit that to Tracy. The fire marshal had sent debris to be analyzed for chemical accelerants, but ultimately it would be Winters’s responsibility to investigate criminal activity if the fire marshal determined evidence of that.

Had he found something?

Or had David jumped to a lot of conclusions without any facts based on Tracy’s story? What if he’d been wrong?

TWELVE

“W
here is it?” Tracy grumbled to herself.

There wasn’t anyone in the cottage to hear her complaining besides her. On her knees, she fumbled under the desk, searching for Jennifer’s business card. It had been a couple of days since the grocery store burned down and the mine had collapsed, nearly killing her and David. And even two days since she’d seen David last. He had a job, after all, and had to work his twenty-four-hour shift at the fire station.

At least there hadn’t been another fire in town.

For some crazy reason she’d almost started to believe he would never leave her side. She’d almost started to count on that when she knew good and well she shouldn’t. And her heart ached a little, when it shouldn’t. But between the Warren brothers and the police department standing guard at the B and B, Tracy was almost convinced she was safe.

And she was all the more confused. How long could they go on like this? Certainly not indefinitely. Tracy was trapped between someone who wanted to kill her and people who wanted to protect her, and she couldn’t breathe. She needed to talk to Jennifer.

Behind her, Solomon barked, startling Tracy.

She bumped her head on the desk. “Ouch.”

At least she recognized it as a friendly bark.

“What. Are. You. Doing?”

And the familiar masculine voice.

David.

Even the sound of his voice sent warm tingles through her. She crawled out of the confining space under the desk where the chair had been and rested on her knees. “I’m looking for something.”

“You shouldn’t be in the cottage. You shouldn’t be alone. What’s so important?”

“I’m not alone. Officer What’s-His-Name is out there.”

“No, he’s not.”

“What? He was sitting in his cruiser not five minutes ago.”

His rugged face shifted into a deep scowl. “He must have gotten called away. Glad I showed up when I did.”

“And you didn’t pass him on your way in?” Tracy frowned. That meant that he’d been gone awhile and that Tracy had been here longer than she’d intended. Alone.

So much for having guard dogs of the human variety—they weren’t reliable.

David held his hand out to her. Tracy took it and allowed him to assist her up. On her feet, she stood and realized she was in his personal space. Or he was in hers? Either way, his masculine scent wrapped around her and she took a step back.

Into the desk.

He was close. Much too close. And she’d missed him more than she wanted to admit. Her heart pounded, and unfortunately, her breathing gave her away.

The smallest of grins broke through his frown. Did he realize the effect he had on her? Not good. Still, he kept her pinned and stared down at her, his hands at his sides. “What am I going to do with you?”

Excuse me? You don’t own me.

Tracy thought of a few more unpleasant retorts, but she calmed herself. David meant well. “I’m sorry. I can’t find my cell phone anywhere. I think I lost it in the chaos in the mine. So I don’t have my contact list or numbers. And now I can’t find her card.”

“Whose card?”

“Marshal Hanes.”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of going into WITSEC.”

Tracy slipped around him, putting space between them. He looked too good for his own good. Or rather, for Tracy’s good. Tongue hanging out, Solomon lumbered toward David as if taking Tracy’s place and wagged his tail. David reached down and rubbed the dog behind the ears.

“I’m not sure what to do.” She needed some advice and had hoped that the marshal could give her that. She was still mulling over Jewel’s words, as well.

If she thought he was going to try to talk her into staying, though, she was disappointed. David said nothing. Instead he studied her long and hard until she grew uncomfortable. She shouldn’t care if David wanted her to stay or not. That shouldn’t matter.

She finally averted her gaze. “So...um...I’m sure you didn’t come here for idle chitchat.” Oh, man. She could have said something much nicer.

It’s good to see you. How are you doing?
Something. Why couldn’t she tell him that? Instead she sounded rude, and she hadn’t meant it that way. She lifted her hand to reach out, squeeze his arm—she was far too demonstrative—and apologize for her tone.

“You’re right. I didn’t.”

Tracy dropped her hand before making contact. So much for good intentions. Not wanting to meet his eyes, she searched the cottage for anything else she might have left inside.

“We’ve finished investigating the grocery-store fire.”

That got her attention. She jerked her eyes back to him. “And?”

“The fire marshal and Chief Winters agree that it was arson. To tell you the truth, I was hoping for something else. I was hoping that you were wrong.”

Tracy sagged where she stood. “You were hoping I was delusional, that’s what you hoped.”

“No. Not that. But I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around any of this. As I’m sure you are. You already told me about Santino and his gang and the fires. But is there anything, any details that would help us, that you left out?”

His question knocked the wind from her. Tracy reached for the sofa and made her way around, easing down into the soft cushion. Yes, there were details that she’d left out. She’d told him that she’d witnessed Santino burning a house, but she hadn’t shared she’d been a target long before she’d been a witness. And she should tell him everything now, but she wasn’t sure she could talk about it. Not yet.

David looked stricken at her reaction. “Maybe I shouldn’t have asked you. Maybe I can get that information from the police if they’re willing to share. I didn’t think... I thought you’d be able to talk about it by now.”

David approached her then sat on the edge of the sofa at the opposite end. Why did he keep getting closer to her?

“No, it’s okay. It’s just that when you asked me, I realized that I was running from that night in more ways than one. I wanted to forget everything that happened. I can’t believe it followed me here. That he found me here.”

“Then let’s end this here and now. Let’s catch this guy in Mountain Cove so he can never harm you again.”

She shook her head. “Santino is still in jail. It’s only one of his minions in his gang following his orders from inside prison. It will never end. There will always be the next guy until Santino moves on to another target.”

“There has to be something we can do.” David jumped up and paced the cottage, his presence and sturdy form once again making the cozy place seem much smaller.

“Santino would have to die first, and even then I don’t know if his gang would stop targeting me. And that’s why I can’t know if staying here is the right thing to do. Jewel had a lot of brave words to say, and I’m privileged to know a community filled with such loyal people who have welcomed me as if I’m one of their own.”

“But...”

“But I don’t know, David.” Tracy stood and blocked his path. She knew she should steer clear of him, but when he was this close, protectiveness and concern pouring off him, she couldn’t help herself. She wanted to be near him.

In his arms.

Maybe she wanted him to convince her to stay in this hopeless situation. He made her think crazy thoughts, unreasonable thoughts. She shouldn’t stay here.

Oh, God, please don’t let him read my mind. Please don’t let him see what has to be obvious.

But when he stopped and looked at her, his eyes were warm and soft, and she knew he’d done just that.

“I’m not usually so indecisive,” she whispered.

He took one slow step forward and then another, forcing her breath to hitch again.

“I don’t want to run again. I don’t want to hide anymore. But I can’t stay here knowing I’m putting everyone in danger.”

David stood close again, and this time his hands didn’t stay at his sides. He lifted his fingers and wrapped them in the tendril that had fallen into her face. She heard him swallow and understood he felt the attraction, too. But this thing with David that she couldn’t let herself have went so much deeper than attraction. How had some gorgeous woman not snagged this man already? He was a prize worth fighting for.

She didn’t want to leave Mountain Cove or the friends she’d made here, but David had quickly become her biggest reason to stay.

And he couldn’t be.

“Then don’t,” he finally said. “Don’t run and hide. Let your friends in Mountain Cove protect you, and at the same time the police can take this guy down, and then everyone will be safe. Including you.”

Did David really believe what he was saying? “I don’t think you truly know what you’re up against.”

He twirled her hair and stepped even closer. “Maybe not. But you’re worth whatever the cost, Tracy. Don’t go.”

Then his lips made contact with hers and lingered, igniting something deep inside both her body and soul. Tracy breathed in the essence that was David and lost herself in his sweet, tender kiss that conveyed how much he cared, more than words ever could.

She didn’t want this to end—this feeling of being cherished that David’s simple kiss had ignited. But Tracy stepped away, breaking the spell. “I’m no good for you. I can’t do this.”

Anguish spread over his expression, regret in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Look, it’s okay. I felt it, too. I kissed you back. But this can’t go anywhere, so maybe we should keep our distance.”

“You’re right. It can’t go anywhere.”

The look of complete resolution on his face wasn’t what she’d expected, and for a brief, selfish second she wished she could take her own words back.

Tracy frowned and looked at the floor. It needed sweeping. “I should get back to help Jewel.”

Solomon nudged her and whined, sensing it was time to go, too.

“I won’t kiss you again, Tracy, but I’m going to stick around until I know you’re safe, once and for all. I promise.” David gestured to the door. “So if you’re ready, I’ll escort you back to the main house.”

“Come on, Solomon.”

Tracy walked with her dog and David strolled behind, keeping his distance.

When she caught a glimpse of him over her shoulder, she saw that he’d taken out his weapon and was scanning the woods edging the property. She didn’t bother to protest. If she wasn’t going to get a new identity—run and hide—then yes, she needed David’s help. She needed his protection, but he brought his own brand of danger with him. He was a threat to her heart.

* * *

David watched Tracy hesitate at the back door to the main house. She glanced back at him but didn’t smile or wave.

Fine with him.

Keeping their distance it was. As far as he was concerned, this was close enough.

Yeah, right.

He’d been a complete idiot to kiss her, but he’d been swept away by her crazy red hair and eyes with those flecks of silver on blue, and her soft-spoken personality, determined nature, courage—the list went on, including something innate he couldn’t define. All of it drew him to her like nothing before. Well, since his wife. The thought of Tracy leaving, walking out of his life, had sent him over the edge.

Something about Tracy made it hard for the man in him to ignore.

But he had to try.

Careful not to scratch it, he leaned against his truck. So he’d start his shift watching the B and B and occupants a little early. He had two days before he was due back to the station. And then he’d worry about Tracy the whole twenty-four hours that he couldn’t be with her or watch out for her as he’d just done. That had driven him absolutely insane. In fact, it had driven his firefighting buddies crazy, too. But at least they hadn’t been called out to another fire started by this arsonist murderer. That was one positive in this whole mess.

Another was that he’d convinced Winters to participate in protecting her.

He’d parked at the edge of the property near the woods and mostly out of sight of the guests. He didn’t want to scare them. He’d already tucked his gun into his holster and out of sight, as well, but that was more in keeping with Winters’s request. David didn’t have the authority of the law behind him, technically speaking.

Fortunately, Jewel had agreed to this setup and knew it was important to keep someone watching the place. And true to her word, she’d informed her guests of the situation, as well. He would have thought that news—that a killer was after one of her employees—would have scared her guests off, but that hadn’t happened at all.

Jewel told him that an older man and his wife enjoying their anniversary on a dream Alaska vacation had left the morning after Tracy moved in, but the other guests dug in deeper. Some had even tried to reserve another week, except Jewel was already booked for the summer. Were they hanging around to catch some action or watch the drama unfold? He thought it more likely they wanted their part in keeping Tracy safe. Though they hadn’t known her for long, the guests interacted with Tracy every day and he could understand why they’d feel protective of her. David approved. Just as well to have the whole town, and then some, on guard and protecting Tracy since he was sure that he, himself, wouldn’t be enough.

He shifted against his truck. This would be a long evening. He texted Cade to talk. Called Chief Winters to find out if they’d learned anything more. Jewel brought him some dinner—baked salmon in a puff pastry—and tried to coax him into the house at least to eat, but he refused, thinking Tracy wouldn’t want to see him there after he’d crossed the line. Besides, he needed to watch from outside. Inside and near Tracy, and he would grow weak and stupid.

She was his kryptonite.

The symphony of insects harmonized around him, and though he’d plastered himself with repellent, the mosquitoes were relentless in accosting him. He especially hated the whining buzz in his ears. Dusk would descend soon enough and Terry should arrive around midnight, when it was finally dark, to watch over the B and B through the night.

David yawned, rubbed his neck and watched, waiting for the last light in the house to go out. Tracy’s room. He knew because he’d seen her looking out the window that first night.

He fiddled with his cell, wanting to call her then remembering she’d lost her phone. Disappointment surged. He was like a stupid schoolboy who didn’t know when to let go. But he had the urge to throw pebbles up to her window to see her open it and smile down.