Shadows of Fire (6 page)

“Any
life lost in a senseless fire is one too many.” Reese’s words were as hard as
the look he shot Ronan. “It’s a code to live by.”

“Aye,
‘tis true for sure. Still, we have to be grateful it wasn’t worse. Perhaps more
safety education needs to be done. I’m all for keeping students safe.”

“So
I hear.” The half smile Reese flashed held a challenge—not humor.

Alex
couldn’t believe her ears. Ronan’s reputation of hitting on underclassmen of
both sexes was well known at the university. Apparently, his notoriety had also
seeped into the town rumor mill and it was enough to raise Reese’s hackles. If Alex
didn’t do something soon, the testosterone flying through the air would likely
wound them all. She cleared her throat to draw their attention back to her. “Yes,
well, okay then. Back to the task at hand.” Checking the scheduled appointments,
Alex was surprised. Reese wasn’t expected for another hour. “You’re early,
Reese. If you’re in a hurry, I’d be happy to—”

“No,
I’m good.” Casually leaning against the door jamb, Reese crossed his booted
feet at the ankles, tucked his sunglasses into his chamois shirt and folded his
arms over his chest. His contentious stare never left Ronan’s annoyed
expression. “In light of all the recent fires, Glenn wasn’t comfortable leaving
you here on your own. When he called and asked me to give you a hand this
morning, I told him I was happy to help with the appointments.”

Alex’s
heart flipped in her chest. She’d spent months trying to entice Reese beyond
innocent flirtations and innuendoes. Now, when she’d made the decision to cut
her ties with South Kenton, the man looked as if he were going to devour her in
one lusty bite.

“I’m
quite capable of handling things on my own,” she said, pleased when her voice
didn’t betray the electric current of awareness snapping over her nerves. “Besides,
Chris will be here after his morning classes at the university.”

“Then
how about I stay until then?” There was no confusion in the slow, smooth smile
Reese offered her.

“Reese
is right, Alexandra. ‘Tisn’t a good idea for you to be alone down here.
Obviously, the professor was targeted last night. You really can’t be too
cautious at this point.”

Reese
simply acknowledged the statement with a nod.

Ronan
flashed her a plastic smile that had melted the resolve of many women at the
tavern, but did nothing for her. “And now that that’s settled. I am in quite a
hurry. I’d appreciate it if you could fill my order, Alexandra. I have another
pressing engagement this morning.”

“I’d
be happy to get your two bottles, Ronan.”

Ronan
stopped her. “I’m finding the transition more difficult than you explained.
I’ll need double that amount.”

“But
I’ve been bringing the wine to you for a few weeks. You should’ve weaned
yourself to a pint a day last week. A bottle should last you around three days.
I’m sure we’ve talked about this. And didn’t Glenn confirm the instructions?”

Ronan
looked at Reese and then back to her, a blush coloring his cheeks. “I’d rather
discuss my
difficulties
with Glenn. It’s apparent you don’t understand
how it all works.”

Alex
certainly did understand. It had been her contribution to the wine mixture that
had finally made it work as a dietary replacement for vampires. The number of
bottles and vampire requirements was carefully monitored. Even two bottles
could mean not filling the need of another vampire. But she had no desire to
embarrass the man further in front of Reese. “Of course. We don’t want anyone
to go hungry especially during their transition. But I can only give you the
two bottles today. We’ll discuss more only if you can’t make this work.” She
rushed into the back room, not giving the vampire time to argue.

Alex
loaded bottles from the wooden wine racks lining the back wall into the boxes
on the floor. Each bottle held the thick elixir of pig blood, vitamins, and a
synthetic component of anti-coagulants and various other chemicals she and
Glenn mixed themselves. The wooden vat in the center of the room, half-filled
with the chemical serum, was waiting for Glenn’s weekly twenty gallons of
blood. It took four weeks to age the life-giving concoction in large wooden
wine casks lying on their sides on the opposite wall of the storage room. The
synthetic
blood wine
offered vampires a viable alternative to human or
animal blood. For some vampires, not having to sink teeth into flesh for
sustenance was a welcomed gift.

At
one time, Alex had been proud that O’Malley’s little side business provided
nourishment for a couple dozen vampires. Of course, that had been a few years
ago when she’d worked closely with Glenn to discover the right formula. Within
the last few months, she’d come to hate entering this room to mix and bottle the
blood cocktail. She wanted nothing more than to dissolve her partnership with
Glenn and leave the mountains of California for the salty shores of the east
coast.
Home.

She
loved the man and owed Glenn her life—literally. Alex simply needed to leave
before he found out what she’d done. The revelation would surely wound his
heart more than any wooden stake.

Stacking
the boxes, she took a moment to settle. Alex wasn’t sure when she’d become a
damsel in need of saving, but the two vamps going all Neanderthal in the other
room certainly believed her incapable of taking care of herself. She wasn’t
sure if she was flattered or insulted.

Fortunately,
both men had remained in their respective corners, where she’d left them. Their
gazes intently followed her as she set the boxes on the floor next to the desk.
Filling out the information on the clipboard, she handed it to Ronan to sign.
Their little winery was as precise as any pharmacy. “I loaded in two extra
bottles. But it’s all you have for the week. Don’t drink it all in one
sitting.” Alex’s attempt at humor fell flat.

The
corners of Ronan’s mouth lifted, but the pursed lips held no mirth. “If I find
other vampires interested in weaning themselves onto the wine, how do they get
on your list?”

“Just
mention them to Glenn. We’ll find someone who’ll make sure they get what they
need. Glenn trusts you not to tell anyone where it’s bottled.”

Ronan
bent low, took her hand and brushed his lips feather-light across her knuckles.
“‘Tis always a pleasure spending time with you, Alexandra.”

Neither
of them missed the low growl emanating from Reese.

Ronan
straightened. Smiling as he withdrew a bulging gold money clip from his pocket,
he counted out some bills and threw them on her desk. Apparently, the gesture
had been meant to goad Reese, not flatter her.

“I’m
pleased you and Glenn trust me enough to allow me into your cellars.” He scooped
up the box with one arm and turned to Reese. “Do keep her safe from the
unsavory vampires.”

“My
pleasure.”

“Don’t
forget to bring back the bottles,” she called at Ronan’s retreating back. Alex
ran damp palms down her jeans. The musty room had suddenly become stifling. She
didn’t speak until Ronan’s footfalls receded up the stairs. “Seriously Reese,
I’m fine being here by myself.”

He
pushed from the wall, stalking toward her, his body an overwhelming presence sunking
the breath from her lungs. “I have no doubt you can take care of yourself.” Reese
stepped up to her, the wall of his chest brushing her breasts. She craned her
neck, coming up against the hunger sparking in his eyes and turning them a
deeper shade of emerald. The fresh scent of his cologne wrapped around her
nose, melting her defenses.

“I
have no desire to be your guardian, Alex.” Reese’s voice dropped to a sultry
whisper that heated her blood and sent her heart racing. “Perhaps Josh was
right and my interest in you hasn’t been as obvious as I thought I’d made it
over the last several months.” His gaze roamed slow and hot down her face and
neck to rest on her heaving chest before searing a leisurely path back to her
mouth. “But I’m thinking your body has been aware.”

Alex
searched his face, reading the intention only seconds before Reese’s mouth
slanted over hers. The heat of the kiss obliterated any coherent thought and no
matter how bad his timing, Alex couldn’t have pulled from Reese if she’d wanted
to. His hand reached up to cup her neck, his thumb grazing her chin as he
changed the angle and invited her to deepen the kiss. She opened for him, the
silken heat of his tongue darting in to tangle with hers. His taste, warm and
familiar, sent awareness skittering over her nerves. The man certainly knew how
to weaken her resolve.

She
broke the kiss, his hot breath washing over her face. “I have appointments.
People are going to show up any minute.”

Reese’s
gaze dropped to her mouth before slowly dragging back to her eyes. A smile slid
slowly over his full lips. “I suppose it wouldn’t do for the tavern owner to be
found in a compromising position.” He stepped away from her. “An hour. Maybe
two. It’s all I’m willing to wait. I’ve obviously been remiss in showing you
exactly how good we are together.”

* * * *

Hope knew she should be
exhausted. The sun had risen hours ago, throwing its rays across the papers
littering her coffee table. Despite her lack of sleep, the thrill of the hunt
kept her poring over the internet sites and taking notes. As much as she hated
to admit it, she had Ronan Nason’s cynical comments to thank for awakening the
reporter’s curiosity that had kept her up all night.

She’d stayed at the mansion fire
several hours after the flames had been contained and her cameraman had gone
back to the studio to edit footage. Not so much to see Josh in action, though
that had definitely been a thrill, but Hope had wanted to take some time to
talk with the fire marshal about the recent rash of deadly fires. The man
hadn’t come out and said they were all related. His body language and what he
was careful
not
to say, however, intimated his office believed they were
all likely connected.

Barely able to contain her
eagerness to investigate, Hope had sped home and fired up her laptop before
she’d even gotten out of her coat and brewed a pot of coffee. Searching police
and fire department weekly logs for any reports of local fires over the last six
months was child’s play. Homing in on fires where someone died took a simple
flick of the wrist. It was when she expanded both her search grid and time
frame that patterns began to emerge. And the picture forming as she connected
the dots wasn’t only unbelievable—it was scary as hell.

Hope grabbed the map of
California from the back of the couch and spread it over the mish-mash of
papers. Double-checking the facts, she highlighted the spot of the earliest
fire and circled it with a red sharpie. Nausea curled in her gut and she fell
back hard against the seat.
How could this be?

“Hey, babe. I’m surprised you’re
up.” Josh sauntered into her living room.

So caught up in the revelation of
what she’d pieced together, Hope hadn’t heard him use his key. “Hey, you.” She
stretched to accept the kiss he offered. The clean scent of soap and fresh air
added to the heat spreading through her body. Her hand fisted in the damp curls
of his hair as she held him, keeping him from pulling away. Josh groaned,
tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Even after a year, she couldn’t get
enough of him.

Hope wanted to lose herself in
everything his kiss was promising, but her head was still swimming with facts
that weren’t making sense. She reluctantly pulled from him.

“And good morning to you.” He
stood next to her, his hand on her shoulder, his knee pressed against her thigh.
His smile set butterflies lose in her tummy. “After the night you had, I
figured you’d be sleeping. But it looks like something else has caught your
attention.” His hand swept the mess on the table.

“Ronan made a joke of my
profession last night at the tavern. He said—”

Josh laughed and walked into the
kitchen. “He’s an arrogant ass. Why do you let him get to you?” The sound of
dishes clanging and the fridge opening made her smile. She liked that Josh felt
her apartment was his space as well. She’d been trying to work up the nerve to
ask him to move in with her. “Sometimes I think that man gets his jollies from pissing
people off,” Josh called from the kitchen, imitating Ronan’s brogue.

Hope laughed. “This time I think
his needling worked.”

“Write it down. I think it’s a
first.” More cupboards opened and closed. “Hey, babe, you got any of those—”

“Second cupboard on the right.
Top shelf.”  The man had a sweet tooth as insatiable as his libido. There was a
very feminine satisfaction in feeding both his needs.

Josh came around the corner,
several Ho Ho’s in one hand and two steaming mugs of coffee in the other. “So
what could Nason have said that would trigger all this serious research?”

Hope cleared the loose papers
from the couch cushion next to her and took the mug he offered. “He just made
some flip remark about newsworthy stories. It got me thinking about all the recent
fires.”

Josh
choked on his snack cake. It took him a minute to catch his breath. “The man
was just pushing your buttons. I think he’s jealous you’re already taken.” He
leaned over and nuzzled her neck. “How about I take your mind off all of this?”