the fire on Riley and Joe.”
“It’s been a while. And this one is bigger. Residences, not a warehouse. So that’s different. Casualties?”
“One. Three of our guys hurt, but they’ll be okay. Weird accidents again—Mitchell said he fell through the floor when all of it was solid, and then there was a spot where it busted through, but he saw it too late. It’s like the place was booby-trapped for them when they went in. Accidents happen, but not this many, not all at once. Something’s off.”
Bo felt a chill settle at the base of his spine.
Is that what had happened to Erin and Joe? Had it been a trap?
“So we might have some maniac rigging fires to lure us in, and then he sets up traps inside the buildings? Makes it look like an accident.”
The chief was grim. “I’ll get you in as soon as I can. You can talk to my guys as soon as medical clears them.”
“Thanks. Let me know any further developments.”
The chief went back to his team, and Bo stayed to watch, studying the fire and the crowd, taking notes. He’d head to the hospital after this, talk to the men who were hurt. See what they could remember.
If they had a serial arsonist on their hands—and one who was targeting firefighters—this was a much bigger problem than he’d anticipated. And Erin’s memory of events could be even more important than she knew.
He couldn’t leave the scene now; he was going to need to talk to anyone who’d witnessed the event, get pictures gawkers might have taken with their phones, or ones from traffic and security cameras. He’d start amassing information that he’d add to the case file in his office.
Bo focused on his work, and that’s all that consumed his attention. It was a relief of sorts.
Here, he knew what he was doing. He was, as much as he could be, in control of the situation. He knew what to ask, what to do, and he was very good at it. Confusion was behind him, with Erin, and for now, he left it there.
KIT WAS HAVING a bad morning, and that was an understatement.
Erin was remaining tight-lipped and distant, stewing in her own amnesiac juices. She’d been like that for the past few days. She’d come in for the morning and worked on abusing more plants before she lit out with barely a goodbye. Something was going on, but Erin wasn’t about to tell Kit what. In addition, her other part-timer hadn’t shown up today, having had to go to the hospital because her daughter had their second grandchild.
The bell rang as her next appointment arrived. After spending two hours with an almost-impossible-to-please bride whom Kit had finally managed to quell—while handling the counter—she took a breather. Luckily, that wedding account alone would keep her afloat for another month.
Kit sighed, gathering up the flowers that Erin had savaged earlier in the day. Before she could try to redo the arrangements, her cell rang.
“Hey, Kit.”
“Walt. What’s up?” It was her delivery guy.
“I’m stranded. Something in the engine blew on the van, and I’m out past Baldwinsville. I called for a tow, but they’re not here yet.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine, but there’s no way I’ll get all these deliveries done today.”
Kit closed her eyes. She had known she needed a new van for some time. Money, of course, was the issue. And there’d be no money if those flowers didn’t get delivered.
She heard the bell out front and pulled her shoulders up straight. No one said running a small business was easy. She’d have to try to catch Erin, and if possible, have her pick up the flowers for delivery. That could save the day.
“Thanks, Walt. Go with the van and see what the repairs are—take it to Ike’s, and I’m going to try to contact Erin to come by and grab the remaining deliveries. Tell the garage not to make any repairs until I know exactly how much they’ll cost.”
“Will do, Kit. I’ll let you know.”
Kit hung up the phone and went out to the front. The first thing she saw was a large, strong male back. The man leaned down to smell a bouquet of Gerbera daisies. As she caught his profile, she knew exactly who it was.
“Hank?”
He spun abruptly, nearly upsetting the vase of flowers, but he was quick and caught it before it fell.
“Hey, Kit. How are ya?”
She swallowed hard, raising a hand to smooth her hair and wishing she wasn’t wearing her work apron. She’d had a fantastic time with Hank the other night, dancing the whole evening away. He’d walked her to her car and kissed her until her toes curled before he said good-night.
He hadn’t asked or pushed for anything more than the kiss, and she’d been awake for hours, like a teenage girl, thinking about it.
“What are you doing here?”
“I thought you might like to get some dinner. You know, with me. I’m on my three-day-off rotation.”
“Oh, I really can’t. I’m alone here today, and my driver just called. The van broke down, and I have to try to get a hold of Erin to see if she can be there in time to pick up the remainder and get them delivered, or I have to close and go get them myself.”
She hated to close, but the flowers that needed delivering were money in the bank, and she probably wouldn’t have much more walk-in traffic today.
Hank stepped up close, reaching out to take one of her curls and rubbing it between his fingers. Then he slid his hand behind her neck before he lowered to capture her lips in a kiss.
For one beautiful second, Kit forgot everything—the flowers, the van, Erin and all her troubles—as Hank’s mouth worked some magic on hers. He pulled her up tight against him, and there was no mistaking that the kiss was working on him, too.
When he broke away, they were both breathless.
“Sorry, Kath, but I’ve been thinking about nothing else but kissing you again since the other night.”
Kit was wordless. He was the only one who ever called her anything but Kit and she liked it. But she also didn’t have time for it.
“I had a lot of fun the other night, but I don’t have time for this right now.”
He watched her closely, and his friendly gaze took on a special, masculine warmth as it traveled over her face.
“What can I do to help?”
“Huh?”
“You’re having a tough day. How can I help?”
Kit was taken off guard. If she couldn’t name
