Wild Fire

“I’m ready to go,” she said unsteadily.

“You got it.”

They said goodbye to Collier and walked quietly to Clay’s black pickup truck. As they pulled onto the main road, she felt his concerned gaze on her. Fighting to keep from crying, she didn’t speak for several long minutes. “I keep thinking that service could’ve been for me.”

Clay’s free hand, resting on his thigh, curled into a fist. He didn’t prod her to continue; he just waited.

“I feel…terrified and I don’t even know why.” Her voice thickened. “Why can’t I remember? Why can’t I help her?”

“It’ll come, Shelby.”

“What if it doesn’t? What if a killer gets away with murder because of me?”

“First of all, it won’t be because of you. And secondly, I’m going to find this killer.” He looked at her somberly for a long moment. “But if you never remember anything, we’ll figure out a way to handle it.”

She felt so strange, confused and wobbly, as if she’d lost her footing. Reaching over, she slipped her hand into Clay’s. He linked their fingers and a sense of relief moved through her.

“I couldn’t do this without you,” she said quietly. “I’m so glad you’re my best buddy.”

“Back at ya.” He squeezed her hand.

She marveled at how the least word from him could reassure her. Looking into those familiar green eyes, she saw steadiness, concern, the always-present acceptance. Nothing heated or sexual or unexpected. Nothing like what she thought she’d seen the day she had come home from the hospital. She’d only imagined the hunger there, the reaction of his body to hers.

There was relief at the realization, but it was joined by an emotion she couldn’t identify. What mattered was that she had misread the situation with Clay that day. Completely misread it.

When Shelby returned to work on Monday, things were still normal between her and Clay. The odd physical awareness that had sprung up between them wasn’t what had her feeling backed into a corner. It was Vince Tyner, who stood in front of her at the firehouse.

She’d been carrying in groceries and found her ex-boy-friend in the kitchen. Her spine stiffened. Had he simply walked in? Where was everyone else?

“I wanted to come by and see you.” His smile seemed forced. “I’ve called several times, but I guess your buddy, Clay, didn’t tell you.”

“He told me. I appreciate you checking on me, Vince. As you can see, I’m fine.”

He moved around the long, scratched dining table, the muscles in his massive arms straining at the fabric of his paramedic’s uniform shirt. His gaze slid over her as his voice lowered suggestively to say, “You look good.”

“I’m well enough to come back to work,” she said brightly, although her guard was now raised. “Which is what I should be doing.”

“I want to talk to you, Shelby.” He eased closer, brown eyes glittering sharply. “I need to.”

“About what?” She stayed where she was, making sure to keep the open doorway at her back.

“About us.”

“This is where I work. You shouldn’t be here.”

“I’m not leaving until you talk to me. You won’t return my calls. Jessup won’t let me anywhere near you. This is the only way I figure I can talk to you about us.”

“I’m not interested in an us.”

“Is this what you told all those other guys, too?” he demanded hotly. “I know you feel differently about me than you do all of them.”

No, I don’t. She didn’t want to be so blunt, but maybe she should. “I don’t want to get serious with anyone, Vince.”

“Are you seeing someone else?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but no.”

“Then why did you just up and tell me you didn’t want to go out with me anymore?”

“Because I don’t,” she said firmly. “I didn’t like what happened that night, Vince.”

“I know I got carried away, but I apologized.”

“And I accepted. Doesn’t mean I want to reconsider.” They had been to a movie and when he’d brought her home, he had wanted to come in. She had said no. He had stopped just short of forcing himself on her. That had been enough for her. “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m not interested. Why can’t you accept it’s over?”

“You can’t dump me like you did all those other guys. I’m better than that.”

Her temper stirred. “You need to leave. The firehouse is no place for this conversation.”

“I’ll pick you up after your shift ends tomorrow and we can have coffee. Talk.”

“No, Vince.”

Something cold and sharp flared in his eyes; a dull flush colored his handsome face. “I’ll let you think it over.”

“I don’t need to think it over. Please don’t come back here. And don’t call me anymore.”

“Don’t jerk me around,” he snarled.

“I’m not. I don’t like it when you act this way.” In fact, she was growing alarmed. She started out the door, intending to go get the last bag of groceries.

A hard, hot hand clamped on her shoulder and spun her roughly. “Don’t walk away from me!”

Startled at the forcefulness of his grip, she tried to shake him off. His fingers bit into her flesh. “Get your hands off me, Vince.”

“That’s not what you said the other night,” he sneered.

“Let go right now,” she said through clenched teeth.

He yanked her toward him. She raised her uninjured arm and drilled an elbow into his chest. “Back off.”

“You listen to me, you little—”

“Get away from her, Tyner.”

Captain Oliver appeared and grabbed the other man’s arm.

Vince shook free, releasing Shelby. “This isn’t over,” he hissed.