Page 22 of Built of Flames

Troy nodded. “We’ll take what we can get. Although Tansy ruined some of the fun when she had Aisling make a new sign for Midnight Lake. It used to be Phailed Sawmill.”

Mitch laughed. “Someone doesn’t mind using up paint.”

“Apparently not. You sticking around?”

“I’m on vacation this week, but I’ll be back.” As often as Isabella wanted him to return. Based on her response to their kisses, he figured she was in.

“Has Marcus got you thinking about moving here permanently yet?”

Straight to the point. “We haven’t had much chance to talk about it any detail yet, but he did mention it.”

Troy grinned. “Good. We’re serious about the idea. We rely on nearby towns for fire services. It’d be nice to have something closer to home.”

This was the perfect opportunity to learn more. “What are you thinking?”

“Don’t know exactly yet. Marcus and I have been tossing the idea around for a while, but we need input. We want to grow the town, but we can’t do that without having resources and services.”

Mitch nodded. “I was just having a look around the town.”

“Mind if I walk along? I can show you the sites.”

“Sounds good. Any chance you have an I-Phail Tower?”

Troy stopped and stared at Mitch while a slow grin built. “I-Phail Tower. That’s good. That’s really good. The water tower good use a bit of decorating and that would work. What else you got?”

They walked while Mitch thought for a minute. “Phail-Way Park? Niagara Phails?”

“You’re going to fit right in, Mitch. Welcome to Phail.”

Playing With Fire

For the next few days, Bella worked hard to finish up her other contracts so she could focus on the Kelsor fires. Those were the ones circling in her brain and living in her nightmares. On the flip side, dreams about Mitch took up the rest of her nights. Those she could use more of.

They’d been kissing at every opportunity, but they hadn’t taken it further than that. Her body was ready, but it was taking her heart a little longer. She’d talked with Christo daily but hadn’t told him she’d been kissing his friend.

It was the future that scared her. If she was the type of person who had one-night stands, she’d have hauled Mitch up to her room and had her way with him dozens of times. Even at the thought, Bella’s skin tingled and her body wanted. Her heart too.

Unfortunately, they lived in different states. The driving distance was less than two hours, but the biggest deterrent was the fact he lived in Kelsor. Where her father lived.

If she and Mitch tried a relationship, she was going to have to go back. She’d have to see her father. But she also could see Christo and meet his Regina in person. And see Roberto. Was it worth the risk?

She’d been a coward for two years, and the habit was hard to break.

The little girl inside her wanted to have her daddy’s love and approval. If he looked at her with all the anger and disdain he’d shown her the last time, she wasn’t sure she could handle it. As long as she didn’t see him, there was a possibility he loved her. The coward in her wanted to keep it that way rather than find out for sure he didn’t. Schrödinger’s cat but with emotions.

Bella shoved her mind into gear and finished up her report for a team in Pittsburgh. Then she pulled up her information for Kelsor.

She was worried her absorption with herself, her father and the fire that changed everything was coloring her objectivity, but no matter which way she manipulated the data, it didn’t change. The pattern she’d spotted was the only one she could see.

“Hey there gorgeous.” Mitch’s voice broke into her thoughts and then he wrapped her in a hug from behind and kissed her cheek. “Missed you.”

She turned in his arms to kiss him properly. “Missed you, too.”

He grinned at her when she leaned back and then tapped her on the nose. “What were you frowning about when I came in?”

Bella sighed and turned to look at her board again. This time she’d grouped the fires according to the pattern she saw in her head. The one she worried she was creating out of nothing. “Tell me what you see.”

Mitch brushed his hand down her arm and squeezed her hand before stepping forward to study the board.