Page 26 of Built of Flames
His stiff and formal voice made her realize Christo was pissed off because he’d caught them kissing.
She moved between the two men, but both ignored her. “Just as a reminder, I’m an adult who is perfectly capable of making her own choices. Christo, I like Mitch. A lot. Always have.”
He scowled. “You had a schoolgirl crush.”
That made her smile. “At one point. But it grew into more. I just learned to hide it better. When we saw each other the other day, it roared back. He’s been nothing but a gentleman and certainly hasn’t pressured me into anything. You know him, you trust him.”
She took a deep breath and held up her hand when Christo started to speak. “I’m going to grab some homemade iced tea for everyone. Go outside on the deck and both of you get your testosterone under control when I get back. This is the happiest day of my life, and you’re not going to ruin it.”
Mitch couldn’t help the grin. Izzy didn’t lose her temper often. The only time he’d heard and seen her angry was the day she’d walked away from them. The day they’d let her walk.
It might even be the day they’d all grown up. He’d certainly never felt like a kid again after that day. He gestured for Christo to precede him outside. Once they were out on the deck, he faced his friend. “You know I’m not messing with her. She wasn’t the only one with feelings back then. But she was too young and the Chief’s no-fraternization rule stopped me ever asking her out.”
Christo frowned at him. “You would have?”
“Damn straight. She’s fierce, loyal, smart. Add in gorgeous and sexy as hell, and I’d be nuts not to be attracted.”
Christo grimaced, probably at the thought of Mitch calling her sexy. He held his friend’s eye and waited.
“You won’t hurt her.”
It wasn’t a question, but he answered it. “You’re right. I won’t. She’s been through enough. Man, she’s done so much on her own the past few years. She impresses the hell out of me.”
Christo nodded slowly. “But if you fuck it up?”
“You’ll kick my ass. I get it. I’ll kick my own, too.”
The door swung open and Isabella walked out with a tray. Iced tea and cookies.
Christo grinned. “What? No milk?”
Izzy checked between the two of them and must have been satisfied with whatever she saw. “No milk. Although I think Tansy was talking about getting a couple of goats, so you never know.”
“Are you serious?”
She shrugged. “I think she nixed the idea because they’re not native to the area, but if she can figure out a way to help them blend into the natural order of things, maybe.”
Mitch sat and took a glass of tea, handed it to Christo like a peace offering. Christo hesitated for a moment and then nodded and took the glass.
Smile lighting up her face, Isabella sat and put the tray on the little table. “You didn’t answer any of my questions. How long can you stay? Do you want to stay here?”
“I need to head back tomorrow night. Regina’s got an award thing I don’t want to miss. Tansy invited me to stay here. She said she’d change the program for Albert and Marie to clean early. Whatever that means.”
Izzy grinned. “You’re going to like Tansy. She’s a scientist and an inventor. Environmentalist too. The entire property is off the grid with the solar panels and turbines she’s installed. She’s created a few robots who take over the cleaning of the lodge. Albert and Marie are the second floor duo.”
Christo blinked a few times. “Wow. Okay, that explains why she was excited about seeing my electric truck.”
Mitch sighed. “Maybe it’s time to retire Clunker and upgrade.”
Her laugh lit up the clearing around the cabin. “You still have Clunker?”
They chatted, and the tension between Mitch and Christo settled. He didn’t fool himself that Christo was happy about the budding relationship, but he seemed content to watch and not interfere.
Unless Mitch screwed something up.
“Christo, do you have any thoughts on Mitch’s serial arsonist theory?”
Christo frowned at him. “What theory?”