Ethan got a roll of yellow caution tape and tied one end to a fence post. Would your mother lay off if you had a boyfriend?
Sure. I mean, I think so. When Priscilla had been dating Cory Levine the previous year and it appeared to be serious, her mother had been so happy. But I dont have a boyfriend and I dont want one. Who has time, anyway? I dont see how you newlyweds do it. Ethan and Tony had both tied the knot during the past few months.
How about a pretend boyfriend then? Ethan suggested. Tell your mom youre seeing someone.
Ive thought of that. But a fictional boyfriend wont cut it. Shed have to meet him, approve of him and hear wedding bells before shed stop matchmaking.
Otis squirted the back of Priscillas coat with his booster line, just to be ornery. Why dont you take me home to meet your mama? Give her a heart attack and be done with it! He cackled at his own humor, and Priscilla had to admit it was a little bit funny, thinking of how her parents would react if she brought home a forty-five-year-old, twice-married firefighter.
But then she sobered. Her mothers matchmaking efforts had become a problem. She couldnt attend any gathering without Lorraine thrusting some earnest young man at her. Some of them were very handsome and very nice. But Priscilla simply wasnt interested in putting herself out there again right now, going through the dating rituals. The angst and uncertainty drove her nuts.
Her gaze again slid covertly to Roark. They hadnt exactly dated; theyd slept together. Their affair had been all about stress relief, a strictly physical thing. Thats what shed told herself, anyway.
Roark had wanted to prolong their liaison. But the intensity of their times together had frightened Priscilla. She hadnt been able to control herself and she didnt like that feeling. So shed put a stop to the relationship before it had really gotten startedbefore theyd had a chance to get to know each other, to open up and share who they really were. She hadnt been ready for that.
She might never be ready. She liked her life pretty well right now, living alone, answering to no one.
Heres an idea, Ethan said. Why dont you produce a real boyfriend?
I cant just materialize a boyfriend out of thin air, Priscilla said sensibly.
What I mean is, get someone to pose as your boyfriend. Someone impeccable. Someone your mom couldnt possibly object to. Trot him out to meet your parents, hint around that its serious. Do that, and your mother will be satisfied.
Priscilla had to admit the idea was attractive. The ploy might give her a few months of peace, anyway. And where do you suggest I find this paragon of a fake boyfriend? Although she didnt want to say so out loud, she didnt think her mother would approve of Priscilla dating a fellow firefighter. Lorraine had enough trouble with her daughter living one-third of her life in a firehouse with a bunch of men. But dating one of them?
I have the perfect candidate, Ethan said, his eyes full of mischief, and Priscilla felt a stab of apprehension. Who did he have in mind? What had she stepped into? Maybe, Ethan said, your parents would approve of an arson investigator.
Priscilla gulped and glanced at Roark, startled to discover that he was almost right behind her, leaning against the fence. Silently she begged Roark to put in a quick refusal. But he didnt. He looked a little surprised at being put forward as a candidate to be Priscillas fake boyfriend. But not unhappy.
Hey, thats perfect, Otis said innocently, having no earthly idea that Priscilla and Roark shared a bit of their past. Who could object to Roark? Hes gainfully employed, he cleans up nice and he talks like some aristocrat. Epperson, what do you say? You want to make Priscillas mom a happy woman?
Priscilla would have liked to sink into the dirt. The last thing she wanted was Roark to play any type of boyfriend, fictional or otherwise. She was still several feet from him, but she couldnt stop her heart from racing. Her lips tingled, she was getting warm in places not mentioned in polite society and her hands itched to touch him, to muss up that perfectly groomed hair.
Priscilla looked to Roark, again praying he would say no, quickly and forcefully. But instead he wore a pensive expression, as if thinking over the proposition.
Then abruptly he smiled and looked straight at her, reminding her of a shark coming in for the kill. Im always willing to go the extra mile for a comrade. Sure, Ill help you out, Priscilla. I could be convincing, too. Very convincing.
A charged silence followed his statement. Jeez, did everyone in her unit now know that Priscilla and Roark had slept together?
Ethan broke the silence. Then its settled. Priscilla, your problems are over. All we needed was to put our heads together. You can thank me later.
Thank him? She was going to pinch his head off once they were some place without witnesses.
Captain Epperson, dont listen to any of them, she said, pretending it was all a joke. Youre very kind to want to help, but I can handle my mother. Been doing it for a few years now.
Roark Epperson thought fast as Priscilla started to walk away. He needed a way to prolong the contact. He had questions and he wanted answers. Priscilla?
She turned. Yes?
When you were in training, you seemed to take a special interest in arson investigation. And in the arson investigator, but that was a separate issue. I could use some help collecting samples. Im sure Lieutenant McCrae wont mind if I borrow you a few minutes.
Roark could see the turmoil in her eyes. She didnt want to be alone with him. Was she embarrassed that shed shown him so much passion? Was she guilty about it? Was there another man in the picture?
They had shared very little personal information during their brief liaison. He knew shed broken up with someone not long before they met, but shed given him no details.
Sure, Ill give you a hand, Priscilla said, deceptively casual.
He took her over to his car and handed her several clean empty cans and some plastic bags, then instructed her on what to collect from among the charred remains of the shed and how to package the evidence. She put on latex gloves and followed his instructions while he watched.
Hed been intrigued from the moment hed laid eyes on her, the only woman in the class. At first hed thought he had her pegged: too slender, too weak, too pampered. But in this case, first impressions had been totally wrong. She was astonishingly strong for a woman her size. And he had never seen anyone work harder to get through training. Hed spotted her on the obstacle course several times after hours, often by herself, practicing until she got it right.
Priscilla poked at some dead leaves near the chain-link fence, searching for evidence. Hey, Captain, look at this.
Shed found a book of matches. Good job. Could be very useful.
Carefully she used tweezers to collect the evidence and place it in a plastic bag. Roark, meanwhile, studied her face, imprinting it in his memory so he could think about it laterthe slope of her cheek, the curve of her lower lip.
The physical chemistry between them had been undeniable from that first day. But it was her grit and determinationand her quick mindthat had truly fascinated him.
It might have come to nothing if she hadnt gotten stranded in the fire academy parking lot one rainy day with two flat tires. Someoneone of the male trainees who resented her outshining him, no doubthad stuck a knife in her treads. Roark despised bullies, and though Priscilla had been perfectly willing to call her auto club, Roark had convinced her to let him take her tires to be repaired. Then hed helped her put them back on.
The physical chemistry between them had been undeniable from that first day. But it was her grit and determinationand her quick mindthat had truly fascinated him.
It might have come to nothing if she hadnt gotten stranded in the fire academy parking lot one rainy day with two flat tires. Someoneone of the male trainees who resented her outshining him, no doubthad stuck a knife in her treads. Roark despised bullies, and though Priscilla had been perfectly willing to call her auto club, Roark had convinced her to let him take her tires to be repaired. Then hed helped her put them back on.
Afterward theyd gone for coffee. And somehow theyd ended up in bed at his place.
They hadnt even made it out of bed before shed called it a mistake, reminding him that it was ethically questionable at best for her to sleep with an instructor. Though hed agreed with her in theory, he hadnt wanted to let her go. Hed never met such a fascinating mix of characteristics in a womantough, no-nonsense one minute, then giving him glimpses of finishing-school manners the next. A soft, musical voice and innocent blue eyes that didnt flinch at the sometimes raw language and tasteless jokes that were part of the firefighter culture.
Shed tried to resist him. Shed turned him down when hed asked her out, claiming she was uncomfortable. Shed also mentioned that shed had a recent breakup and wasnt ready to start seeing anyone else.
But then shed shown up at his loft. Twice more. Each time, shed chastised herself afterward, saying it was wrong for her to use him. Shed said she didnt know what had gotten into her, that she didnt normally behave so erratically.
After that last time, he knew she wouldnt be back and he had let her gobut only temporarily. If it was a bad breakup that plagued her, perhaps time would cure the problem. And so hed left her alone, but hed kept tabs on her. Eric Campeon, her captain, was a friend of his.
Hed always intended to follow up with Priscilla once shed settled into life as a firefighter and had more time to recover from whatever jerk shed previously been hooked up with. When he saw something he wanted, he went after it. Hed let his ex-wife, Libby, get away far too easily. Maybe they hadnt been right for each other in the long run, but he would never knowbecause hed given up without a fight. Once hed realized she didnt want to start a family, hed been so stunned hed just let her walk out.
Hed learned a lot in the ten years since then. The man hed become never gave up without a fight. He had a reputation for pursuing every avenue when it came to catching an arsonist and he intended to be every bit as determined in his personal life.
Maybe Priscilla wasnt right for him, either. But he wouldnt know unless he spent more time with her. He wanted to know what was behind that tough-girl exterior.
He couldnt remember the last time a woman had made him feel the way Priscilla Garner did.
He forced his mind back to the investigation at hand. You were the first to arrive at the fire? Roark asked.
Otis and I were.
See anything unusual? Smell anything?
Im not good at smells and I had my SCBA on. But the fire did seem unusually intense and hot.
Not surprising, since the shed was full of lawn equipment and maintenance stuff. Gasoline, paint, turpentine. Were damn lucky the whole place didnt explode.
The building was fully involved by the time we got to it. Probably whatever was going to explode had already done so. There were a lot of bystanders, but most of them had gone by the time you arrived.
Any kids? Gang colors?
Priscilla paused, searching her memory. Two Hispanic boys, maybe fifteen or sixteen. Probably should have been in school. One was wearing green and blackthats Dawg colors, right?
You got it.
She described them in detail, down to the fact one of them had a chipped tooth, the other a broken shoelace. They seemed real curious.
Could you recognize them?
I think so.
Good. I might show you some mug shots. He already had an idea who those characters might have been. Hed talked to them before about some Dumpster fires, but he hadnt been able to prove anything. Maybe theyd escalated to sheds.
So did I do something wrong? he asked suddenly.
Priscilla straightened to look at him, and for the first time he sensed true regret from her. No, you did nothing wrong. I was the one misbehaving. She smiled sadly.
So why is it you run from me like I have typhoid?
She returned to her task, meticulously labeling one of the evidence bags. I told you beforeId just come out of a relationship.
Okay, now he was getting somewhere. So I was your rebound lover.
Yes. And that really wasnt fair. You seemed like you wanted something more than a playmate, and I wasnt ready for anything like that.
But that was months ago. Surely youve recovered from whatever your previous scumbag boyfriend did.
That got another smile out of her, not quite as sad this time. What about that rag? Should I collect that?
Yes, and youre changing the subject.
I just dont want a boyfriend, she blurted out, sounding a little desperate.
I dont buy that. Nobody wants to spend all their nights alone.
She sighed and looked anywhere but at him. Its complicated.
Ive got time.
I dont understand it myself, so how could I explain it to you? But, trust me, you really wouldnt want me for a girlfriend. I have issues.
Everyone has issues. You deal with them or you live with them, but you dont just stop living.
She straightened up and turned to face him, her gaze direct and unwavering. The fact is, Roark, I like you too much. I was so anxious about the whole thing I justneeded to get away from it. Im one of those people who cant stand uncertainty. I like to be in control. Around you, I had no control, and I really couldnt tolerate it.
Roark knew female logic was different than male logic, but this blew him away. Let me get this straightyou liked me too much so you broke things off.
I know that sounds crazy.
To put it mildly. So you dont even want to try?
Even if I wanted to, I dont have time. Between work and paramedic training, Im overscheduled as it is.
And yet you still have time to go on these dates your mother sets up.
Only once in a blue moon. Dont try to defeat this with logic, Roark. Im surprised and flattered you would want anything to do with me after the way I behaved during training. But Im not ready to date anyone except on the most casual basis. And you and I couldnt do it casual.
She was right about that. With Priscilla, he would not be content with seeing her once or twice a month.
He took the samples shed collected. McCrae is looking a little impatient with us. Guess I better let you go.
Yeah. Thanks for letting me help with the evidence.
Youre a quick learner.
She turned to leave, but he couldnt resist a parting shot. I could still be your fictional boyfriend. Not that the role would be a big stretch.
Thanks, but no. I just need to be more firm with my mother.
Roark had done all he could do. He gave Priscilla one last long, steamy look, reminding her of what she was giving up. Then he walked away from her. Damn, it was hard knowing hed never hear from her again.