Page 11 of Hot Zone

“What is it you always say? When the universe nudges someone to offer help and you turn them down, you not only deprive yourself of the help, but you also…” She raised one eyebrow at me and waited for me to complete the sentence.

“Deprive them of the blessing of lending their assistance to you,” I reluctantly finished for her. “I just had to hire someone who didn’t just hear me talk, but actually listens.”

“You aren’t wrong. I’m sure Steven felt horrible that he and Roxy weren’t able to give you a place to stay, and this was his way of helping. You should be grateful you have such a caring friend and stop pouting.”

“I’m not pouting.” I got up to pour my tea into my cup. I added a little honey and sat back down.

Kismet came into the room, and after winding herself around my legs, she hopped up on the table. She walked carefully around my teacup and nudged my chin with her head. I slid the chair back a little, and she hopped down in my lap and curled up.

I ran my hand through her soft fur while I took a drink of my tea, letting the warmth make its way down my body. “Okay, maybe I was pouting a little. But I think I get a pass. My house just burned down.”

“You’re right. You do get a pass, just this once.”

I took another drink of the warm tea. I don’t know if I would necessarily say I felt serene, but I did feel better, of course it could be just as much the cat as the tea.

“I have so much to do, I don’t even know where to start. I’ve never had anything like this happen before, so I’m at a loss what steps to take next. I guess I should call my insurance company first.”

Ziva nodded her head. “Probably, but other than that and stopping by the store to get a new toothbrush, I think everything else can wait until tomorrow.”

“That and a litter box and cat food.” I smiled down at Kismet.

“Yes, we can’t forget the goddess and her needs.”

Ziva was right. This was going to be a mess, but it was a mess I could worry about tomorrow. I would finish my tea, call the insurance company, and then I would go to the pet store and get what Kismet needed. That was as much as I had to do at that moment. Everything else could wait.

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I held Kismet in place while I leaned forward to get it out of my pocket. Crap, it was my mother. I should’ve called her right away.

“Hey, Dahlia.”

“What’s wrong?”

I sighed. She always knew, and she wasn’t going to be happy that I didn’t call her right away.

“There was a fire at my house. I just got back to the shop, and I was about to call you.”

“Okay, no problem. You’ll simply come home. It’s not that far of a drive for you to get to your shop, and we have an empty cottage that the Fosters were staying in so you could stay there, or you could stay in the big house.”

I took in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. My mother had been trying to get me to move back out to the ranch for years now, so naturally, that would be the first place her thoughts would go.

“That won’t be necessary.”

“Well, sure it is. There’s no reason for you to stay in a hotel until you find a place to live when you can just come here.”

“I have a place to stay. I won’t be in a hotel.”

“Oh.” You wouldn’t think it would be possible to pack so much disappointment in such a tiny word, but she managed it. “Where will you be staying then?”

“I’m going to stay with Steven’s dad. Samuel, you remember him, don’t you?”

“Of course I do. He was always a nice man, but if things don’t work out, you’re always welcome at Wildflower Ranch.”

“I know, and I appreciate that.” And I did. I wasn’t interested in living out there, but that didn’t mean I didn’t know how lucky I was to have a mother who accepted me and loved me. Her lifestyle wasn’t right for me, but that didn’t mean it was wrong.

Samuel

Fox and I hung around the scene of the fire at Mars’s place until the crews were done, and then we headed back to the station. Once we were in my pick-up and on the road, I glanced over at Fox.

“So what caused the fire?”

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