Page 18 of One Little Spark

She sighed. “Well, I was worried about those deaths as well, or maybe puzzled by them is a better way to say it. At least three of them.” She glanced at Doc, but he was still silent. “Okay, there are a couple of things bothering me besides those deaths. I’m worried about Tommy Vincent.”

“Ah, yes. Young Mr. Vincent. He’s in trouble a lot thesedays.”

She nodded. “And I’m not sure how to help him. Did you know he’s on his own?”

Doc’s eyebrows shot upward in surprise. “Where’s his father?”

She shrugged. “Don’t know, and he wouldn’t say.”

“I know the boy was involved in the fight in the parking lot that got the game canceled last weekend, but what else is going on that’s brought him to your attention?”

“He was at the apartment fire on Saturday night.” She debated saying the next part aloud, but finally decided that she could trust Doc. “I think… I think he might be the person who’s been setting the fires.”

Doc took a sip of tea and cocked his head. “What makes you think so?”

She shook her head. “I’m not really sure. The way he reacted when he saw Mrs. Josephs on that stretcher. He looked guilty. And he had burns on his arms. He was the only one with any burns. Everyone else had smoke inhalation issues.”

“Tommy has always had a bit of a troubled existence. I cannot discuss his medical history with you, but Icansay that starting fires wouldn’t be out of character for him. I hadn’t put two and two together, but now that you say it, I can see it is a possibility.”

She sighed and took a sip of tea. The cookie that had looked so appetizing before suddenly lost its appeal. “I don’t want to think it, Doc, but I can’t help myself.”

“My best advice to you is to speak with Phoenix. He’s a smart man, and he’ll listen to what you say with an open mind. If it is young Tommy, then the boy needs help. Phoenix is in the best position to make that happen.”

She nodded. “Okay, Doc. That’s sound advice.” She frowned. “Wait. Why didn’t you call him ‘Young Phoenix’ likeyou do with everyone else?”

Doc smiled. “My dear girl, Phoenix Halston is an old soul if I’ve ever met one. His body maybe young, but his spirit is well beyond even my own.” He set down his teacup. “Now, let’s get down to business.”

Hazel set aside her teacup and scooted across the floor to the box.

“What I’m really asking, Hazel…” Doc started then hesitated before he continued, “I mean, this business of you moving in with Aiden. How did that come about?” The twinkle was back in Doc’s eye, and Hazel had the immediate impression she wasn’t going to fool Doc one bit with herwe’re just friendsandI think of him as familyline that she’d been feeding everyone else. She’d stopped believing it before it even left her mouth the first time.

Instead of answering, she took a bite of the cookie.

Chapter Nine

Aiden stood in the kitchen and glanced at the clock. It was just after eight. He stirred the chili he’d made. It smelled good, and he was starving. He’d been working extra shifts at the firehouse all week in an effort to avoid Hazel. He’d even skipped their usual Thursday night pool game.

He’d been right. Living with her was proving difficult. It was damn hard to keep his mind off her when she was sleeping in the room across the hall. He spent too many restless nights wondering what she was wearing or not wearing. Wondering what she was thinking. Wondering if he was going to get blue balls wondering about her.

It had started raining about an hour ago, and the night had turned dark. He checked the oven. The blueberry grunt was almost done. His cell went off, and he picked it up from the counter. Another text from Jory. He was bored at the firehouse. The rain meant less chance of a fire. That was a good thing, but it also meant long, dull nights.

The oven timer dinged, and he pulled out the blueberry grunt. He put it on the stove to cool. He took out a bowl and filled it with chili. Then he cut into the dessert even though it was still piping hot and put a big piece on a plate. He carried everything over to the little kitchen table and sat down.

The front door banged open, and he heard Hazel curse as she closed it after her. Fuck. He’d almost made it. He wanted to eat and crash before she came home. Hazel drew him like a magnet, and he had a hard time walking away from her. He loved to listen to her talk about work and the people they knew. She could always coax a laugh out of him. Being around her was relaxing and stressful all at the same time. On the one hand, he could just be himself, but on the other, he had to be careful to notlet his feelings for her show through. It was a tough one and he was tired. He needed a break if he was going to be able to keep up the charade. He sighed to himself.

“Hey,” Hazel said as she stumbled into the kitchen after leaving her wet things in the hall. She’d obviously been caught in the rain, but instead of making her look bad, like a drowned rat, it made her sexy as hell. Her ponytail was wet and dripping down her back. Her white shirt clung to her curves, and where it had gotten soaked from the rain, it was translucent against her skin. The lace of her bra was visible through the fabric.

“Hey.” It was all he could get out. He looked back down at his bowl.

“Something smells great. I’m famished.” She smiled at him.

He inclined his head toward the stove. “Help yourself.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” She grabbed a paper towel and started wringing out her ponytail over the sink. “It’s really coming down out there.”

“Um hmm.” He ate a spoon full of chili. It tasted even better than it smelled but, somehow, he was too distracted by Hazel to enjoy it.

“I was over at Doc’s, helping him out, when it really started to rain. We had to arrange buckets on the third floor to catch the drips.”

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