Page 41 of Raging Inferno

“The bed was comfortable. If you’re sure . . .”

“I am.”

Dominic didn’t realize he’d been holding his breath, waiting for her answer. The feeling that washed over him was happiness. It’d been so long since he’d felt it, he almost didn’t recognize it. Maybe excitement too. And anticipation. Most importantly, hope.

Chapter Nine

An accident on the interstate out of Duluth delayed Presley and Dominic’s return trip for well over an hour. It gave them time to chat, and the conversation flowed. He was so easy to talk to. She loved hearing him brag about Gia with fatherly pride and coaxed him to chat about himself too. She had an endless cache of stories about her coworkers and job.

Presley wanted to see the scenes of both fires, so once traffic started flowing again, Dominic drove her by Margy’s first and then Nancy’s house. As much as she wanted to get out and search for clues, they were potential crime scenes. No sense in stepping on Reggie Branch’s toes. She didn’t need him pissed at her too.

Dominic stopped by a restaurant and picked up dinner before driving them home. He assured Presley that it was the best pizza in the area, and judging by the smell, he wasn’t lying.

She probably should’ve insisted he take her to a hotel, but she enjoyed spending time with Dominic and his adorable daughter. And she did sleep well, though not long enough.

Gia and her babysitter, Amber, were working on a puzzle featuring a cabin on a lake surrounded by fall foliage when she and Dominic entered the house. They had the outline done and not much else.

Major scrambled up and greeted them with happy woofs. Presley scratched his ears, much to his delight.

“Dad! Presley! You’re back.” Gia jumped off her chair and hugged Dominic and then her. “I missed you guys.”

“We missed you too, sweetheart,” Dominic told her.

“Is that Mr. Cheese’s Pizza?”

“It sure is.” Dominic placed the boxes on the bar. Major sniffed the air, his tail wagging furiously.

“Hey, you don’t eat people food,” Dominic reminded him with a pat on the head.

If dogs could talk back, Major did and tromped dejectedly to his bowl of kibble.

“Amber, can you join us for dinner?” Dominic asked.

“Oh, I would love to, Mr. B. It smells delish. But I should get home. Gia, if you finish this before I return, send me a picture.”

“Okay.”

After Amber left, they dug into the pizza and worked on the puzzle together. Gia wanted to do the fun parts, like the frolicking dogs and the colorful flowers, so whenever Presley found a piece, she placed it in front of Gia, who clapped with glee.

Dominic’s phone chimed. “That’s the front gate.” He accessed an app and checked the camera. “It’s one of my firefighters,” he told them before answering on speaker. “Hey, Rena, what’s up?”

“Hi, Captain. I’m sorry to bother you at home, but I have a form you need to sign. I offered to bring it so you didn’t have to come to the station.”

“Thanks, Rena. I’ll buzz you in.”

He stood and walked to the door.

“Ick, I don’t like her,” Gia whispered to Presley.

“How come?”

Gia shrugged. “She ignores me until Dad is around. Then she treats me like a baby. Plus, she smells stinky.”

“Like a skunk?” Presley waved her hand in front of her nose. Then, in her best French accent, she trilled, “Pepe Le Pew?”

Gia tossed back her head and guffawed. “You’re so funny.”

Few people had ever told her that. She tended to be too serious. A warm feeling settled in Presley’s stomach. She liked she could make this sweet young girl laugh.

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