Page 35 of Ink and Ashes
Go figure. Over a yawn, I ask, “What the hell do you want, Caldwell? I was sleeping.”
“You still in town?”
I tense.He definitely already knows the answer to that question, but that doesn’t stop me from saying, “I am.”
“Good,” he states, and I frown. What does he meangood? “I want to hear more about your theory.”
“Wait, what?”
“You heard me.”
Confused,I say, “Just a few days ago you wanted me gone.”
“Yup.” There’s some shuffling on his end, then he adds, “Come by the station in an hour. We can discuss this in private.”
I grit my teeth together, wanting so badly to deny his request just for the sake of it. But this is a step in the right direction—getting him on my side—and I would be stupid to say no.
So instead, I say a simple, “Yes, sir,” then hang up the phone before he has a chance to respond.
With a groan, I pull myself out of bed and into the shower. I go through the motions of getting ready and just before five-thirty, I pull out of The Scarlet’s parking lot.
Thankfully, Cedar Lane Café—my new favourite place, despite the rude employee I met at the farmer’s market—is open this early, and it’s on the way to the station, so I stop in quickly. The bell above the door chimes upon my entry, and Liam is standing at the counter. We’re the only two people in the café, seeing as it’s not even six a.m. His eyes scan my body as I approach, and I force myself not to have a visceral reaction to his appraisal of me.
“Morning, Liam,” I say politely. This guy gives me the creeps, but I refuse to let him have power over me.
“Holland,” he returns, his gaze locked on my breasts. I clear my throat, finally pulling his attention to my face. He has a mischievous look in his eye as he looks at me, and it has all my red flags going up. “Where ya off to so early?”
“Meeting with Lieutenant Caldwell at the fire station.” I swallow roughly. “Can I get a honey lavender latte, almond croissant, and a black dark roast?” I have no clue how Colson takes his coffee, so black seems like a safe choice.
Liam’s jaw flexes as he punches in my order, and I know he’s putting together that I’m buying Colson a coffee. “Anythin’ else?”
I shake my head. He rattles off the price, then I press my card to the reader. Once it beeps, I shift to the other end of the counter, and he turns to begin making my order.
“I’ve seen you investigating around town with Madison,” he grumbles. “You guys find much?”
The espresso machine starts whirring as he makes my latte,and I keep my gaze trained on his still-bandaged hand.Is that a new burn, or the same one he had a week ago?
“Not yet,” I say simply, unwilling to give him more information than necessary.
“Too bad.” Liam passes me the two drinks, then the paper bag with my croissant inside. But even when I take it from him, he doesn’t let go. Instead, he leans in close and says, “Be careful out there, Holland Rhodes. Sure would be a shame if something were to happen to ya.”
A shiver runs up my spine at those words, but I don’t waste my breath with a response. Instead, I narrow my eyes and tear the bag from his hand. Then without another word, I turn my back on him and walk out the door.
I roll up to the station at quarter to six to find Colson waiting outside for me. Shifting my car into park, I grab the two coffees and my laptop bag then make my way toward where he stands. He has his arms crossed over his chest, a grouchy look on his face, and his sandy-brown hair is mussed as if he’s been running his hands through it. He looks every bit like the imposing yet alluring firefighter he is.
As I get closer, though, I notice the bags under his eyes and the tension in his shoulders. He may be alluring, but he also looks exhausted.
Though he must not be too tired, because he still barks, “You’re late,” as I make my way toward him.
“You’re lucky I even came at all,” I retort as I march right up to him and hold his coffee out.
He eyes it momentarily before shifting his gaze up to me, and I smile lightly.
“A peace offering. Though you’re making me regret getting it for you.”
He cocks a brow. “Did you poison it?”
A smirk dusts my lips.Was that a joke?“Tempting, but no.”
