Page 76 of Highball and Chain

“I’m sure they would have by now…” I had no idea how arson investigations worked, but it didn’t look like a very large space. Surely, the fire department had combed through it looking for victims.

“Not if it isn’t safe. You saw it. Do you really think the floor is stable?” Her voice rose in volume and pitch.

I sandwiched her hand between mine. “Have you spoken to the authorities?”

“They wouldn’t give me any information over the phone.” She pulled away. “Which is why I wanted to come and see it for myself.”

I leaned forward to get the driver’s attention. “Take us to the firehouse on Decatur.”

Shanna stared. “I’m allowed to speak to firefighters? You know most of them are men, right?”

I’d planned on having this conversation once we were alone, but it appeared she wanted to go at it in front of witnesses. “Are you going to kiss them?”

She folded her arms.

“Do you anticipate embracing any random firemen while they tell you they love you?”

“No.”

I held my palms up. “Great. Then I fail to see a problem.”

“How magnanimous of you.” She smirked and glanced out the window. “You had it wrong back there. Jack and I are friends.”

“Friends.” I rolled my lips in and nodded. “With benefits?”

“No, just friends.”

My patience stretched to its limits. I could handle whatever had happened between them. We weren’t exclusive. We didn’t have a commitment. Hell, I hadn’t gotten around to taking her out to dinner. However, I would not tolerate dishonesty. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not.” Her cheeks flushed, but I doubted I’d embarrassed her.

“You kissed him.” I pointed at her, but curled my hand, and folded my arms.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but he kissed me.” She sighed. “I didn’t know what to do or how to react. I’ve always looked at him like a big brother.”

“I’ll tell you how you should have reacted. You should have pushed the bastard away.” I needed to calm the fuck down before I said something we’d both regret. “You didn’t though, did you? And before you answer, remember, I know how your mouth looks after you’ve been ravished.”

She drew a deep breath. “No. I didn’t push him away.”

Her answer hit me like gasoline on a wildfire. “Do you love him?”

Shanna whipped her head in my direction. Mouth open, eyes wide, she stared for two heartbeats. “Jack and I are friends. Or so I thought…”

Before I could form a reply, the car stopped in front of the fire station.

She jumped out before the driver put the car in park.

“Do you want me to go in with you?” So much for holding back my anger. I wanted nothing more than to dry her eyes and hold her, but my damned pride wouldn’t allow it.

“No. And by the way, no one uses the word ravished anymore.” Shanna slammed the door in my face and marched inside.

I counted to ten, and then to fifty, before exiting the car.

Shanna stood inside the firehouse speaking to a middle-aged woman in normal business attire. Not exactly what I’d expected.

The lady glanced at me and nodded before turning her attention back to Shanna. “I know this is difficult, but we can’t allow you to go into the building until we know it’s safe.”

“What about the other residents? Was anyone else displaced?” She hugged herself as if trying to keep from falling apart. “I’m worried about my next-door neighbor, Ann Dixon.”

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