Page 15 of Serial Burn

“You work too hard,” James said, his voice low, eyes concerned and caring.

A twinge grabbed Jesslyn in the vicinity of her heart, and she had to admit, she wouldn’t mind someone looking at her like that. Her gaze slid to Nathan. A certain someone. His eyes met hers and she focused back on her coffee while she worked to keep the heat climbing into her neck from reaching her face.

Rats.

“Anyway,” Lainie said, “it didn’t take me long to realize what I’d done—and why I had the nagging feeling that I was missing something. It’s all fixed now and in big bold red letters on my refrigerator and my phone calendars. Crisis averted. Just trying to be helpful and make sure no one else has any similar issues.”

Kenzie shook her head, using her hand to cover the smirk Jesslyn had already seen. “I’m not laughing at you,” Kenzie said, “really.”

“And when are you two setting the date?” James asked Cole.

Cole spread his hands. “Hey, I’m ready when she is.”

Which Jesslyn found shocking, but Cole had certainly done a one-eighty from his carefree bachelor days. He’d reconnected with Kenzie and been a goner. Which was really sweet, but all these couples were beginning to give her longings for things she’d always convinced herself she didn’t want.

Or could never have.

At least not until her family’s murderer was found.

The thought grounded her.

Only she chose that moment to look up and find Nathan’s gaze on her again, sothatground shifted with the force of an earthquake. She grabbed her drink.

What in the world?

Kenzie laughed. “I’m getting there. Dad wants to walk me down the aisle, so I’m trying to give him some time to practice with his walker.” Kenzie’s father had been injured in a car accident years ago but had recently put a lot of effort into his physical therapy. He’d just advanced to a walker for short distances.

Again, Jesslyn’s gaze connected with Nathan’s, and she could no more look away than fly to the moon. Then he blinked, and whatever she thought was there was gone.

She wondered if she was seeing things.

Whew. He could be a complete distraction. Something she definitely did not need. She hardened her resolve. She had to find her family’s killer. Then she could think about the future.

“...right, Jess?” Kristine asked.

Jesslyn jerked and took a sip of her water. “Um ... what? Sorry, I was just thinking about ... um, someone ... er ... something.” She rubbed her forehead and wanted to crawl under the table.

Lainie grinned, but at least she had the grace to duck her head and snag another bite of her food.

Kristine simply repeated herself. “Andrew was saying after y’all ate, you were going to visit the businesses to ask about the chemicals used in the fire.”

“He told you what was used?” She raised a brow at the man. He really shouldn’t have done that. Talking about an ongoing investigation was a no-go. Which he knew.

He raised a brow right back at her. “Nope, just that we were going looking.”

“Oh. Right. Yes. Sorry.” She needed to shut up and get herselftogether, so why was she on the verge of tears? “Excuse me a minute, please?” She tossed the napkin onto the table and shoved her chair back, ignoring the suddenly concerned looks coming her way. “I’ll be back.”

She wound her way from the back room to the other side of the restaurant and made it to the bathroom with no time to spare before the tears tracked down her cheeks. Knowing she only had a few seconds before someone came to check on her, she stepped into the nearest stall and grabbed a wad of toilet paper to mop up her face.

The door creaked open. Right on time. She supposed it could be one of the other few diners in the restaurant, but she doubted it.

“Jess?”

Lainie’s voice reached her. Bingo.

“I’m okay,” Jesslyn said. “Be out there in a sec.”

“I’ll wait.”

---