Page 4 of Serial Burn

Impressive.

Admirable.

Attractive.

Okay, maybe that last one wasn’t exactly wise, but the truth was, he’d been interested in Jesslyn long before now. The moment he’d met her, he decided he wanted to get to know her better. Which was why he’d kept his distance. Mostly. He had issues. Burdens he’d never share. He’d keep his attraction tucked away—which meant he needed to find his filter and keep his mouth shut. What in the world was he thinking telling Jesslyn she intrigued him? She did, but that didn’t mean he needed to announce it. No one knew he and Jesslyn had a whole lot in common when it came to their growing-up years. That they’d both lost people they loved to a fire. But while Jesslyn seemed to race toward a blaze, he avoided it at all costs. Fire terrified him. To find himself investigating it was fine. Just don’t ask him to get close to it.

Andrew Ross, his partner of a few months, had no idea of any of that. They were still building that bond of trust most partners grew into. And while Nathan would die for the man if it came down to it, he wasn’t ready to share his deepest, darkest secrets. That kind of trust took time and he was in no hurry to move it along. Thankfully, Andrew tended to mind his own business.

Nathan transferred his thoughts to the woman beside him and gave her a sidelong glance. She had her auburn hair pulled up into her standard ponytail, her naturally pale skin a shade lighter than usual. She continued to stand silent and still, her emerald gaze on the scene giving no indication she was aware of his presence.

Another reason to keep his interest in her six feet under. She might not appreciate it and they had to work together.

“How’s the Airbnb? Comfortable?”

“Yes. It’s fine. Roomy, which is nice.” They were talking about nothing, but that was fine. It kept things on a low simmer, a distraction from the charred church.

“But you like living in Asheville?”

He studied her. “These days I like Lake City better.”

Her eyes widened a fraction and a blush pinkened her cheeks. She looked away and the color faded. Andrew headed toward themand Nathan cleared his throat. “I’ll call you if I have any questions,” he told her.

“Of course.” She turned to him and offered a slight smile. “It was good to see you despite the circumstances.”

He really needed his heart not to do that thing it did every time she barely smiled at him. Andrew stopped to talk to one of the other firefighters, giving Nathan a few more precious seconds alone with Jesslyn. “You too. I’ll be in touch.”

She nodded and her smile slid away. Then she took a deep breath and picked up her helmet. “I’ve got a report to write. I’ll see you later.”

“Later.”

She walked away, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin, like she was preparing herself for battle. Because that’s what the investigation was going to be. A battle to find the arsonist before he struck again. They both knew the odds were that he would. They’d have to alert every church in the vicinity.

On that cheerful thought, he turned to his smirking partner, who’d snuck up on him. “What?”

“Why don’t you just ask her out already?”

So much for Andrew minding his own business. But Nathan heard the friendliness behind the mild teasing. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you want to?”

He really did, but ... “I can’t.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Both.”

Andrew’s smirk turned into a frown, but Nathan ignored him and headed for his Bucar—a Dodge Charger. While he liked the vehicle, he much preferred his Rhino XT—despite the ribbing he got from fellow officers for having such an expensive ride. But his brother-in-law, Kip Hart, was a personal injury lawyer and had presented the vehicle to him as his Christmas present. Nate tried to refuse, but the pleading look on his sister Carly’s face had him caving—with the caveat that when his twelve-year-old nephew was old enough to drive, Nathan could gift it back.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Carly said.

And now, Nathan had two more years of driving the cool SUV before he had to figure something out. In the meantime, he had an arsonist to find and a woman to put out of his head.

As soon as he climbed into the driver’s seat, his phone rang, and he answered it with a quick swipe of the screen before he registered the name.Rats.“Hey.”

“Wait, is this a recording?” Eli, Nathan’s eldest brother and all-around know-it-all, said.

“Stuff it, bro. I’ve got reports to write. What’s up?”

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