Page 52 of To Hold and Protect

Said owner’s eyes were on Carlton’s rear as he climbed the ladder. “That boy has a nice tush.”

Parker snorted a laugh. “You’re a naughty girl, Mrs. Stubble.”

“I may be old, but my eyes still work. Besides, what’s the fun of being boring? Take it from me, life is meant to be more fun than a barrel of monkeys.”

Margarite Wyler had been a Rockette before she met Larson Stubble, fell in love, and married him. She’d always been a bit wicked and up for fun. It had only gotten worse since Mr. Stubble died. Theirs had been a true love story, and she missed him and was lonely, which was why Parker put up with her shenanigans.

Carlton reached the cat, extended his hand to get it, and screamed when it flew from the branch it was perched on to a lower one. As expected, Josephine climbed down the trunk, and after reaching the ground, she ambled to the open door of the house and disappeared inside.

“Did I kill it? Did I kill it?” Carlton shouted, refusing to look.

“I was sure she’d climb higher,” Mrs. Stubble said, then pulled a five-dollar bill from her bra and handed it to Parker.

Parker snorted. Eric won for betting that Carlton would scream like a girl. Mrs. Stubble was waiting for Carlton when he reached the ground, and Parker and the guys exchanged grins, knowing what was coming.

“My hero,” Mrs. Stubble said as she threw herself against Carlton’s chest.

“Ahh...” Carlton’s face flushed red as his help-me-out-here gaze locked with Parker’s.

Parker handed Eric the five dollars, then pried Mrs. Stubble away from Carlton. Greg rounded up the crew and they escaped before they each got a hug. “Try to keep Josephine in the house, okay?” Which she would do until she got bored again and needed her firefighter fix.

“You know I try. She’s just so sneaky.” Her hand slid down his ass.

Much like you, Mrs. Stubble. “Enjoy the rest of your day and keep Josephine inside.” He eased away from her grabby hand. “You just sit over there and be smug,” he told Ember after he got in the car. “You didn’t get your ass fondled.”

The rest of the day was quiet, and he was able to catch up on paperwork and then, to keep from thinking of Willow, he completed one of the modules in the online fire science course he was taking. To some, fire was fascinating, thrillingly dangerous, and sexually stimulating. Many arsonists were driven by anger at their life and at the world around them. Getting attention was another motivation. Which of those applied to their firebug?

Parker respected fire, but nothing made him happier than to see a fire extinguished. He didn’t get wanting to destroy the landscape or someone’s home. Other than a thin description, they had nothing.

It was frustrating and worrisome. His biggest fear was that someone was going to get hurt before they caught the arsonist or he moved on. There hadn’t been anyone posting on Miss Mabel’s Facebook page that they were out of town, but what if they set a trap? Found a place they could lure the man to? He’d talk to Tristan and Skylar, get their opinion, but it was worth considering.

He shut down the computer, made the rounds to check on his crew, then loaded Ember in the SUV and headed home. Willow wasn’t on her porch, and her car wasn’t in the driveway when he passed her house. He didn’t think she was out on a date, but they hadn’t talked about being exclusive while she was here. Would she agree to that? Not that he was putting any kind of claim on her, but he wasn’t going to see anyone else while she was still here.

After dinner, he and Everly spent a few hours in the studio until it was her bedtime. His gaze kept straying to the daybed, and he’d never look at it again without seeing her in it, her hair spread over the pillow, and her smile as she watched him undress. He wanted her in it again, and after he got Everly to bed, he’d text her to see if she wanted to come over.

“Love you, ladybug,” he said, then kissed his daughter’s forehead.

“I love you more than the whole wide world, Daddy. I love Miss Willow, too.”

He forced a smile. “Go to sleep. Sweet dreams.” As he left her room, he couldn’t help asking himself if he was making a mistake letting her spend time with Willow. Willow wasn’t staying in Marsville, and Everly was going to be crushed when she left.

“How’s the painting going for your show?” Kade asked, glancing over his shoulder when Parker walked into the kitchen.

“Sorry, what?” He didn’t want to stop Everly from spending time with Willow, but was it wise? And if he didn’t allow it, how would he explain it to both of them? Even if she didn’t agree, Willow would probably understand, but Everly? No, not at all.

“I asked how it’s going with your painting? Where’s your mind?”

“Do you think it’s a good idea for Everly to get attached to Willow since she’ll be moving as soon as she sells her house?”

Kade and Harper were at the sink, cleaning up the dinner dishes, and they both turned. “That’s a legitimate concern, I guess,” Harper said. “Won’t be easy since Willow’s right next door, and you know Everly. If she wants to see Willow, she’ll figure out a way.”

Without doubt she would. “I just don’t want to see her get hurt, and she will. She told me she loves Willow.”

“Does she know Willow’s not planning to stay?” Kade asked.

“I don’t think so, or she would have said something.”

Harper wiped her hands on a dish towel, then dropped it on the counter. “I think Everly needs to know so that it doesn’t come as a surprise. At least then she can get used to the idea.”

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