Page 68 of Playing with Fire

“Hey,” I said as Izzy came down the stairs. I wrapped my arms around her as she barrelled into my chest. “Girls in bed?”

She nodded against my chest and I held her for a heartbeat before she pulled back. “Want to go up and see them before they fall asleep again?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and pressed my lips to her forehead. “I’ll only be a minute.” I took the stairs two at a time and headed into their room.

They were both tired with fluttering, sleepy eyes. As I gave them each a kiss and promised to see them first thing in the morning, they asked if I would send Izzy up to stay with them. Easy request to grant, and once again, I was grateful they had her and felt safe with her. Because I wouldn’t be able to leave them otherwise.

Once back downstairs, I pulled Izzy into my embrace, but groaned when the tones of an incoming call came through the radio.

“Sorry…” I started.

She shook her head as she stepped back. “I understand. Duty calls.”

Her smile was genuine, and although I didn’t want to go, we both knew I had to.

Chapter Thirty-Five

IZZY

I waited impatientlyfor Logan to walk in the door. I really needed to get lost in his embrace, his touch. After the stress of last night, I needed to feel his strong arms around me, his lips on mine. I understood why he couldn’t hang around last night, and the last thing I wanted to be was needy. But with how tightly wound his body seemed, it was obvious he needed comfort, too.

He’d told me to let the girls sleep as long as I could since I’d had to wake them up to get them outside. So I waited with one ear listening for the kids, and the other for Logan. Finally, the sound of his truck rumbled down the driveway, and I ran to the side door and swung it open. I went down the two steps, stopping on the sidewalk, and waited for him to get out.

He paused a few feet away. His body language reminded me of those first few days when I started working for him. Rigid, jaw locked, completely closed off.

“The girls still sleeping?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

“We need to talk.”

I swallowed. Somehow, I didn’t think I was going to like this conversation.

“Everything okay?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I want you to take the girls to Maggie’s.”

I tilted my head. “Yeah… that’s already the plan. After school starts her two days with them.”

He clenched his jaw. “I mean, they’re going to stay with Maggie until it's safe enough to be here.”

What did he mean safe enough?

I opened my mouth to ask, but he went on. “That fire last night was the arsonist. The one setting fires all over town. He knows I’m the one who pointed the investigators to him, and I can’t have you guys here?—”

“Wait…” I blinked, trying to process everything he was telling me. “You’re sending me away, too?”

He shifted. “I don’t have any other choice. He’s targeting me now, and next time it might be the actual house. I refuse to put you and the girls in danger.”

I wanted to argue. Yell at him. Stomp my feet. But I knew that wouldn’t change anything. With his back ramrod straight and the way his jaw kept clenching, he was bracing for resistance. I wanted him to trust in me, in us, but I also needed him to do that on his own. And to do that, he needed to know I could handle the life he had. If I forced his hand, he would just stress and worry.

I sighed. “Okay.”

His eyes widened slightly. “It’s only until they catch this guy.”

With a clipped nod, I crossed my arms. “Okay.” The sound of my name came from inside the house. “Better get them fed and off to school.”

I spun, trying to ignore the sadness that overcame me. His fear drove his reactions. I got that. And for now, I could go along with this plan to ease his worry. But this wasn’t a long-term solution, and eventually he needed to see that.

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