Page 13 of Chasing Shelter

“I’ll get some oven cleaner tomorrow. And a whole bunch of rubber gloves.”

“You should have someone come out and look at it. Make sure it’s safe to use.” I stared at her. Noticing how her hair soaked through the cotton of my tee, making the fabric cling to her. How the strands appeared so much darker than before. The urge to touch them, to know if they were as soft as they looked nearly took me out at the knees.

“I will.” Ellie turned then, the sorrow from her earlier words now in her eyes. “Thanks for riding to the rescue.”

“Just glad I was home.” I wasn’t always. The nights Keely was with her mom, Leah, I usually stayed late at the station to catch up on paperwork. The thought of Ellie getting caught in a blaze while alone had a sick feeling taking root in my gut.

She started for the door. “Tell Keely hi for me.”

That was my cue. It shouldn’t have been hard to leave. The kitchen reeked of smoke, and I was freezing without a shirt and the window open. But my feet felt like lead as I headed for the door.

“I will. She’ll be excited you’re her new neighbor.”

Ellie winced, and I knew she wasn’t sure about having me next door. My kid, on the other hand? Ellie and Keely got on like two peas in a pod and had since Ellie braided Keely’s hair at a Colson family dinner. That would only make things harder.

“Goodnight, Trace,” Ellie said, hovering in the entryway as she waited for me to leave.

Hearing her say my name was beauty and pain all at once. “‘Night, Blaze. Try not to start any more fires.”

I stepped out onto the front porch but waited until Ellie shut the door, and then I waited a little longer until I heard her turn the deadbolt. When I forced myself to start walking, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Tapping the contact I needed, I listened as the line rang.

“Hello, you’ve reached Firehouse Pizza. How can I help ya?”

I recognized the teenager’s voice instantly. “Hey, Steve.”

“Sheriff Colson, how’s it hangin’? Looking for another meat lover’s or a cheesy delight?”

I kept walking, even though a twitchy feeling had taken root in my limbs. “I’m actually calling in an order for my neighbor. You can put it on my tab, along with a twenty-percent tip. Veggie lover’s to 365 Lavender.”

“Someone finally rent Mrs. Henderson’s house?” he asked over the din in the restaurant.

“They did.” I knew he wanted more information, but I wasn’t about to give it to him. The last thing I needed getting around town was that I’d ordered pizza for the new woman in the house next door.

“Well, I’ll get that right in for you. Probably about thirty minutes or so.”

“Thanks, Steve.”

“No probs, boss man. I got your back.”

I chuckled as I hung up but couldn’t help glancing back at the purple house. I was an idiot for looking for flickers of movement in the windows. There weren’t any.

As I walked up my front walkway, the door flew open, and Keely stood there in pajamas with brightly colored hearts. I fought back my scowl. “Keels, what’s the rule about opening the door if you don’t know who it is?”

“I knew it was you,Daaaaaad. I looked out the window.” She giggled. “But you’re nakey. What happened to your shirt?”

Wasn’t that the million-dollar question?

4

ELLIE

I hidbehind the curtain like some creepy stalker, watching as Trace made his way down my walk. His steps slowed as he put his phone to his ear. I didn’t miss the way the motion made his biceps flex. My eyes traced the curve of the muscle, and I couldn’t help but imagine how easily he could lift me. How he could—nope, nope, nope.

I was not going there. This was a man-free zone. One that needed to stay that way for quite a while. And I knew all the reasons why. They were infinite at this point. So, why wasn’t I moving?

But I couldn’t help mapping Trace’s broad chest with my gaze as he turned toward his house, taking in the dusting of dark hair and broad shoulders.

I ripped myself away from the window. “No more being a dumb girl, Ellie.”

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