Page 82 of Backdraft
"Yeah, yeah, Josh. Smart ass. This is where I turn you over to Drea. She's the one that can fill you in."
Josh turned to Drea. "So what happened here? How can you fill me in?"
I didn't like his tone. At all. But then maybe I was just being super sensitive.
I pointed to the burned area. "Fire." I stared him down. He was the first to look away, and I heard Taylor give a light cough.
"It's arson. The accelerant?—"
"Wait, just hang on a minute. How do you know it's arson?" Josh looked skeptical.
"Because I know. It started with a pile of linseed-oil-soaked rags." I hobbled toward the porch and squinted through the remaining smoke.
"Hey, don't get too close. You might hurt yourself." Josh reached out and grabbed my bad arm.
I let out a yelp and turned on him. "Listen, I know how to handle myself around fire scenes. I’m an investigating fire marshal." I snapped at him.
The shocked look on Josh's face was pure pleasure. He'd been a dick since he’d arrived on the scene, and it was nice to put him in his place.
"Oh, ah. Okay, then. My apologies," he said.
I nodded. "It's a big, long drama, but the guy who set this fire is the twin brother of another arsonist incarcerated in Chicago. I suggest you let one of the cops know, since they just released this guy, and here he is at it again not hours after being released."
Josh pressed his lips together and turned to face the officer on scene.
I reached for Taylor, and he was instantly by my side.
"Did he hurt your arm?" he whispered to me.
"I don’t know, maybe, no, not really. It stings. I'm exhausted again." I leaned into him, and he helped me back into the house. "This is so frustrating! I can't believe how weak I still am."
"You will be for a while. Your body took a beating, not to mention your noggin." He gently tapped my head.
“Well, so much for our foodie night," I said and settled on the couch as he draped the comforter over me.
"Listen, I'll take care of everything outside. I'll put the pizza & wings on the table, and here's a Dr. Pepper. Everything’s all within reach. You rest."
I tugged on Taylor's hand. He bent over, and this time, he kissed me on the mouth.
"Mmm, it's been way too long," I murmured against his lips.
"Yes, it has been." He deepened the kiss. Oh, how I wanted this man.
"I was thinking, sponge bath later?" He winked.
"Sounds wonderful." Cinder jumped on my thighs and promptly curled into a ball.
I lounged back into the pillows and listened to the voices outside. I had every confidence in the fire crew, even with dickhead Josh. But he had apologized so I’d give him that. I knew they would make sure everything was okay before they left.
Now the police just had to find and arrest the twin
"What a day." I snuggled into Taylor, careful of my healing arm.
"It definitely was. It was very cool to see you in the groove, so to speak. Doing your job."
"It was strange. Because this is your house. This is the house that I'm living in with you. I’ve brought all this drama into your world, into your home." I looked up at him and gently touched his cheek, turning so he would look at me. "I'm so sorry."
He gazed down, and the feeling reflected in his eyes was all I needed to see.
