Page 63 of Hiss and Make Up
“Sure. Let’s go with that.” He allowed a small smile to form, before wincing at the movement. “Plastic bags are in the drawer by the sink. Towels are in a drawer there too. And can you grab my laptop?”
She smiled, then had a momentary freak-out as he opened the bottle and turned on the TV. Should he be drinking that? Could he drink with whatever painkiller he took?
Without looking back at her, he said, “Relax. It’s fine.”
She wasn’t normally a worrier, but he could still read her mind somehow. How the hell did that happen? She decided not to question whatever had changed between them. She would relax and roll with it and scurry to the kitchen for some ice.
God help her, she scurried. To fetch something. For a man. And she wasn’t even resentful about it.
But Sierra didn’t care. If that’s all it took to apologize and make him not pissed at her anymore, she’d gladly fetch ice and a computer and anything else he needed.
* * *
As both teams trotted towards their locker rooms for halftime, Marc turned his attention to Sierra’s scrunched up face staring at his laptop. He’d had to write his game notes on a legal pad, but she was focused on something other than his head. Completely worth transcribing everything later.
He’d been concerned about letting her stick around to “babysit” him. Not because he was worried about her skills with kitchenware. Because he still wanted her as far away from him and this street as possible.
But he had to admit he was glad for the company.Hercompany.
There was nothing weird or awkward between them over the last hour. Only a complete lack of any discussion about what had happened between them the night before.
Just two people watching a game and doing research. Simple. Comfortable.
She caught him watching her. “What?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Any revelations?”
“Well, I realized I was wrong about the arsonist wanting or needing to come back to the house.”
“Did you just say you were wrong?”
“Shh, pay attention,” she said. “I mean, if they were after somethinginthe house, why would they set fire to the place and risk having what they were after going up in flames?”
He must have a concussion because she was actually making sense for the first time that weekend. “Good point.”
“Did you just say I had a good point.”
“Shh,” he said, half-laughing, which crinkled his forehead and made everything sore. “But that brings us back to square one. Why scare Denise and the kids away and then burn the place?”
“No idea. Something on the property they want? Something in that shed?”
“Doubtful. You saw what was in there. A whole lot of nothing.”
“Still, it’s worth another look. Or I could—”
“No.” He couldn’t believe she was planning another scheme. Did she seriously think he would let her hide in that shed? To do what? Hit the arsonist with a gas can? No way.
She narrowed her eyes. “I was going to say I could set up some sort of security camera in there.”
He’d jumped to conclusions again. Even if he did have every right to, given her track record, he had to stop that. “That’s actually not a bad idea.”
She grunted but didn’t respond.
“What else do we have?” he asked.
Sierra scrolled through her document. “Let’s see. We have an email threatening you and your ‘clan.’ We have one poisonous snake and a nest of—” Her skin paled and her mouth hung open.
“What is it?”
