Chapter Ten
Lauren now knew what it meant to bring a man to his knees. She relished Jason’s jaw-dropping reaction to her dress, a modern one-shoulder design with metallic gold body-hugging banding that ended midthigh. She hadn’t packed many nice clothes since she’d planned on renovating, not socializing. But she had brought two dresses she’d designed to show to Sharon, and she chose her favorite. She worried she was overdressed until she discovered their destination.
“Amber said the Top of the Hub is the ultimate romantic dining experience,” Jason told her on the car ride into Boston. He split his attention between her and the road.
She smiled. “I can’t wait.”
“I hope it’s worth it because I’m not used to wearing a jacket.” He shifted in his seat, obviously uncomfortable in his clothes.
She grinned. “It’s worth it to me. You look handsome, Jason.”
She realized she was seeing him dressed up for the first time ever, in tan khakis, a black sport jacket and a white shirt. A far cry from the boy she’d known or even the man who worked at her house every day.
At the restaurant they ate in comfortable but aware silence. Throughout the meal, their eyes remained locked on each other and not the view of the Boston skyline or the Back Bay fifty-two floors below.
She barely tasted her pan-seared salmon and would lay odds Jason could say the same of his braised short ribs. The fixed-price three-course meal was elaborate, the service attentive and the view spectacular.
But all she could focus on was the man in front of her.
And what a man he’d become. Caring, tender, dedicated. A man who’d lost everything he’d dreamed of and yet still managed to smile.
At her.
To play footsie under the table.
With her.
To whisper in her ear all the sexual, provocative things he wanted to do.
To her.
She barely tasted dessert. Instead she wanted desperately to taste him.
The car ride home was too long. Lauren was tipsy from champagne, antsy with desire, and she couldn’t control the need to constantly touch him. She nuzzled his neck and kept her hand on his thigh, just to the right of where touching would probably cause a car accident.
By the time they finally reached town and neared the turn for her grandmother’s house, Lauren was surprised the car windows weren’t fogged from their heavy breathing. So when she saw smoke coming from the back of the house, she thought she was imagining it.
“Holy shit,” Jason muttered, pulling into the driveway and slamming on the brakes.
Panic lodged in Lauren’s throat. “Oh my God.” A real fire.
“Call nine-one-one,” he directed, tossing her his cell phone as if she didn’t have one of her own.
She fumbled and started to dial, just as she realized her cat was probably in the house. “Trouble,” she muttered.
“I know. So dial. I’ll go see how bad it is.”
He reached for the door handle but she stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. “No, my cat. Trouble might be in the house!” She scrambled for the door and this time he stopped her.
“No! I’ll go look for the cat, you call nine-one-one. Now—before it spreads.” He jumped from the car before she could argue.
Time passed in a blur.
Jason running in through the front door to look for the cat. Smoke at the back of the house turning to flames. Bile and panic racing in her veins while she waited for Jason to come out. And finally the fire engine, sirens blaring, racing down the driveway, the men pulling out the hose.
Lauren had had the presence of mind to back the car into the street to make room for the fire truck and she stood there now, waiting for Jason to come out. She knew he wouldn’t go near the fire or put himself in direct danger, but her throat was tight until she finally caught a glimpse of him running out, Trouble in his arms.
Grateful and relieved, she bolted across the lawn to meet him, throwing her arms around him. “Thank you!” she said, peppering kisses on his lips and his cheeks.
“You’re welcome. The cat was in the study in the front of the house, looking out the window. Of course it was the last room I checked because it’s the room he rarely goes into.” Jason sounded out of breath but fine.
“You saved my cat!”
Despite the fire, Jason glanced at her and grinned.
“What? What’s so funny?” she asked.
He shook his head. “You said I saved your cat. That’s quite the change of heart from looking for a new owner for him.”
The ungrateful feline obviously didn’t like being squished. He purred loudly in protest and jumped out of Jason’s arms.
Lauren would never be so stupid.
“Excuse me.” A fireman in uniform walked over to them.
“Yes?” Lauren asked.
“Ms. Perkins?”
Lauren nodded.
“Hey, Jason.”
“Frank.” Jason acknowledged the other man with a nod of his head. “What did you find out?”
“The fire started in the electrical box in the mudroom.”
Jason narrowed his gaze.
Lauren knew exactly what he was thinking. “But the electrician signed off on the box. It was one of the few things in the house that wasn’t a problem!”
“Well, someone tinkered with it then,” Frank said.
“Tinkered with it?” she repeated.
“Sabotage?” Jason asked at the same time.
The other man nodded. “Looks that way, but we’ll have a final report in the morning. Another strange thing. Did you know the windows were glued shut? Had to break them to get in. Same with the door, but that’s pretty standard. Sorry.”
Lauren shook her head, holding up one hand as if to block out the words. When it came to dealing with this disaster of a house, Jason knew she was on the verge of tears. He reached for her hand and squeezed it tight, earning him a look of gratitude.
“In the meantime, I can’t let you back into the house until things have cooled off,” Frank said to her. “Do you have any place you can stay tonight?”
“I—”
“She’ll stay with me,” Jason said.
“I’ll stay with him,” she said, gesturing to Jason.
The fireman grinned. “You still got it, Corwin.”
“I need to go into the kitchen so I can leave food and water outside for my cat,” Lauren said to the fireman.
Her devotion to the stray was one of the things Jason found so endearing.
Frank nodded in understanding. “As long as we’re still here, that’s fine. Say hi to your father, Jason.”
“Will do.”
“We’ll file a report tomorrow.” The fireman headed to the back of the house again, leaving Jason and Lauren alone.
She turned to face him. “The electrical box? Glued windows? What in the world is going on?” Confusion and exhaustion warred in her expression.
He shrugged. “I don’t understand it myself. Look, there’s nothing more we can do here tonight. A good night’s sleep will help us both figure this thing out.”
“I’m not sure sleep will provide answers, but it’ll probably make me feel better,” she said, her tone bleak.
He placed his hand on the small of her back. “Let’s go back to my place.” At least there he could comfort her in some small way. “Smile, honey. Things will look better in the morning.”
He took in her slumped shoulders and defeated expression and hoped like hell he was right.
For the first time, Lauren didn’t roll over to sleep alone. Instead, she curled into Jason’s arms and conked out until morning. Exhausted, he did the same. He woke up before her. He opened his eyes and glanced at her profile. Relaxed in sleep, she still looked fragile. Last night had taken a toll on her.
Jason couldn’t change the past or undo the fire, but he could figure out who was behind it. So instead of lingering to wait for her to wake up and have sex, something they’d been deprived of last night, he forced himself out of bed.
Once he was seated in the kitchen with coffee and a pad and pen, he began to make a list of people who had access to the house other than himself and Lauren. Someone on his list had the motive and the ability to tamper with the electrical system. Every name he wrote struck him as an unlikely suspect. No one had motive, especially the three men on his crew.
Although Jason hadn’t been in business long, his men were members of families he knew well. Nate, Connor and Ross were guys who needed a job and he’d been happy to give one to them. There was also the plumber with the dumb-ass grin. He was annoying but hardly seemed capable of creating an electrical fire.
Jason tapped his pen on the table. What about the electrician who’d walked through and signed off? Could he have “tinkered” with the wiring? It was possible. Anything was possible, but the man had been in business for years. What reason would he possibly have to undermine Lauren?
“What’s wrong?” Lauren asked as she entered the kitchen.
He glanced up. “I’m just trying to figure out who’d want to tamper with the electrical box in your grandmother’s house.” He pointed to the list in front of him, the names staring back mocking his attempt to solve the mystery.
Lauren poured herself a cup of coffee and settled on his lap. She wore nothing but an old white T-shirt she’d pulled from his drawer and her panties, which he already knew were skimpy beyond belief. He had on a pair of sweats and nothing else, making him completely aware of her.
She, on the other hand, hadn’t caught up. Her mind was where his had been for the past half hour as she studied the paper.
“People with access.” She read his words from the pad. “But the motive column is empty.”
He brushed her hair off her neck and nuzzled his lips against her skin, something he’d gotten used to doing each morning when he woke up with her sprawled on top of him.
He forced himself to concentrate on their problem. “Is there a remote chance you can fill in a possible motive for any of these guys? Is there someone your grandmother…”
Her body immediately stiffened and he let his sentence trail off.
“Go on,” she finally said, her words holding no anger, only resignation.
“I was going to ask if there were any names on the list you might recognize. Anyone who could hold a grudge against your family?” He struggled to find a palatable way of phrasing it.
She held up the list in front of her. “I wouldn’t know,” she said at last. “But I’m sure it’s possible.”
He braced his hand against her back, feeling a sudden need to protect her against the repercussions of her grandmother and sister’s actions. The only way to do so was to help her finish the house without further incident and allow her to leave town as planned.
The thought hit him like a blow in his midsection, hurting more than Kristina’s betrayal. And she had ruined his life’s aspiration.
Lauren meant more to him than Kristina ever had.
“We need to know what exactly the fire department found last night,” Lauren said, oblivious to his train of thought.
He pushed the revelation from his mind, at least for now. “I agree,” he said, focusing on the fire instead. “There’s something else you need to find out. Do you have insurance on the house?” he asked, hoping maybe she could collect money in the long run.
“Of course.” That had been another hit to her pocketbook. She expelled a long breath. “But so what? By the time the police and fire department complete their arson investigation and clear me, the closing will have come and gone. I need to move forward with the renovations regardless of filing the claim.”
“We still have to get the insurance adjuster in as soon as possible.”
Lauren nodded. “I’ll go through my papers and call them today.”
“I had another thought,” he said. “Maybe you could also look through your grandmother’s papers to see if any names from this list jump out at you,” he suggested.
“Good idea. I think the police confiscated a lot of her files before she died but I can see what’s left.” Lauren leaned back into him, relaxing as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
Together they sat in silence, each with their own thoughts. He was completely comfortable with her. He’d never before experienced this sense of rightness with another human being. A knot formed in his throat at the thought of becoming so attached to Lauren.
“Okay, enough of me being lazy. There’s work to do.” She jumped off his lap and turned to face him. “I’m going to shower so we can get back to the house. I want to look through my grandmother’s papers like you suggested.” She grabbed the mug from the table and took another sip of her coffee, then put the ceramic cup into the sink and rinsed it.
He stared at the long legs that stretched beneath his shirt and caught a glimpse of her almost bare cheek. He wanted to sneak up behind her, lift the shirt and make love to her right there in the kitchen.
“In the meantime, can you call the police and the fire department and catch up?” she asked, turning back to him.
Damn, he resented work right now. He swallowed hard. “Sure thing.”
She walked over and entwined her arms around his waist, pulling him in for a long kiss. “Did I ever say thank you for helping me with all this? I know it’s a lot more than you signed up for. Good thing for you there’s an end in sight,” she said lightly.
As if he needed the reminder that she was gone after the house sold in a few short weeks. After all, she’d never indicated she wanted anything more than a brief affair. And the Corwin Curse continually reminded him he should know better than to think beyond the moment. He’d never been a big believer in the curse, but he had to admit he’d never had reason to feel threatened by it before. There’d never been a woman with this much potential—and a Perkins to boot.
His stomach churned at the thought of losing her. Son of a bitch, he thought, accepting the truth he’d been trying to push away all morning. What had begun as a fun affair and a revisiting of the past had become much more.
At least for him.
He met her gaze, her expression curious as she waited for a reply.
“Don’t thank me,” he said gruffly. He hadn’t signed up for the work. He’d signed up for her.
But he wasn’t about to ruin their easy relationship by telling her as much. Instead he leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss that wasn’t soft or easy. He devoured her mouth, tasting, feeling, and giving back to her in return.
With a soft sigh, she molded herself against him, her breasts pushing through the soft cotton of her shirt, her hard nipples grazing his chest. God, he wanted her. Wanted to be inside her, feel her heat contracting around him.
But he also knew her priorities and he’d respect them even if it killed him.
Pulling back, he looked at her, pleased with what he saw. Her eyes were still fogged with desire, her lips damp, her head tilted in a way that told him she remained in that dreamy, desire-filled state.
Although he could have her now, his thoughts returned to the rules she’d set. “Work first,” he reminded her. “You’d better go shower or we’ll never get out of here.”
She closed her eyes and a rumble of disappointment escaped her throat. “You’re right. We’ve got to get back to the house.”
“But I’ll make it up to you tonight,” he promised.
A sexy smile pulled at her lips. “I’ll hold you to that,” she said, before she turned and ran for the shower, leaving him alone.
Aroused.
And while he cleaned the coffeepot, his thoughts returned to the two of them. And why they could never be. The biggest obstacle was Lauren herself. Her career path was set. Paris was waiting, along with a glamorous life he had no part in. She’d made it clear she was leaving this town and its memories as soon as her grandmother’s house was sold.
He didn’t miss the irony. Last time they’d been together he’d been the one who’d had a goal and no time or inclination to change course for anyone else. Now he’d be the one left behind.
He envied Lauren her goals.
He missed waking up every day with something driving him beyond the nine-to-five routine. He missed the adrenaline. Since Lauren’s return to town, he’d managed to convince himself that pursuing her substituted for other goals. But he knew now he’d been deceiving himself. He needed more.
For now he had the deadline of finishing her house and solving the mystery of who’d deliberately set the fire.
But then what?
Lauren steeled herself as they returned to her grandmother’s house. She wasn’t ready to see the fire damage, but she had no choice. The sooner she viewed the house, the sooner she’d be able to deal with reality.
Jason turned the corner and pulled into the driveway right behind a car she didn’t recognize. “Who is that?”
Jason shook his head and groaned. “No rest for the weary,” he muttered. “It’s my father and Uncle Hank. Are you up to dealing with them?”
The older men had exited the vehicle.
Lauren glanced down. She wore a pair of Jason’s drawstring sweatpants and a baggy sweatshirt. It had been borrow or wear last night’s dress. As it was, she had on a pair of stiletto heels. Yet she surprised herself by not feeling the least bit uncomfortable.
She faced Jason and shrugged. “I’m rested, I’m showered. I can take on the world.”
Or at least Jason’s part of it.
The worst had already happened. Between the fire and the general state of the house, she doubted it would sell on time. But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t give it her all anyway.
Jason leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You’re amazing.”
His words warmed her all over. “You’re pretty amazing yourself.”
He’d stepped up and taken on her problems as if they were his own. He gave her a shoulder to lean on and he’d become her personal body warmer at night. In a short time, she’d grown accustomed to his strength and it scared her.
A knock on the windows jarred her and she jumped.
“You all coming out or do I have to come in after you?” Hank asked through the glass.
Jason rolled his eyes. “We’re coming!”
They climbed out of the car and met the men on the driveway.
Before Jason could say a word, Hank launched into a monologue first. “The one night I fall asleep early and don’t listen to my police scanner before bed, there’s a big fire. Here, of all places. And nobody called us!”
“You have a police scanner?” Lauren asked.
“From my days as a volunteer fireman,” Hank said proudly.
Thomas stepped forward. “His day as a volunteer fireman. Don’t let the old fool kid you.”
“Just one day? What happened?” Lauren asked, genuinely curious.
“Nothin’. A small difference of opinion, that’s all.” Hank flushed red in the face and glared at his brother.
Jason grinned. “Uncle Hank has a problem following orders, which happens to be a serious issue in the fire department.”
“Whatever,” Hank muttered. “Anyways, I still have my scanner—”
“He refused to give it back and nobody wanted to show up at the door and ask for it, not when he tends to greet unwanted strangers with an old shotgun,” Thomas explained.
“Unloaded shotgun, you ass,” Hank yelled at his brother. “I’d never hurt anyone.” He drew a deep breath and jerked around to face Jason. “When I listened this morning, they recapped last night’s fire and we came at once!”
“We’re fine,” Lauren assured the two men who, despite their bluster, looked genuinely concerned.
She couldn’t help but feel sorry for them. “Why don’t you both come inside? I’ll make some coffee and we’ll tell you what happened.” She waved toward the house. “The fire was in the back, so I’m sure the kitchen is fine.”
At her invitation, Jason shot her a grateful look.
But Hank stared at the old Victorian, trepidation in his eyes. “No offense, honey, but I can’t go into the old Perkins place.”
Thomas adjusted his collar and smoothed nonexistent wrinkles in his pressed khaki pants. “I’m with my brother on this one. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the offer,” he said, almost bowing before Lauren in apology.
She swallowed over the unexpected lump in her throat.
Jason protectively grabbed her elbow. “As you can see, we’re perfectly fine. We have work to do, so you two can go home.” His voice was laden with disappointment.
After the two men left, Lauren walked into the house, planning to go straight to her grandmother’s office and sift through her papers. Instead, the first thing she noticed other than the smoky smell was the mouse caught in Jason’s trap.
Before she could react, he came up behind her, grabbing her arms and steering her past it.
“I’ve got this. You go check out the bedroom, open the windows to air it out—if they aren’t Super Glued shut. Same with the rest of the house.”
She didn’t mind taking orders if it meant he was protecting her from rodents. “What are you going to do with it?”
“I thought I’d take it for a ride and let it go somewhere far away. Okay with you?” he asked.
She nodded, feeling silly. “Thanks.”
She left the room without looking back. For the next few hours, she holed up in her grandmother’s study, poring over business papers for names. Some Lauren recognized, others she didn’t. None were related to the workers who’d been in the house since she’d begun renovations and her frustration grew.
She called the insurance company and asked how to file a claim. They promised to get an adjuster in touch with her in a few days. She explained she didn’t have the time to spare, that she needed to get started on fixing what had been ruined in the fire, but they insisted she leave things until the inspection.
She lowered her head to her hands and fought back tears of anger and frustration. If she didn’t get this house sold, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it would mean she’d have 2500 square feet still on her shoulders—her responsibility and depleting her bank account.
Lauren knew she still had the chest in her grandmother’s closet to look through, something she’d been putting off because she sensed the drawers contained more personal items and papers. Considering their rocky relationship, Lauren felt like an intruder, looking through Mary Perkins’s private things. The fire gave her the excuse and push she needed.
She rose, stretching her legs, but before she could head to her grandmother’s room, Lauren heard voices coming from down the hall. Jason had his crew here, not just for work but to question them about the fire, but the voices Lauren heard didn’t belong to the men. She’d grown used to the low timbre of their conversation.
She stepped into the hall and saw Amber and Gabrielle, as well as Jason’s cousin Derek and a man she didn’t recognize.
“Hi,” she said warily.
“Hi,” both men said.
“I’m Mike Corwin,” the good-looking, dark-haired stranger said.
Lauren nodded, noting the family resemblance. “Lauren Perkins.”
He shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same here.” She had no idea what they wanted. “What’s going on?” Lauren asked.
Jason strode to her side. “Derek was just about to tell us.”
“We were,” Derek said. “But I think it’s best if you hear it from Gabrielle.”
“And Amber—” Mike added.
“Both have something to tell you,” Derek said.
And from the serious look in everyone’s eyes, Lauren suspected they wouldn’t like what they were about to hear.