“Ran into Matt Jones while I was finishing up my shift at the firehouse.”

I straightened up a little from how I’d been leaning the side of my head against my fist. I blinked away the visions of Matthew that had been dancing in my head since I’d sat down at our little table near the rear of the Elk. Derrick’s sudden mention of him surprised me, even though I knew full well that they worked together. It just seemed so strange to hear the dreamy security professional’s name on my friend’s lips.

“Oh, yeah?” I asked. “He’d said he was going up there. What’d you guys talk about?”

“Said he’s working on your uncle’s case.”

“Right,” I said. “Hired him earlier today.”

“Well, he was locked up in the office with Chief Beckett for a little while. Not sure what they talked about, but Beckett didn’t look exactly happy after Matt left.”

“Is that so?”

Derrick shrugged. “But I don’t know, maybe Matt was just asking questions about how we did the call, or something. Chief’s not a big fan of being second-guessed. But, man, Matt is a great firefighter. Best I’ve seen. Damned good inspector, too.”

“Probably just making sure everything was accurate. You should have heard how many questions he asked the deputy. Might as well have been an AP test.”

He laughed. “So, he’s thinking it was someone other than your Uncle Zeke, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah, he thinks someone had it out for Zeke and that they faked it.” I told him about the supposed mafia connection and Matthew’s concern about a crime family from Denver being involved. “Said his agency had run into them before, so they’re checking around to see if they’ve contacted any other business owners in town.”

“Well, at least he’s covering all the bases. Probably getting more of your money’s worth with those guys than your Uncle Zeke’s lawyer.” He took a drink of his beer, set it down as he locked me with a thoughtful gaze. “Hey, Becks, I got a question.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t mean to change the subject or anything, but I’ve been wondering. You don’t, you know, blame me for your Uncle Zeke or anything, do you? I mean, I was on the scene when Chief Beckett found everything…”

I blinked in surprise. I’d known Derrick since I was a kid, since we were in high school. Ever since his aunt passed away in a car accident a few months ago and he’d come back to the Rock to take care of his ailing father, we’d steadily gotten closer and closer. Hanging out with him was like stepping foot in a time machine and being transported back to those carefree days of our youth, just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company. I couldn’t imagine my life without him being my friend.

I reached across the table and grabbed his hand. “Blame you? How the hell could I blame you? You were just doing your job. If anything, I should be thanking you! When this all gets cleared up, you’ll have been one of the men who saved Uncle Zeke’s business from just burning to the ground. Why would I blame you for being on the scene?”

He gave me a genuine smile. “Thanks. I know it’s a sore subject and all. Sometimes, you know, people blame the cops that bring in someone that’s breaking the law—not that I think your uncle actually did it! It’s just that, well, I was there, and your friendship really does mean the world to me.”

I squeezed his hand as I waved him off with the other. “No, I know what you mean. This is all just a mix-up, a big frame for whatever reason. We’ll get it sorted out. Everything will work out now that we’ve actually got someone investigating the fire and not just looking for easy answers.”

Derrick grinned. “Yeah. I think so. I think it’ll be fine.”

We both took drinks of our beers. I’d been pretty much nursing mine the whole time, not wanting to get too drunk or even tipsy. I mean, sure, it’d be nice to be able to party and have a good time, but there was just too much on my mind.

“So, what do you think of Matthew?” I asked after a while, just trying to fill the silence. Seriously, I wasn’t fishing for information.

Derrick didn’t say anything for a moment, like he was judging how to proceed. “I think he’s a really great guy. I mean, like, really amazing. Always tries to help out the rooks. Huge help with me when I first got back into town. Sure, he’s tough and all, but that’s because he’s been in it for a long time. He knows how dangerous our jobs can be.”

I nodded along. “So he’s a good guy then, huh?”

“Yeah. I mean, he’s out of town a lot because of his job. But whenever he’s here, he’s solid to have around.”

“What’s he like, though? I mean, he can be really good at his job, really good at fighting fires and stuff. But, I mean, what does he do for fun?”

Derrick shrugged. “Hiking and camping, I guess? Seems like he hangs out with the guys from work more than anyone. They’ve got some cabin up in the mountains they always seem to be working on. I think he mentioned a little while ago that two of them are getting married soon, too.”

We sat there in silence for a moment. The whole time, Derrick kept his eyes on mine. He took another sip of his beer, then set it down.

“You’ve got a crush on him, don’t you?”

I nearly gasped in surprise. “What? Why would you think that?”

“Because you keep asking all these questions.” He changed his voice, pitched it a little higher to mock mine, asking, “‘Oh, is he a nice guy?’ ‘What do you think of Matthew?’ Might as well ask what kind of music he listens to and if he’s dating anyone!”

“What?” I asked with a shake of my head. “I don’t sound like that!”

“Oh, God, you totally to do, Becks. Next thing you know, you’ll be asking for his phone number.”

“Already have it,” I mumbled.

“Come again?”

“I said I already have it,” I repeated a little bit more clearly than before. “He gave it to me because of the case, so he can get hold of me if he has any questions.”

“Have you used it yet?” he asked with a little eyebrow waggle.

“No,” I said, furrowing my brows as I shook my head. “No,” I repeated more firmly.

“Oh, you want to, though. I can see it. You do have a crush on him.”

I sighed in exasperation. “Dammit, Derrick. Last thing I need right now with all this shit going on is a boyfriend.”

He laughed. “Ain’t talking about a boyfriend!”

I rolled my eyes. “Last thing I need as a teacher in a small town is to go hooking up with every single guy out there.”

“Who said he was single?” he asked with a laugh.

My heart felt like it suddenly screeched to a halt. “What?” I asked. “He’s not?”

My friend burst out laughing again. “Oh, my God, you do have a crush on him.”

“I told you already that I don’t!”

“Your lips say you don’t. Your eyes, though, disagree.”

“Shut up,” I said sourly, taking another swig of beer. “Besides, even if I did like him, I wouldn’t have a chance with a guy like that. He’s tall and handsome, and intelligent and funny.” I frowned a little. “Not a chance in the world.”

Derrick didn’t reply for a moment, instead taking another drink of his nearly finished beer. “Well, I don’t know about that,” he said finally, after wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. “I think he might go for a woman like you. You’re attractive and smart, and super sweet. I think Matt really likes girls like that.”

“Think so?”

“Yeah, I do. I think you’d be a shoe-in. Want me to put in a good word for you?”

I shook my head and made a face. But, then, I thought about it. He and Matthew did work together. And Derrick and I were friends. And they always told you to try and meet people through your friends. Sure, I had a client-service relationship with him right now. But who said it couldn’t turn into something more?

“Come on,” Derrick said when I didn’t say anything for a moment, “he’s a good guy, Becks. Give it a shot.”

“I don’t know,” I said, sighing again. “Like, what if all this stuff with Uncle Zeke gets worse? I don’t think I could take being crushed again so soon afterwards. I’d just feel absolutely awful if things didn’t work out between us.”

“Oh,” he said. “Oh, wow. You really, really like this guy, don’t you? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you talk like this about someone.”

I shrugged a little. “He just seems…”

Derrick urged me on. “Seems?”

“Special? I don’t know.” I blushed a little, embarrassed at the memory of me throwing my arms around his neck back at the Frost Security office. I didn’t know why I had, but it had just felt so right. “I actually hugged him in the office earlier today. After he took Uncle Zeke’s case. Not right when I met him or anything.”

“Oh, right, cause that would’ve been weird.”

“Oh, shut up.”

He grinned a little. “Know what we should do, right?”

I sighed. “What?”

“Take shots. To celebrate.”

I almost burst out laughing. “I can’t do that! It’s the middle of the week!”

“Really?” he asked, eyebrow raised. “You can’t? You’re on a three month vacation–”

“Two month.”

“Two months vacation. I’ve got a home care person at the house with dad, I’m off work tomorrow, and I’m off call. Let’s just live a little, lady. Celebrate the fact that you actually like some guy.”

I grumbled a little until he fixed me with a look, and I stopped.

“Becks. I’m buying.”

“Fine,” I said. “But only one.”

“Fine,” he agreed. “Just one.”

He got up and went to the bar, got the bartender’s attention. “Four shots of Jack, Roy. I’m buying.”

“Derrick!” I protested.

“Ignore her, Roy, she’s just excited to see my wallet opened so widely this evening.”

The bartender shook his head and scratched a sideburn idly as he lined up the shot glasses and began pouring four stout shots of Tennessee whiskey. This was not going to go well.

Derrick passed over some money and, with a grin still plastered on his face, came back over with his hands full of liquor.

“No,” I said, my voice nearly a hiss. “You know I can’t do this.”

“Why not?” he asked.

“Well,” I said as I took another sip from my bottle, “I’m also out of beer. What am I going to chase it with?”

Derrick laughed, and turned back to the bar as he held up his fingers. “Roy, dos cervezas, por favor. Apparently, my friend doth protest too much.”

I grinned as I drank the last of my beer. I wasn’t a huge drinker, or anything, but I’d been known to tie one on every now and then back in college. And he was right, after all. I didn’t have work tomorrow, and neither did he. Hell, I was supposed to be in Brazil right now, not stuck in the Rock waiting for my godfather’s trial. Besides, what else did I have planned for tonight?

He brought back the two open bottles and set one down in front of me. We picked up our whiskey glasses, clinked them, tapped them to the table just like I had during my college days, and tipped them back. The amber liquid burned all the way down, warming my chest and belly like nothing else could. I put the glass back on the table and took a large swig of beer, washing away the flavor of the alcohol and cooling the whiskey’s burn.

“Ready?” Derrick asked as he picked up the second shot.

“Oh, God, no!” I replied with a laugh, suddenly feeling as carefree as a twenty-one-year-old again.

“Come on, Becks,” he grinned, putting the glass in my hand. “Live a little.”

I sighed and lifted the glass, toasting him again with a clink of our solid glasses. “You know,” I said as we both raised our drinks, “this is not going to end well. For either of us.”

He winked. “Sure it will. What’s a few drinks between friends?”

I tipped the shot back, downed it, and swallowed down another mouthful of beer to wash away the strong taste. This one went down much smoother than the one I’d taken moments before, and I could already feel the buzz rising in my body.

“Two more?”

“Hell no!” I cried, the alcohol already causing my inhibitions to drop bit by bit.

“Really? Come on, just one more.”

I sighed. “Okay, but at least me finish this beer first, okay?”

“Okay,” he grinned, taking a big swallow of his. “But, you’re buying this next round.”

I grinned, just enjoying the company. It was nice to be able to cut loose, to really let yourself have some fun for once. Especially when times were bad, and the stress was building in your head and shoulders so badly that it seemed like you might explode from the pressure.

In the end, though, I was right.

This was not going to end well.