Page 135 of Burning For You

Her fingers ran over his back. “Then maybe you can say the words back so I’m not wishing I didn’t say it first.”

“I love you, Skye Lancaster. I’m pretty sure I loved you when you were Skye Murphy, but I didn’t know what love felt like. It sure the hell didn’t feel like it does now because if it had I would have chased after you. I would have left this area and traveled wherever you were to make sure you knew how I felt.”

“Wow. And you say I’ve got a talent with words.”

“I’m just speaking from the heart,” he said. “I really do love you. And I love even more that you said it first so I didn’t have to doubt that you only said it back to me as a reflex.”

With the words coming out of his mouth, she didn’t have that concern.

“I don’t think this kind of love was ready for us before.”

“No,” he said. “But it’s ready and it’s waiting for us now.”

34

ONE OF THEM

“Do you think that he’s going to give us anything?” Ash asked Tate on Monday.

They were on their way to see Sean Murphy. Just to talk. Just to see if the guy would.

“I don’t know,” Tate said. “If what Skye said is true and he’s changed, he’ll give us a few minutes of his time.”

“I’m not sure,” he said. “I don’t think he’ll even see us.”

“Only one way to find out,” Tate said. They got out of Tate’s truck, went to the front desk where Sean worked and asked if he was there. The person looked at the schedule then called down to the floor for him to come up.

Five minutes later, Sean Murphy opened the door, took one look at both of them, hesitated and then said, “Didn’t think I’d be seeing either of you here. No, that’s wrong. I expected at least one Lancaster by now, but not you, Ash. Corbin was always your sidekick.”

“Guess no introduction is needed,” Ash said. “But why aren’t you surprised to see Tate?”

“Because I’m guessing they know Skye and I have been talking and probably want to tell me to leave their sister alone.”

Tate ignored the comment better than Ash could.

“Got a minute to talk?” Tate asked. They’d be remiss if they didn’t question Sean on the fires. The emails. All of it.

The guy came back into Skye’s life around the same time this all started.

“Five minutes,” Sean said. “I’m working.”

“Five is good enough,” Tate said, nodding his head for them to go outside. “There have been a string of arsons in the area. I’m sure you’ve heard. Especially since Skye is writing the articles.”

“I’ve read them. What does that have to do with me?” Sean asked, looking truly confused.

His stance was defensive, but his tone wasn’t. Maybe Skye was right. Maybe Sean had changed.

“She’s getting threatening emails now. Got one the night you guys were out to dinner and the location was pinged close by.”

Sean snorted. “Yeah, so? You can’t possibly think I sent her that. When did she get it? I was with her and Sara at dinner, then Sara the rest of the night.”

“It came in when you were at dinner,” Ash said.

Sean pulled his phone out, unlocked it and handed it over. More like threw it. “Check it for whatever you want. Even without a warrant or you not being in uniform. I’ve got nothing to hide other than my disgust over this bull.”

Sean wasn’t yelling. Wasn’t posturing. The words were understandable, but Skye was right, it wasn’t the same punk that would have shoved before he spoke.

Tate reached for the phone, scrolled through, found the email section, then handed it back. “We are just watching out for her. The timing lines up to you being in her life again.”