Page 35 of Colton’s Inferno

“I imagine.”

“I think her grandfather would leave the ranch. But she was pretty set on staying.”

“Seems like you have a rapport with Lucy.”

Aiden shrugged and dipped a fry into his ketchup. He popped it into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “I guess.”

“What can you tell me about her?” asked Cal.

What did Aiden know about Lucy? She made the world’s best coffee. Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks were rosy, even when she first got out of bed. She didn’t need makeup to look pretty; she was naturally gorgeous. But there was more to her than her looks. She was a combination of independent and innocent. He liked being with her in the kitchen, cooking bacon while she scrambled eggs. There was also the fact that every time they touched his fingers warmed and his pulse took off like it’d been launched into space. He couldn’t remember having that kind of reaction to another person.

Maybe nobody had ever affected him in the same way.

“Earth to Aiden.” Cal cupped his hand around his mouth and lowered his voice. “Come in, Aiden.”

He rolled his eyes at his older brother.

“For a minute, you looked like you were a million miles away.” And then, “Or is the concussion bothering you again?”

“After getting some lunch, my head feels pretty good.”

“Did you remember something from the fire? You looked pretty deep in thought.”

Aiden shook his head. “Nothing new comes to mind.”

“What, then?” Cal began. “Oh, I think I know. You were thinking of a pretty rancher.”

Adien wasn’t in the mood to get grief from his big brother. Still, there was no denying the truth. “I like her. When we touch, just accidentally brush hands, it’s…” How was he supposed to explain everything that happened? “I don’t know. There’s a reaction.”

“I know what you mean. That happened to me with Jules.”

Jules Bailey was Callum’s girlfriend. They’d met while his brother was investigating a murder. Jules ran a gift shop for the Enchanted Highway—and that’s where the body had been found. She and Cal had been living together for a few months. Honestly, his brother seemed happy. Just one more of his siblings who’d found love.

“Really?”

“It’s kind of how I knew she was the one,” said Cal. Then, he suggested, “Why don’t you ask Lucy out?”

“Been there. Done that. Epic fail.” Pain slammed into his skull with the power of a locomotive.

“Ouch. That’s rough.”

Aiden popped the last bite of sandwich into his mouth. He didn’t want to talk about Lucy Harris anymore. In fact, he needed to shift his thinking. He needed to look at her as the victim of a fire and not someone with whom he had personal sparks.

“How’s work?” he asked, changing the subject.

“Aside from the two unsolved murders, all the overdose deaths, and that fact that we have meth laced with fentanyl being sold in town, everything is peachy.” Sarcasm filled his words.

“Any idea who’s responsible?”

Cal shook his head and pushed his plate to the middle of the table. “But speaking of my job, I better get back.” He threw two twenty-dollar bills on the table. It was more than enough to cover the food and a generous tip.

“You don’t need to pay for me, you know,” he said. “I’m an adult. I have a job.”

“Just let me be the big brother and take you out to lunch.”

“So long as you let me pay next time.”

“Deal,” said Callum.