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“I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you about West,” Harper said. “I know you’re mad at me and I can understand why. I just, I didn’t know what was really going on with West and me.” She hung her head, looking down at the ground. “I still don’t and I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. I don’t think he wanted me to make a big deal either.”
“Well, now we all know so he’s going to have to deal with the big deal.” When Harper lifted her head, she found Wren was smiling at her. “Harper, I don’t care if you’re dating my brother. I care about you and worry that he might hurt you, but I just want you happy. And I want Weston happy too. He’s not the easiest person to get along with—”
“He’s changed,” Harper interrupted, her heart suddenly feeling lighter. She hadn’t realized how important Wren’s approval was until she had it. “I really . . . care about him.” Could see herself falling in love with him too, though she couldn’t admit that to Wren. She could hardly admit it to herself. What had just happened between her and West had left a funny feeling inside her chest. He’d looked at her as if she meant the world to him, but was that true? Or was it just the life-or-death situation? “We have fun together. Though really, it’s still very new.”
“Just, be careful. He’s not big on commitment.” They both started to laugh. That was the understatement of the year. And hadn’t one of them said that right before the fire broke out? “Though he’s always had a soft spot for you,” Wren added softly.
“Delilah said the same thing.” Harper’s smile faded. “You’re not mad at Delilah, are you? What you said to her was pretty harsh.”
Wren frowned. “I know. I need to apologize to her when this is all over. I was already mad about you seeing West and that you kept it from me. Then you hit me with the Delilah and Lane thing and I saw red. I said the first thing that came to mind and I knew it would hurt her.”
“I think it hurt her pretty bad,” Harper said quietly. “It was kind of a low blow.”
“Yeah. I’m a jerk.” Wren shook her head. “I don’t know where she is right now, but West reassured me that he saw her and she’s fine. I’ll call her in the morning.”
Harper decided it was best not to tell Wren that Delilah was off being comforted by Lane. They’d looked pretty cozy together, but that could’ve just been their reaction to a near-death experience. Lane rarely let any emotions show. He’d probably slip that mask right back on as soon as he was sure that Delilah was okay.
Just like West had done once he realized that she was all right. Going back into work mode, claiming he was on duty. He was, she knew that, but she didn’t like how easily he’d walked away from her.
Harper frowned. Was it that easy for him? Could he really keep this thing between them casual when she couldn’t? Most likely.
And that thought was the most disturbing one of all.
Chapter Fifteen
IT WAS JUST after eight in the morning when Lane stopped by the station to deliver the news.
“It was arson,” Lane said grimly after he pulled We
st outside, away from the prying eyes and curious ears of his crew. Everyone else was in the kitchen, cleaning up after breakfast. Tate’s engine had arrived late last night, everyone tired and dirty but relieved to be back on home turf. His crew was released and all went home, though Tate had stayed the night. He was in the garage now, checking over his engine like it was his precious baby.
Talk about a workaholic. He was worse than West, and that was saying something.
“No surprise.” West had fully expected to hear this. There was no other explanation for what had happened upstairs at the Wildwood BBQ & Bar last night. Before the crews finished mopping up and the prevention team came by, West had already had his suspicions, along with everyone else. He’d heard the bartender’s explanation and listened to a few witnesses explain what they saw.
More like what they didn’t see.
From what West could figure, it had been a premeditated fire. But why? To hurt innocent people? Or just burn down a building? Was this some sort of statement? The damage could’ve been so much worse. Whoever had done this was lucky he or she wasn’t facing murder charges.
“Was it linked to the other fires?” West asked.
Lane shrugged. “Not sure yet.”
“Are we going to make this public?”
“We’ll probably be forced to. There are already too many people curious to know what started this fire in the first place,” Lane explained.
West would rather have the townspeople aware of what was going on than keep them in the dark. Going public with the news would be a great way to gather more information too. Someone might’ve seen something. “Should we get Tate into this discussion? He’s in the garage checking over his engine.”
“Yeah, we better tell him.” Lane started to head over to the garage, but West stopped him with a hand on the shoulder, causing Lane to look back at him.
“I know now is probably not the right time, but can I ask you a personal question first?” When Lane nodded, West continued. “Tell me what’s going on with you and Delilah.”
Lane’s expression shuttered, his gaze wary. He shrugged off West’s hand. “Nothing at all. She’s a friend. That’s it.”
“Bullshit. She’s into you.” There was no reason to play games or be vague. West may as well lay it all out on the line. “She likes you. I know she does. But you keep pushing her away.”
“I’m not interested in Delilah. Not like that.” Lane looked away, a muscle working in his jaw. A telltale sign that he was irritated. “We’d never work out anyway so what’s the point?”
