AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Standing in the middle of the sidewalk with too many people around them had him crowding into Izzy. Memories of another time when he was in this exact spot crawled up his spine. The acrid scent of smoke and paper, of burnt plastic and his own fear.
Of the red and orange blaze that had lit up the sky.
Inky skies and so many stars—a clear night that should have been perfect.
All he could see was the ravages of her store and billowing smoke.
Nichole’s twisted body out of reach.
He closed his eyes and shook his head.
Izzy curled her fingers around his hand and upper arm as she pulled him out of the wreckage of memory. Of almost losing her.
He wanted to bundle her up and put her back in the truck.
What had he been thinking coming back here? This wasn’t the place to fight Aimee. They’d lost every damn time.
She pulled him away from the building to the crowd of people that had gravitated to them. Jacob with his arms crossed and a pair of his sons flanking him. Genevieve standing in front of him with her stone gray hair flowing around her shoulders. Skye and the shopkeeper from the clothing store down the street.
Mayor Darcy came forward from the back of the pack. White blazer over crisp black slacks and white blouse. “It’s about time you came back home.”
Logan moved toward her and pressed a kiss to her papery cheek. “I missed your gorgeous face, Sharon.”
She reached up and tapped his jaw. “Charmer.”
Isabella craned her neck. “Cameron, are you back there?”
Logan looked down at Izzy. The spark of determination in her eyes made him proud and scared the holy hell out of him at the same time.
“Yeah, I’m here.” He came around the side with his arms folded across his chest.
She squeezed Logan’s hand.
The nerves alive in his chest flowed out to a full body assault. Shit.
“Okay. I know a lot of you have figured out some of what happened over the summer.” She lifted her chin and shook her hair back. Exhaustion and fear had curled her into a ball on the ride in, but now she seemed more like the Izzy he’d met that first day in late August.
A ballbreaker.
Confident and unafraid.
Fuck, she was gorgeous and breathtaking.
But fear clawed up his neck and strangled him. She had a plan. And he was so beyond fucked. Isabella Grace in determined mode was like a tornado.
He knew her well.
Had fallen smack in love with that Izzy more than a year ago.
“What you might not know is that it wasn’t an accident.”
The crowd murmured and everyone started talking at once. She held up her hands. “Logan and I left because we were afraid. We’re not afraid anymore. We need to show everyone that we’re not going to hide anymore and that Winchester Falls is stronger than ever.”
“Oh shit.” He tightened his hand around hers. “Iz.”
She turned to him and rubbed her hand down the middle of his chest. Apology lit her eyes, but she wouldn’t be deterred.
“We’re coming out of hiding on Saturday night. A benefit concert at The Barn. To remember Nichole and raise money for Adam. Spread the word.”
