On Fire by Stef Ann Holm Read Free Book Online Page B

screeches continued to come from
the back of the town house.
    “What are we going to do?” she asked, a helpless tone in her voice.
    For the first time, Rocky really looked at her. She was attractive with short
blond hair to her shoulders. Rocky liked the color, the cut. It framed her face,
made her cheekbones look high and her lips full. She appeared to be in her early
thirties, and was tall and fit. She wore jeans, boots and a black sweater.
    Rocky grinned, feeling a little more like himself as the Superbowl was
momentarily forgotten.
    “For starters, you can show me to the bedroom,” he said, giving her a long
stare that held a fire of its own.
    She stammered, “W-what for?”
    “Your alarms are on the same wiring system. I can’t just yank one. They all
have to be pulled. What did you think I meant?”
    He held on to a laugh as she blushed, then led the way down a hall. He hated
to admit it, but the feminine sway of her hips distracted him.

     
Chapter Four
    Kate’s bedroom was neat and orderly, decorated in tones of blues and tans.
Rocky made quick work of the alarm. One more to go. The extra bedroom.
    The engine driver, Bud, called her back into the living room and Rocky heard
him say, “Ma’am, what’s your name?”
    “Kate. Kate Larsen.”
    “Kate, sometimes when we unplug the stove, the computer resets and we can
open the door. We’re going to have to pull the unit away from the wall.”
    Slipping into the room that served as an office, Rocky disconnected the last
fire alarm then set the now quiet apparatus on the desk. Kate Larsen was
extremely tidy. Very organized.
    The top of her desk didn’t have any papers on it except for copies of The
Idaho Statesman. It was human nature to be curious about how people lived,
and the big pile of newspapers drew his attention. Especially the one on top
where a column was circled in red pen — with a skull and crossbones doodled next
to it.
    “Hey, Rocky. Come give us a hand.”
    Rocky pulled his gaze away from the article and went back to the kitchen. He
helped with the stove and they yanked the heavy-duty plug. The captain tried the
oven door again. It was sealed tight. And the fire still flickered inside.
    “What were you baking?” Rocky asked.
    He was suddenly very curious about her. Something was clicking in his head
about that newspaper column in her office. The meaning behind it was right
there, but the pieces hadn’t fallen together for him yet.
    “Cupcakes. For a baby shower I’m having tonight. I’m really not a baker, I
just thought I’d give it a try. I’m so much better at eating out.” Dismay
creased her forehead as she ran her hand through her hair. “Now I might have to
cancel.”
    “Hang tight,” Captain Evans assured. “Sometimes this happens on certain
models. There’s nothing we can do right now except wait for the oven door to
unlock. The computer should reset before the three hours is up. Shouldn’t be too
long.”
    But it was already too long. No doubt the first quarter had gotten underway.
Maybe even a touchdown. At least a first down.
    The captain’s gaze fell on the TV. “Would you mind?”
    Kate shrugged, clicking on the television with a remote.
    The three of them stood in front of the tube as the football game filled the
screen. No score. Second down.
    Rocky vaguely noticed Kate’s movement. She glanced around before pulling out
a chair and plopping her chin in her hands. She alternately watched a few
seconds of the game, then the weenie roast of a fire that continued to waver
inside her oven.
    He didn’t hear her sigh of frustration. His team had just landed the ball.

     
     
Chapter Five
    There was no score in the football game when a beer commercial came on.
    “Gotta check something,” Rocky said, and he strode down the hallway.
    Once in Kate’s office, he looked at that skull and crossbones doodle.
    A muscle tensed at Rocky’s jaw as he recognized the scribbled-on opinion