Tequila Sunset: A Military Erotic Romance (Sexy Siesta Series Book 2) by Talina Perkins Read Free Book Online Page A

pushed her to the front door. “Go. I’ll be right behind you.” She turned to see him disappear into the thickening smoke. Forced to step back, she waited for him on the deck, not really wanting to go back out there alone in case whoever started the fire was still there. Who would want to do this?
    For a long moment she stood there. Waiting. Screw it .
    She pushed forward into the bungalow. Gabe walked toward her, a cloth wrapped around the lower part of his face. Black ash and soot smeared across his forehead and eyes. If her throat wasn’t closed off with fear, she’d laugh at his disheveled state.
    “I have it contained, sweetheart. You good?” He wrapped her in his arms, and she had to admit it felt good to have him there. To help, of course.
    “What the hell happened? You light a candle or something?”
    She pulled back. Her brows furrowed. Really?
    She had no idea how he pieced that one together. “ Sì , I’m also the one that was playing with the gasoline and matches behind the bungalow. Thought we could use a little excitement. Ya know, have a Mexican bonfire.”
    “Okay. Let me take a sec and remove my foot from my mouth.” He inhaled and leaned in, his features in full Marine mode. “A minute more and this place would be ashes in the sand, Ema. You said something about gasoline?” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Tell me what you saw, heard, anything you can think of, sweetheart.”
    She wanted to frown at him, but he was only trying to assess the situation. And damn if he didn’t look sinfully gorgeous in his boxers with soot covering face. “I was on the beach talking to my sister. When I headed back, I thought I saw something in the palm grove. I shrugged it off to shadow play, but when the wind changed, I caught the fumes. Then I saw whoever it was light something, then he disappeared in the shadows. That’s when I rushed in to get you.”
    Worry creased the set of his mouth. “Stay right here.” He took the stairs two at a time and disappeared around the side of the bungalow in seconds. Her heart tightened in contrast to the lazy breeze that tickled the back of her neck. She paralleled the wall at her back, opening her senses to anyone that might sneak up on her.
    “Let me borrow your phone.”
    Ema jumped, her heart in her throat. “ Diablos , Gabriel, warn a person, snap a twig or something.” She rubbed her chest, understanding the swift, silent , and deadly wording of his unit’s tattoo. The man made the footsteps of a mouse seem loud.
    He winked at her, clearly amused by her reaction and unconcerned that he’d almost slept through the fire.. “Sorry, precious. Occupational habit.” Sure, he was use to the danger and the excitement but she wasn’t. “Here.” She pulled her cell from her pocket. “Did you find anything, anyone?”
    He shook his head. “Negative. Whoever the arsonist was, he’s long gone.”
    Gabriel entered the bungalow and returned with her clothes. Soot covered them, but it was better than the thin robe she wore.
    Smoke still hung low even with all the windows, but she could see the damage from where she stood out on the deck. After tonight and the ominous warning Bougainvillea had tossed out to Gabriel like a loaded gun, she couldn’t help but think this had to be connected. Who would randomly walk by a bungalow and set a match to gasoline?
    After dressing, Ema took stock of the damage while Gabe walked over to the charred area, phone already to his ear. As he spoke, his gaze followed her every movement. “Lucas.”
    “Party’s still going…damn man.
    “Listen, we’ve run into some trouble.
    “No, leave the local PD and FD out of it for now.
    “Yeah, she’s with me.
    “Yeah. The bungalow caught fire. Not sure on the details but something’s up. I followed the tracks. Whoever it was worked solo. I lost him once he hit pavement. Listen, I need to borrow your house for the night until we get this all worked out. The keys still in the same