Up In Flames (7 page)

"Oh, right. The food's great, thanks."

"Let me guess, Kevin?"

She put her fork down. “Now why would you assume I'm thinking of Kevin? I just experienced a ... a minor trauma. Maybe I'm just thinking about the fate of my hand!"

"I stand corrected.” He turned back to his chow mein, but pushed it around his plate rather than eating it. “You know, maybe it'll help for you to get it out in the open. It's okay with me if you want to rant and rave a little bit. It's good for the soul."

"Believe me, I have ranted and raved. I don't think my soul could take any more."

He smiled into his food. “How did you find out about Kevin anyway?"

"Lord, who are you anyway? I don't think I know any other man who'd be so willing to hear me discuss my past love affairs."

He grinned at her. “Ulterior motives. Good for the soul, remember?"

"Right. You're just being polite to your landlady. You're probably going over football stats in your head the whole time you're talking to me."

"Now that just hurt."

"Okay, you asked for it.” She looked off into the distance, remembering. “How did I find out? I can see it as if it were yesterday.” Jules looked at Shane, assessing whether or not to share the information she had kept under wraps for six months. She hadn't even told Claire how it had happened exactly. She didn't like discussing the details; somehow, putting the story into words brought the images flying back into her mind. And it made her feel like even more of a simpleton.

There was something in those light brown eyes of Shane's, though, something which made her want to share. He seemed truly interested in her, not just in the sordid tale.

"Well,” she continued, “as you know, firefighters keep very strange hours sometimes. I never knew precisely what Kevin's work schedule would be from week to week. Looking back, I remember he never really tried to clarify his hours either. I know now, having an irregular schedule worked for him. It's how he hid his trysts. I never knew when to expect him home, so he was able to stay out."

"Did you live together?"

Jules was unable to keep the frustration out of her laugh. “No. That would have made things too complicated for our Kevin now, wouldn't it?” She shook her head, still in disbelief. “He has an apartment in town, on Elizabeth Street. I did spend a lot of time there, just not enough apparently."

Shane remained quiet, but urged her on with a solemn look. She took a deep breath and continued. “What did him in, in the end, was a dental appointment of all things. He'd been waiting to hear about a date for his root canal, and I guess he'd left my phone number with the dental office. So, when the appointment was left with me, I tried to call him, like the good girlfriend I was. He'd told me he would be at the fire hall that afternoon, but I couldn't get him on the phone."

Shane had not touched his food for some time. He watched Jules, sympathy and wariness seemingly vying for dominance in his features. “So you went looking for him."

"Yup. You know, I could've left him a message, but something just seemed off. I think in my heart I knew it felt wrong, so I had to prove it to myself.” She grinned in spite of herself. “At the fire hall, I received not one, but three, different stories about where Kevin was. One firefighter told me he was napping upstairs with a migraine and didn't want to be disturbed. Another told me he was on a food run, and yet another told me he was at a training seminar.” She burst out laughing, feeling her cheeks redden. “They should have kept their stories straight."

"So, what did you do?"

"I marched right over to his apartment, used my key to unlock the door, and walked in on Kevin with two waitresses from the local restaurant in his bed."

"Two?"

"Yes, sir. I'd never seen so many naked people in one room since the summer Claire and I visited the bathhouses in Turkey. It was a sight."

"Damn! What did he do?"

"I didn't give him a chance to do anything. I left. I didn't want to hear what he had to say. At one point, he tried to give me a sob story about being in love with me, but being ‘too scared to take a chance on love,’ but I wasn't listening. I didn't stick around. I packed up, said good-bye to Claire and did some serious traveling in Europe. I haven't looked back once."

He had begun to quietly push his chow mein around again. Jules raised her eyebrows in question. “Say what's on your mind, Shane."

"I just can't help thinking it's no wonder you're angry. You never told him off properly. Why didn't you give him a piece of your mind?"

"Because I made a conscious decision to not spend another moment on him. It's done and I've learned from it."

"But you've kept your anger inside, and I can see it keeps threatening to bubble over. You need to release it. You need to shout or punch pillows, and you certainly should tell him he hurt you."

She did feel the anger bubbling over just then, but it was surprisingly directed at Shane. “How very New Age of you. It's my problem, though, and I can deal with my anger."

His cheeks were suddenly flushed, too. “Pardon me for saying so, Jules, but I don't think you are. Since I've arrived, I've seen you run from Kevin, not to mention cutting yourself and practically sanding a hole through the wall. It's probably why you threw up as well."

"Really.” She pushed herself away from the table and stood up. Her appetite was long gone. How dare he judge her? “With all due respect, you know nothing about me and my relationships. I don't think you're qualified to offer your opinion, and I don't recall asking for it anyway."

"I may not know everything about you, Jules, but I do know about relationships and I know about anger. You've got plenty of that in you."

She was dumbstruck, her eyes widening with each of his words. “I think you should stop right there."

"And you should stop taking everything the wrong way. I'm just trying to help you, but you insist on jumping down my throat at every opportunity.” His voice was rising, but she could see he was trying to remain calm.

"Jumping down
your
throat?” she shouted.

"Look, I just think it's a shame. I had Kevin pegged as a player the first time I saw him. And you're such a smart woman. How did you let him bulldoze right over you?"

He'd hit the nail on the head. Shane had voiced the exact thought which had been plaguing Jules for six months, but she still didn't appreciate hearing it out loud. “And what makes you such an expert? I sure don't see a wedding ring on
your
finger!” She looked at him, hands on her hips.

She wanted to gloat, wanted to feel triumphant, but when she saw Shane's face tighten, her stomach turned. Suddenly, the muscles in his jaw clenched, and he looked as if he'd been slapped. Even as he glared back at Jules, he seemed to be withdrawing. Within seconds, he didn't even seem to be aware of her anymore. He just stared past her with those soft eyes of his.

When he did speak, his voice was almost imperceptible. “I do have a wedding ring. I stopped wearing it two years after my wife died."

[Back to Table of Contents]

The new captain sat alone in the cramped office in the back of the fire station. The room might be small and box-like, but it was his. At least, it boasted large windows and glass walls, so from his vantage point Shane could see everything inside and out. Not a lot of privacy, to be sure, but it was probably not a good idea to hole himself up away from the other firefighters anyway.

One in particular was commanding his attention this morning. Kevin McGuinness was currently occupied clicking on a computer keyboard, but kept glancing up towards Shane. The two men hadn't had much opportunity to talk yet, aside from their initial confrontation at Jules’ house and a brief re-introduction at the fire station. Shane knew he'd have to hash things out with Kevin eventually if they were to work side by side.

Shane sized up the infamous Kevin, the man who had driven Juliet Baker to distraction. He wondered what it was about the man that had inspired such passion in Jules. He supposed most women might find him attractive with those hooded blue eyes and dark hair, but to Shane he just looked shifty. Especially in light of how Kevin was regarding him right now.

If looks could kill.

But was Kevin shifty enough to put an anonymous, threatening letter on his ex-girlfriend's windshield? It wasn't the first time he'd wondered the same thing. He'd seen how angry Kevin had become the day Shane had interrupted their argument.

That was why he'd gone through Kevin's file with a fine-toothed comb, looking for any indication he was anything other than an upstanding firefighter with a philandering issue. There'd been no red flags, but he'd given Kevin's name to his police contact anyway. If there was anything interesting in his past, they'd find it.

Shane shook his head. It didn't matter anyway. Jules meant nothing to him, especially after last night.

Now if he could just stop thinking of her.

He got up and began to pace inside the small office, finally settling on a spot by the window. What was it with that infuriating woman? What was wrong with her? She was so enticing with her sweet looks and the body he'd give anything to touch, but she was driving him mad with her quick temper. He couldn't stop picturing her delicate face, all animated by her fury. Those bright hazel eyes and those quivering lips were enough to make him want to grab her and cover her mouth with his own.

"Why did I push her? It's no business of mine if she was a gullible girlfriend. Why should I even care?” He supposed it was because the thought of her being hurt angered him.

Still, she flew off the handle far too easily. And the comment she had made about his wedding ring had knocked the wind out of him. Shane had been up all night pondering that one.

Jules, in her off handed way, had managed to bring it all back. Suddenly, Shane's mind was awash with memories of Alana, as well as thoughts of Jules.

"Alana,” he whispered. It had been five years since she died and five years since his life had changed irrevocably. Jules had said something about not looking back. Shane had tried his best to do the same. Alana was gone; there was no bringing her back. Besides, he was a different person now anyway.

Of course, it didn't mean the thought of her didn't haunt him. Alana had been Shane's first love. He still remembered how his heart used to leap each time he saw that head of wild, red curls coming his way. At the start of their brief marriage, he'd never been happier. Alana had inspired him in ways no other woman had.

Until a few days ago.

But marriage had changed both of them, and not for the better. It wasn't long before Shane realized Alana was no longer the same woman with whom he'd fallen in love. That knowledge had hurt him more than anything.

Nevertheless, she didn't deserve to die, and certainly not in such a horrific way. The visions of that ungodly scene still tormented Shane in his nightmares.

He had done his level best to try and forget Alana, or at least relegate her to the back of his mind. But then Jules had to go and bring up the topic of marriage!

He contemplated leaving the Baker farmhouse and his opinionated landlady. But he couldn't. He remembered how he had felt when he'd succeeded in making Jules smile, and he realized he didn't want to go anywhere.

As much as she frustrated him, he found her bewitching. He enjoyed the flirting.
Besides,
he reasoned,
I won't act on it. There's no harm in sticking around to watch some sparks fly, is there?

As long as he could trust himself to keep things uncomplicated, there was nothing wrong with some innocent flirtation. And considering the way Jules obsessed over Kevin, he didn't imagine it would go further anyway.

He couldn't let it go further, not with Jules, not with anyone. Not after Alana. Their marriage troubles, followed by her death, had bruised him to the core. Shane had vowed he'd never get so involved again. It had been easy so far. He'd thrown himself into his career, advanced at an astounding speed. There'd been no time for women.

That didn't mean his libido didn't kick into painful overdrive every time he saw Jules.

Now he just needed to forget the look on her face when he bandaged her hand. There had been a certain sweetness there, a chemistry he was finding it nearly impossible to ignore.

"Mind if I come in, Captain?"

Shane looked up to see Kevin at his office door. As much as he wanted to slam the door, he allowed his civility to rein him in. “Door's always open."

Kevin sat down, obviously uneasy but trying to hide it with what Shane assumed to be his customary bravado. “So, did you catch the game last night?"

"No,” Shane smiled. “I haven't had much time to catch games these days. Too busy getting settled into the new job and all."

"Right. And have you settled in at Jules’ place?” Kevin had obviously meant it to sound like any ordinary question, but it had come out sounding more like an accusation. “I didn't know she was running a bed and breakfast."

Shane ignored Kevin's tart tone. “She isn't yet. Anyway, it's not my place to comment."

"So, she's just found an extra bed for my boss, then. Nice.” He shook his head. “Well, anyway, I feel I should explain my situation with her."

"You don't have to explain anything to me. I'm just the boarder. Jules and I are not exactly what you'd call friends."

Kevin arched an eyebrow, making his suspicions crystal clear. “Then she hasn't told you about me? Jules is not the sort of girl to keep quiet when she thinks she's wounded."

Thinks?
This time it was Shane's voice bearing a definite edge. “She's not a ‘girl’ at all."

Kevin was oblivious to his tone. “I don't understand. I told her those girls meant nothing to me. They were just one-night-stands, a bit of fun.” He leaned over, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know, my dad always said, ‘When an opportunity presents itself, you gotta nab it.’”

Shane found himself growing angrier by the second, but bit his tongue, and Kevin apparently interpreted his silence as sympathy.