Firestorm - Ellie Masters Page 0,41

thought the kissing and hugging was gross. Now, I’m envious of what they share.

I thought I had that with Erin until I caught her fucking Felix.

“What’re you boys talking about?” Mrs. Malone takes a sip from her beer and checks on the progress of the burgers Chief Malone is cooking. There’s more than the two of them can eat. “Did you decide to stick around for dinner? The boys are coming over.”

Chief Malone follows her gaze to the grill and his mouth twists. “All of them?”

“You never know.” She flashes a smile.

He puts his beer down. “Better grab a few more burgers for the grill.”

“Oh, I can do that. You two sit and talk.” She gives me a pointed look, knowing we haven’t gotten beyond the pleasantries.

Chief Malone picks up on her subtext and gets straight to the point. “So, what brings you around, son?” When he calls me son it isn’t grating on my nerves like when Prescott does it.

“I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind calling Judge Simon.”

“Really? Why is that?”

I explain to him about the fire, Evelyn’s rescue, her recovery, and Grant arresting her earlier.

“So you see, I was hoping I could speak with him about setting her bail. I don’t want her in jail overnight.” Or through the weekend. It’s Friday, if I don’t get her out today, she’ll sit in there until Monday.

“And you believe she’s innocent?”

“I know it.” Again, my conviction rings with truth. “She’s a victim in this.”

“Let me see what I can do.” He says nothing about my interaction with his son, Grant.

What can he say? Grant is doing what the law demands, but Chief Malone is smart. He knows some situations require a little thinking outside the box.

He speaks to Judge Simon on the phone. I catch most of the conversation and I’m shocked by how hard he pushes to get the judge to set bail tonight. He’s going on nothing other than my word. His faith means the world to me.

With a glance to his watch, he looks up at me. “He’s setting bail now. If you really believe in her, he’ll see that she’s released.”

“I do.” Actually, it’s more than that. The feeling inside of me is indescribable.

He gives a nod and reaches for my hand. “Go get your girl, son.”

“Yes, sir.”

I don’t finish my beer, and there’s nothing else to say. I make my excuses with Mrs. Malone and head to the courthouse. I’ve got less than an hour before five and I’ll be damned if Prescott is the one who rescues my Evelyn from jail.

The amount of bail Judge Simon sets seems incredibly high. I beg and plead, knowing finances will be tight with the damage to my vineyards, and he agrees to reduce the bond on one condition. I hope it’s palatable to Evelyn.

Twenty minutes later, I’m waiting to take her home.

11

Asher

Evelyn races into my outspread arms. The minute her tight body presses against mine I swear I’ve died and gone to heaven. As cliché as that sounds, this is what my body tells me.

Not because I’m aroused—I’m getting there—but because holding her makes me feel like that piece inside of me which is missing is finally home.

“Oh, Asher, that was horrible. Did you get a hold of Prescott? Did he get me out?” Her words rush out in quick succession. I hold her tight, giving her the reassurance she desperately needs.

However, I hate she thinks Prescott had anything to do with getting her out and bite my lower lip to keep from saying something I’ll regret. Until I better understand her relationship with Prescott, I need to tread carefully, but I’ll correct her assumptions.

“He’s on a plane and will be here soon, but I spoke to Judge Simon and convinced him to post your bail today.”

Our conversation was far more involved than that, but she doesn’t need to know all the details, or the promises I made.

“You did?” Her wide eyes stare up at me and she lifts up on tiptoe to press her lips chastely against mine. “You didn’t have to do that.”

That kiss gets my attention.

“I didn’t want you spending the night in jail.” More than likely, it would’ve been the whole weekend.

“I’m glad you were able to get a hold of Prescott and he was able to bail me out.”

She still thinks her release is because of him? I’m losing ground.

“I bailed you out.”

“You did? Oh, you didn’t need to do that.”

I pull her tight against me. “Of course, like I said,