His Old Lady - Debra Kayn Page 0,54

want to take a shower first."

"While you get ready, I'll hop in and warm up the water for you." He stopped in her bedroom and bent over to unlace his boots.

"You don't have to stay with me. I'll be fine...I always am."

He kicked off his boots and took his pistol out from underneath his belt. Apparently, she wasn't going to change his mind, and she was secretly glad.

"We have shit to do in the morning. It'll save me a trip," he said.

"Oh."

He glanced at her. She hadn't meant for him to hear the disappointment in her voice. Only once, she wanted to hear the real reason he was going to stay with her instead of the pity she believed he was giving her.

"Towels?"

She pointed. "In the bathroom cabinet."

He left the bedroom and walked across the hallway. She sank down on the edge of the bed. The fire heavy on her mind.

She couldn't understand how a fire would've started. The heating was turned off. The hothouse effect kept the building warm enough at this time of year to keep the plants protected, even if temperatures dipped to freezing for a few hours overnight.

All the fertilizers and sprays were stored apart from each other. Grandma June had taught her exactly how to care for everything. She knew the risks.

It was too early in the year for lightning strikes.

Could someone have started the fire?

Superior was a quiet little town. The teenagers in the area rarely caused trouble, and when they got up to no-good, they usually sprayed graffiti on the school or partied down by the river or up on the mountain, away from adults. She'd never heard of anyone setting fire to someone's house or building before.

She couldn't stop thinking that Curley hanging around her after avoiding her for years had something to do with tonight. Could he have an enemy that was trying to hurt him, through her?

Elliot was at her house when they'd arrived. How had Tarkio found out about the fire before she had?

Could someone connected to Uncle Walker have done the job to get back at him? Her quiet life seemed to have blown up right in front of her.

She practically lived in the greenhouse when she was home. It wouldn’t suddenly explode. Besides, she'd worked in the building before leaving to go to Promise, and like she was taught, she checked to make sure all the fertilizer, bug sprays, and growth hormones were put away.

Kicking off her shoes, she removed her clothes and put them in the basket in the corner of the room. She walked naked, planning to jump into the shower after Curley, but needed answers before she forgot the many thoughts circling in her head once she fell asleep.

With the shower going, she reached into the cabinet and grabbed a couple towels, wrapping one around her and setting the other one on the hook beside the shower.

Curley's flesh behind the warbled glass door caught her attention. She couldn't see a clear picture of him. Only that he was under the stream of water, rubbing his chest with soap.

Her stomach fluttered. She would never get used to seeing him naked. Muscles covered in tattoos gave her a lot to look at. Leaning against the counter, she had a G-rated show of him cleaning himself.

"Are you going to watch me or get in?" he asked.

"I can wait." She blew out her breath, wanting nothing more than to slip inside the shower and let him wash her while she closed her eyes and enjoyed his rough hands on her body. It would probably be the only thing that got her mind off everything that happened tonight.

"Can I ask you something?" she said.

"Not out there."

She stepped forward and slid the glass shower door open. "You mentioned Elliot was here during the fire. Why was he?"

Curley tugged her towel off and held out his hand. Chilled, she stepped into the tub and squeezed her way in front of him to stand underneath the warm spray of water.

"Tarkio has an associate that hears the calls over the scanner for the police and fire department."

"In Superior?" She frowned, not liking that.

Tarkio Motorcycle Club's territory involved Missoula, not Superior.

"Yeah. Priest took the call, then rang Elliot. He lives about ten minutes away from you."

"I didn't know that," she said.

"He pulled in as the fire truck arrived. There's a payphone at the corner, and he was able to keep Priest informed about what was going on."

She reached up and tilted her head back,