“I’m just getting to know the man you’ve become,” she said softly. “And you know what?”

He was almost afraid to ask. “What?”

“I like it. I like you.”

He’d known she was attracted to his body, she’d made no secret of that. He’d also known that while she’d told herself it was purely physical, even she knew deep down it was more than that. Her words proved it.

But would she give them the time to take it where it might go?

“Oh! Before I forget why I called you, I’ve got a cab coming to get a ride to my car. I’m heading up Highway 8 to Cuyamaca Peak. A couple of customers came through the shop last week and said how they always get lost up there, and they asked me to lead them. You said you wanted to know what I was up to.”

“I did. I do.”

“I’m dressing right now. I’m wearing a bright red tank and black running shorts. Do you want to know what color my panties are?”

Yes. “Red.”

“I’ll call you later, and I’ll give you a blow by blow of the rest of my day.”

The image that put into his mind was not fit for mixed company. He pinched the bridge of his nose and wondered at his need for a doughnut. “Good-bye, Red.”

“Bye. Oh, and they’re black,” she said. “Just plain cotton but string bikini cut. I say that because last night you seemed to enjoy—”

“Thank you.” He wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything worth a damn now.

“You want to tell me about your underwear?” She laughed. “Or maybe you’re going commando? I noticed you haven’t done laundry. Not that I’m much better—”

He wasn’t used to erections on the job. And damn it, he was commando. “I have to go.”

“I know. But Joe? Thanks.”

“For?…”

“For wanting me to stay with you. For caring. For…being there.”

That she sounded surprised had his frustration with her fading away. “Just be careful on the mountain.” He hung up and pocketed the cell before he realized he was smiling, for no reason at all.

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

By that evening, Joe and Kenny had combed the Creative Interiors II fire site yet again. They’d cooperated with the insurance investigator, who was conducting a simultaneous investigation. They’d gone back for yet more interviews with all the players and witnesses, including Stella and Gregg, both of whom had been the second to last to leave Creative Interiors II and had been in the warehouse several times in the months leading up to the fire.

Neither of them smoked or had a size eleven-and-a-half boot, or had been in the small bathroom of the store in the hours before the fire, but neither did they have an alibi for the hours after the fire.