Page 25 of Colton’s Inferno

“Much,” he said, “although I hate to make you stand around in the dark.”

Sunlight filtered in through the linen curtains, filling the room in a warm haze. “It’s not a problem,” she said. “Kinda cozy.”

He smiled. “It is.”

Good Lord. Did he have a dimple?

Lucy drew in a shaking breath. “Can I get you anything for your pain? I’ve got ibuprofen. Acetaminophen. Aspirin.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all.”

“Ranch life comes with its share of bumps and bruises.” She moved to the counter and opened the medicine cabinet. “Which one?”

“I’m good. I took something before I left.”

She shut the cabinet door. “Coffee, then?”

“Coffee would be great.”

“Have a seat.” She nodded toward the table. “I’ll get a pot started.”

Aiden dropped into a chair. She collected everything she needed to make a pot of coffee without saying a word. But as she pressed the filter into place and scooped in the grounds, she was keenly aware of two things. First, Aiden Colton was even more handsome in the light of day than he’d been at night. And second, her grandfather’s words came to her again.

I’m not going to be here forever, Lucy. I want to see you settled. There’s nothing wrong with that.

As the nutty aroma of fresh-brewed coffee filled the kitchen, she reminded herself that Grandpa Rusty was alive and well. But one day, all of that would change.

Once he was gone, what then?

Lucy didn’t want to live alone or try to manage the ranch by herself.

She placed two mugs on the counter. “How do you take your coffee? Cream. Milk. Sugar.”

“Black is fine.”

She filled both mugs and set one in front of Aiden. Carrying the other, she sat in a chair across the table. “What did you find out about the fire?”

He ran his thumb up and down the handle. “Is your grandfather home?”

“He went to take care of the livestock,” she said, wrapping her hands around the cup. “But I’m responsible for this ranch as much as he is. Whatever you want to say to him, you can say to me.”

Aiden stared into the cup. He let out a long breath and lifted his gaze. “I found a few things that I don’t like. For starters, it looks like the fire began near some fabric. A canvas tarp, if I had to guess.”

“Sure,” she said. “We kept a couple in that barn. I don’t think they’ve been used for years.”

With a nod, he lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip. Lifting his brows, he said, “This is good. Real good.”

“Thanks. I grind my own beans.” The imported beans and the electric grinder were the two indulgences she allowed herself. But the fact that Aiden appreciated her effort warmed Lucy from the inside. She took a sip, savoring the flavor. “You said that you found a couple of things. Other than the tarp, what else?”

“I also found a scorch mark on the ground. I gave it to Cal, um, Sheriff Colton, my brother. He’s going to get it to the lab in Bismarck to see if there’s any accelerant in the soil.”

The room got cold. Lucy’s hands began to shake. She sat back in her chair and tucked her hands under her armpits. “An accelerant?” she echoed. “Like what? Gasoline?”

“There are lots of reasons that a mark like that could occur naturally in the fire. But I want to see what the chemists at the state lab find.”

Her heart slammed against her chest and her pulse pounded in her temples. “Okay,”

“There’s more.” Aiden rose from his seat and came around the table. He sat in the chair next to hers. “I found something in the barn.”