Page 29 of Colton’s Inferno

Rusty flapped his hand at the card. “Give it to Luce. My eyesight’s shot for tiny print like that.”

Aiden held out the card to her. She reached for it, brushing the back of his thumb with her fingertips. Her hand warmed. “Thanks,” she said, her voice hoarse. “I’ll let you know if I remember anything.”

She tucked the card into the front pocket of her jeans and walked with him down the hallway.

“Thanks again,” she said, opening the door. Aiden stood next to her. “I will call you if I think of anything else.”

He smiled, and there was the dimple in his cheek. “I’ll be in touch.”

Lucy held on to the jamb and watched Aiden as he walked down the steps and across the grass. He rounded the side of the house and disappeared from view. She closed the door and walked down the hallway.

“He’s right,” said her grandfather as soon as she entered the kitchen. “We do have a lot to discuss.”

“Can we not talk about the fire, at least for right now?”

He watched her for a moment and narrowed his eyes. She could feel the argument rising off him like heat off the pavement on a summer’s day. “We can wait for now, so long as we talk about it soon.”

“Give me today,” she said, clearing the rest of the dishes from the table. “It’s a lot to think about.”

“Okay. Fine. But tomorrow, we talk.” Her grandfather let out a long breath. “It was nice that you made breakfast,” he said, changing the subject. “I was planning to cook when I got home, too.”

“Breakfast was Aiden’s idea.”

“Like I said last night, he’s a nice guy.”

This time she agreed. “He is.”

“You should go out with him sometime.”

“Grandpa, he’s not going to be interested in me.” Especially after she had a panic attack in front of him.

“Why would you say that? You’re smart. Kind. Funny. Pretty.”

“You are my grandfather. It’s a law that you have to say nice things about me.”

“Not all grandpas recognize how lucky they are,” he said. “You know that.”

“Just making a joke.” She placed the stopper in the drain and squeezed dishwashing liquid onto one of the serving plates. After turning on the water, she faced her grandfather. He wasn’t going to give up on her dating Aiden Colton until he knew the truth.

“I doubt he thinks I’m special at all, Grandpa. Besides, he already asked me out.”

“He did.” Rusty brightened. “When are you two going out?”

“We aren’t. I said no.”

“What? Why?”

“Grandpa, he wouldn’t want to go out with me now anyway. Not after what happened this morning.”

He turned off the spigot. The sink was filled with sudsy water. Picking up the sponge, he pulled a plate from the foam and began to scrub. “What happened this morning?”

“I had an episode,” she said. “A panic attack after he told me about the lock and the accelerant.”

“I wish I had been here,” said her grandfather, rinsing the plate. “I could have helped you through it.”

“Aiden was really good. He stayed calm. He knew what to say.” She could still feel the imprint of his palm on her wrist.

“Then why wouldn’t he want to go out with you?”