Page 40 of Burning Skies
I can return that energy, asshole.I turn to the sheriff. “Iassumed the snake got in through a vent. Or maybe students propped the back doors open after school, and he snuck in. The sports kids constantly leave the gym doors open to the back field. We’re not far from wooded areas.”
“That’s possible, I suppose.” The sheriff thumbs his mustache. “Can you tell me about that shed fire? What was happening when you noticed it?”
“I was in the English office grading papers.”
“It was after school, correct? At about five?”
“Yes, sir.”
His lips purse as he stares at me. “Why were you here so late?”
An uneasy feeling settles over me. “I had a lot of papers to grade, and since the last period of the day is my prep, I just kept going after the bell. I wanted to get my work done before I went home.” I glance around at everyone. “I always stay late.”
Reynolds nods slowly as he writes in his notepad. “Can anyone vouch for you?”
Vouch for me? “What do you mean?”
He shrugs. “We have to look into every possibility.”
“You thinkIstarted the fire?” I turn to Beau, pissed that my name might get dragged through the mud. “Did you suggest this? Do you really think I’m an arsonist?” Is that why he never came back that day to talk to me? Because he thinks I’m somehow involved?
His stoic exterior finally cracks and his eyes widen. “No. Of course not.”
Trig always says you can never trust a Walker. Maybe he’s been right this whole time, and I let great sex blind me to reality.
I get up, barely able to contain my irritation. “If you really think I’m dumb enough to start a fire feet away from my own house…”
Beau holds up his hands. “Honey, I swear, I don’t think you’reinvolved.” He frowns at Reynolds. “Sir, with all due respect, I watched with my own two eyes as Honey helped hose down the yard behind the shed.”
Who gave the sheriff the idea I might be involved if it wasn’t Beau? To think I nearly gave this guy my virginity.
Annoyed, I turn to the principal. “Trish was also here after school. She left because the fire was close to her car, but she can vouch for me. If the sheriff has any more questions, I can give him the name of my family’s attorney. I won’t have the McAllister name maligned.” God, I sound like an asshole.
Sighing, the principal nods. “I’d never suggest you were involved, Honey. We just have to talk to everyone. Also, your father called me to let me know he’s considering your proposal for the Turner farm. That’s fantastic.”
“Great.” I force my lips to tilt up, but I’m annoyed she’s being nice to me because she wants my family’s money, not because I worked my ass off to write that damn proposal or do the research or get kids involved in that club after it fizzled out.
I turn to head out, and she calls out my name again. “Before I forget, there’s a delivery in the front office for you.” She smiles brightly, probably hoping I don’t call my father about the sheriff questioning me. “Someone sent you flowers.”
A grim smile curves my mouth as I turn to look at Beau. “Wow. Someone really thoughtful must have sent them.”
Because we both know it wasn’t him.
The bouquet is ridiculous. A hundred long-stemmed roses in a huge vase that weighs more than I do. Leaning up on my toes, I sniff the pretty petals. Too bad they’re from Ian.
The principal’s secretary, Gladys, leans around them. “There’s a card, Honey. Read it.”
I glance back at the main office where Beau’s staring at me with something akin to regret in his eyes. What does he regret? Saying something that made the sheriff think I was an arsonist? Or not sending me flowers?
Considering the man has never even asked for my number, surely it isn’t the latter.
I take a deep breath.
I lost my cool in there. I shouldn’t go around accusing people like that. Now that I’m not being confronted by an administrator, the sheriff, and the fire chief, I can admit I might have overreacted by jumping on Beau’s case.
The biggest takeaway here is I can’t be trusted around that man. I make bad decisions, as evidenced by the mind-blowing sex I had with him in the back seat of my SUV.
I grab the small envelope off the card holder and open it.Can’t wait for our next date. xo Ian.
