Wildfire by Mina Khan Page A

circled her. “I’m going to enjoy working with you.”
    “Just don’t get in my way or get the cops too interested.”
She pushed past him and strode to the horse at a fast clip. She presented a
ram-rod straight back to him. Was she brave or stupid? Probably both. Bitch.
    He watched her gallop away. And smiled.

Chapter 6

 
Lynn followed the mouth-watering smell of grilled meat and Jen’s off-key
singing to the kitchen.
    “Ah, the woman still lives,” Jen looked up with a grin as
she chopped the cilantro for the pico de gallo .
    “And she’s starving.” Lynn watched her mix the tomatoes,
onions, jalapeno, and then the cilantro.
    “It’s almost 8:30 at night, did you get the story written
and sent?” She handed the pico to Lynn, then poured two glasses of water
and placed them on the kitchen table, along with a plate of cheese quesadillas.
    “Almost written.” Lynn dropped into the nearest chair and
took a bite of the warm, spicy quesadilla and savored the ooey-gooey cheese and
charred chicken. “Mmm, I’ve missed your cooking.”
    “Just my cooking, huh?” Jen quirked a pierced eyebrow at
her.
    Lynn licked her lips and tore a paper towel off the roll on
the table. “What else is there to miss?” She cut a glance at her friend. “Mizz
Loca Latina.”
    Jen snorted. “You’re one to talk, wasabi shrimp.”
    Lynn choked on a laugh and had to wipe at her eyes. Oh how
she missed this easy banter. She’d gone too long without talking to Jen.
    “God, we were so immature.” Lynn took another bite of
quesadilla.
    “No, we knew how to be crazy and have fun.”
    “Speaking of crazy…” Lynn told Jen about arming herself with
the wine bottle.
    “I’m glad you didn’t waste that wine on him.” Jen giggled.
“All this is funnier because Jack is really a great guy. Speaking of wine, want
some?”
    Maybe a couple of glasses would help her unwind and forget
the strange flutter that started beneath her breast bone and dove deep between
her legs at the mention of Jack. “Great idea. I’ll take a glass or two or
more.”
    Jen arched an eyebrow. “And then you’ll hit the floor.”
    The phone interrupted with loud rings. As Jen rushed to
answer, Lynn searched for the bottle opener. She found it in the third drawer
and turned waving it around in triumph. She stopped cold at Jen’s pursed lips
and monosyllabic answers.
    Lynn mouthed “Who is it?” She pointed at the phone for
emphasis.
    “Please hold,” Jen stabbed a button. Then holding the phone
in one hand, she glared. “Rob, your very unhappy ex-fiancé.”
    “Oh, shit.” Lynn dropped into a chair at the kitchen table.
Tossing the opener next to the wine she grabbed the phone.
    “What’s going on?” Jen asked.
    “Let me deal with him first.” She sighed and hit the hold
button. “I told you not to contact me. How did you get this number?”
    “Your mother.”
    Aaagggh. Her mother really needed to stop interfering in her
life.
    “Lynn what the hell is going on? Why’d you disappear without
a word?”
    “I left a note.”
    “Oh yes, the note. Do you seriously think that cryptic
message was adequate?”
    Lynn held the phone away from her ear and waited until his
voice died down.
    “Yes. It had all the relevant details— the wedding is off
and we no longer have a relationship.”
    Jen’s eyes widened as she whispered, “You left a note?”
    Lynn turned her back to her friend. “That’s the bottom line
right there.”
    “I think I deserve an explanation.”
    What you deserve is a kick in the balls . Lynn closed
her eyes. She wanted to throw Cyn in his face, but then he’d ask how she knew.
Next, he’d ask about the fire. She swallowed.
    “Lynn, I invested time and money in this relationship. Not
to mention emotions.”
    “Oh, please, go cry a river on our friendly neighborhood
wedding planning slut.” The last bit ended in a growl.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “It means, I know about you and Cyn.” The words leapt