Cassidy snatched the form back. “You’re so nosy.”
“Hm.” His lips quirked as his eyes danced over her. He reached down and caressed the top of her bare thigh just beneath her ass cheek, drawing a startled gasp from her. “Loving the fashion, sweetheart.”
She swiped at his hand, schooching mere centimeters away as he grinned at her. “Stop it!” Yes, she knew he would appreciate her flirty little blue and white striped T-shirt dress with shoestring ties at the chest plunging to reveal a pink bra that hung just past her butt. That wasn’t why she’d worn it, she insisted to herself; she’d had no way of knowing she would see him today.
Looking over his outfit, she quipped, “Re-enlisting?”
Chuckling, he raised a brow, his eyes darting toward the door in front of the store. “Heading to the bar.”
“So early?” she asked. “Is your type of woman even out of bed yet?”
He grinned. “Apparently.” At her eye roll, he finished answering, “Been a couple of weird incidents. Dar wants me to take a look.”
Cassidy frowned. “You do that?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I do that,” he answered. “Grady and I used to in New York.”
“Does it have to do with the break-ins?”
Mac shrugged. “Don’t know the details, but it has her spooked. Grady’s helping out while he’s in town.” He angled his head, but she avoided his gaze.
She heard the quiet invitation in his voice, but she shrugged indifference. He could play with his friend without her. “Oh.”
“Sweetheart—”
“I don’t want to keep you.” She picked up a pen and started filling out the form.
“Ah, Day,” he sighed. He straightened and rubbed her back as he walked past her toward the front door.
The tumult of sensation his simple gesture caused had her forgetting her address. And again, she found herself staring blankly at the form.
She wanted to ask him why Grady was here. A narcissistic vein wondered if it had anything to do with her, with the accident. Grady had surprised her in the hospital. He’d tried to defend Mac. He hadn’t been successful. He’d also let it slip Jason was out for Mac’s blood over what had happened to her.
Odd, considering Jason could have prevented it all by being honest. And that was why she was angry with him; everything could have been avoided if he’d told the truth.
Before she could banish all three men from her mind, the world beneath her moved violently, suddenly, and loudly. Panic ripped through her as she grabbed on to the counter.Not again, she thought, not another dizzy spell, not here. But after a moment, she realized her head was clear, and a loud and jarring boom had accompanied this movement of the earth.
Her eyes turned toward the front of the store, where Lonnie was already running toward the door. He shoved it open and peered outside.
“Holy shit!” he exclaimed, his mouth gaping open.
“What?” Cassidy asked, walking toward him.
Marge came out of the backroom, hollering, “What the hell was that?”
Lonnie pointed. “Looks like the bar’s on fire.”
Cassidy and Marge exchanged startled looks, then Cassidy’s hand flew to her mouth. “Mac!” For a second time, the world rocked beneath her feet.
No.
“Mac! Mac… He’s…” She couldn’t get the words out, her heart exploding as sure as the building had. Dashing toward the front of the store, she shoved Lonnie aside, looking for herself.
Smoke was pouring out of the front of the bar. The front door was gone. People were gathering in the street, gawking in shock like Lonnie, watching the tiny licks of fire begin to finger through the now-shattered small, high windows.
Normally, no one would be in there at this time of the morning.
Normally.