Setting Off Sparks

Chapter 3

3

“Hasn’t he gotten enough shots by now?” Finn asked through clenched teeth. “Do you think we could move on?”

“Do you think you could look a little more excited?” Annika snapped shut the little crystal-studded case of her iPhone. “It shouldn’t be that hard.”

“I’m not an actor. I’m a firefighter.” Since he’d gotten out of the hospital, he had to keep reminding himself of that fact. Injured, still recovering, but damn it, he still had his red card. If he busted his ass, he could get on a hotshot crew, and that was all he wanted. Since the burnover, nothing felt right. As if he’d jumped off a cliff and was still falling. He couldn’t get his bearings.

For instance, he used to think Annika was sexy. Now she just seemed whiny.

“Honestly, it’s getting old, Finn.” Annika rested her head against his chest and aimed one more dreamy smile at him. “When are you going to let that whole firefighting thing go?”

“Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.”

“Oh come on. Wasn’t I the one who ran to your bedside during all those surgeries?” She waved at the photographer. “That’s it for now, Mark.”

The photographer nodded and put the lens cap back on his camera. He worked for Finn’s father, Stu, who owned the studio that was producing the Miracle in Big Canyon movie, in which Annika was starring. Apparently, the publicity department thought that photos of Annika with the real-life “wounded hero” firefighter would get lots of attention.

Finn was going along with the charade for now, but his patience was wearing thin. Since the burnover, only two things mattered to him. Getting back into action. And learning the truth about the strange flashback he’d had during the Big Canyon wildfire.

But Annika had been sweet to him during his stay in the hospital, so he didn’t mind helping her with a little publicity.

“I have to get going, Annika. I’ll walk you back to your B&B.”

She looked at him vaguely, as if she’d almost forgotten he was there. Maybe now that the photographer was gone, she had forgotten him. “Fine. I’m going to see if that spa will send a masseuse to my room.” She used her phone to take a photo of the sign—as if remembering “Moon Glow” would be impossible.

He glanced at the salon. His gaze snagged on someone inside. A weird thrill traveled through his body—that feeling when you scan a crowd and know you’ve spotted a familiar face, but you can’t quite pin it down. A pair of wide-set dark eyes, inky hair swept into a loose knot.

Holy s**t. Even though he couldn’t make out her features through all the obstructions—window, stylists, salon equipment—he knew it was her. The girl from the tower.

The girl who’d brutally shot him down without even telling him her name.

He stared into the salon, trying for a better look. Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe it was just his imagination. Did he even want it to be her? Christ, he had enough things on his mind. He didn’t need another distraction.

Annika tugged at his arm, and he allowed himself to be dragged down the sidewalk toward the Goodnight Moon B&B. It didn’t matter, anyway. He needed to keep his focus where it counted. Get back on the crew, get some answers. Simple.

Okay, so he did take one glance back at the Moon Glow. He couldn’t help it. But they were too far away and he couldn’t make out anyone’s face.

His phone rang. It was Rollo, his closest friend in Jupiter Point. He was staying in the guesthouse on Rollo’s property while he tried to get his s**t together. These days, the only people he felt right with were the hotshots. They’d been in the wildfire, they knew what it felt like. Rollo was the only one who knew about the weird flashback, though.

“Are you still in town?” Rollo asked.

“Yup. Just about to drop Annika off. You need something?”

“There’s a package for you at the post office. From that detective.”

“Cool, thanks man. I’ll swing by.”

Finn had hired a private investigator to track down his real parents, since Stu had completely shut him down.

“You’re Finn Abrams. That’s it. Nothing else to know.”

“That’s impossible. There must be records somewhere.”

“Records? It was an under-the-table adoption that cost a f*****g fortune. No records. Maybe Ellie knew, but she died the year after. Drop it, Finn. I’m warning you.”

Of course he hadn’t listened to that warning. He couldn’t. He wanted answers. Stu got fed up and they had a big blowout. Finn had come here, to Jupiter Point. To his friends on the hotshot crew.

“Grab a couple of six-packs, too. Sean’s last night as a single man. Figure that deserves a toast or two.”

Finn’s gut tightened. “He probably doesn’t want me there.”

“Bullshit. You need to talk to him, Finn.”

“I know.”

“You’re running out of time, dude. The wedding’s tomorrow, then the honeymoon. You want on the crew or not? You have a shot since I’m retiring and Josh will need time off for the baby. He’s going to fill that spot one way or the other.”

Rollo’s voice rose, catching Annika’s attention. “Is that Rollo? Hand me the phone, I want to say ‘hi.’”

But Rollo had heard her. “Hanging up now,” he said quickly, the phone going dead right afterward. Rollo couldn’t stand Annika and avoided her whenever possible.

Finn shrugged an apology at Annika. “Sorry. You can say hi at the wedding.”

“Sometimes I think he doesn’t like me.”

Finn snorted. He had no idea why she cared what a bunch of firefighters thought of her. But she apparently did. “You’re Annika Poole. Why wouldn’t he like you?”

Her eyebrows drew together at his non-answer. He braced himself for a deluge of resentful questions about who did and didn’t like her, and why. Jesus. Sometimes he couldn’t believe that he’d spent so much time over the years dating women like Annika.

Again, the girl from the tower flashed into his mind. That girl—she was different. She hadn’t wanted charm or flattery from him. She was more the don’t-bullshit-me type. Maybe that was why he’d been so attracted to her. With everything in his life thrown into confusion, she seemed…real.

Yeah, real—as in really, really not interested in him.

Luckily, Annika’s phone rang just then. “Gemma.” Her publicist. “Yes, it went great. Just the wedding left, then I’ll be back in LA.”

Finn couldn’t lie; he was counting the hours.