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he suspected she was searching for a
good excuse. Or at least, a change of subject.
    “Maybe so.” Her tone was noncommittal. “Tell me, have you talked
to your folks yet about the new job?”
    She’d opted for the change of subject. And he must have been
suffering from a mental lapse when he’d told her about that. Why on earth would
he talk to her about something he hadn’t even told his family?
    “Not yet, but I have to.” He couldn’t suppress a grin. “I just heard
that I passed the test. I’ve been called for an interview.”
    And once again, he’d told her something he’d told no one else.
    She came closer, as if she needed to study his face seriously.
“Are you happy about it?”
    Was he? A good question. “I guess. The arson squad would be a
challenge, if I got it. Lots of brainwork.” He grimaced. “To tell the truth,
I’m better at physical challenges than mental ones.”
    Maybe that was the problem. He liked the physical risks of
firefighting, maybe too much. He’d told Laura about Dad’s heart attack, but he
hadn’t told her all of it. Not about the part he’d played.
    “Just tell them.” She put her hand lightly on his arm. “They
might surprise you. And if they’re upset, at least it will be out in the open.
You can’t deal with it as long as they don’t know.”
    “You’re pretty good in the advice department, you know that?”
    She smiled slightly, shaking her head. “I should have learned
something from all the mistakes I’ve made.”
    A man who was interested in a woman would follow up on a comment
like that. But he’d just told himself how wrong it would be to get interested
in her, hadn’t he? Whatever he said next had to be noncommittal.
    “Well, given the way rumors fly around the department, I’d
better come clean before they hear it from someone else.”
    Laura didn’t move, but she seemed to draw back a little. Her
smile faded. She got the message.
    She turned her attention to the bucket, wringing a sponge out as
if it were a very important action. “Speaking of the department, I’d say you’ve
more than done your duty here. The fire damage is cleaned up, and I’m back on
target with my renovation.”
    It was a nice, polite dismissal. Well, that was what he wanted,
wasn’t it? He couldn’t get involved with her. He couldn’t let Mandy start to depend
on him. Everyone knew he wasn’t dependable when it came to relationships.
    He took a breath. For some reason, he couldn’t seem to find the
words to agree with her. “I’ll just check that back door to be sure the new
lock is in right, and then I’ll be on my way.”
    She nodded, her smile stiff.
    Right. He headed for the kitchen before he could say something
he shouldn’t.
    Fifteen minutes later he was still fiddling with a perfectly
good lock. Maybe he ought to face the fact that he didn’t want to leave.
    This isn’t about what you want, dummy. It’s about what’s the
right thing to do.
    His head came up at the sound of voices in the other room.
Apparently Laura had company.
    “Mr. Potter.” Laura didn’t sound happy to be interrupted yet
again.
    “Bradley, please. I thought you were going to call me Bradley.”
    Bradley Potter. Nice, well-off, the last son of one of Suffolk’s
founding families. Brad was a successful businessman, good-looking, single.
Laura ought to be friendlier to someone like that.
    “Another list of changes?” She didn’t sound particularly
friendly at the moment. He heard the rustle of papers. “But I’ve already
complied with the requirements from the historic preservation committee.”
    “I’m so sorry.” Bradley’s tone exuded sympathy. “I wish I didn’t
have to bring you bad news, but I’m sure you understand that we have to be very
careful about any renovations that go on in the historic district.”
    “I know that.” Laura snapped the words.
    Maybe he’d better get in there before she got into a fight with
one of the most influential men in town. He