Read Winter's Fire (Welcome to Covendale #7) for Free Online Page B

“Eight hours of sleep in a row, for one. Haven’t had that in years.”
    She nodded, at a loss for words. She had no idea this was a forced retirement. At least now she understood a few things, like the funeral comment and the strained way Adam had said it was “supposed to be” a party.
    “So, you aren’t the fire marshal, am I right?” Ben said. “Pretty sure that honor still belongs to old Teddy Jones.”
    Her face lit up despite herself. “You know him?” she said.
    “Oh, you bet. He’s a tough bastard—but fair, with a lot of heart. Best in the business.”
    “He’s a great man,” she said. “A great friend. Kind of pushy, though.”
    Ben let out a roar of laughter. “Your friend here’s got the gift of understatement,” he said, nodding toward Adam. “Kind of pushy? Teddy Jones could talk the Queen of England into seeing a strip show, if he felt like it. The man gets what he wants. Thing is, though, what he wants is usually for the best.”
    “I suppose,” Winter said with fond exasperation, thinking of the vacation—and immediately deciding not to think about that.
    “So, what do you do for Teddy?”
    “I’m an insurance investigator,” she said. “Right now I’m—”
    “Adam? Hey, Adam!” A near-panicked male voice cut her off as a very young-looking man rushed toward them. “Oh man, I can’t find the plates for the cake,” he said. “I had ’em right there, and then…oh. Er.” He trailed off as he noticed first Ben, and then Winter. His face flushed suddenly. “Um…I’m sorry. Can I just borrow him for a second?”
    “It’s okay, Luke,” Adam said. “By the way, this is Winter Solomon. Winter, Luke Aldridge.”
    Luke muttered something that might have been hello.
    “Are you two okay here for a minute?” Adam said with a slight smirk. “Seems like you’re getting along fine. I won’t be long.”
    “Go on. I’ll take good care of her,” Ben said.
    “Be right back.”
    Winter watched him go for a minute, until Ben said, “That boy’s real good at putting out fires. All kinds of ’em.”
    “Yes, he seems to be.” She smiled a bit, remembering the way he’d defused the explosive situation with Ethan Goddard. A lot of men would’ve fought first and talked later.
    “Listen, Miss Solomon.” Ben spoke in a low voice, and his features were troubled. The drastic shift in his mood alarmed her. “I have to make this quick, before somebody overhears.”
    Her heart stopped beating. “What—”
    “I know what you’re looking into, and I have information you’re going to need.” His voice lowered even further, until it was almost a whisper. “There’s a diner in town, Pete’s. Can you meet me there tomorrow night, say around ten?”
    She gave a startled blink. “Well…yes, I suppose. But, Mr. Schaeffer—”
    “That Teddy, he’s a real card,” Ben said louder than necessary. “You tell him I said hey, and he should get his butt down here sometime, have a drink with an old friend.”
    A chill moved through her. She wanted to ask again what this was about, but then she noticed what Ben must’ve already seen. Ethan Goddard stood not ten feet away, glaring at both of them. Apparently he hadn’t left after all.
    “All right,” she said to Ben. “I’ll be sure to tell him.” She thought about winking or something, to let him know she would definitely meet him tomorrow—but she’d look stupid, and conspicuous. Hopefully he’d infer that she agreed.
    The man’s easy smile was back, as though the conversation never took place. “So,” he said. “What about you and Adam?”
    “Pardon me?” she blurted without thought.
    Ben laughed. “Sorry about that,” he said. “I guess I figured…well, you must be involved with someone. If you’ll pardon a compliment from an old man, you’re far too charming to be single.”
    “Well, I—” She decided it would be best not to discuss the subject at all. “Thank you,” she said. “And you’re not