Magnolia Flames: Magnolia Series, #2

By Beth Hale

Churches are burning and time is running out . . . ATF Special Agent Carter Boone hits town believing he has identified the arsonist: the brother of Officer Eve Sutton.Eve is launching an investigation of her own. She knows her brother is innocent, even if no one else does. When she gets closer to the truth, she becomes a target.As Carter and Eve race to catch a deadly criminal, tempers and desires erupt. Can they stop a madman before the town--and their hot romance--goes up in flames?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tuscumbia Hill Press
• Release date: Jul 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9798223849544

Book preview

other books

Unexpected Emotion Duet

Trusting Jack

Taming James

Magnolia Series

Magnolia Secrets

Single Titles

Red Hot Reunion

Bourbon Street Heat

13 Naughty Tales

Office Mistakes

Copyright © Beth Hale 2016 All rights reserved. Magnolia Flames©

Beth Hale has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

Editing by Emily Lawrence of Lawrence Editing

Cover Art by Ally Hastings of Starcrossed Covers

Formatted by Jaycee DeLorenzo of Sweet ’N Spicy Designs

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

for Candy

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Acknowledgments

heading

THE NIGHT HAD BEEN full of suck.

Eve Sutton sprawled face-first across her bed, not even bothering to remove her duty belt. She was bone tired and reeked of smoke. Most of her twelve-hour shift has been spent on Main Street, assisting the fire department while they attempted to put out the fire devouring the First Baptist Church.

The church ended up being a dead loss.

It’s a shame, Eve thought. It had been a beautiful old building, in addition to being the first church built in Oak Bend, Mississippi. That had been part of the problem. All of that old wood had burned like an arsonist’s wet dream when the flames began to lick at it.

The fire chief was certain it was arson. The fire investigator had been called and an official report filed.

Eve was of the firm opinion that anyone who burned a church earned a straight ticket to hell.

She sighed into her midnight-blue comforter when she heard the bedroom door open. Go away, she ordered.

Get up and take a shower, her brother countered. I just washed those sheets yesterday. If you get them all smelly, you’ll be washing them yourself.

Nag, nag, nag, Eve muttered, but she wiggled backward until her booted feet hit the floor. She pushed herself into a standing position.

And don’t give me that intimidating cop glare, Jamie continued. You know it doesn’t work on me.

I’m going to club you with my baton, she half-heartedly threatened.

Oh, police violence. He gave a mock shudder. Then who’ll cook your favorite breakfast?

She brightened. French toast?

French toast, Jamie confirmed. I’ll start now. It should be done by the time you’re out of the shower.

Eve sniffed delicately. Yeah, I do smell a little smoky. Thanks, Jamie.

He gave her a warm smile and closed the door behind him.

Eve stripped where she stood, leaving her uniform in a heap on the hardwood floor. She caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror over the bathroom sink and wrinkled her nose. She looked tired and drawn, with ash in her hair and shadows under her eyes.

She shrugged and stepped under the spray of the jets, the heated water beating against her back. As fatigue rolled off her in waves, she reached for the shampoo and lathered her hair twice. After soaping her body and watching until all the suds washed down the drain, she turned off the water and reached for her towel.

Minutes later, she strolled into the kitchen wearing her favorite, ratty pink robe, her shoulder-length hair bundled into a damp knot on top of her head. She sat as Jamie slid a plate piled with French toast in front of her.

She dived in. Thanks, she managed.

It’s too bad about the church, Jamie said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Were you out there most of the night?

When Eve nodded, he continued, You could see the smoke all over town. I went over for a while, stood behind the barricade and watched. It’s a terrible thing, but the way the flames danced in the sky was kind of majestic. Made me want to paint it.

Eve chewed and swallowed. I can see that, she replied after a moment. Chief Irby says it’s arson.

Jamie’s eyes, the same melted-chocolate shade as Eve’s, widened. Who in God’s name would burn a church?

Beats me, but I’m sure we’ll find out. Detective Ayers is a member of First Baptist.

What are you going to do today? Jamie changed the subject.

I’ll go to the store if you’ll leave a list. I’ll even cook, since I’m off tonight.

Deal. I wrote out a list earlier. It’s on the counter. There are some towels in the dryer if you feel like folding them. Don’t go into my studio, he warned. I’ve got a surprise in there for you.

A birthday surprise? When his eyes narrowed, Eve grinned. I wouldn’t dream of spoiling a birthday surprise.

Jamie grinned back. I double locked the door, he told her. He ran his long, artistic fingers through his sable hair—also the same shade as Eve’s—and chuckled when she scowled.

Go on before you’re late, she told him and watched with fond amusement as he grabbed his lunch, waved goodbye, and stepped out of the house.

She listened as his motorcycle roared to life and left the driveway. She ate the rest of her French toast in silence before lying down for a quick nap.

divide

EVE GRIMACED AS SHE carried in the last of the bags. She kicked the kitchen door shut behind her and willed the AC to kick back on.

Hauling in groceries on an August afternoon in Mississippi was hot work.

She put away the food and decided to cook spaghetti and meatballs, a personal favorite. She would even bake a chocolate cake for Jamie.

Eve began puttering around the house, doing mindless chores and cleaning as she counted down time. She smiled as she folded towels and carried an armful of them