Free Something Sparked-nook by Mari Carr

clear he felt as though he needed to offer an explanation, even if he didn’t know why.
    She nodded. “Okay.”
    Tyson studied her face a second longer, then he headed to the counter where Macie was holding court.
    Jeannette caught more than a few sideways glances from the patrons in the restaurant. It was sort of unnerving, considering she was invisible most days.
    Diego stood up when she got to the booth, gesturing for her to slide in. Before she could sit down, he grabbed her hand and gave her a quick kiss that had her blushing in record time.
    “Everything okay?” he murmured.
    “Yes,” she whispered back.
    “Then good morning.” He gave her another, longer kiss.
    “You realize Evan has a gun,” she joked when he released her.
    Evan didn’t laugh. “She’s right. I do.”
    They sat down, Jeannette, Luc and Diego grinning, while Evan appeared less than amused.
    “We’re really slammed. I can’t stay long. You didn’t call me out here to yell at me for last night’s date, did you?” she asked Evan.
    Evan tilted his head, his tone dripping in sarcasm. “Yeah, right. That’s what this meeting is about. Because I have complete control of everything my cousins do.”
    She laughed at his sardonic tone. “Good point, but maybe you think you’d have a better chance with me?”
    “I grew up with six girl cousins and a sister. I’m now married with a daughter. If I’ve learned anything in my life, it’s simply this—shut up and nod.”
    Diego and Luc chuckled as Jeannette rolled her eyes.
    “Then why the meeting?”
    Evan reached for a little tub of creamer, adding it to his coffee. “We’ve been sitting here discussing the fires. Diego and Luc told me your thoughts about someone trying to rid the town of eyesores. It could be a good lead, but considering the two people who’ve always bitched the loudest are two of the victims who’ve lost property, I’m struggling for suspects.”
    Jeannette gave him a confused look. “You seriously don’t think it was a game of tit for tat between Roy and Buster? Buster burns down Roy’s shed, so Roy reciprocates?”
    Evan shook his head. “No. I don’t think that’s it. Have you seen Roy lately?”
    “No, but that’s not unusual. Roy keeps to himself. Doesn’t come into the restaurant more than a half-dozen times in any given year.”
    “When I went to talk to him about the fire, he could barely make it to the front door. Cancer,” Evan added.
    “Oh.” Jeannette glanced back at Tyson and Billy sitting at the counter, speaking quietly, somberly. Suddenly she understood the reason behind Tyson’s so-called business meeting. As a doctor, it was likely he was either playing a role in Roy’s treatment or answering questions for Billy. “I didn’t know that. Billy said he and Scott had come home because their uncle was sick, but he didn’t mention cancer or how bad it was.”
    Jeannette would call her Aunt Louise after work. Knowing her aunts, they would want to take over dinner for the family.
    “Can you think of anyone else who bitched about the shack and those outbuildings?” Evan asked. “Considering this is a gathering place and the hub for gossip about all things Maris, I figured you might have heard someone else complaining.”
    Jeannette pondered the question, but couldn’t think of a single person who grumbled louder or more often than the rest. “Not really. I mean, that abandoned shack and Buster’s rundown shed have been discussed from time to time and most people usually hop on the tear-’em-down bandwagon. Hell, Mayor Rock was in here a few weeks ago, promising to do something about them if he was reelected next month, but I wouldn’t say anyone was overly annoyed by their presence.”
    Evan blew out a long breath.
    “You still think it’s a serial arsonist?” she asked.
    Diego rubbed his chin. “Apparently the fire marshal is having trouble proving the fires are all connected.”
    “Really? I mean they have to be, don’t