Firefly Mountain Read Online Free PDF Page A

froze. “Please?” she asked.
    “I. Don’t. Do. Pictures. End of story, Blondie.” He peeled her hand off his arm and turned back to the truck. “You’ve got enough willing guinea pigs for your little project. Leave me alone.”
    ****
    Patrick could actually hear her mouth drop open though he didn’t turn around to see. Instead, he squeezed his eyes shut and sent a silent prayer of forgiveness to whoever might be listening. Not that he believed anyone answered prayers. Not his anyway.
    He hated pulling out the bad guy, but he’d do it to keep her off his back. Had to.
    He waited for Gini to walk away, but she didn’t. Just stood there behind him instead. Only when someone shouted, “Fire!” did Patrick turn around. Gini’s face was white, all the healthy blush in her cheeks drained away.
    When Patrick saw one of the bushes lining the walkway to the fire station burning furiously, he ran past Gini to help extinguish the blaze. Once the flames were doused, blackened twigs were all that remained of the shrub.
    Patrick looked up to see Jonah guiding Gini toward a black SUV parked at the curb. Her beautiful legs wobbled as Jonah appeared to be supporting most of her weight. He was murmuring something to his sister when he settled her into the passenger seat. Jonah hopped into the driver’s seat and sped away.
    “Know anything about landscaping, Barre?” Chief Warner tugged Patrick back toward the bush.
    “Yeah,” Patrick said. “I know bushes don’t burst into flames all on their own.”
    “Around here, kid, sometimes they do. Go with Chuck, pick out another bush, and replace this one.”
    Patrick bit back the dozens of questions circling his mind. Somebody had a secret here. He knew something about secrets.

Chapter Four
    “He made me so mad.” Gini brushed the hair out of her face as she gazed out the car window.
    “I know.” Jonah’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I’m sorry, Gini.”
    “Not your fault, Jonah.” Gini touched a hand to her brother’s elbow.
    Jonah shook his head. “No. I should have tested Patrick out better. He seemed so nice. Easy going. I should have made sure before introducing him to you.”
    “You can’t screen everyone. Besides, I’m the older sister, remember? I’m supposed to take care of you.”
    “And you do. We take care of each other.” Jonah sent her a quick glance and a smile.
    He was right. Her entire family took care of each other as if it were the only job they had. Family came first. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her parents or Jonah. They had done so much for her through the years. Tried to understand her situation. Kept her calm and happy. Put her back together when things went to Hell. Lied to keep the curious from discovering what she was capable of.
    Gini counted the handful of small shops lining Pinecrest Avenue. One bookstore, charmingly cozy. One café, sandwiches and salads. One flower shop, lilies in full bloom. One hardware store, nuts and bolts. One bakery, her mother’s pride and joy.
    Gradually, Gini settled her stirring emotions. Seriously, what had Patrick done that was so bad? He didn’t want his picture taken. That was fair. He had a right to refuse. But why did he refuse? And why was he such a jerk about it? Did he actually call her Blondie ?
    Her stomach burned as the tone in Patrick’s voice echoed in her head. She went back to counting shops as Jonah turned her SUV onto Maple Grove Court. Now she counted houses, and with each exhale, she released the anger. Let it seep out of her and vanish into the atmosphere. By the time they pulled onto her parents’ driveway, she was centered again.
    “I have to get back to the station,” Jonah said, “but you shouldn’t be alone or go to work yet.”
    Gini cupped her brother’s cheek. “Once again, you have come to my rescue. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jonah.”
    “Me neither. You’re such a handful.” Jonah jutted his cheek toward her and