Sunset Shore

Reluctantly, he released her hand and took a step back. “There was a mention of questionable chemicals in your house. Is that what instigated the call earlier?”

“No. I burned my bacon.” Hallie pointed to a blackened baking pan that held charred lumps of what had surely been delicious smoked meat before it had been incinerated. “It set off the fire alarm. I assume the noise carried next door.”

Sloan leaned toward her and whispered. “She might have the place bugged for all we know.”

Hallie’s eyes widened in surprise, then she grinned, catching on to the fact that he was joking. “Then I’ll be sure to say things destined to excite her ears.”

Sloan chuckled, pleased the woman was taking the interruptions to her vacation in stride. In the past, some of the cottage renters had gotten so irate with Mrs. Klootz and her shenanigans, they’d screamed threats at her over the fence. Twice, the police had gotten involved that Sloan was aware of. He thought the old woman would eventually realize her prying tendencies were going to either land her in deep trouble or alienate her, but she didn’t seem to care.

“Come inside. I’ll show you my dangerous chemicals that could level a whole city block,” Hallie said in a loud voice as she looked right at Mrs. Klootz as she peeked over the top of her fence.

Sloan followed Hallie inside and over to the dining table where she had two jars of chemicals amid a pile of art supplies. He read the labels on the jars. Neither was flammable or particularly dangerous. Heated to extreme temperatures, the potassium ferricyanide could release a cyanide gas, but that was unlikely under normal circumstances.

He set both jars on the table and silently questioned why Brian and Keifer felt the need to send him on what was surely a fool’s errand. Hallie was no more preparing to cook drugs than he was.

Sloan thought about making Brian and Keifer scrub the firehouse from top to bottom when he returned, but a new thought occurred to him.

The two smart alecks had done him a favor.

Hallie was a beautiful, delightful woman with a great sense of humor, and a sharp mind. Their paths might never have crossed if those two wannabe matchmakers hadn’t suggested he check out her chemical supplies.