Page 32 of Buried Secrets

“Like I gargled broken glass,” Kaitlin replied, barely above a whisper. She gestured at the coffee. “Is there enough for two?”

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “That’s the plan. Sit down before you fall down.”

She sank into one of the kitchen chairs. “Amy?”

“Went home to shower and change. She’ll be back with breakfast.” He placed a steaming mug in front of her. “Kelsey said warm liquids would help your throat.”

“Thanks.” She wrapped her hands around the mug to absorb its warmth. “For the coffee. And for staying.”

Matt leaned against the counter. The morning light caught the angles of his face and softened them somehow. “Just doing my job.”

“Is babysitting duty part of the sheriff’s standard protocol?” she teased.

Something shifted in his face, another crack in his professional veneer. “Not exactly.” He took a sip of his coffee, studying her over the rim of his mug. “You gave us all a scare last night. Putting yourself at risk the way you did. You could have been killed.”

“Sorry about that.” Kaitlin stared down at her coffee, unexpectedly moved by the concern in his voice. “It was just… I couldn’t let the fire…”

“You risked your life for paper.”

“Not just paper,” she corrected, looking up to meet his gaze. “History. Evidence. Truth.”

Matt grew thoughtful. “Still, next time? And hopefully there won’t be a next time. Call for help and wait outside.”

“I know,” she said, but the smile she attempted turned into a grimace as pain shot through her throat.

Matt was immediately at her side with a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Take it easy. Doctor’s orders, remember? Minimal talking.”

The warmth of his palm seeped through the thin fabric of her robe, and Kaitlin found herself comforted by the solid strength of him.

“The records,” she whispered, unable to keep the question at bay any longer. “How bad is it?”

His hand remained on her shoulder as he sat in the chair beside her. “Some damage, but not as much as it could have been. Thanks to you.” He held her gaze, serious and intent. “We were lucky. You were lucky.”

“I saw who did it,” she said, her voice fading with the effort.

“I know. We’ll talk about that more when you’re stronger.” His thumb moved in a small, unconscious circle where it lay on her shoulder. “Right now, you need to rest.”

The gesture was so casual, so naturally comforting that it felt like they’d crossed some invisible boundary. The wariness that had characterized their earlier interactions was gone.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked, the question slipping out before she could stop it. “I thought you didn’t trust me.”

Matt’s hand stilled on her shoulder, but he didn’t pull away. “Running in into a burning building to save someone else’s property makes you either very brave or very foolish.” His lips quirked into a half smile.

Despite the pain in her throat, Kaitlin laughed. It was a small, rasping sound. “Maybe I’m just a very committed arsonist. Set the fire, then heroically put it out.”

“If that was your plan, the smoke inhalation seems like an unnecessary commitment to the role.” His eyes crinkled at the corners, and Kaitlin realized with a start that she’d never seen him truly smile before. The effect was… disconcerting.

The moment stretched between them. When Matt’s hand finally slipped from her shoulder, the ghost of his touch lingered.

“Drink your coffee,” he said, rising to retrieve the pot. “Doctor’s orders.”

As he refilled their mugs, Kaitlin found herself watching the way he moved. The rigid sheriff who’d regarded her with suspicion from day one had been replaced by this approachable man who’d made coffee in her kitchen at dawn.

Through the kitchen window, the wind had calmed, and morning sun glinted off the distant water. The mansion stood silhouetted against the brightening sky, its weathered stones pink-tinged in the early light. It no longer seemed menacing, but now slightly wounded.

“What happens now?” Kaitlin whispered over the rim of her mug.

Matt followed her gaze toward the mansion. “We keep digging. But not until you’re better.” He turned back to her, his expression suddenly serious. “Whoever did this knows we’re getting close to something they want to keep buried. And they’re willing to go to extreme lengths to make sure it stays that way.”