Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 by Karen Whiddon (interesting books to read for teens TXT) 📕

Tension practically crackled over their connection, unusual for the Colton siblings. Recrimination flooded his gut. “Hey, sis, I’m sorry. You’re in a crappy mess right now and the last thing you need is any pressure from me. I’m sure I’ll be in there with you later in the day. Dominique’s far from finished with her long line of interview subjects.”

“Look, Stanton. I’m trying to get Dominique another interview with the lab assistant who was fired as the other one didn’t give her anything, thanks to Internal Affairs. I know why they’re not willing to budge, but I’m hoping to get approval for Bonnie to open up to her.”

“Let me guess, you have some leverage?” He knew Dominique was stymied by the lack of transparency and he saw her point, and also felt for his sister’s position.

Melissa’s pained grunt told him all he needed to know. “I’m trying, Stanton, believe me. And I meant what I said to you both yesterday. The sooner we get to the bottom of this the better for all of Grave Gulch, but especially Dominique. I’m open to anything she needs, anyone she wants to interview, to complete her story.”

“I know.” He wished Melissa would just throw down a gauntlet and say that Dominique couldn’t come back to GGPD or interview any officers or employees until they had Jimenez in custody. But he couldn’t ask her to do that, and she wouldn’t. Melissa’s remonstration over his trying to convince Dominique this story wasn’t worth her life proved it.

“I’ll see you both later, then? How’s it going by the way, out at the lake house?”

“Ah, fine. It’s nice to have the place to ourselves.”

“How ‘nice’ are we talking?” Uh-oh. The elder sister that he was never able to get anything past was on the line.

“We’ll see you later, Melissa.” Before he hit the red “end call” button, he heard his sister’s laughter. At least he’d managed to lighten her mood.

* * *

Dominique was happy to let Stanton drive them back to town as it allowed her time on her laptop to summarize what she’d learned yesterday and highlight the answers she still sought. The real bonus was not having to look Stanton in the eye. The things they’d done last night!

No. She made herself sit taller in the passenger seat. She was not going to be embarrassed about expressing her sexuality with Stanton or any other man. Not that there’d been another since him. She’d tried to date here and there but had never gotten past the first meetup. Her heart had never let go of Stanton.

“Thanks for agreeing to take me to my office first.” She owed him that much.

“I don’t want to, and as your expert guard I’d advise against it. But I know you well enough to understand your need to get into the Gazette and see your colleagues face-to-face.”

“It’s more than that. I need to verify some of my sources, and it’s best to do it on-site, with all of the tools we have.” She also needed to back up the files she’d accumulated so far. It didn’t do to trust the cloud when such a powerful cartel was the subject of an exposé. “You can work on Colton Protection stuff in the lounge. You always enjoyed it there before.” As soon as she referred to their time together, she wanted to bite her tongue. Stanton had been the perfect gentleman this morning, not teasing her at all about last night. It wasn’t like him. He used to love to make her blush, and she was an easy target for his gentle flirting, no matter how much she enjoyed their sex life.

“As long as I have you in my line of sight, I’m cool with it.”

“You can’t have a straight view of me if I’m in my office.” Why did he have to be so unreasonable? Her spaces were safe.

“Then either I work in your office with you, or you enjoy the lounge with me.”

The answer was made up for her because immediately upon passing through the building and then the Gazette’s second layer of security, Dominique was thronged by her colleagues. High fives, congratulatory greetings and smiles contributed to a festive atmosphere. All were excited over the scoop she’d obtained regarding the Randall Bowe sighting in the park. Stanton took a seat at a small workstation and fired up his laptop.

When the exuberance died down and the other journalists went back to work, Stanton was still on his laptop, looking up to ascertain her presence on a regular basis. Warmth and regret mingled in her center, her affection for him making the reality that they could never be a couple again all the more poignant. He must have sensed her consideration as he looked up from his screen and his brows rose in query.

“I’ll work out here with you. Most of the people I need to talk to will be stopping by to grab a cup of coffee, anyway.” She plopped down in the workstation across from his, careful to give him lots of space. Thankfully he’d taken a single spot without an extra chair, so it didn’t seem odd that she sat at a different table. The last thing she needed was an accidental brush of her thigh against his, or any other body contact. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the mental images of last night away. They were a treasure she could unlock and examine again when she was alone, after Jimenez was caught. When she no longer required a bodyguard, and Stanton was once again out of her life.

The thought was so sad that she opened her eyes and got right to work. Whatever it took to keep from wondering why it was so painful, when she’d been the one to walk away in the first place.

* * *

Stanton’s phone lit up with a text from Melissa.

Have Dominique stop by GGPD. I’ve cleared the interview with the lab assistant.

His first impulse was to fire back, Why