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

Dominique blushed under her father’s scrutiny. Stanton felt sorry for Rigo; he was about to find out what came first for his daughter and it wasn’t going to be a birthday party.

“I do have to go in tonight, briefly.” She shot a look at Stanton to see if he was going to rat her out. He stayed quiet, wondering how she could justify blowing off her father’s celebration. “But not until later. I’m here until the cake is served, Daddy.” She walked over to Rigo and gave him a hug. “Nothing’s more important than family.”

Stanton watched in dumbfounded silence. Where was the Dominique who’d stormed out of his apartment after he’d begged her to stay and start a family with him? Realization dawned and it wasn’t welcome. One thing being in security taught him was that denial never kept anybody safe, including him. It was time he admitted the real reason he and Dominique hadn’t worked out, despite their incredible chemistry and solid friendship.

It wasn’t that Dominique didn’t want to settle down; she just didn’t want to do it with him.

* * *

“You didn’t have any cake.” Dominique chided him as they left the house. The cold sting of the early spring night cut through his coat and he shoved black leather driving gloves on.

“Sugar messes with my senses.” Not unlike Dominique, but he wasn’t having sweet thoughts about her at the moment. And he was telling the truth. He had a terrific sweet tooth and didn’t know when to stop when he started. So he mostly didn’t start.

“Fair enough. I have to say, though, that it was the best chocolate cake Soledad’s ever made. She’s finally gotten the cocoa proportions down to a science. It took her since she opened the bakery, and she wouldn’t sell chocolate cake there until she got it right.” Her admiration for her twin was evident. Like a hot knife searing his gut, right through to his heart.

She didn’t want a family with you. Why hadn’t he figured this out, seen this, before?

“Stanton, what’s wrong? You don’t agree with me going into the Gazette this late?”

“You’re going to do whatever you have to for your story. You always have.”

“Ouch. That sounds personal.”

“Nothing personal going on here. I’m protecting you and you’re choosing to engage in risky behavior.”

She stopped in front of the passenger door and faced him. Their breath hung in heavy clouds between them, and he saw her shiver. Dang his arms for wanting to hug her to him, warm her up. His job was to keep her alive, not make her comfortable.

“Something’s been bothering you since before Dad blew out his birthday candles. What is it?”

“It’s occurred to me that I’ve read you wrong all along.” He couldn’t stop his harsh words if he wanted to. “It wasn’t that you didn’t want to settle down or have a family. It was me. I wasn’t the one for you.”

Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped open. He’d struck an honest chord, apparently.

“Stanton, that’s not true in the least. But this isn’t where we’re going to have this conversation. And not now, when we’re both under a lot of pressure.”

“You act as if we’ll have things to talk about after the kingpin is captured, after the threat against you is neutralized.”

“You never know, we might.” Her chin jutted out and her arms were folded across her chest, the way she always held them when he’d angered her.

“I don’t know a lot, but one thing I do know, Dominique. When my contract is up with you, so is our time together.” The momentary relief he felt at jabbing out at her, inflicting her with the hellish pain he was in, was short-lived. The flicker of confusion across her expression morphed into hurt, and then her icy mask was firmly in place.

“Whatever. Let’s go. The sooner I get answers, the more quickly you’ll be free from having to spend your time with me.” She reached for the door handle.

Explosions rent the night air and he acted on instinct, grabbing her and throwing them both to the ground. A sharp pain ran through his shoulder, his arm, but it was muffled by the adrenaline that immediately began pumping through his blood.

“Stay down.”

“Stanton, it’s not—”

“We need to get out of here.” Fear sliced his heart. He’d been so wrapped up in his hurt, feeling her loss over again, that he’d not been paying attention to their surroundings as he should. He eased off her, onto his knees, and reached for her hand to help her.

“Stanton, no.” She sat on the ground, looking up at him. Her hand grasped his. “It’s fireworks. My family always shoots them off for birthdays, remember?”

He stared at her, dumbfounded. Laughter and whoops from the back of the house reached them and mortification rushed over him. An uncomfortable heat crawled up his neck.

“I, ah, yeah, I forgot.” He shouldn’t keep holding her hand, but it was his anchor to reality. He’d allowed himself to be caught in between his feelings for Dominique and the valid fear that she might get hit by Jimenez no matter how well he did his job.

“You okay, Stanton? I’m usually the one who’s wound tight.” They stood up together, and he couldn’t help thinking this was more like her protecting him.

“I’m good. Let’s get you to your office.”

* * *

“I’m going to be stuck here for at least the next few hours. The security guard is on duty, so why don’t you rest in the lounge? There’s a sofa in there.”

“Only if you’ll come in with your laptop and work there.” Did she really think he’d let his guard down? He might have made a fool of himself with her family’s fireworks display, but he wasn’t abdicating his duty. Whether Rigo had paid him or not, this was where he belonged.

Protecting Dominique.

“Fine.” Her sigh let him know she was as tired as he was of the constant tension between them. Making love the other night had eased it for