Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Dana Mentink (good fiction books to read .txt) 📕

“Grab my laptop. I’m already logged into our database. Can you search for his name?”

“You think he might be involved?”

“Not saying that, but I need to be sure.”

She snatched the device from the back seat, opened it and started typing.

They waited.

A ding sounded on his laptop. “What does it say?”

“Oh, my. Donald E. Crawford. Arrested five years ago for assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping of a child.”

Bingo.

“What else?”

“Lawyer got him off on a technicality. Acquitted of all charges after his wife testified on his behalf. Says here she provided an alibi for the date in question.”

Layke swerved around a fallen branch. “What happened to the child who was kidnapped?”

She glanced back to the screen. “Says here the child was never found and no one was convicted. That poor family.” She closed the laptop. “Wait! I remember that case. I had just moved here. It was all over the news.”

“What happened?”

“The child’s mother committed suicide a year later. Her agony over the loss of her child was too much for her. Her husband moved away.”

He clenched his jaw. He hated to hear heartbreaking news like that. Where was God in this situation?

“Do you really think Mr. Crawford would kidnap his own son?” Hannah asked.

“I hope not, but interesting he was charged for it in a prior case. We need to look into him further.”

His stomach growled. He glanced at the time on the dashboard. No wonder. They hadn’t eaten in hours. “Change of subject. Is there a coffee shop where we can grab some java and a muffin or something? We still have time before the scheduled drop.”

“There’s a coffee shop not far from here. Take your next right.”

Ten minutes later, they waited in the long drive-through line. “Is it always this busy?”

“Yup. It’s known for their amazing coffee beans and apple fritters. Trust me?”

Did he? He barely knew her, but something deep in his soul wanted to.

The beautiful redhead’s smile enticed him. And those eyes…

Well, they lured him in and he could get lost in their ocean of blue.

He cleared his foggy mind from her magnetic embrace. Remember the last redhead you let into your life. “Sure.” Really, what did he have to lose? Other than his heart.

He let out a long breath and rested his head as they waited in the line. His shoulders lowered as he felt himself relax for the first time in forty-eight hours.

“Good, you’re relaxing.”

Was it that obvious? “I’ve been so wound lately.”

“You mean before coming to the Yukon? Why?”

He stared into her eyes, trying to decide whether or not he could trust her with his secret.

She placed her hand over his. “You can trust me and I don’t bite.”

Wow. She was good at her job of reading people. But could he really share something he hadn’t even told his best friend, Hudson? Even though they’d only met, they had been thrust into a perilous situation. People got close fast when danger happened.

No, he wasn’t ready. He pulled his hand away.

Disappointment shone in her expression, kicking him in the gut. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. “It’s a long story. Sorry.”

“And we just met. I get it.”

He pulled out his cell phone. “Let’s call and check on Gabe. It’s probably time for him to go to bed.” Besides, he had to change the subject. He punched in Murray’s number, put it on speaker and set it on the console in the middle of the Jeep. His half brother answered on the second ring.

“Hey, man. How’s everything going there with Gabe?”

“Great. We’re sitting on his bed reading him a story right now.”

“Mr. Layke, is that you?” Gabe’s cheerful voice sailed through the cell phone.

“Yes. I’m here with Miss Hannah. We wanted to say good-night.”

“I miss you. When are you coming back?”

“Soon, sport.” He hoped.

“We’ll help you build a snowman tomorrow,” Hannah said. “Sound good?”

“Yay! I wanna hear the end of your story, Mr. Layke. Please.”

He smirked. “Sure. Where was I?”

“The knight killed the dragon.”

“Right.” Layke paused, pondering an ending for his tale. “Marian ran from her hiding place and hugged Richard. ‘You saved me,’ she said.” Layke once again changed his voice into a woman’s. “Richard helped Marian onto Shadowfax and galloped back to the kingdom.”

“Did she marry him or did that mean Knight Arthur steal her?” Gabe asked.

“I was getting to that part,” Layke said. “She confessed her hidden love for Richard and asked her father to let them marry.”

“Yes!” Gabe yelled.

“They lived happily ever after like all the fairy tales.”

Hannah drummed on the dashboard. “Well, did they kiss?”

Layke’s face flushed. Why did the simple question embarrass him? Was it because the thought of kissing Hannah captured his attention? He stared at her pink lips.

She cleared her throat and looked down, fumbling with her parka zipper.

“Well?” Gabe’s excited voice brought him back to story land.

“Of course they did. Richard pulled Marian into a long hug and kissed her. The end.”

Clapping, along with Murray’s laughter, exploded through the cell phone. “Time for bed, Gabe. Say good-night to Hannah and Layke.”

“Night, Mr. Layke. Thanks for the story. Night, Miss Hannah. I love you.”

A saddened expression flitted across her face so fast he almost missed it. What about Gabe’s affections grieved her?

Her lips curved into a smile. “Love you, too. Night, bud. Sweet dreams.”

Her tone conveyed a mother’s love. Layke flinched. His growing feelings for this woman had to be squelched. He could never give a wife a child. Not after his painful childhood. He would not take that chance.

Layke, you’re not your mother.

He raked his fingers through his hair as he fought with himself. He’d gone for counseling to get rid of the anger from his past, but sometimes it consumed his thoughts. He vowed to never let it get the best of him. So far, he had succeeded.

“Night. I want you to be my mommy,” Gabe whispered.

Hannah pressed her eyes shut but not before he caught them moisten. Grief once again etched lines on her face. Something about this boy brought her sadness. What?

“Stay