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

apron loosely around her waist and headed for the dining room with a rag. She began her work, ignoring Beckett, who was standing near the wide side windows that looked out toward the hot springs. That reminded her of another thing she had to do before she could call it a night: lock the gates that led to the spring to discourage trespassers. There was never a single moment when the to-do list was finished, and most of the time she didn’t mind. Right now, every limb screamed for a nap. She’d whisked two tabletops clean before Beckett found his voice.

“Can you…? I mean…will you sit with me? For a minute?”

She knew him well enough to realize he would not leave until he’d said his piece. Best to get it over with. Her slight nod must have been enough encouragement because he went to “their” table, the old rickety round one in the corner next to a spindly ficus. Nicks and dents marred the surface, but it was the spot where so many precious conversations had taken place, where their friendship had morphed into a love that would last, or so she’d thought.

The ancient rotary phone on the wall rang. It had been such a long time since anyone called the old thing. Most people went through their website for information and booking.

“Hotsprings Hotel,” she said, feigning a cheerfulness she did not feel. There was no reply. “Hello? Is anyone there?”

There was still no answer, but she thought she caught the faintest sound of a presence on the other end of the line. When no one spoke, she hung up.

“Who was that?” Beckett said, standing while she joined him at the table.

“Wrong number, I guess. No one was there.”

His brow furrowed as she took a seat opposite him and hoisted Admiral onto her lap. The dog sported his fall bandanna, decorated with pumpkins. “You are a handsome doggy,” she told him as she stroked his head.

“He looks like he’s doing well.”

She kept her eyes on the dog. “His heart isn’t strong, Doc Parson says, but I take good care of him.”

“I don’t doubt that for a second. I remember you staying up with him all night long when he got the doggy flu.”

She kissed Admiral and fondled his ears. Beckett watched her, silent until she could stand it no longer. “What do you need to tell me?”

He darted a look around, but there were no patrons occupying the space.

Admiral looked up as Jude entered.

Laney beckoned him over, and he pulled up a chair.

“Snake’s been removed. Animal control will release it in the canyon.”

“Thank you. Beckett was just going to tell me why he’s here. You might as well hear it too.”

Beckett flashed Jude an irritated look. He had probably hoped for a few moments alone with her, but it was the opposite of what she wanted. The only way around Beckett’s determination was to hear him out and send him on his way. Unless he’d decided to keep sole ownership of the hotel after all. The prickle of panic fluttered her nerves.

If that happened, she’d find another way to support herself. She’d never been afraid of hard work.

Beckett cleared his throat. “Pauline Sanderson’s brother Kenny had his buddies deliver a message to me in jail.”

Jude arched an eyebrow. “That why your face is busted up?”

“Yeah.” He sucked in a breath and let it out. “He’s threatened to kill me for what he thinks I did to his sister.”

Her mouth fell open. “He arranged to have you beaten up in jail? He got away with that?”

“That’s not the point. If he comes after me, I’ll handle it.” He shifted. “He’s threatened to kill you too, Laney.”

Her stomach flip-flopped. “And that’s why you came back? To tell me?”

He nodded.

She didn’t know what she’d expected him to say, but that wasn’t it. The murder, his jail time and all that had happened since then, the divorce papers and now some other threat. All of a sudden, she was desperate to get away from it all. “All right. Thank you for letting me know. I need to go lie down.” She rose.

“You don’t understand,” he blurted, reaching for her hand. His fingers were warm and calloused, but his touch felt strange, as if her skin did not recognize the feel of him anymore. “It’s serious. This guy is dangerous. The snake, the phone-call hang up… It could be him. You have to listen to me.”

“No, I don’t.” She hated the quiver in her own voice. “I listened to you once.”

His gaze flickered. “Please,” he said, low and soft.

Now her stomach was in full-on rebellion. She breathed through her nose, fighting for calm. To her dismay, Jude gestured for her to stay. Cradling Admiral, she once more perched uneasily in the chair.

“Kenny Sanderson is a bad dude, no question. We looked at him as a possible suspect after Pauline was murdered,” Jude said.

Beckett cocked his head. “Thought you closed the case when you decided I’d done it.”

Jude ignored the gibe. “Like I said, we investigated. Kenny was out on parole for assault at the time Pauline was killed, and he was wearing an ankle bracelet, so he had an alibi. They apparently had a close relationship, so we concluded we were barking up the wrong tree. And, of course, we had a suspect with Pauline’s bloody sweater in his car.”

Beckett’s mouth was bracketed by deep lines. He looked more exhausted than she was. “Do you know where Kenny is now?”

Jude got up. “I’ll make a phone call. Be right back.”

Laney did not want to sit at the table with Beckett staring at her, so she excused herself to the kitchen and drank some water. Patting her neck with a moistened towel restored her somewhat. Beckett had to be wrong about Kenny Sanderson targeting her. She’d had nothing to do with his sister’s murder. She saw on her cell phone that she’d missed a call. That would just have to wait until she’d managed to convince