Love Inspired Suspense April 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Laura Scott (free e reader .TXT) 📕

out. He wore black. He was as big as you. As for the voice, it was low and growly. Things happened so fast, if I heard it again I don’t know if I’d recognize it.”

Six foot one wasn’t exactly unusually tall. That could be the build of a lot of men.

“Sorry I can’t be of more help.” She rubbed her neck, her fingers massaging over the small red splotches the attacker’s fingers had left behind. Colt’s blood burned hot.

“You raised valid points and insightful conjecture in your podcast, which we can discuss further, but right now we need to call the sheriff and reopen Jared’s case now that we have a path to track down.” Colt might not be able to finish up the investigation if it stretched past six weeks, but the investigators in his unit and whoever they hired for unit chief to replace him would be more than capable of seeing it through.

Georgia slicked her hair back, but it immediately fell into her eyes. “I’m going to make some tea. Do you want a cup?”

“No, thanks, but I can make it for you.” She ran her hands up and down her thighs, and her breathing was uneven. She might be talking a levelheaded game, but she was rattled. “I can talk to the sheriff and make tea at the same time. I call it multitasking.”

She graced him with a tight-lipped smile.

“Sit here and get your bearings.” He headed for the kitchen. “Point me to the tea bags and I’m gold from there.”

“Thanks, Colt. By the way, our sheriff is Susan’s older brother, Buck.”

Colt cocked his head. “Didn’t he used to faint at the sight of blood?”

“Still does to my knowledge.” She found herself snickering and pointed to the cabinet above the microwave. The tricolor pooch followed at his feet as he called Buck and worked on filling up a teakettle that had been sitting on the stove.

He hung up with Buck. “He’ll be out for questioning.”

“I figured.”

Colt dropped a tea bag into the boiling water, and immediately hints of something flowery and spicy filled the kitchen. “I need to see the information you referenced in your podcast—the evidence the attacker wanted. I also need to know how you obtained it. No giving me confidential information garbage.”

He brought her the cup, and she thanked him again then wrapped her hands around the steaming mug. “It’s at the Gazette. In a locked drawer, and it’s notes, really. Ideas. The beginning of an investigation and a possible two-part podcast.”

His frustration released in a pent-up breath. “That’s not how you put it last night.”

“It’s a podcast. I’m allowed to embellish, Colt.” She sipped her tea.

“You embellished a killer right to your front door. Well done,” he smarted off and picked up his cell phone. “I have to call my unit. I don’t suppose you’ll allow me get you out of town while we investigate.”

She avoided eye contact. “Negative.”

He huffed and made the calls, then pocketed his phone. “Now isn’t the time to be stubborn. You’re not being weak by getting out of dodge to a safe house or somewhere more public. You’re a target out here.”

Georgia pinched the bridge of her nose. “It’s not about being stubborn. Well, part of it might be. I owe it to Dandy.”

“Why do you owe it to Dandy? Is she your informant?”

“No. She died four months ago. I found her notes.” He listened as she explained how Dandy died and what was in the notes and where Georgia wanted to take the investigation. She was passionate, and he commended her for wanting to finish a deceased colleague’s work. It was noble and there was merit to it. “She would have done it for me, Colton. I know it.”

Colt would rather get her out of town until everything blew over, but she wasn’t going to let him and he wasn’t sure they had the budget to keep her up in a safe house if this thing dragged on too long. And it was possible. “Fine. But first thing in the morning, I want to see those notes, and we gotta figure out how to keep you safe 24/7. One of those names you tossed out may have been your attacker.”

She dipped her chin in a grateful nod. “I’m sorry to be such a burden.”

Georgia had nearly died tonight. They might not be a couple in love anymore, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t always care about her and want the best for her. She’d been his first and only love. Fond memories tempered his frustration at not being able to get her somewhere safer. “Don’t worry. It’s my job.”

And whatever it cost, he’d make sure he kept her safe.

TWO

Georgia awoke dazed and groggy, as if her attack and the reports taken by the sheriff had all been part of a terrible dream.

But it had happened. Colt’s team would arrive later today, and they’d begin their investigation.

Now she smelled coffee and bacon.

Where were the dogs? She swung her legs over the bed and rubbed her eyes, then padded to her bathroom, washed her face, brushed her teeth and combed her hair. She moseyed into the living room, still wearing the sweatpants and sweatshirt she’d fallen asleep in.

Colt loomed over sizzling and popping bacon. Wyatt and Doc lay at his feet with hopes for a meaty morsel. Colt raised the spatula and a guilty grin. “Hope you don’t mind me snooping through your kitchen drawers and making breakfast. I didn’t know how long you’d sleep, and I thought you might wake hungry.”

Mind? Her greatest daydream was a full-time chef who also did the shopping and cleaning. Her stomach rumbled, and the dark-roasted scent drew her farther on to the full coffeepot. No, she did not mind. She smirked and pointed at him. “And this had nothing to do with the fact you might be hungry? Not a single selfish motive at play?” she teased and poured a cup of strong, rich brew. Exactly what she needed.

“Okay, so