Forever Hers by Walters, Ednah (new ebook reader .TXT) 📗

and removed a yellow sticky note with a number scribbled on it.

“How did he pay for the repairs?” Eddie asked.

“With cash.”

Eddie removed his cell phone. “Give me a number I can use to reach you.” As Randal recited the numbers, Eddie punched them in then added Randal’s name to his contacts list. “I’ll call you sometime this afternoon with instructions, but for now, don’t talk to anyone about this. Not your wife, girlfriend or parents. You are officially part of this sting operation.”

Randal swallowed nervously. “Yes, sir.”

“Good.” Eddie turned to find Amy staring at him with a weird expression. She shook her head and continued with Raelynn toward her car. He finished issuing instructions to the cowering man. “If he calls you again, call me. Are you good with numbers, Randal?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then memorize mine. Do not write it down or put it on your phone.” Eddie recited the ten digits and then turned to leave.

“What’s your name, sir?” Randal asked. “I mean, I don’t know what to call you.”

“Detective Fitzgerald.”

Eddie punched in the numbers written on the sticky note and brought the phone to his ear as he walked toward Amy. Raelynn was back in the car, the engine running and the window rolled down. An automated voice answered. Cursing softly under his breath, he snapped his phone in its holder and crunched the piece of paper.

“The number was no longer in service,” Amy said, watching him warily.

“How do you know?”

“Because using a pre-paid phone is something he would do. Also, the description Randal gave us is not…” she glanced at Raelynn and lowered her voice to add, “Nolan’s. It’s someone else.”

“Exactly how many people are after you and why? Are you a fugitive? Is this a custody battle thing?”

She shot him a withering look. “None of your business. Did you have to scare that poor guy back there like that?”

“Should I have given him a pat on the back? He had to understand what he did was wrong.”

“You didn’t have to sound like some prosecutor out to get him.”

She was feeling sorry for that idiot who had enabled her stalker? Unbelievable. “Come on. Let’s head back to the lake house.”

“Wait.” She grabbed his arm and sighed. “I’m sorry I lit into you earlier. I thought you’d paid for the repairs and saw red.”

He studied her pretty face. Once again, he wondered if she was a fugitive and who, other than the husband, was after her. Would he be willing to protect her and Raelynn if she was a criminal when he’d sworn to uphold the law? When she smiled, it was as though she’d reached inside his chest and grasped his heart, and that was the deciding moment. He would do whatever was necessary to help her. Testify on her behalf if this was a custody thing. Trap her asshole of an ex if he was stalking her. Serving and protecting just became personal.

“You are not used to depending on people,” he said.

“They have a tendency to disappoint.”

She looked away but not before he saw the pain in her eyes. Someone had let her down. He tilted her chin and looked into her haunted eyes.

“Talk to me.”

The haunted look disappeared and a twinkle entered her eyes. “Fitzgerald—”

“Don’t be flippant, Amy. I mean it. You can tell me anything. I promise I’ll never disappoint you.”

A smile curled her lips. “I know. I’m depending on you to teach me how to kick some serious butt.”

She was retreating behind flippancy again. “Share with me the details of this case and I’ll put Nolan behind bars if he’s guilty.”

“Oh, he is guilty, Mr. Prosecutor. Proving it is a different matter.”

“I am not a prosecutor or a lawyer.”

“You sound like one.”

Eddie frowned. “I’m a cop, a detective with the L.A.P.D.”

Her smile disappeared. She shook her head. “No. You can’t be.”

He scowled. “I am.”

She kept shaking her head, the haunted look he hated returning in her eyes.

“Is my being a cop a problem?”

She swallowed and continued to stare at him. “Yes, it is. I don’t deal with cops. I don’t like them and I sure as hell can’t afford to trust one. I just can’t.”

Eddie watched her march around her car, get in the driver’s seat and banged the door with so much force the windows rattled. He jumped out of the way when she took off with squealing wheels, nearly hitting him.

What the hell? Eddie jumped in his SUV and took off after her. He prided himself on keeping his cool under most circumstances, but Amy Kincaid had a knack of yanking his chain. He put scum bags behind bars, damn it. He was one of the good guys. She was acting as though he was the devil’s spawn.

This was why he avoided emotional women. They were rash with their judgment and illogical when you least expect it. Once she calmed down, she’d appreciate his offer. Despite his pep talk, he kept seeing the revulsion that had crossed her face. His anger grew.

To keep his mind off her, he speed-dialed Ron Noble’s number. Ron was the heir to Neumann Security, a high-tech company that manufactured surveillance gadgets and provided security to casinos and hotels along the west coast.

The phone was picked up after two rings. “Hey, detective. This is a surprise.”

“Can you talk?”

“Just a second,” he said then Eddie heard him talk to someone in the background, “It’s Eddie. What? I can’t ask him that.” Noble laughed then added, “Whoa, sweetheart, easy with daddy’s tablet…” More background unintelligible exchange then, “okay, I can talk now. What’s going on?”

“How’s the family?” Ron was married to Eddie’s cousin Ashley.

“Ella is officially a chess protégée and Ash thinks our son is going to be a football player.”

Ash was expecting baby number two. “That would be great. We don’t have one in the family.”

“She wants to know how the courting of the lovely housekeeper is going and if you need help.”

Eddie ground his teeth. Having a big family was a curse. “I’m not courting anyone.”

“Not according to the