Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021 by Karen Whiddon (good e books to read txt) 📗

actually said you had a right to be angry, even if you were acting childish.” Connie lifted her eyebrows and a smile played on her ruby-red lips.

“Why do I have a feeling you added the ‘childish’ part?”

She shrugged. “Okay, maybe I did, but your attitude was way out of character in there. I take it that Indie was the prom date that you mentioned the other day.”

“Yeah, but she and I didn’t attend prom together. I’m sorry about my jacked-up behavior back in the office. I was way out of line. She might’ve caught me off guard, but I’ll make it right with her.”

Trace told Connie what had happened between him and Indie. Outside of his family and Maxwell, he had never shared the story with anyone. It hadn’t been one of his favorite moments.

“I looked up to her father without even knowing the man. At the time, he’d been a part owner of a casino and very active at our school. Always showing up for various events, donating computers and tons of other stuff the school needed. I idolized the guy from a distance. He had a powerful presence about him. Always dressed to perfection, drove the sharpest cars, and I liked the way he carried himself—like a boss.

“I did all right academically in school,” he admitted, “and had always been athletic, but I was a little shy.”

“You were shy?” Connie asked, her mouth hanging open.

Trace chuckled. “I know it’s hard to believe, but yeah. I was on the shy side. I was slowly starting to open up toward the end of my junior year. Mainly because the girls were sweating me and boosting my confidence.”

Connie laughed. “I find it hard to believe that you weren’t always confident and maybe a little arrogant.”

Trace shook his head and grinned, but then turned serious. “Indie would always flirt with me, especially once we became seniors. She had hinted around about us attending prom together, but I knew my father didn’t have money for me to go. I hadn’t planned to go, but Indie was the most popular girl in school and her father was the man.

“With her by my side, I felt like the big man on campus, that I could be like him one day. Walking around with my chest stuck out because Indie, every boy’s dream girl, was into me. She even wanted me to meet her parents.”

Embarrassment stirred inside Trace as he mentally traveled down memory lane. He told Connie about how Indie had invited him over for dinner at her parents’ estate. Wanting to make a good impression, Trace had borrowed his oldest brother’s suit for the occasion. He couldn’t wait to meet Mr. Sanderson. He even had a list of questions to ask about running his own business.

“Indie’s father crushed me with his words. My hero, even though I didn’t really know him, had destroyed my confidence with one conversation. After that, I didn’t give a damn about anything. I did so much stupid shit, even to the point of almost getting expelled toward the end of my senior year. I was basically living up to all the crap Sanderson said about me.”

Connie reached over and covered Trace’s hand with hers. “I can’t even imagine how you must’ve felt. Even worse, it sickens me that an adult would talk to a child that way. He could’ve just told you that you couldn’t date his daughter. He didn’t have to break your pride the way he did. How’d you get your life back on track?”

“My dad. One night he picked me up from the police station after I had gotten into some trouble. On the way home, he told me that was a onetime gift. That if I ever got into trouble with the law again, I was on my own. Then I learned that Langston had told him about Mr. Sanderson.”

“What did your dad say?”

Trace’s heart swelled as he thought about his father, the man who’d basically saved his life. “He told me he loved me. That he would never stop loving me, but it was up to me to determine the type of life I wanted to live. He said as far as Sanderson was concerned, a real man would never tear down a young man. He also told me that I needed to do a better job at choosing my role models.”

“That was wonderful advice. He sounds like a great dad.”

“He’s the best.” The type of father Trace hoped to one day be. “He lives in the Bahamas now, but I look forward to introducing you to him one day.”

Connie gave him a shy smile, and hope blossomed inside Trace.

“I look forward to it.”

Now he was cheesing so hard, his cheeks hurt.

Connie crossed her legs. “I take it you got your act together after that.”

“Well, it still took me a minute.” Trace chuckled, thinking about a few more stupid incidents that he’d gotten himself into. “I joined the navy shortly after graduation, and it was the best decision for me. Between the training and life experiences while serving, I regained my confidence, earned my degree in business, and look at me now. I’m sitting here with the woman of my dreams.”

“Oh, brother. There you go, tryin’ to charm me again.”

Trace brought her hand to his lips. “Is it working?”

Connie laughed and pulled back her hand. “Maybe a little.”

Trace smiled, glad that he was wearing her down. “Does that mean that once your life settles down a little, you’ll let me take you on a proper date?”

Her beautiful smile and the way her eyes glittered with adoration sent heat pulsing through his body. The last few days with her had confirmed it for him—he wanted her in his life.

Connie hadn’t even agreed to date him, but deep in his heart, Trace knew she was the woman for him. She stirred something inside him, something he couldn’t quite put a name to, but he loved the way it made him feel. He was a protector by