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

nature, and even though she was ridiculously independent, she made him...feel. Needed. Adored. She made him feel as if he mattered in her life.

“Yes,” Connie said quietly. “I’d love to go on a date with you.”

For a minute, all Trace could do was stare at her. He was so used to her saying no that he hadn’t actually thought about how it would be when she finally said yes.

“Would you mind putting that in writing and getting it notarized? Just in case you conveniently forget when the time comes.”

Connie burst out laughing, then stood and straightened her clothes. “I just can’t with you.”

“Baby, you can do anything you want with me. Just say the word. I’m all yours.”

Trace’s cell phone vibrated in his front pocket. As he stood, he pulled it out and read the text from Trinity.

Connie isn’t answering her phone. Are you still at the office?

He typed back a quick response. Yes, and she’s here.

Good. Come over for dinner and bring her with you. We need to talk.

Trace sent a thumbs-up emoji. It wasn’t unusual for Trinity to invite him over, but this was the first time that she’d told him to bring Connie.

He glanced up at her. “The boss has summoned us to her house for dinner. Are you game?”

“Kinda late notice. Did she say why?”

“Only that we need to talk.”

CHAPTER 13

“Why do I have to be up to something?” Trinity asked Connie with a tad of defensiveness in her tone. “Maybe I just wanted to have my friends over for dinner.”

They were in Trinity’s massive kitchen preparing side dishes, while Trinity’s husband, Gunner, and Trace were on the deck out back grilling.

Connie sliced the strawberries that would go into the fruit salad she was preparing. “Who invites people over to eat and then makes them cook? I assumed dinner would already be ready.”

“Where’s the fun in that? Besides, you and Trace aren’t guests. You’re family. This is what family does. We cook together. We eat together. We love on each other.”

“Yeah, whatever. Next time you call us over here for dinner, I expect it to already be prepared.” Trinity set a bowl of green grapes, a cantaloupe and a fresh pineapple on the counter. “I can’t wait to cut into the pineapple. I can already smell its sweetness.”

Trinity popped a grape into her mouth and leaned against the counter. “So, you and Trace seem to be getting closer.”

Connie didn’t take the bait. Her friend had been trying to push the two of them together for a long time. Now that Connie was getting to know Trace better, she recognized Trinity might’ve been right. He was beyond what she’d expected, and she looked forward to spending more time with him.

“Okay, you don’t have to tell me what’s going on. I saw the way he looked at you before he headed outside. Or maybe I should say, the way he ogled you. I guess staying the weekend at his place was the turning point, huh?”

“Maybe. Is that why you called us over here, so you could pry into our personal lives?”

“I do not pry. If I want to know something, I just ask.” Trinity grabbed the oven mitts and went to the stove to pull out a pan of baked ziti. “But, anyway, I called you two over because I’ve been thinking. Since you told me about the incident at Heavenly Sandwich Shop the other day, something has been on my mind. I have an idea, and before you say no, hear me out.”

Connie started shaking her head before Trinity could say anything else. “Whatever it is, no. Every time you start out with ‘before you say no,’ I already know I’m not going to like whatever you’re going to say.”

“That’s not true. Remember when I suggested you quit your job and join me at the agency? That hasn’t turned out bad, and I started the conversation the same way.”

True. Trinity’s call had been a godsend. Before joining LEPA, Connie had helped her with administrative work on occasion, had even filled in a few times when other staff members were on vacation. She hadn’t expected the job offer. Trinity called and practically begged her to consider working at LEPA, saying that she needed someone she could trust and depend on by her side.

The timing couldn’t have been better. It was days after Connie’s world imploded with Quincy’s betrayal. She had taken some vacation time to pull herself together, time to expel the anger and hate that had consumed her. Connie knew she could no longer work for the marketing company. Had she stayed, Quincy would’ve been her boss. Trinity didn’t know any of that before she called, which made Connie think that it was divine intervention at its best.

The door to the back deck slid open, and Trinity’s three-year-old son strolled in with a teddy bear tucked under his arm. Connie smiled as her thoughts went immediately to the night she had told Trace that she still slept with her doll, Vinnie. She had to keep herself from laughing now as she remembered his reaction.

“Mommy, can I have a cupcake? Ple-e-ease.”

“Not before dinner, baby. How about a slice of apple?”

“Can I have apple and a cupcake?” Jonah tried bargaining, giving his mother the sweet puppy-dog eyes that he had mastered.

Connie didn’t know how Trinity could say no to all of that cuteness. Jonah had the most beautiful eyes, and long, curled eyelashes that would make any woman jealous. He also had Gunner’s disposition—sweet and mild-mannered. Their easygoing personalities were the opposite of Trinity’s. She wasn’t the most patient person.

“Nope, only apple right now.” Trinity held out a slice, and Jonah stared at it with his eyebrows pulled together. He glared at the fruit as if it had the ability to bite him.

“But, Mommy, I don’t want apples.”

“All right, I guess that leaves more for me.” Trinity ate the slice in two bites and returned to what she was doing. Jonah frowned at her but didn’t say another