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

family. Ash thinks your heart needs mending. I told her I didn’t think you had one.”

“You are an ass, Noble.”

“Ash thought so too. I almost slept on the couch for that wisecrack.”

Eddie laughed. Ashley and her husband were so in love they finished each other’s sentences and still stole kisses at parties. He’d feel smothered in that kind of a relationship.

“That I would have loved to see,” he said.

“You know, that’s the first time I’ve ever heard you laugh, detective. Maybe Idaho agrees with you. So what can I do for you?”

“I need an invisible outdoor surveillance system. Something even cops can’t detect.”

“I might have just the thing. We’re testing one and so far the results are amazing. How soon do you want it?”

“Yesterday.”

“How many points of entry?”

Eddie mentally went through the doors and windows at the lake house. “Five doors, including the garage, and seven windows.”

“You’ll need the deluxe unit. Will ship it off first thing Monday morning. Anything else?”

Eddie mentioned a few more things then added, “If you have problems finding any of them, call me.”

“Sounds like you are going to be busy in the coming weeks.”

Once he convinced Amy he was trustworthy, yes. If not, he’d probably be thinking up ways to wring her neck. The woman was maddening.

“It depends,” Eddie mumbled.

“Having problems with the lovely lady?”

“Nothing I can’t handle.” The problem was he didn’t have a plan. When it came to Amy, he wondered whether one could work. “Ship the entire package overnight, and include the shipping costs in the invoice. I’ll cut you a check that covers everything as soon as I receive it.”

“This will be on the house, detective,” Noble said. “I owe you for what you did for Ashley.”

Eddie had used his position to get Ashley protection when an arsonist tried to kill her. “She’s family, Noble. Thanking me for protecting her is an insult.”

“Okay, detective, later. Will let you know when it’s shipped.”

As soon as he hung up, Eddie made another call.

***

Eddie is a cop. A freaking detective. Just like Nolan. There was no way she could ever trust a cop. Had she told him about what Nolan had done, he would not have believed her. Cops always believed other cops.

But Eddie was the least of her worries now. Nolan was up to his old tricks again. The person who had paid for the repairs on her car must work with him, which means they would come after her. They had her address. Why couldn’t Nolan just leave her alone?

The drive back to the lake house was the hardest Amy had ever done. As soon as she arrived, she hid behind her laptop while Raelynn played outside on the sand. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t concentrate. Her thoughts kept drifting to Nolan.

Amy tensed when Eddie entered the house. Her apprehension disappeared when he walked right past her to the patio without saying a word and headed straight for the dock. He didn’t even care that she was pissed and disappointed. Although to be honest, she was angrier at herself, not him.

She’d allowed herself to trust him and was going to tell him everything. Worse, earlier in the garage, she’d let her need for human contact rule her head and let him console her. She’d even wanted to kiss him.

Never again.

Amy had no idea where Eddie went in the boat, but he didn’t come home until it was time for lunch. Raelynn stopped playing and waited for him by the dock. Amy had no idea what her daughter said, but Eddie chuckled, said something in return and patted her hair. Raelynn didn’t flinch or show signs of fear, then she went back to playing with Jimmy and Sam.

“Mommy, can we go on the boat with Mr. Eddie?” Raelynn asked during lunch.

Amy glared at Eddie, who was enjoying a bowl of her soup in the patio. Using her daughter to get to her was low, but then again, what had she expected from a cop.

“Did Mr. Eddie ask if you wanted to go?”

“No, I asked him. He said to ask you.”

Immediately, Amy felt bad for having assumed the worst. “We’ll see.”

Raelynn’s lower lip stuck out.

“Maybe tomorrow,” Amy added. She was in no mood to deal with Raelynn’s meltdown.

Raelynn was still talking about the boat when Amy took her to her room for a nap. When she went back to the living room, Eddie was waiting.

“Raelynn asked to go out on the boat,” he said.

“She mentioned it,” Amy said.

“And?”

“I’ll think about it.” She moved to walk past him, but he blocked her path. “Do you mind?”

He shook his head. “You are going to deny her something she wants just because you don’t like what I do for a living?”

“Isn’t that the kettle calling the pot black?”

He scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You have issues with authors and you don’t see me throwing a hissy fit. I have a legitimate reason to distrust cops and you pout about it.”

He threw her a disgusted glance. “I don’t pout.”

“Could have fooled me.”

His eyes narrowed, and then he shook his head. “It is impossible to have a conversation with you. You can’t let your issues with one man taint your view of an entire law enforcement agency.”

“Like hell I can’t. Until you know my story, detective, don’t assume anything.”

“Then tell me what the hell is going on?”

Amy laughed. “Nice comeback, detective, but I don’t believe in double standards. You want to know about my past and what makes me tick, start talking about yours.”

His expression grew thoughtful. “Okay. What do you want to know?”

She blinked. She hadn’t expected him to give in quite so quickly. “Ah, why didn’t you tell me you were a cop?”

“Because my profession didn’t come up. When it did I was honest with you.”

He had a point. “Why do you hate authors?”

“I don’t hate authors.”

Amy rolled her eyes.

“My mother is an author,” he said in a flat voice, but his eyes said it all. They burned with anger and old