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

wounds. Hopefully directed at his mother, not Amy for bringing up what was obviously a painful subject.

The conversation they had about his father’s recipe flashed in her head. He’d said his mother hadn’t been around to contribute to the family cookbook.

“She left your family?”

Eddie shrugged. “She chose her career and stardom over us, but we moved on. My little sister was only five at the time, but she turned out great. My father dealt with her betrayal and so did I. We survived without her.”

Amy’s heart squeezed. She wanted to close the gap between them and touch him, but they didn’t have that kind of a relationship. Instead, she gripped the counter and said, “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” Eddie ground out. “It’s not your fault. Besides, it was a long time ago. Like I said, I’ve moved on.”

Not from where she was standing.

“Your turn. Why do you distrust cops?”

“Nolan is a cop. He was mean, abusive and controlling. I tried to file a complaint, but the other cops refused to believe me. It didn’t matter which stations I visited. As soon as they realized he was one of them, they called him and believed his version of the story.”

Eddie muttered a curse under his breath, his eyes fierce.

“After we were divorced, he continued to stalk and harass me. I couldn’t report him because, as he eloquently put it, his friends would give him an airtight alibi while I’d come across as unhinged and someone unfit to raise a child. He threatened to have Raelynn taken from me.”

Eddie’s hand fisted. He shook his head. “That’s crazy.”

“He is crazy, and it’s up to me to stop him.”

“No. It’s up to me to stop him. Randal is meeting him tonight and I plan to be there.”

Hearing the conviction in his words should have eased her mind somewhat, but it didn’t. This was her battle. Besides, Nolan was once again using someone to do his dirty work. “I’m coming with you.”

“Hell no.”

“Don’t you “hell no” me. I know how Nolan thinks. He is crafty and will use every trick in the book to make himself the victim and you the perpetrator. You can’t use the law to bring him down.”

“Then I’ll go outside the law,” Eddie vowed.

Amy shook her head. “No way. I have enough on my conscience without adding you on the list.”

“What is that supposed mean?”

“You could lose your job over this.”

He gave her a tight smile. “I’m already halfway there, sweetheart, and you had nothing to do with it.” He pushed back against the counter and stepped back. “Do you want to practice now?”

“No. What do you mean by “halfway there”?”

“Long story. I’m going for a swim.”

Amy watched him walk away, not sure whether telling him about Nolan was such a good idea. If he did something unlawful and lost his job, she’d never forgive herself. That meant she couldn’t sit back while he went to that bar with the service tech and faced Nolan’s henchman. After everything Nolan put her through, she’d recognize his machinations a mile away. Chances were Nolan would be in the same bar, watching everything from a distance, never getting his hands dirty.

She waited until Eddie left the house then picked up her phone and dialed Lauren’s number.

“Do you have plans for this evening?” Amy asked.

“Nothing solid. I was hoping a certain Fitzgerald would call me. Is he still around?”

Amy thumped her forehead. She’d completely forgotten Lauren wanted a fling with Eddie. “Yes, and I’m sure he will. But right now I need a favor. Nolan is here.”

“No-oo. How do you know?”

Amy quickly explained seeing Nolan at the grocery store, the incident at the car shop and Eddie’s plan to go to the bar.

“Have you called the police? You know the ones here don’t know him and will not support him blindly like his buddies in Virginia.”

After Eddie’s reaction, she was beginning to see that not all cops were the same. “Eddie is a cop, Lauren, so technically I’m depending on one. I just don’t want him meeting with Nolan and his sidekick without me. I’m afraid he might do something crazy and jeopardize his career.”

“Or Nolan might have Eddie thrown in jail and leave you vulnerable, the sick bastard. How can I help?”

“Could you watch Raelynn for me this evening? Just for an hour, two tops. I promise to make it up to you. I wouldn’t ask if you aren’t the only other person she loves. I know it’s asking too much because it’s Saturday night and—”

“I’ll watch over the little sweetheart, Amy. When do you want me there?”

“Between five and five-thirty.”

“I’ll be there.”

“I owe you.”

“Just help Eddie catch the bastard.”

After hanging up, Amy started plotting. The trick was to convince Eddie she should go with him. She was pacing when Eddie entered the house drying his hair with a towel. Water droplets dotted his chest and muscles rippled with each step. The wet swim trunks clung to his masculine thighs and groin. When she saw movement, Amy’s eyes shifted upwards and connected with his.

He grinned. “Don’t look at me like that, unless you plan to do more than just look.”

Her jaw dropped. Did he just throw that awful come on at her? She couldn’t think up a retort, so she snapped shut her mouth and humphed. The doorbell rang, coming to her rescue. Eddie followed her to the front door. The rotunda’s windows were opaque, so she used the peek hole.

“Who is it?” he asked, so close the heat from his body leaped to hers. She shivered, yet warmth turned her insides into jelly

“A UPS delivery guy.”

“Or someone pretending to be one,” he said. “Move over.”

“It’s the middle of the day, Eddie. I can handle this.”

“I know you can. Just humor me for now,” he said, flashing that charming smile she’d missed the last couple of days.

Amy stepped aside and let him open the door. A short, older man in a brown uniform stood on the welcome mat with a brown package. “Amy Kincaid?”

Eddie