Texas Cowboy's Protection - - (i read a book .txt) 📗
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“No question there.”
“I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall in the cabin.” Although, Gina was certain she wouldn’t have been able to handle watching violence. It was impossible to ignore the statistics. A woman’s biggest threat was her boyfriend or spouse. A police officer’s biggest threat was a domestic dispute call. Logan Simmons could’ve lost everything if his wife found out about Brittany and her son. Cheating was one thing. Having a child with a mistress had to be a whole other level of betrayal.
“He came in yesterday and sat in that very chair, saying how concerned he was about where the child would end up. The real reason he showed was transparent after five minutes. He was trying to save his own behind. Even so, something is just not clicking for me with him being the murderer.”
“Brittany deserved so much better from the father of her child, Isaac.” Isaac put his hands on her shoulders from behind. She could feel his presence as he stood close behind her. Taking in his spicy scent, she filled her senses with him. Isaac Quinn lived by a code. What had begun as Cowboy Code had now been honed by more than a decade and a half of military service. He’d always stood up for what was right. It was one of the first things she’d noticed about him, and what had attracted her to him for more than just his easy good-looks. The fact that he had honor.
Granted, it didn’t hurt that he’d been hot as all get out. Even in high school before he’d truly filled out he’d had an athlete’s body.
Gina recalled the minute she’d known she’d fallen for him. She’d been in the science hallway in between second and third period during freshman year. Stuart Whitman, resident genius, had been pushed up against his locker by Derrick Banes, football center.
Isaac had calmly walked over and put his hand on Derrick’s shoulder. The center had Isaac in height and weight at the time. With the most earnest look in Isaac’s eye, he stated, “Touch Stuart again and you’ll answer to me.”
Banes made a move to flick Isaac’s hand off his shoulder and then seemed to think better of it. Gina realized the Quinn brothers and cousins who were in high school had formed a circle around the two of them.
Banes had taken in the scene, letting his gaze study the face of each Quinn. Walking away, Banes had muttered an apology to Stuart.
And then, later in the lunch room Stuart was invited to sit at their table. It was the first meal she’d seen him eat with a group.
And her teenaged heart had fallen hook, line and sinker for Isaac.
Times were different now. Life was more complicated even though her fool heart wanted to argue against logic.
Sure, Isaac Quinn was a good man. There was no denying the fact. And he’d been a damn amazing lover. There was definitely no denying that.
Opening up and letting him in her heart again when he had no definite plans to stick around could lead to nothing but heartache.
“Do you know of any other women in Logan Simmons’s life besides you and the victim?” Griff tapped the pen on the pad. Isaac figured if there were two mistresses there were most likely others. This investigation just grew legs. Any number of scorned women could have arranged a murder.
He stopped himself right there. Would they kill another mistress or the wife? Again, his thoughts shifted to Ashley Simmons. He couldn’t shake the feeling something was off. A thought struck. The evidence in Brittany’s murder led them to believe the killing was premeditated. A location had to be vetted. A car stolen. A meet-up set. Murders involving a spouse generally occurred in the heat of the moment.
They already knew a man was the killer. Or did they? The M.O. suggested a male. Didn’t mean the show wasn’t being ran by a female.
The best word to describe Tara’s personality was flighty. Isaac doubted she had the presence of mind to orchestrate such a scene. Plus, the windbreaker. The fact someone cared enough to cover her up pointed the finger at Logan. No way would his wife drape a windbreaker over Brittany.
“I didn’t even know he was seeing another woman until I got a text.” Tara motioned toward her purse.
“Who did the text come from?” Griff perked up.
“Logan.”
“Mind if I take a look at your cell phone?”
“Go right ahead.” She fished it out of her purse and held it out to him.
Griff tapped on the screen a couple of times and then studied it.
“I wonder how many women there are in Logan Simmons’s life.” Gina’s was a legitimate question.
“How could he balance two mistresses, a wife and kids?” Other questions rolled around in Isaac’s mind he couldn’t answer.
“I think we both know he can’t be trusted. His job as a salesman has him driving around Texas, probably staying in different motel rooms every week. It wouldn’t be difficult to string women along. Call when he’s in town. Show them a no-strings-attached good time.” Isaac couldn’t imagine Gina would ever go for an arrangement like Logan offered.
“He must have a secret cell phone or e-mail account to be able to get away with communicating with so many women without his wife figuring out.” Isaac knew guys who’d joked about having multiple accounts and he figured there was most likely some truth to it.
“Tara couldn’t have been involved in Brittany’s murder. Could she?” Gina blinked at him.
“The evidence is pointing toward a male.”
“Doesn’t mean she couldn’t have solicited help.” Gina made another valid point.
“True. She could’ve involved another man. She doesn’t strike me as the hire-a-hitman type. But I suppose she could use her considerable…charms to get a man to do her dirty work.” If he could see Gina’s face, he’d bet she just rolled her eyes. The thought of flirting with someone or using her body to influence another person wasn’t her style.
He’d seen on more than one occasion how fully capable she was of using her brain to out-think an adversary.
“I guess most men would consider her attractive.” Gina’s shoulders tensed under his fingers.
“Some might. Personally, she’s not my type. But then I can admit to being biased. The only person I can see is you and no one compares your beauty.” He felt the tension release in her body as she leaned into him. If he could see her face he’d bet that she was smiling.
He wrapped his arms around her and she rested her head against his chest. “I meant what I said, Gina. I love you.”
She didn’t have to say it back.
Griff asked another couple of routine-sounding questions before thanking the witness. He walked into the hallway and closed the door behind him. Deputy Sayer stopped in front of the opened door of the observation room.
“Have someone pick up Logan Simmons and his wife for questioning,” Griff said.
“Yes, sir.”
“Let Sherry know where you’re headed and what you’re doing on your way out in case one or both show up here today. The way this investigation has been going I’m not sure what to expect next.” Griff pinched the bridge of his nose like he was staving off a headache.
“How’d it go in there?” Deputy Sayer asked.
“We have a witness asking for police protection. She gave me a little more insight into Logan Simmons’s life, what kind of man he is.”
“What are you going to do with her?”
“Send her home and then make a call to her local law enforcement to make a request for extra eyes on her. Let her know who to call if she finds herself in danger.”
“Yes, sir.”
Griff glanced at Isaac and Gina. “You guys want to stick around or take a break and see your daughter?”
Those last two words sounded a little too right to Isaac. He looked to Gina. “I’d like to meet Everly.”
Gina’s warm smile melted more of the ice in Isaac’s chest. He took her hand in his, laced their fingers and started for the door.
The two of them didn’t get very far when Mrs. Stanley’s voice echoed from down the hall. “Where is he? Where’s Griffin?”
An apologetic Sherry filled the doorframe a couple of seconds later. She made eyes at the sheriff. “Griff, you have a visitor.”
“It’s fine. Send her in.” He’d barely finished speaking when Mrs. Stanley edged her way into the office. In her mid-sixties, she was average height and thick boned. She’d died her hair blond in a short cut and the garishly loud clothes that she wore seemed to be at odds with the genuine grief on her face.
She froze when her gaze landed on Gina. “Oh, honey. I didn’t realize you’d be here. I’m so sorry all of this has happened.” She blotted her eyes. “My Brittany is…”
Before Isaac could deflect, the older woman made a beeline for Gina and brought her into an embrace. Gina stiffened
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