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Trouble Walks In by Sara Humphreys
McGuire Brothers Series; Book 2
Pages
Published August 2, 2016
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca
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Blurb:
Big city K-9 cop Ronan McGuire loves women, loves his dog, loves his job – but when old flame Maddy Morgan moves into his jurisdiction, he canât think about anyone else.
Ronan knows sheâs way out of his league, but heâs determined to help Maddy live life to the fullest.
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Maddy has immersed herself in work and swiftly made a name for herself in the hot New York City real estate market. Sheâs looking for safety, not love, but Ronan McGuire is as persistent as he is sexy, and his crooked smile is hard to resist. But all other concerns are wiped away when Maddy goes missing and Ronan and his bloodhound K-9 partner are tasked with finding her and bringing her home.
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Excerpt:
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PROLOGUE
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The boy had been missing for twelve hours, and Ronan McGuire knew better than anyone that if they didnât find the kid soon, the search could end in the worst possible way. It had been an unusually cold November, and when little David Newhart wandered away from his parents this morning in the park, he hadnât been wearing a coat. The sun had gone down hours ago, and the temperature was close to freezing.
Ronanâs partner grew increasingly agitated as they climbed the steep incline of the hill near Turtle Pond, and hope fired brightly in Ronanâs chest. He knew the dogâs signals and could read him better than he could most people.
The boy was close.
Bowser whined loudly and tugged harder on the long leash, and Ronan swore under his breath. The enormous bloodhound had the best nose in the tristate area. Once he detected a scent, he rarelyâif everâfailed to find what he was looking for. He tilted his snout to the air before spearing it back to the ground and turning left. Bowserâs lanky brown-and-black-furred body quivered with excitement, the way it did whenever the trail grew stronger.
The scent article theyâd given Bowser, the missing boyâs hat, had given him a solid lead to follow, but this was more an art than a science. David had been missing for hours, and the gusty winds of late November had been blowing hard, making the search-and-rescue job that much more difficult. Well, for Ronan, it was a job. For Bowser, it was more like playing a big game of hide-and-seek. And there was nothing his dog loved more than finding what he was looking for.
Bowser kept his nose to the ground and trotted to the left toward a long stone wall. He followed the scent through the brush and dried leaves in an almost sideways direction along a wooded section of Central Park. Bowser was one of the most talented bloodhounds on the force and could detect scents up to a week old if he had to.
Tension settled in Ronanâs shoulders, and his muscles bunched as he wrapped the leather lead tighter around his hand. He scanned the area ahead, and a tickle of panic glimmered in his chest as it sometimes did when he was searching for a missing kid. Faint memories from years ago bubbled to the surface. He knew exactly how this little boy was feeling. Alone. Terrified. Cold.
âDavid?â Ronan shouted. âIâm Officer Ronan McGuire with the NYPD. Your mom and dad are worried about you. David, can you hear me?â
The wind whistling by his ears was the only answer. The glimmer of hope began to fade right before Bowser whimpered and made a sudden turn to the right, his long, sword-like tail bouncing wildly as he picked up the pace. A bitter gust of wind whisked through the woods, sending a chill up Ronanâs spine. Shit. Please let the kid be okay. Bowser dodged around a massive elm tree, and Ronan ran around behind him.
âDavid!â
That was when he spotted a dark lumpâŚand it moved. Ronanâs heart thundered in his chest. He shone his flashlight over the area, and the breath rushed from his lungs. Got him. David was curled up in a ball in a pile of leaves at the base of the tree. Bowser barked and went right over, sniffing and licking at the boy before sitting down beside him protectively.
âI wanna go home,â David whimpered as he placed one quivering hand onto Bowserâs paw. âI want my mommy.â
âI gotcha, David.â Ronan squatted down and took off his coat before quickly wrapping it around the kid. âBowser and I are gonna get you back to your mom and dad. Theyâre worried sick about you.â
âIâm cold.â
âI know, pal, but youâre safe now. Everythingâs gonna be okay.â
He started rubbing the boyâs arms, but Bowser moved in and lay down right next to the kid, practically on top of him. David giggled through his sniffles and swiped at his eyes before snuggling up to the dog. Bowser was panting heavily, his long, pink tongue dangling from the side of his open mouth. The damn dog looked like he was smiling.
âGood boy.â Ronan repeated the phrase a few times, scratched Bowserâs ears, and gave him the praise he expected. âNice job, buddy.â
Bowser licked his hand quickly, as though returning the kudos. Ronan crouched next to his panting K-9 and radioed for the other officers in the area.
Ronan loved his job, especially when it had a happy ending.
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CHAPTER 1
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âI told you that Iâd be there, and I meant it.â Maddy Morgan pressed the iPhone harder against her ear. She was attempting to block out the sounds beyond her office door while her best friend pestered her to within an inch of her life. âIâm your maid of honor, for heavenâs sake. What? You think Iâm gonna bail after everything you and Gavin have been through? Hell no!â
âOkay, well, you canât blame me for double-checking, can you?â Jordan hesitated, her voice concerned. âWeâve hardly spoken. I mean, you havenât been home since⌠Itâs been over a year andâŚâ
Maddy stared out the window that overlooked the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and sucked in a deep breath, her friendâs unfinished thought hanging in the air. She nibbled her lower lip and fought the sudden, unexpected swell of emotion. It had been fifteen months since Rick died and a full year since she had been back to the town sheâd always called home.
At least, she had until recently.
âI know,â Maddy said quietly.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and refused to cry. Sheâd cried enough at Rickâs funeral and during the weeks following. No more tears. If Rick were here, he would tell her to put on her big girl panties and get on with life.
âIâm not missing your wedding,â she said firmly. âJeez, Jordan. You and Gavin have waited sixteen years to finally get hitched. Hell, you two would have gotten married last Christmas if it werenât for me.â
âThatâs not true,â Jordan said firmly.
âBull.â Maddy laughed.
âOkay, well, it wasnât the only reason.â Jordan replied. âGavinâs parents wanted to throw us a huge Christmas wedding, and four months wouldnât have been enough time to pull it all together. Deciding to wait a year has been a win-win. My future mother-in-law had plenty of time to do her thing, and we all had time to properly grieve for Rick. But Iâm still worried about youâŚâ
âIâm fine, Jordan, and I promise⌠Iâm gonna be there to witness your dream coming true.â
âOkay, butââ
âNo buts.â
âYo, Maddy.â The increasingly irritating voice of Chris Drummond shot into the room as he barged in. âThat blond, the Brenda chickâare you gonna to take her out to an open house this weekend, or should I? And what about those newlyweds? I know youâve been slammed. I could take them out to see the new listings, if you want.â
âHang on, Jordan,â Maddy said tightly.
She covered the phone with her hand and leveled an irritated gaze at her colleague. She knew that Terrence, the owner of the realty agency, had hired Drummond because he had an amazing reputation for selling and one of the best portfolios in the business, but he was a letch. A letch that thought anyone with boobs wanted him. Maddy had learned a long time ago that big talent usually meant even bigger egos.
Unfortunately, this talent was also turning out to be an asshole. She had already reported him once to Terrence for inappropriate advances on the young women in the office. Big talent or not, he was making her tired of him and his misogynistic bullshit. And lately, there had been attempts to steal her clients.
âDid you happen to notice that my door was closed?â
âYeah.â He leaned in the doorway with his usual casual arrogance. Tall, slim, well dressed, and always perfectly coiffed, he was considered good-looking by most. But the air of entitlement he wore like a cloak was a turnoff as far as Maddy was concerned. Besides, she would never date a colleague.
âIâm on a call.â
âRight.â He jutted his thumb over his shoulder. âAnyway, should I take that Brenda chick out and, uh, show her the ropes? We could take the newlyweds, the, uhâŚâ
âThe Bartholomews,â Maddy finished for him. âNo, I can handle my client list. Thank you.â
âFine, then let me take Brenda out.â
The smarmy smile on his face gave Maddy pause. Heâd been hitting on the assistants, who were savvy New Yorkers and more than capable of handling themselves, but now he was moving on to the young real estate agent. Brenda was a recent college grad from the Midwest. She was pretty, smart, and naive.
A prime target for a guy like Drummond.
âNo,â Maddy said firmly. âTerrence asked me to handle her training. Thank you, and please close the door on your way out.â
His smile faded, and a hard, cold look settled in his eyes. Maddy had moved up the ranks quickly since joining Cosmopolitan Realty House, and her rise hadnât gone unnoticed by Drummond. He hated not being number one, but she suspected that being second to a woman was a bigger insult.
âSure thing,â he murmured.
Drummond left but neglected to shut the door. Maddy crossed the room, pausing only to tell Sharon, her assistant, to hold her other calls before she closed her door once more.
âSorry about that, Jordan.â She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the window and grimaced before running one hand through her unruly brown curls. âIâm coming into town a week before the wedding so I can help you with whatever you need. Yâknow, all that bridesmaid stuff. I mean, Iâm not a real girlie girl, but itâll be fun to hang out. And tell Gavin he better not try to horn in on our girlsâ night out. It might only be the two of us, but thereâs a no-boys-allowed rule in effect for that event.â
âI wouldnât worry about that,â Jordan said through a chuckle. âAll four of his brothers are coming in early as well. From what I hear, Ronan has quite the bachelor party planned. Speaking of Ronan, why donât you two ride back to Old Brookfield together? I mean, youâre both in the city, and he is the best man.â
âYeah, thatâs not gonna happen. Iâll take my own car, thank you very much. Iâm staying at the Old Brookfield Inn, and Ronan will be at his parentsâ house, obviously.â Maddyâs eyes narrowed, and the smile on her face grew. âYour matchmaking scheme hasnât worked, Jordan. But Iâll give you and Gavin an A for effort.â
âWhat are you talking about?â Jordan asked with feigned innocence. âWhen you moved to the city last year, Gavin merely suggested that Ronan should look out for you. Heâs been a cop there for over a decade. Besides, I heard through the McGuire brother grapevine that you two have been going running on the weekends, so Ronan canât be all bad.â
Nope. âThat was half the problem. He was exactly the right kind of bad.
They had gone jogging in Central Park almost every weekend for the past several months, but Maddy had made it clear from the start: she wasnât interested in dating. Not him, nor anyone else. Friends? Sure. Romance? No way.
Her heart couldnât take another turn through the shredder. Dating a cop, just because he also happened to be one of the sexiest men God ever put on this earth, would not be a smart move.
Besides, Ronan had a reputation as a total ladiesâ man.
Not that she could blame any woman for taking a ride on that handsome train. When he flashed that lopsided grin and his bluish-green eyes crinkled at the corners, it took superwoman strength for Maddy not to drop her panties. He was a combination of mischievous little boy and irresistible alpha maleâa deadly pairing.
Ronan McGuire was wickedly sexy. The worst part was that he knew it.
âWell, yeah,â Maddy said quickly. She sat at her desk and spun the chair to face the window so she could see the rest of the world. Living and working in this city made her feel like a rat in a cage sometimes. âRunning around, getting sweaty, and panting in the cold is not exactly dating, Jordan.â
âSweaty and panting sounds promising,â Jordan teased.
Maddyâs face flushed. âThatâs not what I meant.â She quickly added, âI was talking about Bowser.â
âSure,â her friend said slowly. âSure you were.â
âYou know Ronan doesnât go anywhere without that dog. Speaking of which, are you prepared to have a drooling animal at your wedding?â
âOh fine, change the subject.â Jordan sighed. âAny chance I can talk you into coming for Thanksgiving?â
âSorry, babe. Iâm slammed.â
âThen how about staying for Christmas? The wedding is on the twenty-third. Come on. Please? The girls would love it,â she said, referring to her two adorable daughters. âYouâre going to be here for a week, so whatâs a couple more days? You said they were closing your office between Christmas and New Yearâs anyway.â
Maddy had never been part of big family holidays, and that had been fine with her, but the pleading tone in Jordanâs voice was starting to make her rethink her decision.
âYou know the holidays were never a big deal for me, Jordan. My mom hated celebrating them after my dad died, and then once she was gone, I didnât really want to. And besides,â she added quickly, âRick and I never even got a tree or anything. He was always working, and so was I.â
âI know, but I hate to think of you alone in that big city on Christmas. Again. Itâs bad enough you wouldnât come last year. Please think about it?â
âIâm hosting a huge New Yearâs Eve party for my clientsâitâs at my apartment.â
âYou could leave on the twenty-sixth and still be back in plenty of time to be party ready,â Jordan persisted. âIâm sorry, but Iâll have to call bullshit on that excuse. You and I both know your assistant already has the whole shindig tied up and ready to go.â
Jordan was right. The party was a lame reason not to spend the holiday with them. Besides, it was all being catered, and the invitations had been sent. What did Maddy really have to do other than show up and schmooze? And what was here for her on Christmas? She didnât even have a cat or a fish to feed.
Ugh. She felt more pathetic by the second.
âOkay,â Maddy said with a dramatic sigh. âIâll think about it. Jeez, when did you become such a nudge?â
âSince I had two children and learned that being a nudge can sometimes be quite effective.â
A knock on Maddyâs door sent a flicker of irritation up her back. But when she spun around, Sharonâs tearstained face stopped her cold.
âGirl, I have to go.â A knot of dread curled in her gut. âIâll see you in a few weeks. Give Gracie and Lilly a kiss from Aunt Maddy.â
Maddy hit End and set the phone on her desk. Her legs felt like Jell-O as she rose to her feet. Sharon was still weeping while she closed the door behind her, and before it shut, Maddy saw two of the other agents in the office crying.
âSharon, what is it?â
âTh-they found her.â
âWho?â Maddy asked shakily, her fingertips pressing into the mahogany desk. But she knew the answer before Sharon said it.
âLucille Bowman.â The young woman swiped at her eyes and let out a shuddering sob. âSheâs dead.â
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***
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A haunting rendition of âAmazing Graceâ spilled from the organ filling the small church, and Maddy wiped the tears from her eyes. The last time sheâd heard this song had been at Rickâs funeral. A new surge of sadness and grief welled up inside as the pallbearers carried Lucilleâs casket silently toward the open double doors.
The sounds of the city spilled in, buzzing beneath the mournful melodyâa bitter reminder of how cruel life was. The world outside went on as though nothing had happened. While Lucilleâs death had barely been noted on the evening news, it was far more personal for Maddy and her coworkers. According to police, the last call Lucille had made was to her husband, saying she was going to meet a client at an open house. The client had called the office later that day to say Lucille had never arrived.
Lucilleâs husband kept his vacant gaze fixed to the ground. He lumbered silently behind his late wifeâs casket, seemingly unaware of anyone or anything around him. Grief and shock clung to him like an invisible shroud. Maddy knew that feeling all too well.
He and Lucille didnât have any children and, according to a few of the other realtors, had been married only a couple of years. People said that as though it would somehow make his loss less horrible. Did the amount of time he and Lucille had been together even matter? One year or ten, a loss was a loss.
The remaining mourners filed out, all of them in various states of grief, but Maddy remained quietly in the back row. She had spoken with Lucille only a few times, but that didnât stop her from wanting to pay her respectsâbut without overstepping her bounds. The little church in Old Brookfield had been full for Rickâs funeral. Even though she couldnât possibly have said who was there and who wasnât, the presence of every individual was a comfort to her. The least she could do was offer the same to Lucilleâs husband.
After everyone had left, Maddy rose to her feet and slipped out of the pew. She could still go to the burial and reception afterward. The invitation had been extended to everyone at the end of the service. But those events felt like they were for close friends and family, and Maddy didnât qualify for either role. No, it was probably best if she dragged her butt back to work. After all, it wasnât like she had anyone waiting for her back at her apartment.
Maddy tugged her black wool coat closed and tied the sash, bracing herself for the brisk air that awaited her outside. As she passed, she gave a polite smile and nod to one of the ministers rearranging some pamphlets in the vestibule.
Life went on, it would seem, even for the clergy.
When Maddy pushed open the heavy wooden door, a gust of brisk November wind rushed over her, making her suck in a sharp breath. Why did this city seem cruel and cold at every turn? The stubborn wind had pulled several strands of her curly hair free from her lame attempt at an updo. She pushed her unruly locks from her eyes and started down the stone steps, prepared to go back to her desk and stare at the computer. She had cleared her calendar today, but returning to an empty apartment was simply too depressing an option. At least at the office, sheâd have the illusion of not being alone.
Maddy had made up her mind to hail a cab by the time she reached the sidewalk, but when she saw who was waiting for her, she stopped short.
Not much surprised her in Manhattan anymoreâsheâd seen just about everything in her year living here, including a woman walking a ferret on a leash, a naked homeless guy streaking down Park Avenue, and an old man strolling through Central Park with a squawking parrot on his shoulder.
But she never expected to find this.
Standing beside a lamppost, brimming with confidence and with his K-9 partner by his side, was Ronan McGuire. Dressed in his dark-blue NYPD uniform, he looked every bit the ruggedly handsome hero that he was. His cap obscured her view of his thick ebony hair, but those pale bluish-green eyes peered at her from beneath a furrowed brow. His tall, broad-shouldered frame was covered from head to toe against the bitter air, and the bulletproof vest he wore only served to accentuate his size.
How did Ronan manage to look devastatingly gorgeous in a standard-issue uniform? Sheâd seen plenty of other cops in this city, but not one of them hummed with masculine sexuality the way Ronan did. He reeked of calm control and steely strength. On the surface, he was cool and steady, but beneath was a distinctly powerful energy. She knew, without a doubt, that he could burst into action in a split second.
The guys brushing past her on Park Avenue, the ones dressed in thousand-dollar suits, didnât look half as sexy as Ronan did in his uniform.
I bet he looks pretty good out of it too.
Bowser, an enormous bloodhound who seemed to delight in startling Maddy whenever possible, barked loudly. She flinched as Ronanâs constant companion interrupted her naughty train of thought, and her face heated. How long had she been standing there staring at him? Based on the slight smirk curving Ronanâs lips, it was longer than sheâd like to admit.
âHey,â Maddy said, trying to collect herself. She crossed the sidewalk to greet Ronan but kept a healthy distance from the two of them. âWhat are you doing here? Did you just happen to be in the neighborhood? Because if Iâm not mistaken, this isnât your usual haunting ground.â
âThis is most definitely not my neighborhood. Too rich for my blood,â Ronan scoffed. He gathered Bowserâs leash, wrapping it around his hand, before he pushed himself off the post and inched closer. âOur shift starts in a couple of hours. We came to check on you.â
Her gaze flicked briefly to Bowser. He was staring at her as usual. She had never met an animal as tuned in to people as he was. But then, he was a search-and-rescue K-9, so tuning in was part of his job.
âMe?â Maddy stilled. âIâm fine, really,â she said in a shakier voice than she expected.
Even she didnât believe it. Nope. Not okay.
âYour friend was murdered, and you just attended her funeral.â Ronan leaned in and lowered his voice. âDonât give me that. Thereâs not a damn fine thing about this whole crappy situation.â
Something in Maddyâs chest crumbled a little at the tenderness in his voice. How long had it been since someone had expressed concern for her well-being? It felt like forever. Still, she suspected there was more to it than that.
âYouâve seen things like this before,â Maddy whispered. âDoes it ever get any easier?â
âNo,â he said quietly. Bowser whined and licked Ronanâs hand in a sweet, almost reassuring gesture. âSucks every time. Nothing easy about it.â
Ronan and Bowser had been part of searches that ended badly. Heâd obviously been affected by those experiences, and knowing that heâd remained unjaded by the cruelty of his job somehow made him even more attractive.
Bowser, who was sitting dutifully at Ronanâs feet, let out a low whine and snuffled loudly. Sometimes Maddy was convinced that dog was more human than half the people in this city.
âNoâŚI donât imagine there would be.â Maddy adjusted the purse slung over her shoulder, trying to squash a fresh swell of emotion. She pulled her leather gloves from her pocket and tugged them on while avoiding Ronanâs inquisitive stare. âI mean, itâs sad. Itâs beyond sad, the whole situation is horrible, butââ
âWhat are you doing now?â he asked abruptly. âEveryone else is gone. Since youâre still here, Iâm figuring that you opted not to go on to the burial. And knowing you, that means youâre going back to work.â
Maddy opened her mouth to argue with him but snapped it shut. Heâd hit the nail on the head. Ronanâs lopsided grin widened.
âI-I have work to do,â she sputtered.
âReally?â He tilted his head and narrowed those beautiful eyes. They looked more blue today than green.
âYes, really.â
âBecause if I had to guess, Iâd say you were gonna go back to that fancy office of yours and stare at your computer or surf the Internet. Maybe play some solitaire or ?â
Why, oh why, does he have to be so damn observant?
Maddy wasnât sure if it was comforting or irritating to have someone see her so clearly. Maybe it was both? She had started to get used to the anonymity of this city, the sense of disconnection from other people. Sheâd left Old Brookfield to give herself distance from Rickâs memory and the well-meaning but meddlesome members of her small community.
No one here knew her past, or even cared enough to ask. Her life in Manhattan was strictly business, which made her feel safely cocooned, sheltered from painful memories. She remained insulated from having to dig past surface pleasantries. Ronan wasnât like that. He was a cop, and his desire to find the truth was evident in everything he did.
âWell, smarty-pants.â Maddy folded her arms over her breasts, suddenly feeling exposed. âFor your information, I donât play Candy Crush.â
âFarm Heroes ?â he asked playfully.
âNo,â Maddy said through a bubble of laughter. She swatted him on the arm and tried not to smile while avoiding his gaze. âI donât do any of that stuff.â
âHow about coffee?â He offered his arm and jutted his head toward the corner. âYou do that, donât you?â
âYes,â Maddy said slowly. She flicked her gaze to his elbow and sighed dramatically. âYou arenât gonna quit until I agree to go, are you?â
âNope.â His grin widened. âAfter all these years, you should know how persistent we McGuire boys are. Carolyn and Charles didnât raise any quitters.â
âI can see that.â
âCâmon, and I wonât even try to pretend itâs a date,â Ronan prodded. He wobbled his elbow at her. âDonât make me look bad in front of Bowser.â
âWell, I certainly wouldnât want to be responsible for that,â she said dramatically. âCoffee it is.â
Maddy slipped her arm through his and shivered, the warmth of his body seeping through the layers of wool. Her gut reaction was to snuggle deeper against him and his rock-hard body, but she resisted, straightening her back. She couldnât afford to dip beneath the surface and touch the raw emotions lingering there. That would get her nowhere, and she refused to be reduced to a weepy woman in the middle of the street. If Ronan noticed her subtle shift away from him, he didnât comment on it.
They walked in silence, arm in arm, with the bloodhound trotting dutifully at Ronanâs side. They approached a Starbucks, but instead of crossing Fifty-Sixth Street, Ronan led her straight toward one of the street vendors.
âItâll have to be coffee and a walk.â He jutted a thumb at his partner. âStarbucks isnât big on having dogs in their establishments. Besides, our squad car is parked around the corner. How about coffee and a ride home?â
âThatâs fine by me.â Maddy sucked in a deep breath of cold air. âSitting in a crowded coffee shop with half the population on their laptops doesnât sound appealing. But a walk sounds great.â
âI thought youâd say that.â He nudged her gently and smirked. âBut donât worry, I know youâre not a cheap date.â
âItâs not a date. Itâs coffee.â Maddy kept her tone light. âWeâve already been through this, McGuire. Iâm not dating anyone, so donât take it personally.â
âCanât blame a guy for trying.â
They stopped at the truck, and she slipped her arm from his before quickly shoving her hands in the pockets of her coat. The cold air slithered under her clothes with surprising speed as the warmth of his body against hers became a memory. Ronan made quick work of ordering their coffee and, to her surprise, knew exactly how she took it.
âI know itâs not that fancy French stuff you like, but itâll do in a pinch.â
âImpressive,â Maddy said, taking the steaming cup from his hand. âYou nailed it.â
âI pay attention.â Ronan slid a sidelong glance at her while he handed money to the guy in the truck. âWeâve been going for a run followed by coffee almost every week for months. What kind of a cop would I be if I couldnât even remember how you take your coffee?â
âYou love being right, donât you?â She tilted her chin, daring him to deny it.
âYes.â Ronan inched closer, cradling his cup in one hand and holding Bowserâs leash in the other. Confident and in total control as always. âBut especially when it comes to you.â
She was about to ask him what exactly he meant by that, but Bowser started walking toward the corner. They strolled side by side, but she kept her eyes on the pedestrians ahead of them. If she looked at Ronan, he might get a peek at the conflicting swirl of emotions currently running through her.
âOkay, explain, please.â Maddy shivered again, but not from the cold. âWhy do you want to be right when it comes to me?â
âBecause youâre this big, bad businesswoman who acts like sheâs got it all under control.â
âAnd I donât?â She let out a short laugh. âGee, thanks.â
âThatâs not what I said, and definitely not what I meant.â
They stopped at the corner. Maddy was about to cross, but Ronan grabbed her arm, pulling her back just as a car blew through the light. If it hadnât been for him, she would have gotten hit.
âShit,â Maddy hissed. âDamn taxi drivers.â
She turned her eyes to his, and his grip on her tightened, almost imperceptibly. Maddyâs heart thundered in her chest. Was it from the near miss with the cab, or the feel of Ronanâs fingers curled around her bicep?
âI like surprising you,â he said quietly. Bowser made a snuffling sound and sat between them, but Ronan didnât take his eyes off hers. âHow am I doing so far?â
âToday?â Maddy asked quietly. âWell, to be honest, you shocked the hell out of me by showing up at the church. Why did you come?â
âAre you serious?â His brows furrowed. âI thought that would be obvious.â
âNot to me.â Maddy shook her head slowly and studied him, clutching the cardboard coffee cup with both hands.
âI figured it would be a tough day for you.â His mouth set in a tight line before he completed the thought she could practically see floating over his head. âGoing to the funeral couldnât have been easy, and I thought you could use a friend. I didnât think youâd want to be alone.â
âI didnât,â she whispered. âThank you.â
The wind blew over them, sending her hair flying into her eyes. It was perfect timing, making the tears that welled up easy enough to explain away. Maddy tugged the strands of hair aside and nodded before turning her attention to the passing cars.
âSee, Bowser?â Ronan scratched the bloodhoundâs head, which elicited a loud bark from the dog. âRight again.â
Maddy burst out laughing in spite of the surge of emotion and wiped discreetly at her eyes. âNo one likes a know-it-all, McGuire.â
âMaybe not,â he said with a wide grin. âBut I still surprised you. Come on, the light changed. Letâs cross before another taxi tries to run you over.â
As they made their way to the safety of the other side, Maddy had a feeling that there would be more surprises where Ronan was concerned.
That was the part that frightened her.
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~Meet Sara Humphreys~
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Sara Humphreys is the award-winning author of the Amoveo Legend series. The third book in the series, UNTAMED, won two PRISM awards–Dark Paranormal and Best of the Best. The first two novels from her Dead in the City series have been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award. Sara was also a professional actress. Some of her television credits include, A&E Biography, Guiding Light, Another World, As the World Turns and Rescue Me.
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She loves writing hot heroes and heroines with moxie but above all, Sara adores a satisfying happily-ever-after. She lives in New York with Mr. H., their four amazing sons, and two adorable pups. When she’s not writing or hanging out with the men in her life, she can be found working out with Shaun T in her living room or chatting with readers on Facebook.Â
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~ Connect with Sara ~
~~ Giveaway ~~
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Pre-order TROUBLE WALKS IN by 8/2/16 and you can get a FREE ebook of YOUR choice!
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PLUS youâll be entered to win the GRAND PRIZE â Signed copies of my entire backlist PLUS signed copies of EVERY book I publish for the rest of my life. YES. A LIFETIME OF SIGNED BOOKS!
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1. Go pre-order your copy of TROUBLE WALKS IN
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