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Best I Ever Had

Excerpt

Six months of waiting in hiding hadn’t eased her mind. Living in the gated community helped, but if someone wanted her dead, it would happen. Gates and armed guards didn’t stand a chance against a machine gun or whatever served as Morales’ weapon of choice. He wanted her to keep quiet, no matter what.

No toys or quickies with Quint would erase her pain. “Catch him so it’s all over.” Emma blinked back tears of frustration. “I want my life back.”

She touched the picture of Sam on the counter. Her heart squeezed in her chest. He didn’t have to go to the lengths he’d gone to for her. I won’t risk losing you. She sighed. What if she lost him in the process?

“I miss him, too.” Quint placed his hand on hers.

Emma bumped shoulders with him and wiped her cheeks. “I know. I’m glad you’re here. I’d be stir crazy alone.”

“Won’t be long, now.” He kissed her temple. “Promise.”

The words failed to comfort her. “If I’m not safe in the Leatherwoods, I’m not safe anywhere. Do you hear that, Quint? I’m done.” She shoved the newspaper into the recycle bin and headed to the refrigerator. Emma withdrew a half-empty bottle of rose wine. “If I want to sip a glass of wine on my balcony, then by God, I should be able to.” She nodded to herself and poured a generous amount into a wine goblet. “You can watch for all I care. I want to have a normal life again.”

She balanced the wine glass in her fingers and picked up a lighter for the citronella candles and her book from the table. She shoved the lighter in her back pocket and stuck her book under her free arm. Emma crossed the room and stepped through the sliding doors. The potted pansies fluttered in the slight wind. She dropped the book on the lounger and left the wine glass on the ground beside the chair.

“Seems like a nice time to take in some afternoon sun.” Shielding her eyes with her hand, she glanced around at the neighboring terraces. For a humid late July afternoon, no one seemed to be home and that suited her fine. “Looks like we’re alone, anyway.”

“You try my patience,” Quint growled. He plopped down onto the balcony railing. “Anyone with a good shot could take your ass out right now. Why are you chancing it?”

“I’m not chancing anything with you standing there ready to take the bullet,” Emma snorted. Six months of having someone watching her managed to kill her modesty. Sure, time spent in her bedroom meant time alone. Anywhere else in the apartment gave Quint ample view of what she did. Most of the time his presence didn’t bother her. He was Sam’s best friend. They shared everything—except her. So she enjoyed strolling to the kitchenette every once in a while in the nude? Quint, being the consummate good guy with a foul mouth, never acted on impulse. Sam alluded to wanting a threesome with her and Quint. Based on Quint’s reactions, she doubted the event would happen—the talk needed to evolve into action.

Whatever.

“I’m going to immerse myself in a book.”  

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