Worry Beads by Pauline Baird Jones

Author:Pauline Baird Jones [Jones, Pauline Baird]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781942583646
Publisher: Pauline Baird Jones

Laura was quiet as she drove away from Henri’s house. Archie was surprised her old man was letting her drive him back to his hotel. If Zach Baker had had his own car, or if his son weren’t on duty? Yeah, Laura would already be headed back to her dad’s house.

Would she be safe there? That was the question that plagued him. Did the players—if there were players—have him in their sights? It was Laura who had worn the necklace on the news. He’d been with her, been seen with her, but was that enough to take the spotlight off her and put it on him?

He’d have warned her old man and her big brother, but as far as he could tell, they’d already figured it out—based on their level of deep unhappiness with him. He was sure Alex had opened his mouth to suggest calling a cab, but Laura beat him to the punch by offering to drive him. If her offer hadn’t been back to the hotel, there would have been an intervention. Both had looked relieved at her removing herself from the risk zone.

He was relieved, too. It was better this way. If he were still alive in a couple of days, maybe he’d see if she’d be his plus one at the wedding. If this was over by then, he amended. It had been seventeen years in the making. Did he really think it could be resolved in a couple of days?

He glanced at Laura.

He could hope, couldn’t he?

He made himself look away. Even if he’d cleared his wake of danger, that didn’t mean he was any good for Laura. If he’d learned nothing else from his two failed attempts at marriage, it was how to walk away. Now would not be a good time to forget that hard-earned lesson. So can the hope, walk away without looking back. Trust in her many brothers and her dad to keep her safe.

“Could we drop off the samples with my friend before we head to my hotel?” he remembered to ask.

“Of course.”

It was a small detour, and Archie made sure Laura was not in sight when he handed them off to his friend. And not just because this friend was female and didn’t care about either of his divorces.

He returned to the car and thought Laura was asleep, but her eyes opened as soon as he tried the handle. She unlocked it, waited until he was inside and then turned them directly toward his hotel.

She signaled the turn, then pulled into the roundabout in front. His hand curled around the handle as he arranged his expression to bland. There’d been that revealing moment outside Henri’s house. He couldn’t afford to do that again.

His mouth curved in a smile that was as bland as his gaze, and he shifted so he could see her.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” he said. She’d been more than kind, more than he deserved.

“I won’t tell Becca, but Zach might,” she said.

He almost flinched from the deliberate blandness of her face.

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