Harlequin Intrigue September 2021--Box Set 2 of 2 by Tyler Anne Snell

Author:Tyler Anne Snell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2021-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Lori was surprised to see Ben’s door closed when she came in that afternoon. Julianne looked up from the salad she was stabbing with a plastic fork, but her expression was hard to read.

“What’s going on?” Lori asked, moving to her desk.

“There’s someone from the DEA in there. Ben said they used to work together.”

Lori frowned. It was common knowledge that Ben’s forced exit from federal duty had left a trail of hard feelings on both sides. Julianne wasn’t the only one surprised a DEA agent had ventured all the way to Pine Bluff. Then again, the town had garnered its share of attention from the agency. Lori’s stomach rolled when she cast a glance at the closed door.

“How did he act? Do things seem to be going okay in there?”

Three lines appeared on Julianne’s forehead. “Well, there’s been no yelling,” she said cautiously. “Special Agent Simmons is a woman.”

“So?” Lori wasn’t as surprised by the agent’s gender as she was by the accusation embedded in Julianne’s statement. “Does that matter?”

Julianne shot another look at the closed door. “I suppose not, but... He said they were coworkers, but he didn’t greet her the way he would greet you or me,” Julianne said, slanting a pointed look at Lori. “There was hugging and a kiss on the cheek.”

Lori fought the impulse to laugh at the condemnation in Julianne’s sober assessment. “Dear God, hugging?” she said, playing up her effrontery.

Julianne wadded up a paper napkin and tossed it at Lori. “Don’t mock,” she snapped.

Lori snagged the napkin from her desk and redeposited it into the trash. “Okay, I won’t. I don’t think Marlee has anything to worry about. Ben’s not about to do anything to jeopardize what he’s got going on with her.”

Holding her Tupperware container, Julianne swiveled her chair toward Lori. “You don’t think he’d ditch the job of backwoods sheriff for another go at being a hotshot federal agent?”

Lori matched Julianne’s scowl with one of her own. “You think they’re here to lure him back?”

Julianne shrugged. “They’ve been in there with the door closed ever since she got here.”

The door in question opened and both women gave a guilty start. Ben loomed large in the opening. “I thought I heard voices out here. Hey, Lori, would you come in here? I want you to meet Alicia Simmons.”

Lori nodded. Shooting a glance in Julianne’s direction, she rose from her desk. “Marlee said to tell you she’d call you later this afternoon.” She spoke in a voice loud enough to carry well beyond Ben’s ears. Behind her, Julianne let out a small hiss of approval.

Ben ducked his head and he stepped aside to let Lori pass into his office. “Uh, okay...”

Lori willed her cheeks not to burn with a telltale flush at the embellishment. “Yeah, sorry. Julianne and I were just—”

Ben closed the door behind them.

A tall, dark-haired woman rose from the chair opposite Ben’s desk. She wore gray slacks and a white blouse. Lori figured the pieces would look completely nondescript on any mere mortal, but on this woman they had a certain I-mean-business flair.

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