Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense February 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 by Carol J. Post

Author:Carol J. Post
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2020-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

“Level with me about the possibilities,” Lara said, setting her mug on the side table. Her stomach was rolling too badly to tolerate anything. What was she being maneuvered into? She needed to lay down some ground rules. “I’m telling you up front that none of these plans will involve Maisy.”

“Goes without saying,” Ethan answered and took a deep breath as if he would continue speaking.

She held up a forestalling hand. “I understand that I’m going to have to feature in these ploys to draw out the Draytons, so don’t try to soft-pedal anything.”

The edges of his lips quirked slightly upward, but his gaze was somber. “You’ve caught me trying to hold back once too often, so I won’t try it again. But please understand that whatever we decide on, you will be surrounded and protected on all sides by well-trained members of the marshals service.”

“I have no doubt about that, but I’ve also experienced the determination, persistence and sheer numbers of our enemies.”

“It’s good that you know firsthand what we’re up against. Any plan needs to include two essential factors—minimizing the numbers arrayed against us and drawing out the Draytons themselves, not merely their hired guns.”

“What have you come up with so far?” Lara reclaimed her tea, blew on it and ventured a sip.

His use of the term we assured her that any plan would include her input and require her approval. She needed to stop indulging this knee-jerk reaction against manipulation and control born of her experience with Matt. It was time for her to trust Ethan.

If only she could…completely. Despite his assurance that he’d stop holding back, he was still concealing something pivotal. His conflicted reactions to her, one minute formal and the next familiar, told her that much. It could be something from his own past, or the issue could be work related. Whatever it was, he needed to deal with it so they could move forward in sync. Lives were at stake.

“Before we put our heads together to come up with a plan, I need to ask what it is that makes you so uncomfortable around me at times.”

He blinked at her, face blank. “Excuse me, what are you talking about?”

“Puh-lease. You keep bouncing back and forth between Mr. Friendly and Mr. Arm’s Length. I never know exactly who I’m dealing with—the guy who cares about me as a person or the guy who regards me as an assignment.”

Ethan’s face washed white and then went red as a stoplight. Lara braced herself for a snarl and a scold at being questioned and confronted. Then she ordered herself to relax. This man was not Matt. He could surprise her and respond reasonably.

“It’s not you. It’s me!” he burst out, then he spluttered and threw his hands up. “Sorry, that sounded really dumb. But I’m serious. It’s my problem. I had a—a bad experience a while back. Probably about the time you were having your own bad experience with that jerk of a fiancé.”

At his choice of words about Matt, Lara couldn’t contain a laugh.

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