A Good Kind of Trouble (A Trouble in Twin Rivers Novel Book 1) by Ellie Ashe Read Free Book Online

 
    He strolled out into the hallway, followed by Gordo who lugged out two boxes of documents with him. Ben was left alone in his office. He retrieved some folders from his briefcase for Sharon to file.  
    He stacked the papers on his desk, looking for the documents from his morning court appearance. He sorted through the stack, realizing that some were not related to his case. He’d ended up with some of Lindsey’s files from the newspaper.  
    Well, that meant he’d have to see her again.  
    How strange that he’d want to see her again. He hadn’t been exaggerating when he told Lindsey their date was the worst he’d ever been on. The pain from the pepper spray was excruciating and it wasn’t helped by the humiliation that followed when she explained to the police and paramedics what happened. He couldn’t see their smirks since his eyes were swollen nearly shut by the harsh chemical spray. But he could hear it in their voices, the suppressed laughter at the man who had been accidentally assaulted by his pretty date.  
    He’d been too angry and embarrassed to take her calls over the next few days, and then he felt like a jerk for not calling her back. She seemed sincere in her apologies on his voicemail. He really should have called her, but the longer he waited, the more he felt like a jerk. It was easier to just cut off contact and move on. In the months since then, every time her name came up in conversation with Dave and Kathleen, he had the sinking feeling of guilt in his gut. The Hogans caught on and the mentions of Lindsey became more rare, but he still saw her name in the newspaper at least once a week. Each time, that regret nagged at him.  
    Ben sat in the leather chair and leaned back, flipping idly through the papers he’d taken from Lindsey.  
    It was a shame, though. She was gorgeous. And smart and fun. And sexy. Jesus, when they were making out in his car… His heart rate picked up a little. Wow, there had been something there. Something he hadn’t experienced before or since.  
    Maybe it was worth another try. He’d know to stay on his guard this time, not make any sudden moves around her. Sure, they had gotten off to a bad start, but nothing insurmountable, right?
    He opened one of the unfamiliar manila folders and stared for a full minute at the documents inside. What had she been working on? The arena proposal?  
    Ben scanned the papers quickly, then went back to the top of the page and read the contract carefully. His shoulders grew tense as the meaning of the words sank in.  
    “You might be on to something here, sweetheart,” he said. “But it’s not what you think.”

Chapter Five

    Lindsey settled into the cushioned wicker sofa, put her feet on the ottoman and for the third time read the dense block of legalese in the contract in front of her. There was no way she was going to decipher these stupid bond proposals, not without professional help.  
    She rolled her head and felt the twinge in her shoulder where she had fallen against the sidewalk earlier. That was going to leave a mark—again. In the last few months, she’d suffered several bumps and bruises from two attempted muggings. But between the bruise on her shoulder and the bump on her head, this latest one was going to take the cake.  
    Unfortunately, it wasn’t only physical injuries she’d endured in her six-month run of bad luck. There was also the humiliation of her coworkers believing she was paranoid, crazy, or lying about the weird incidents surrounding her.  
    Even worse was the sickening feeling deep down in her stomach whenever Dave or Kathleen dropped Ben’s name in passing. Her friends were careful to avoid any mention of Ben after the disastrous date, but Dave was close to him, so his name was bound to come up once in a while. It never got any easier to hear about him. The sound of his name still caused her to flush hot with embarrassment.  
    Steve jumped up next to her and lay down, his head in