A Guilty Affair by Maureen Smith Read Free Book Online

a six-month leave of absence to, as he put it, “get his scrambled marbles in order.”
    The self-imposed sabbatical seemed to have worked. He’d quit smoking and now adhered to a strict two-drink limit whenever he went out. Noah, like every other cop gathered at the pool hall that Sunday evening, had a tremendous amount of respect for the way Paulo had turned his life around. How could you not respect a guy who was willing to admit he needed help?
    Noah wondered grimly if he could apply the same solution to his obsession with Riley Kane. But it wasn’t as if a sabbatical would cure him. The woman already lived halfway across the country—how much more distance could he ask for?
    â€œSo what’s going on with you, mi amigo? ” Paulo asked conversationally. “How’s life as a P.I.?”
    â€œBusiness is good,” Noah said, shoving thoughts of Riley aside. “So good, in fact, that we’re seriously considering hiring another investigator.”
    â€œNo kidding? Even with your sister as the third partner, you still need help with the caseload?”
    Noah nodded. “Especially now that Daniela’s thinking about going to law school.” For real this time , he mused, inwardly grimacing at the memory of his younger sister going undercover as a law student in order to get the goods on her husband’s father, a prominent defense attorney suspected of criminal negligence. The undercover assignment had ended disastrously, and Daniela’s role in it had nearly cost her the love of her life. Noah had been racked with guilt for months afterward, even after the couple reconciled.
    He, like Paulo, definitely knew a thing or two about guilt.
    â€œDaniela wants to become a lawyer?”
    â€œShe’s considering it. She and her husband have talked about opening their own law firm someday.”
    Paulo snorted. “Why doesn’t Thorne just run his old man’s firm? Hell, it’s already well established and successful.”
    â€œCaleb’s not interested in practicing criminal law anymore. I respect that about him—the man knows what he wants and doesn’t give a damn what anyone else thinks.”
    â€œYou’re like that, too, Roarke. Remember how much flak you caught when you announced you were leaving the force to start a business with your brother?”
    Noah chuckled grimly. “Yeah. I think there were bets going around about how soon I’d be back in the chief’s office, begging for my old job.”
    â€œI know.” Paulo grinned. “I started one of ’em.”
    â€œBastard,” Noah grumbled without rancor.
    â€œWell, you proved us all wrong, so it’s water under the bridge.” After a moment, Paulo’s expression turned thoughtful. “So you’re thinking you need another investigator, huh?”
    â€œYep. Know anyone who might be interested?”
    â€œI might be.”
    â€œYeah?” Noah paused, beer bottle halfway to his mouth as he studied his companion. “I think you’d make one helluva P.I., Sanchez. Give it some thought.”
    Paulo nodded slowly. “Maybe I will.”
    A round of raucous male laughter drew their attention toward the pool table in the corner, where several of their comrades were teasing Mario Cruz, a young officer who’d recently been invited to join the Sunday Night Pool Sharks, as the group had dubbed themselves several years ago. The coveted invitation hadn’t come without a price. As the youngest cop present, Mario couldn’t take a shot without someone whispering taunts in his ear or “accidentally” bumping into his cue stick, throwing off his concentration.
    Noah was lazily contemplating when to bail the poor kid out when Paulo said, “I heard the damnedest thing yesterday. About Riley Kane. Turns out she’s back in town.”
    Noah grew very still, his fingers tightening around the neck of his beer bottle,