Aftermath by Rachel Trautmiller Read Free Book Online Page A

gotta tell you, those words sound like pure bull. Especially, coming from you.”
    She straightened. Held back a burst of words bordering on this side of the truth. He was right. And, right now, there wasn’t much she could do about it. Not without making everything worse. Personally. Professionally. Mentally.
    “Death is just a knife or bullet away.”
    After torture, human trafficking or any number of scenarios. She wouldn’t wish that on her enemy, much less a teenager. Couldn’t hurt to hear him out. Worst case scenario, he left angry. Best case, she gave him ideas he could use to get a head start on this thing.
    But she couldn’t, under any circumstances, help him find these girls incognito. There was too much at stake.
    Wasn’t a life worth it? A teenage life. An image of Ariana popped into her mind, scared, alone and believing someone would find her. She took a deep breath as she envisioned herself shrugging and shaking her head.
    Sorry, honey. You’re not my problem .
    Never gonna happen. “You said there were three.”
    MCKENNA BENING APPROACHING.
    Crap. Amanda glanced at the door. Her best friend wouldn’t knock. Wouldn’t hold back questions when she saw Robinson perched on the stool next to her. Like old times.
    It shouted the makings of a disaster she might not survive. Not if McKenna got some obnoxious, mega-plan in her brain. Operation Amanda-Robinson had already failed, but this moment was...nice.
    He wasn’t pushing her for answers she didn’t have. And she wasn’t retaliating with actions that had consequences far beyond herself.
    They didn’t need a well-meaning friend to turn it into a high-school-set-up escapade.
    “You go, ’Kay.” Riley had Amanda’s cordless phone shoved against her ear, a full-fledged conversation in progress.
    Hadn’t she left it on the counter before McKenna had arrived?
    “That thing is creepy.” Robinson’s gaze flicked from the toddler to AtEase.
    Amanda shrugged. “You get used to it. If you used Addie the way you should...”
    “Yeah, yeah.” He held up a hand. “I assume we are withholding the cabinet incident?” That soft drawl tugged on her senses. Nice didn’t sum this up. Casual conversation mixed with collaboration was a pretty good aphrodisiac.
    Made the memories of harder times float away.
    And the thought of helping someone—really helping—made her a little lightheaded. And then there was Robinson, sitting close enough for her to have no trouble remembering the bold scent of his cologne.
    If she leaned forward, she’d be in his embrace. A few moments wrapped in his arms, the air filled with promises they couldn’t have. For reasons that were as concrete as they came.
    Focus, Nettles.
    “Wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t knocked on my door.”
    A lazy smile lit his mouth as one brow hitched higher than the other. “Next time, I’ll call first. See if you have a toddler around that you can’t manage.” The upturn of his lips wasn’t lazy anymore, but full-blown and part smirk.
    Damn it. The sudden upward angle spread hazy giddiness through her bloodstream. A twinkle appeared in the most beautiful eyes she’d ever seen. It left his thoughts wide open.
    Next he’d be asking for a medal after his awesome save of the day. If it wouldn’t go straight to his head, she’d have no trouble awarding it.
    “I doubt this is the first time Riley has accomplished something an adult would have trouble doing. It’s the crazy ideas your presence will put in McKenna’s head.”
    He laughed, the sound rich and full. “Am I supposed to go hide?”
    She tucked a smile out of sight. Tugged the edge of her lips, inward with her teeth. “Would you?”
    He crossed his arms. Amusement still danced at the corner of his expression. He shook his head, his jet-black hair styled to just-jumped-out-of-bed perfection. “No chance.”
    The knob on the door turned.
    Amanda stood. “Too bad. Think of all the fun we could have had.” She paused. Whoa,