Beginning: A PAVAD Prequel Novella (PAVAD: FBI Romantic Suspense) by Calle J. Brookes Read Free Book Online Page B

all lovey-dovey, and we go for a romantic stroll along the river. Make it obvious we’re focused on each other—and not the fact that someone may be trying to kill you. Once he realizes we don’t have the director, he’ll either pull back or if it’s you he’s really after, he’ll make his move.”
    She leaned closer to him, so close Royal almost brushed a kiss against those soft lips.
    He wanted this woman, and bad.
    “So how lovey-dovey are you thinking this will be?”
    Did she really want to know what he was thinking? “I know what I wouldn’t mind doing with you right now. But we should remember we’re out in public. Should probably keep it PG-13 or less. There’s plenty of time to explore the hotter stuff later.”
    “Oh? You think there’s going to be a later, do you?”
    “Don’t you?”
    A flash of uncertainty hit her face. “Dakon… I… I’m not sure about being involved with someone I work with.”
    “Then we take it day by day, step by step. Don’t have to let anyone know anything about it until you’re comfortable with it.”
    She looked at him a moment, then surprised him by kissing him on the cheek. “I’ll think about it. In the meantime, we have a shooter to catch.”
    He’d take what he’d get.
    But she was right—they did have a traitor to stop.
    And the sooner that was done, the sooner he could convince her to give him a shot.
    There was nothing he wanted more.

Chapter Sixteen
    SHE’D do it. She’d take a chance in a way she never had before. That it was with a man like Dakon Royal—a man with his reputation—was the biggest risk of all. But she felt right with the decision.
    She’d not talked and laughed for two hours straight with a man other than Ed in her entire life.
    That had to mean something.
    What, she didn’t know, but she’d definitely take the chance on finding out.
    And if nothing happened, nothing happened. But at least she wouldn’t have the regret of not trying.
    He laced his fingers through her right hand, and she let him lead her down the street toward the river. She understood—he wanted to pull the tail out of the main area and where there were less people.
    “You think this will work?”
    “I don’t know. At the least I want a chance to get a good look at the guy. If it’s one of our three probable, we’ll be able to get a warrant, and get an arrest.”
    She mulled it over as they walked. It would be enough. Maybe. They’d have to get the rest of the particulars after the arrest. They’d have seventy-two hours until they had to bring charges.
    Brockman’s team could find that evidence well within the time limit. The team was that damned good.
    She scanned the area, taking note of buildings and alleys and possible hindrances. “There. Head down to the river. There’s a bench there. We can sit, then see if we can spot the tail.”
    “Sounds like an idea.”
    He teased her the entire way, and Len fought to keep a serious face. Was he always like that?
    She knew his teammates Georgia and Ana both liked and respected him. And she respected those two women and their opinions.
    Maybe some of her earlier preconceptions of him had been too harsh and judgmental?
    That would be something else she’d have to consider.
    “I don’t want to go to Smokey’s.”
    “If that’s what you want.”
    Did he think she meant she didn’t want to go out with him at all? She tried to read his face—but he was trained FBI and ATF. This guy knew how to keep his feelings hidden.
    Probably better than she did.
    They sat on the bench, and watched the water. It was a windy early March day, and the river was choppy. Len casually turned toward the man on her right. His body was big enough to block anyone from seeing her watching for them. It would be their only real advantage.
    They were both armed, and Len was highly aware of what they were about to do. They could be dealing with a highly volatile, extremely desperate person in a place they weren’t familiar with,