Exposed by Suzanne Ferrell Read Free Book Online Page A

at one of the tables. The couple bid everyone good night and headed to collect their son. Dave headed to where his wife Judy was gathering up their three kids.
    “I guess I’d better call for a cab.” Sydney slipped her camera back in the carryon bag and set it at her feet. She searched through her bag on the other shoulder for her phone.
    “You don’t need to do that. We’ll be happy to give you a ride home,” Katie offered, then let out a loud yawn.
    “Thank you, but if I call now, the cab should be here by the time I have my stuff together.”
    “It’s getting dark. We can’t leave you out here waiting for a cab by yourself,” Katie glanced at her husband, then let out another long yawn.
    Sydney shook her head, as she finally pulled her phone out of the bag. “No, it’s really okay. Besides, you look like you’re as ready for bed as Nicky.”
    “I’ll take her home.” A rough voice sounded behind her.
    She turned to see Castello standing there, the dim light of dusk shadowing his features.
    “It’s really okay if I take a cab.” Pulling up the internet app on her phone, she searched for the number of the cab company she’d used earlier. The last thing she wanted was to feel indebted to the surly marshal for anything, even a ride home. He’d made his opinion of her very clear earlier in the day. She wasn’t about to add mooching rides to the list of evil things photographers did.
    “Get your other bags,” he said. “I’ll be back with my car in a few minutes.”
    She looked up to see him striding away...carrying her camera case.
    “Hey! Bring that back!” She hurried after him, moving as fast as the damn heels she’d put on for the wedding would allow her. With his long-legged stride he was across Long Street and the crosswalk had changed to Don’t Walk by the time she got to it. From the opposite side of the busy road, he stopped to look back at her.
    “That’s stealing!” she yelled.
    “I call it motivation,” he called back, a slow smile spreading the corner of his lips. “Get your other bags and be ready when I pull up.”
    “Grrr.” She stomped her foot, but he didn’t see it. He was already walking away, swinging her bag like it was full of gym clothes instead of thousands of dollars’ worth of cameras, equipment and film.
    “Large and in charge, that’s our man Castello,” Matt said, pushing the walk button and taking his wife’s hand in his.
    “I’m not one of his witnesses, or a criminal,” Sydney said, watching the back of the man move farther away. “He doesn’t get to order me about.”
    “You might as well give in,” Katie said from beside her. “When Frank makes a decision, there’s no talking him out of it.”
    “Fine. I’ll get my stuff, but I’m not letting him take me home.”
    The pair shared a smile, then waved as they headed across the street. Sydney whirled and stalked into the pavilion to get her travel bags before the staff inside locked the building down.
    The gruff lawman might think everyone would jump when he told them what to do, but she wasn’t about to give in. She’d act like she was getting in his car, but she’d grab her camera bag instead then call for a cab anyways. She didn’t need his halfhearted offer of help. She was more than capable of taking care of herself. Despite what he believed, she’d traveled all over the world. Compared to some of the places she’d been, standing on a dark street in Columbus wasn’t nearly as dangerous.
    Five minutes later, she returned to see a black SUV parked by the curb, and Castello leaning against the passenger door, hands in his front pockets, his bow-tie unfastened. Dark, sexy, all man. Once again, her stomach did a little turn, and her heart hit an extra beat. He might be infuriating, but she couldn’t deny the pull of attraction he caused.
    She stopped a foot from the car as he opened the door for her. Looking inside, she narrowed her eyes at him. “Where’s my camera