Facing It by Linda Winfree Read Free Book Online

John Robert’s excited shrieks filled her ears as they dipped their toes in the waves and ran along the shore. Ainsley, more reserved than her siblings, clung to Ruthie’s leg, but jumped up and down in vicarious exhilaration with each of their yells. Ruthie’s eyes burned as she found herself caught between warring desires to laugh and cry.
    His shoes dangling from one hand, Chris chuckled beside her. “They’re having a blast.”
    “Yes, they are.” She glanced up at him suddenly. He stared across the sand at her children with his customary serious expression, but his eyes glinted with good humor. She started to reach for his hand and stopped. What was she doing? But the gratitude bubbling through her wouldn’t be silenced. “Thank you.”
    He looked down. “For what?”
    She waved toward John Robert and Camille, splashing each other, the droplets of seawater sparkling under the weak sun fighting through the clouds. “For this. I know we’re intruding, probably ruined your vacation.”
    He stiffened, his face seeming to shut down. She tensed, a damper falling on her newfound sense of momentary joy. Oh Lord, now she’d offended him. She took a step back. “I didn’t mean to—”
    “Stop.” If anything his features tightened further, but he smiled, although the expression was definitely forced. “It’s not…you’re not ruining my vacation, all right?” His gaze drifted to the children. “I’m glad I was around to help.”
    She nodded, still feeling as if something was off between them. Between them? She barely knew him. They weren’t even fledgling friends. He was watching over her only as a favor to her brother. Turning her attention to Ainsley, she tilted her head toward the water. “Let’s go see what all the fuss is about, shall we, Ains?”
    ***
    “Beecham, you didn’t answer the question.” Jennifer scrambled from the rental car and met her partner at the hood. “What makes you think Calvert will talk to you?”
    “We got history, babe.” He tossed the keys in the air and caught them with a grand gesture. “Lots and lots of history.”
    Jennifer shook off the momentary shock of his offhand “babe”. A carryover from their undercover work for sure, since he’d used the endearment she normally hated when they’d been posing at social functions. It had fit his persona then, and because it was so at odds with his staid Bureau personality, she liked hearing him say it.
    She fell in beside him as they mounted the steps to the Chandler County Sheriff’s Department, a small two-story building with a rather forlorn air behind a gleaming new courthouse. “What kind of history?”
    He shrugged. “We were at Quantico together. Spent a couple of years both working OCD after I left the behavioral unit. We’re friends.”
    Jennifer gave him a cheeky grin as he pulled open the door. “I wasn’t aware you had friends, Beech.”
    He shot her a quelling look. Inside, the scent of over-brewed coffee hung in the air, mixing with the low murmur of a busy department. At the small front desk, a brunette in a sleek navy suit argued with the young officer manning it. “Roger, I’m not asking for the keys to the jail. I just need to get in his office for two minutes—”
    “Agent Falconetti, I’m sorry, really I am, but rules are rules.” Roger held out his hands in a helpless gesture.
    The brunette tilted her head back, thick black hair falling over her shoulder blades with the movement. “I don’t believe this—”
    “Well hello, darlin’.” Beecham rolled out the greeting and Jennifer gaped at him. The word “darling” was in his vocabulary? “It’s been a long time.”
    At his voice, the brunette spun to face them, surprised pleasure lighting her features. “Beecham.”
    Her argument with the deputy forgotten, she moved to embrace Beecham. Jennifer bristled. Who was this woman, anyway? Returning her hug, Beecham took it a step forward, planting a kiss on her mouth and actually